MAK-NEWS 07/12/95 (M.I.C.)

From: "M.I.C." <mic@ITL.MK>

Macedonian Information Centre Directory

CONTENTS

SKOPJE, DECEMBER 7, 1995 (MIC)

[01] FURTHER SHORTENING OF UNPREDEP MISSION

"We feel that after the signing of the peace agreement in Dayton, all the perspectives are open to lasting and just peace in the Balkans. The present situation in Macedonia can hardly present a threat to the lasting peace and security, and it is unlikely that there are any dangers to its independence and territorial integrity, in the present stage," Mihail Demurin, deputy director of the Information Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry stated in relation to the Russian stance on the continuation of the mandate of the UNPREDEP forces in Macedonia.

"Immediately when it becomes clear that the peace movement on the Balkans has taken on an irrevocable character, it will be necessary to start with the gradual shortening of the UNPREDEP forces," Demurin said.

[02] MEDALS FOR UNPREDEP

On the occasion of the national holiday of Finland, the UNPREDEP unit made up of representatives of the Nordic countries held a formal ceremony in Tetovo yesterday. The ceremony was attended by a large number of high-ranking military and civilian officials, as well as the soldiers from Norway, Finland, Denmark and Sweden.

First, the soldiers and officers from the Nordic countries were formed into ranks which were addressed by Henrik Sokalski, chief of the UNPREDEP mission in Macedonia. The ceremony was also attended by representatives of the embassies, and, on this solemn occasion, the soldiers were awarded medals from the UN.

[03] UN: "MACEDONIAN-GREEK NEGOTIATIONS AGAIN"

"Athens and Skopje should start talks on the name dispute shortly," the UN spokesman Rolando Gomez told Radio Skopje. "The talks should probably start next week," Gomez said. He could not stipulate the exact date and level of the talks that should be held with the mediation of Cyrus Vance, Makfaks reports.

Macedonia's official stance is that the differences over the name can be discussed, however, it can not be changed.

Greek Foreign Minister Karolos Papoulias has expressed hope that the forthcoming talks between Athens and Skopje over the name, can finish with success.

[04] GREECE COMPLAINING ABOUT AMBASSADOR MALESKI

The Greek ambassador to the UN Hristos Zaharakis has sent a letter of protest to UN Secretary-General Boutros Ghali, in relation to the use of the name Macedonia by Macedonian ambassador Denko Maleski. This news was published yesterday by the Greek newspaper "Elefterotipia" and the Athens news agency.

In a text entitled "Skopje is violating the Accord," "Elefterotipia" writes that Zaharakis has been complaining to Ghali that Maleski is not adhering to article 5 of the Interim Accord from New York between Athens and Skopje, and is continuing to use the name "Republic of Macedonia."

[05] MACEDONIA OFFERS MONITORING IN BOSNIA

The Republic of Macedonia took part in the work of the NATO Council for the first time yesterday, which is holding its semestral session at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Makpress reports.

NATO diplomatic sources inform that Macedonia has offered to take part in the peacekeeping operation in Bosnia as a member of the monitoring in the OSCE, as well as assistance in the transport of the troops to Bosnia.

Macedonia automatically received the status of observer by signing the program "Partnership for peace," thus the Macedonian Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski was given the opportunity to briefly state Macedonia's priorities in relation to its military cooperation with NATO and its affiliated partners.

Participating in yesterday's session were the foreign ministers of the 16 member-states and all 27 signatories of the Northern Atlantic Peace Partnership.

Macedonia's Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski met with his colleague from Slovenia Zoran Taler yesterday morning, as well as the Swedish Foreign Minister Jan Elison. Stevo Crvenkovski was supposed to meet with the U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher yesterday, as well.

[06] "MITILINEOS" GETS EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS

The Greek holding company "Mitilineos A.E." has obtained the exclusive rights to market the products of the largest mine for lead and zinc in Macedonia "Sasa." Thus, the Greek company will market the mine's annual production, which amounts to 30-40 million tones, on the Greek, as well as the world market, in the form of refined materials in the smeltery in Veles or as semifinished products.

Speaking of the company's future plans, its president Mitilineos emphasized, among the rest, that he is planning to establish links with lead and zinc mines in Macedonia as well as Serbia.

[07] JAPANESE INTERESTED IN "KONSKO"

Japanese businessmen have expressed an interest in building the dam "Konsko" in the Gevgelija municipality. According to latest estimates, the construction of the first phase will cost US$ 34 million, and half of the money would come from foreign investors. It is still unclear whether an irretrievable, interest-free or a credit of a longer grace-period is in question.

This accumulation would irrigate some 6,000 acres of arable land, which would double of triple the agricultural production. The existing system in Gevgelija covers hardly 1,800 acres of arable land.

[08] PARLIAMENT: URGENT ECOLOGICAL PROTECTION OF TITOV VELES

The Parliament of the Republic of Macedonia discussed the ecological situation in Titov Veles yesterday, assessing that if measures for protection of the town are not taken as soon as possible, it will be faced with ecological catastrophe.

Namely, because of the contamination of the air, soil, food and the exposure of the population to heavy metals originating from the Lead and zinc smeltery "Zletovo," the mortality levels caused by carcinoma, anemias, kidney disease and bone disease, have gone up. Therefore, four MPs from SDUM tabled a couple of decisions in Parliament, which instruct the Ministry of Urbanization and the Protection of the Living Environment, as well as the Ministry of Health, to introduce rigorous control of the concentration of lead, cadmium and sulphur dioxide in the air, and to keep the public up to date with the results. The Smeltery is required to find modern solutions to keep the release of harmful materials in the air within acceptable, normal limits.

The Government is instructed to find financial means to build the hydrosystem "Lisiche" which will supply the town of Veles with healthy drinking water.

[09] POSSIBLE JOINT CONSTRUCTION WORK IN B&H WITH SLOVENIA AND CROATIA

A delegation from the Republic of Macedonia, led by the Minister of Urbanization, Construction and Protection of the Living Environment Jorgo Sundovski, and which will also include representatives from the building industry, as well as the Macedonian Chamber of Commerce, will be staying in Croatia the next two days. In Ljubljana, the Macedonian delegation is scheduled to meet with the Slovenian ministers of environment and economy, as well as other officials from the Slovenian Chamber of Commerce. A meeting in the Croatian Ministry of Construction is scheduled to be held in Zagreb tomorrow. The representatives from Macedonia are to agree on the basic details for the participation of Macedonian construction companies in the rebuilding of the demolished objects in Bosnia-Herzegovina, namely projects where they will be able to work in cooperation with partners and firms from Slovenia and Croatia.

[10] "PALAIR MACEDONIAN" OPENS A THIRD LINE TO ROME

The air company "Palair Macedonian" opened a third line to Rome yesterday. The Macedonian plane carrying the first passengers from Skopje landed at the airport "Leonardo da Vinci" at 9.20 hours yesterday, only to return to Skopje two hours later, with a large number of Italian businessmen. This is the third weekly line to Rome, which will be serviced every Tuesday afternoon. This additional line has made "Palair Macedonian" one of the largest airlines maintaining links with Italy.