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MAK-NEWS 12/01/96 (M.I.C.)

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

Macedonian Information Centre Directory

CONTENTS

  • [01] INDEPENDENT UNPREDEP MISSION

  • [02] KOFI ANNAN FOR "PULS": THERE WILL BE NO EARLY WITHDRAWAL

  • [03] MALJAS TAKING OVER DUTIES

  • [04] GREEK PRESS ANNOUNCING TALKS AT UN FOR TODAY

  • [05] ANTI-TERRORIST CENTER IN MACEDONIA

  • [06] MRTV OPENS NEW STUDIO FOR ETHNIC PROGRAMS

  • [07] 70 REQUESTS FOR NEW MUNICIPALITIES

    MACEDONIAN PRESS REVIEW:

  • [08] "NOVA MAKEDONIJA": "DISMISSALS OR RESIGNATIONS"


  • SKOPJE, JANUARY 12, 1996 (MIC)

    [01] INDEPENDENT UNPREDEP MISSION

    From February 1st, the UNPREDEP mission will become independent and report directly from New York. This proposal, which comes directly from UN Secretary-General Boutros Ghali, was announced to the press yesterday by the UN General Under Secretary and special envoy Kofi Annan, before ending his two-day visit to Macedonia.

    Considering the determination of the international community to support the stability of this country and the region, the possibility of continuing the mandate can not be ruled out, Under Secretary Annan said, emphasizing once again that the unanimous decision of the Security Council to continue the mandate is a sign that the UN believe in the efforts the Macedonian Government is making.

    In his statement for the press, Annan accented his commitment to induce the leaders of the international community to exert pressure on the states in this region for mutual recognition, without any prerequisites, and as equal and independent sovereign states, with a view to normalizing the mutual relations. As to the to-date activities of UNPREDEP, Kofi Annan emphasized that this first preventive diplomatic mission presents a success for the UN.

    In response to a journalist's question as to how it is possible for the Republic of Macedonia to be an equal member of the UN, and not to be recognized under its constitutional name, Mr. Annan said that the primary issue was for Macedonia to be a full member of the UN and to take part in all the activities of the organization, while it is not responsible for the tension surrounding the actual name. "The only thing that can be done at this moment," he said, "is to hope that these obstacles will be overcome as soon as possible, as it did not present an obstacle to the 60 countries that have already recognized Macedonia under its constitutional name."

    [02] KOFI ANNAN FOR "PULS": THERE WILL BE NO EARLY WITHDRAWAL

    "The mandate of UNPREDEP in Macedonia has been extended another six months. At the end of that period, I am certain that the Security Council will reassess the situation and decide what further action to take. However, allow me to add that it is not unusual for the mandate to be extended six months, and then to be extended again," Kofi Annan, UN General Under Secretary and special UN envoy to former Yugoslavia stated in the exclusive interview for the weekly "Puls."

    In answering the question as to whether he believes UNPREDEP's mandate should be extended in the coming period, and whether there are even minimal chances of a threat to the Macedonia's security, Annan stated: "I believe that the UN peacekeeping forces are playing a big role, which has proven to be successful so far. I am convinced the member-states will not withdraw their troops before time, and it is also possible that the mandate might be extended after the present six months."

    In reference to the various estimates as to UNPREDEP's remaining in Macedonia and whether those estimates reflect the interests of some of the great powers, Annan says: "I wouldn't say that is connected with the politics of the great powers. I believe it was a question of an evaluation of the friendly governments of what has been achieved, and whether the mandate should be extended. I believe that it was not brought under the influence of the great powers, and they are also reviewing the question of sending greater forces as a contribution to the continuation of the mandate, in a much wider context."

    [03] MALJAS TAKING OVER DUTIES

    The Foreign Minister of the Republic of Macedonia Stevo Crvenkovski received Aleksandar Maljas on a protocol visit yesterday, who submitted the letter from the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Greece Karolos Papoulias, appointing him head of the Liaisons office of the Republic of Greece to Skopje.

    In the talks that followed, the two sides emphasized the significance they are giving to the consistent realization of the practical measures for the implementation of the Interim Accord. In this context, an emphasis was placed on the place and role of the liaisons offices of the two countries, in Athens and Skopje, for the strengthening of relations and cooperation in all spheres of mutual interest.

    Maljas made a statement for Radio Skopje yesterday: "I must say that I am honored and very pleased to be in Skopje. We will work with our team on improving the mutual relations. During the meeting, we stressed that the functioning of the liaisons offices in Athens and Skopje will contribute to the strengthening of the positive atmosphere that has been achieved with the signing of the Interim Accord in New York and the agreements on its practical implementation. In future, we will work together not merely with an aim to strengthen the mutual relations, but to also find a correct approach to the regional problems, as the last stage of rapprochement with Europe," Maljas stated.

    [04] GREEK PRESS ANNOUNCING TALKS AT UN FOR TODAY

    The negotiations between Athens and Skopje over the name differences, which were postponed due to the "political gap" in Greece, and bad weather in the U.S., are due to start today, the moderate left wing newspaper "Elefterotipia" claimed yesterday, emphasizing that the meeting will only focus on "determining the frameworks" of the talks over the differences.

    The newspaper assesses that Athens and Skopje are keeping the question of the name alive, since it serves to various political purposes of the government and diplomatic factors.

    The conservative "Katimerini" promoted the name "New Macedonia" yesterday. The same newspaper claims that the Greek ambassador to the UN Hristos Zaharakis has strict instructions not to accept any name containing the word "Macedonia," adding that, on the other hand, talks on criteria acceptable to both sides are possible.

    [05] ANTI-TERRORIST CENTER IN MACEDONIA

    Macedonian Defence Minister Blagoya Handziski held a speech at the symposium held in Washington - "Partnership for the future," on the theme "European Security and Partnership for Peace," on the second day of the commemoration of the 50-year anniversary of the Marshall Plan and two years of the "Partnership for peace" program.

    He suggested new forms of intensification of the cooperation between the Alliance and the member-states of the Partnership, and gave a proposal for the institutionalization of the cooperation on the field of intelligence service and the fight against transnational terrorism. In relation to this, Handziski proposed the formation of common centers to battle such activities, and the first one would be in the Republic of Macedonia.

    On Wednesday, minister Handziski had a meeting with U.S. Defence Secretary William Perry. The official talks were held during the afternoon meetings, and focused on the bilateral relations and the cooperation within "Partnership for peace" and the program "A bridge to America."

    [06] MRTV OPENS NEW STUDIO FOR ETHNIC PROGRAMS

    With the help of the Swiss and Danish governments, a new studio was opened in MRTV yesterday, which increases the capacity of the Macedonian television to broadcast programs in the languages of the nationalities.

    The expansion of the program is due to start some time in February. The program in Albanian language will last three hours per day, in Turkish - 1.30 hours, while the programs in Rhoman, Vlach and Serbian language will be broadcast twice a week, each lasting 30 minutes.

    This formal act was attended by representatives of the Macedonian Government, the Swiss and Danish governments, as well as the coordinator of the entire project, Gerd Arens, head of the working group on ethnic minorities with the Conference on former Yugoslavia.

    [07] 70 REQUESTS FOR NEW MUNICIPALITIES

    In relation to the implementation of the Law on local self-management, in the part of the units of local self- management, the Ministry of Justice has announced that 70 requests have arrived from local communities, for the formation of new municipalities. According to the law, the local communities have the right to address the Ministry of Justice with such requests, provided they believe they fulfill the necessary legal requirements to form a new unit of the local self-management. The deadline for submitting such requests is nearing, with the closing date being January 31st, the Information Secretariat announced.

    MACEDONIAN PRESS REVIEW:

    [08] "NOVA MAKEDONIJA": "DISMISSALS OR RESIGNATIONS"

    The reconstruction of the Government, as it seems, will leave the frame of a possible idea, the way it was announced by Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski, and enter the phase of concrete activities. High-ranking party officials, from both SDAM and the Liberal Party, although unofficially, claim that each party will contemplate this theme with the utmost seriousness. However, none of them is ready to predict when, how and if it is really going to happen this time. If it does happen, they say, it will not be so soon. And, they are probably right, if it is known what precedes it and what a real reconstruction actually implies.

    We have learned that the Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia will wait for the prime minister, the president of the party, to return from his trip to France, in order to open the theme in the party organs. It is generally agreed that the personnel changes in the Government are strictly under the prime minister's jurisdiction, however, it is also clear that this most powerful party in the ruling coalition will not allow matters to get out of control, due to which, of course, a strategy will have to be prepared. Even its possible directions can be sensed, and therefore, it is quite likely that the changes in the Government will be made in a different form. The Macedonian Constitution gives the prime minister the right to suggest the dismissal of a member of Government, however, then the Macedonian Parliament makes a final decision on this proposal. This could be extremely uncertain turf, especially if several ministers are in question. Therefore, it will not be surprising if what we learned to be just a theory in SDAM comes true - that the members of Government who eventually find themselves on the "black list" immediately submit their resignations. Hence, there will be no reason for Parliament to discuss the reasons and omissions, but the prime minister will simply inform about the changes he had decided to make. The SDAM is expected to add these questions to the daily agenda at the start of next week.

    According to speculations in the public, many are convinced that due to the friction between the Social Democrats and the Liberals, mainly the ministers - members of LP will be encompassed with the eventual personnel changes. This is supported by the announcement that today and tomorrow, the highest bodies of this party will be discussing the pertinent interviews, remarks and comments in the public, which the part regards as very serious. As we have learned, this would be a part of the debate on the overall political situation in the country. The members of LP should adopt appropriate conclusions at these meetings, which, as they say, will be announced to the public, and which could be decisive for the future development of events, in the sense of speeding up or slowing down some processes in the functioning of the coalition.

    (end)

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