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Thursday, 21 November 2024
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MAK-NEWS 15/02/96 (M.I.C.)From: "M.I.C." <mic@ITL.MK>Macedonian Information Centre DirectoryCONTENTS[01] U.S.A. CONFIDENT IN PRODUCTIVE COOPERATION WITH NEW GOVERNMENT[02] 50 NEW SOLDIERS IN UNPREDEP[03] DEVELOPMENT OF RELATIONS WITH GREECE[04] CHEAPER VISAS START TOMORROW[05] BELGIAN GUARANTEE FOR EXPORTS OF 25 MILLION DEM[06] EBRD CREDIT OF $ 30 MILLION[07] OIL PIPELINE TO PASS THROUGH MACEDONIASKOPJE, FEBRUARY 15, 1996 (MIC)[01] U.S.A. CONFIDENT IN PRODUCTIVE COOPERATION WITH NEW GOVERNMENTAt the regular news conference held at the U.S. State Department on Tuesday, in response to a journalist's question regarding the reaction of the United States in relation to the break up of the ruling coalition in Macedonia and the formation of a new Government, the representative of the U.S. State Department stated: "I've found out that the Prime Minister has proposed a new Government which will be voted for by the National Assembly on Tuesday. We are pleased that they have managed to resolve their political difficulties in a peaceful and democratic way and we are confident we can have a productive cooperation with the new Government."He added: "I would like to take this opportunity to add that we are pleased that President Gligorov is in good health and that he can continue to carry out his presidential duties. He stands for peace and stability, not only in his country, but the whole Balkan region as well," Makpress reports. [02] 50 NEW SOLDIERS IN UNPREDEPThe U.S. Security Council has adopted a new Resolution according to which the number of soldiers serving as part of the UNPREDEP mission in Macedonia will be increased by 50 new soldiers. This reinforcement is necessary to provide support for the engineering operations. The establishment of the function command of UNPREDEP forces, as an independent mission, is also approved, the Macedonian Foreign Ministry has announced.According to the Resolution, the Security Council requires that the UN Secretary General submits new recommendations on the composition, strength and mandate of UNPREDEP, by May 20th, at the latest, in light of the developments in the region. [03] DEVELOPMENT OF RELATIONS WITH GREECEPrime Minister Branko Crvenkovski received the head of the Greek Liaisons Office to the Republic of Macedonia, Alexandros Maljas yesterday.In congratulating Mr. Maljas on his new post, according to the official announcement, Crvenkovski expressed the full willingness and openness of the Macedonian Government for cooperation in all domains of common interest. The two sides expressed satisfaction with the to-date process of normalization of relations between Macedonia and the Republic of Greece, and the to-date implementation of the Interim Accord, i.e. the measures and steps for its practical implementation. In this context, it was emphasized that in future, the activities should be directed especially toward the strengthening of the economic and trade cooperation, as well as the cooperation in the field of transportations, culture and sports. In discussing the multi-lateral relations, Mr. Maljas expressed his country's readiness to fully support Macedonia in its integration into the European organizations and associations, and especially its accession to the EU. Yesterday, the Greek representative was also received by the Speaker of the Macedonian Parliament Stojan Andov, whereby it was concluded that the overall relations between the two countries were taking an upward course. It was concluded that there is a need to establish parliamentary cooperation. [04] CHEAPER VISAS START TOMORROWThe new visa regime with Greece, as part of the recently signed protocol in Skopje, will come into effect tomorrow, the Macedonian Foreign Ministry announced.The visas will be issued according to the following prices. A tourist visa will cost 1,000 drachmas or 160 denars for adults, and 500 drachmas or 80 denars for children. A one-fold transit visa is 700 drachmas or 110 denars; the price of a two- fold transit visa is 1,000 drachmas or 160 denars; the price of a several-fold visa for truck drivers and busses is 19,500 drachmas or 3,130 denars. However, until they receive several-fold entrance visas, drivers of trucks and busses will be issued one-fold visas at the border crossings, and after 10 days, i.e. after their documents are checked, they will be issued several-fold entrance visas. [05] BELGIAN GUARANTEE FOR EXPORTS OF 25 MILLION DEMThe Belgian institution for guarantees of export arrangements "DUCROIRE" decided on the 12th of this month to add Macedonia to the list of countries that will be covered by the risk of export arrangements. The limit is determined at 500 million BRF (approx. 25 million DEM). The guarantee will apply to transactions in the private sector, and it is also possible that it may be increased in the future, the Foreign Ministry announced.This decision presents a confirmation of the greater trust of the Belgian financial-business circles, in view of the large development perspectives of the Republic of Macedonia, and enables the expansion of economic cooperation between the two countries. [06] EBRD CREDIT OF $ 30 MILLIONThe Republic of Macedonia has received a credit from the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development to the amount of $ 30 million, the Information Secretariat announced. The document was signed yesterday by the Minister of Finance Jane Miljovski.The Macedonian Parliament made a decision to accept this credit, intended for the development of the Macedonian economy, in December, last year. In the meantime, the Macedonian banks, as main debtors, have already signed agreements to use the credit. Following yesterday's signing of the Agreement, the funds can be used immediately. At the EBRD yesterday, the Macedonian Finance Minister also discussed new credit arrangements between this bank and Macedonia. It has been agreed for this institution to visit a number of banks in Macedonia. [07] OIL PIPELINE TO PASS THROUGH MACEDONIA"The Albania-Bulgarian-Macedonian petroleum corporation 'AMBO' has made a decision to start building an oil pipeline that will connect the Black and Adriatic Sea."This Reuters news was published in the independent Bulgarian newspaper "Continent." The pipeline, according to the study, will be 907 km long, from Burgas-Bulgaria, through Macedonia, to the Albanian coast. This installation will transport oil from Russia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. A representative of the "AMBO" corporation in the U.S.A. stated for Reuters that they had received exclusive rights from the governments of Macedonia, Bulgaria and Albania, to draw up the project. According to plans, the pipeline should have a capacity of 750,000 barrels of oil per day, and its construction should cost $ 825 million. The project is a part of the new infrastructure in the region, and at the moment, the corporation is considering the possibility of continuing the oil pipeline from the Albanian coast to Brindizi in Italy. (end) |
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