MAK-NEWS 18/04/95 (M.I.L.S.)
From: "Demetrios E. Paneras" <dep@bu.edu>
CONTENTS
[01] ALBANIA SENDS PROTEST NOTE TO MACEDONIA
[02] FRCKOVSKI GIVES INTERVIEW FOR PRISHTINA WEEKLY
[03] TENSE SITUATION IN KOSOVO
[04] PDP ASKS ESTREF ALIU TO RESIGN
[05] CRVENKOVSKI'S ACTIVITIES IN NEW YORK
[06] CONFERENCE ON NON-SPREADING OF NUCLEAR ARMS
[07] SPAIN INTERESTED IN INVESTING IN MACEDONIA
[08] THREE LARGE COMPANIES TO BE PRIVATIZED TOMORROW
[09] PARLIAMENTARIAN BRIEFS
[10] EMIGRANTS HOLD ANNUAL ASSEMBLY
[11] MACEDONIAN CULTURE INCIDENT IN TURKEY
[12] RUSSIAN OIL PIPELINE THROUGH MACEDONIA
[13] BOOK FAIR IN SKOPJE
[14] MILS SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT: CHIEF AMONG AMBASSADORS - PART III (Puls, 14 April, 1995)
M I L S N E W S
Skopje, 18 April 1995
[01] ALBANIA SENDS PROTEST NOTE TO MACEDONIA
An official of the Albanian Foreign Ministry yesterday
handed over a note of protest to Nikola Todorcevski, the
Macedonian ambassador to Tirana. The Albanian ministry is
protesting against the April 14 killing of Bashkiim Tavciu,
an Albanian citizen who attempted to illegally cross the
Macedonian border. The note says Tavciu was killed near
"Golem Debar" without giving the Macedonian police any cause
to open fire. The ministry "protests against this inhumane
act of the Macedonian police force." At the same time the
authorities in Macedonia have been called upon to provide an
explanation for the unwanted act, and to introduce measures
to punish the guilty party in the hope of avoiding similar
cases in future which could worsen the Macedonian-Albanian
relations. Otherwise such irresponsible acts may
unnecessarily create tension in the bilateral relations and
would be in opposition to Macedonia's statements of its
readiness to develop relations with Albania as much as
possible.
Meanwhile, Macedonian Radio cites Macedonian diplomatic
sources as saying the Republic of Macedonia intends to
reject the protest note with an explanation that border
problems should be resolved in principle and not case by
case. The general conclusion is that the problem of illegal
attempts to cross the border by Albanian citizens has been
successfully dealt with in the past two years. However
there is much more to be done, particularly by the Albanian
side, for the prevention of similar incidents in future.
Unofficially, a joint Macedonian-Albanian commission is to
meet again today in order to resolve details regarding the
incident.
[02] FRCKOVSKI GIVES INTERVIEW FOR PRISHTINA WEEKLY
"The potential outbreak of a conflict in Kosovo does not
mean that it will automatically spill over to Macedonia,"
said Ljubomir Frckovski, Macedonian Minister of the
Interior, in an interview with the Prishtina weekly "Zeri".
"This could affect the stability in Macedonia, but it does
not present a greater danger," he said, adding that Kosovo
is outside the borders of Macedonia, which as a state builds
its stability upon interior factors.
Furthermore, A1 Television reports that Frckovski spoke of
problems regarding the organization of education in the
Albanian language in Macedonia. In this context he said that
Macedonia's Constitution leaves no room for the
establishment of universities in the languages of the
minorities. Even if it is a private university, he said, it
would have to have either the Macedonian or a foreign
language as the official one, but not a minority language.
Frckovski reportedly added that all disputed issues must be
resolved within the framework of the law.
Speaking on security in Macedonia, Frckovski pointed out the
main problem relating to this issue comes from Serbia,
primarily because it refuses, due to its relations with
Greece, to recognize Macedonia . Disputed issues with
Greece, just like all other problems and including the one
with the Macedonian-Yugoslav border, Frckovski concluded,
will have solutions sought for them with the help of
international institutions.
[03] TENSE SITUATION IN KOSOVO
Macedonian Radio cites a news item released by the
Information Center of Kosovo describing large army and
police forces deployed in the center of Klina, a
municipality between Prishtina and Pec in Kosovo. The
military and police troops have put up barricades and are in
a state of readiness. The army troops have been reportedly
joined by Serbs from nearby villages. Soldiers are said to
be breaking into the homes of Albanian families and robbing
shops owned by Albanians.
Serbian authorities have not informed the public of any
military maneuvers or of a special situation in Klina, the
Information Center reports.
[04] PDP ASKS ESTREF ALIU TO RESIGN
The leadership of the Party for Democratic Prosperity (PDP)
requested of Estref Aliu, Macedonian Minister of Culture, to
resign from his position. This was stated by PDP president
Abdurahman Haliti who explained, in an interview with the
daily Flaka e Vllazerimit, that this demand resulted from
the party leadership's disagreement with Aliu's views on the
university in Tetovo. In his recent interview with Rilindia,
Aliu stated standpoints regarding the university contrary to
those held by PDP.
Haliti refuted news, broadcast by Albanian Television, on
Aliu having already been removed from his position. The
news, Haliti said, was released in an attempt to create
splits within PDP.
[05] CRVENKOVSKI'S ACTIVITIES IN NEW YORK
Nova Makedonija writes that Macedonian Foreign Minister
Stevo Crvenkovski met in New York two days ago with Cyrus
Vance, the UN mediator in the Greek-Macedonian dispute.
Yesterday, the paper says, Crvenkovski met Richard
Holbrooke, US Assistant Secretary of State, and Kofi Anan,
Under-secretary for UN peacekeeping operations in Macedonia.
Meantime, sources in Athens claim the Crvenkovski-Vance
meeting had not been planned and will not contribute to
progress in the dispute and that Skopje remains firm on its
position not to enter negotiations under the embargo.
[06] CONFERENCE ON NON-SPREADING OF NUCLEAR ARMS
A Conference on Non-spreading of Nuclear Arms started in New
York yesterday and will last until 12 May. The conference is
being attended by a Macedonian delegation, led by Foreign
Minister Stevo Crvenkovski. Macedonia joined the agreement
on nuclear disarmament on March 30, as the 176th member. The
US, Russia, France, Great Britain and China - countries
officially recognized as possessing nuclear arms - signed
the agreement 25 years ago. Experts of 4 of these countries
- excluding those from China - claim that the extension of
the agreement would lessen potential chances for a total and
local nuclear war. The disarmament would enable use of
nuclear power for peace-time purposes which would include
countries which do not possess such arms. China has still
not stated its official viewpoint on the issue, while some
of the non-aligned countries, such as Indonesia, Egypt and
Iran, asked for guarantees, before they signed the
agreement, that the 5 nuclear powers will not use such
weapons against another country. India, Pakistan and Israel,
countries currently developing nuclear industries of their
own, refuse to sign the agreement, whereas Russia warns that
it will not respect all items in the agreement until the
conflicts in the southern Russian regions have been
resolved.
[07] SPAIN INTERESTED IN INVESTING IN MACEDONIA
Macedonian Minister of City Planning, Traffic and Protection
of the Environment, Jorgo Shundovski, yesterday received
Horhe Fuentes, ambassador of Spain to Macedonia. They
exchanged information on the development of infrastructure
in Macedonia, particularly in urban projects in Ohrid and
Skopje. Fuentes expressed readiness on the part of his
Government to invest $35,000 in objects in the central city
areas of Skopje and Bitola.
[08] THREE LARGE COMPANIES TO BE PRIVATIZED TOMORROW
A1 Television says agreements on privatization of the first
3 large companies in Macedonia are to be ceremonially signed
at the premises of the Privatization Agency tomorrow.
"Pivara", "Makedonija Turist" and "Fershped" - all of Skopje
- are to be privatized through a purchase of 10 per cent of
the value of the companies by a team of managers. They will
then take over the management and will be obliged to buy out
the remaining shares, over the next 5 years, until they
reach 51 per cent ownership. According to a program from
the Privatization Agency the number of employees is not to
be reduced.
The privatization of "Makedonija Turist", A1 Television
says, will attract the greatest interest, probably due to
the large estate owned by this company, i.e., the chain of
hotels in Skopje - Grand, Turist and Bristol. Appraisals
conducted by the Faculty of Economy say the company is worth
about 20 million German marks. Unofficial sources say the
management is to be taken over by a team of 8 managers,
which still have to purchase another 3 per cent of the
shares to reach the required initial 10 per cent.
The value of "Fershped" has been appraised at 21 million
German marks, but employees have already bought out 56 per
cent of the company through internal share options.
The Agency yesterday published the first bulletin titled
"Facts on Privatization" which presents all relevant data on
the progress of privatization in Macedonia so far.
[09] PARLIAMENTARIAN BRIEFS
Tomorrow the Macedonian Parliament will hold its 17th
session to discuss several legal projects regarding trade
regulations, hotel and tourist services, the rights of war
veterans, and the rights of individuals prosecuted and
oppressed for their ideas on the independence of Macedonia.
[10] EMIGRANTS HOLD ANNUAL ASSEMBLY
The Macedonian Organization of Emigrants held its annual
assembly in the presence of several eminent guests including
the priest Nicodimos Tsarknias, the bishop of Polog and
Kumanovo Kiril, former members of the organization, and
representatives of the organization's local units throughout
Macedonia. The organization accepted reports on the work
carried out in 1994 and adopted a program for 1995. The
basic activities of the organization will remain as the
maintenance and development of contacts with Macedonian
emigrants, especially in the fields of education. They will
also focus on finding new models for organizing Macedonians
throughout the world into various forms of associations.
[11] MACEDONIAN CULTURE INCIDENT IN TURKEY
Macedonian delegates at the ongoing Days of Macedonian
Culture in Turkey were embittered by an event of two days
ago. During the Macedonian Poetry Evening the Turkish writer
Fahri Kaya, speaking about the book "Anthology of Macedonian
Poetry", addressed the audience in Turkish only which
resulted in the Macedonians not understanding his speech.
Furthermore, Refu Shabani, a member of the Macedonian
delegation and a writer and editor for the daily Flaka e
Vllazerimit, addressed the audience, contrary to the
established protocol, in Albanian but did not provide a
translation. This caused bitter reactions among the
Macedonian delegation and with the Macedonian ambassador to
Turkey.
[12] RUSSIAN OIL PIPELINE THROUGH MACEDONIA
Vuko Taskovic, president of the Macedonian-Bulgarian-
Albanian corporation AMBO, announced the possibility of
building an oil pipeline to start in Russia and end in
Albania via Bulgaria and Macedonia. The pipeline would be
about 800 kilometers long and would transport nearly 800,000
barrels of oil per day. The finances, estimated at $575
million, would be provided by the Bank of Europe for
Reconstruction and Development, the US corporation for
overseas investment OPIC, and the First Bank of Boston.
[13] BOOK FAIR IN SKOPJE
The Seventh International Fair of Books starts in Skopje
today. 67 publishing houses from Macedonia will present
nearly 6,000 books, 500 of which were published between the
two latest fairs. Books will be sold at a 50 per cent
discount. In addition to the Macedonian publishers there
will be 24 foreign publishers from Slovenia, Bulgaria,
Albania, Austria and Yugoslavia which will present books at
the fair. Also included will be a presentation of graphic
industry equipment and a program of feature films to mark
the 100th anniversary of the art of moving pictures.
The fair will be open by the Macedonian Minister of Culture
Estref Aliu.
[14] MILS SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT: CHIEF AMONG AMBASSADORS - PART III
(Puls, 14 April, 1995)
Question: On several occasions when I have heard you or had
an opportunity to talk to you I get the feeling you have a
custom of looking at things in a simplified and pragmatic
manner, in a somewhat untypical, maybe even funny way, when
a complex region such as the Balkans is concerned.
Answer: I hope that I am able to be a fair observer of the
situation here in Macedonia. I know I am contributing to the
situation with certain simplicity. I am a foreign observer
who has come to your country and learns more about it every
day and my information basis and ability to analyze issues
relevant for Macedonia grows every day. I really cannot tell
what some think of this simplicity and whether they regard
it to be a lack of knowledge. I hope this is not a big
obstacle. I believe I have been able to use this in a
positive sense. This means I have tried to introduce certain
objectivity in my vision of what is going on here, using the
experience and standards I have gained during my 28 years of
service under the US foreign policy department. I have
visited and lived in many different parts which were indeed
very different. I had to learn quickly so that I could
understand matters and report on them. In certain cases my
reports have had impact on the development of events in
those parts. I think it is important for both Macedonia and
the US that I understand as much as possible and as quickly
as possible about what is going on in the region and in the
country. Let me explain in this way; the US knows about
countries like France, Canada or Germany, so much and
through so many sources that the State Department or the US
embassies in these countries have a minor role in defining
the complete relations there. But, as our relations are
still new and developing, this institution, this Liaison
Office, has a great role and responsibility in the US
efforts to understand the situation and problems here,
helping at the same time the Macedonian people to understand
the American views on your perspectives and ideas and ways
to support Macedonia in its development.
Question: Speaking of this mutual process of learning about
each other, I have heard some colleagues of yours, some
Western ambassadors in Skopje, as saying that you have
greatly changed your views on the situation in Macedonia
since you came here for the first time.
Answer: I would not say that "change" is the right word. I
think my understanding and ability to analyze the situation
grows by the day. This is like if you had a very large draft
of a country. This large draft is, of course, still valid.
But what I have succeeded in doing is to get myself into the
draft with many details, although there are many areas yet
to be defined. I hope the work will continue as the mission
continues to work.
Question: Would you say the picture Macedonia and the
Macedonians have of Victor Comras is also changing?
Answer: I hope that people, the more they know me and the
more they learn about our mission, will feel all the more
comfortable with us. We are trying to make as many friends
as possible and hope to be well received by the Macedonians.
Question: Let me go back to US policy and ask you about the
regular annual report of the State Department on the human
rights situation throughout the world. This year Macedonia
was also included in the report, but this caused bitter
reactions among members of the Macedonian administration
against certain remarks in it. The impression was that the
report even questions last year's census of population in
Macedonia conducted under international surveillance. What
was the role of the Liaison Office and all others who
participated in making out the report?
Answer: Different people gather information to be included
in the report, which is put together by the State Department
on a request from the US Congress. The report is aimed at
providing the clearest possible picture on the human rights
situation, admitting that there are human rights problems
everywhere in the world, including the US. There is a large
number of sources and institutions regularly reporting on
potential or current problems. If you compare the report on
Macedonia with reports on other countries in the region,
Macedonia can be very proud with the results submitted to
Congress. A great number of questions remain open. Some of
them were pointed to by the report. You mentioned the census
issue. You are very well aware of the fact that the census
was conducted for a second time and under international
monitoring. According to these observers, the census was a
valid operation and we share their opinion. But there were
certain problems and I believe we all share this view. We
would not grade you with the highest possible grade on the
census. I think this is what the report meant to say. But,
if you look at the report, despite the questions raised, you
will see that Macedonia has shown a credible human rights
situation. You probably remember that all of your neighbors,
and this happens every year, complain against certain parts
of the report. This is probably understandable as no
country likes to have its problems portrayed by someone
else. We do this because we are asked to do it. The fact
that you take the report seriously is a positive point for
you. We all have to follow the human rights situation in our
countries and try to improve it constantly. You are probably
aware that there are questions asked in the US as well,
regarding issues like ethnic relations, prejudices,
integration and education. All these are signs which only
contribute to the strengthening of democracy.
Question: Speaking of the report, could you explain how it
happened that the Macedonians in Albania were referred to as
"ethnic Macedonians" while those in Greece as "Slav-
Macedonians"?
Answer: The report is completed by various authors from
various parts. I really could not add anything to this. What
is more, different offices in the State Department write
different parts of the report. They are joined together by
a third office and no one reads the report for language
consistency.
Question: The US are interested in a solution for the Greek-
Macedonian dispute. Even the two mediators, Vance and
Nimitz, are Americans, although the former represents the UN
Secretary General. Recently US Assistant Secretary of State,
Richard Holbrooke, has also been engaged in this issue. They
keep sending messages to Skopje and Athens to work out a
solution acceptable for both sides. Where does Washington
see a compromise?
Answer: I believe we do not even have any concrete ideas
about a possible solution; we just insist on a solution
which would be acceptable for both sides. We want to play a
mediating role. This means working with the positions of
both sides and trying to make one side realize the position
of the other and to help make progress in questions which
can be solved. This is our position. We believe it is time
to make progress in the talks. This costs Macedonia dearly,
but it also costs Greece a great deal. The question, in our
view, is now ripe and should be resolved. It is also on your
agenda to make progress in this direction as soon as
possible, so that you can be integrated into the
international community, enable your economy to grow and
stop being concerned about the situation to the north of
Macedonia. I believe this is a great opportunity and a
favorable period for investments in Macedonia, not only in
the form of aid programs, but also for large international
investments. All of these issues are held back because of
the dispute. According to my views, and the views of my
colleagues in Athens, both you and Greece gain very little
by being in a dispute. It is time to move forward. Once the
issue is settled, I am sure you will be able to achieve
agreements in many fields, to move forward and this should
be done only for the benefit of all. This is the view of my
Government, which wants to be a mediator and say, "Come on,
guys, let us get on with this."
Question: And a final question - will we possibly interview
you as an ambassador of the US to Macedonia the next time we
meet?
Answer: I must say I would like to see the day when the US
establishes full diplomatic ties with Macedonia. I am an
optimist. I believe this will happen in the near future. I
also hope to be promoted and would continue to serve in such
a position with a great deal of pleasure. But, of course,
this will depend on President Clinton and the context in
which he wants the US to be represented here.
(end)
mils-news 18 April '95
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