Yesterday, Macedonian president Kiro Gligorov addressed the Assembly of the West European Union (WEU) in Paris. Speaking of global processes in Europe, he pointed out problems faced by the world in the post Cold War period. The only perspective for Europe, he said, is in a union of all European countries, including the ones undergoing transition. Collective security mechanisms, such as WEU, OSCE and NATO along with the UN, are of a fundamental importance for the new strategy, Gligorov added. He also spoke of the ongoing war in the former Yugoslavia. 'As long as there are ambitions towards foreign territories and towards creation of ethnic states instead of opening borders and a European option, conflicts will be inevitable. That is why efforts for strengthening peace and security in the Balkans has to start from the new Balkan political reality: that is, that the former Yugoslavia disintegrated for the simple reason of having been an artificial creation; that the newly emerged and internationally recognized states in the region are independent and sovereign states; that all former members of the Yugoslav federation are equal legal successors to it; and, that no new experiments with imposed or forcefully created integration is possible.'
Gligorov presented the basic principles of Macedonia's foreign policy: firm determination for a status quo and no changes of existing borders; no territorial ambitions of Macedonia toward foreign territories; policy of quick and radical reforms to establish a market economy; ethnic understanding and tolerance; and advancement of rights of minorities in the country. A long-term goal of Macedonia, he said, is to become included in the EU, NATO and other European associations and institutions. During his visit to Paris, Gligorov met with the president of the French Chamber of Trade and Industry. The French showed interest in Macedonia's banking system and privatization and investment projects, particularly the Vardar Valley plan. It was agreed to have an information day at the Chamber sometime in September, as well as to provide scholarships for Macedonian students to enroll at the French-English-German business school. Gligorov later met with the French Foreign Minister Herve de Sharette. They stressed that the mutual relations are good, and there is a common interest to develop them further. Speaking of the Greek-Macedonian dispute, Sharette said his government will do everything in its power to help reach a solution as soon as possible to enable Macedonia to continue with its development. He added he believed the Macedonian side would be cooperative during the negotiations under the mediation of Cyrus Vance.
'Ideas to create new federations in the territory of the former Yugoslavia are unreal and could only add to the already existing tension,' President Gligorov said in an interview for Belgrade weekly 'Economic Politics'. Saying all such plans are just schemes and fabrications, he advised that it would be far better if all Balkan states would turn toward Europe and seek a way to become included in the European Union.
'No new federations or confederations are possible; all that regional countries could do is to come up with a similar development strategy, already accepted by a large number of European countries,' he said. The basis for such a plan would be ending the war, introducing open communications, lifting trade blockades and the mutual recognition of all former Yugoslav republics. Gligorov said rump Yugoslavia cannot be the sole successor to the former Yugoslavia, reminding of the conclusions of the Baddinter Committee, EU resolutions and the final documents of the London Conference. No state will accept the qualification of being created after a secession, and especially not Macedonia, as this was done upon agreement. The former Yugoslav People's Army was peacefully withdrawn from Macedonia, Gligorov concluded.
Macedonian Parliament President Stojan Andov yesterday received Henrik Sokalski, newly appointed Head of the UNPREDEP Mission and Assistant to the UN Secretary General. They exchanged ideas on the situation in the country and the region, as well as the UNPREDEP mission in Macedonia. Sokalski was later received by Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski, to discuss economic losses of Macedonia due to the international sanctions on Yugoslavia and the Greek- imposed embargo on Macedonia.
At a government press-conference yesterday, spokesman Djuner Ismail said Macedonian Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkoski's visit to New York is solely aimed at holding consultative talks with UN mediator Cyrus Vance. Asked whether there are changes in the positions of the Macedonian or Greek side, Ismail said the meeting is only another one in a series of consultative sessions between Crvenkovski and Vance. Replying to a similar question in Paris, Ismail reminded, President Gligorov said there is hope, but it remains to be seen what the talks in New York would come to.
The Greek media give no official comment on the New York visit of Crvenkovski. The press in Athens published a news item citing a statement of Crvenkovski for Macedonian Radio on non changes in viewpoints of either side. According to Ta Nea, the main obstacle toward a solution is the European Court of Justice's decision to delay the European Commission-versus-Greece case for as late as in September. The paper claims that Gligorov is awaiting the court's decision before making a further step in any direction. Other than that, the paper says citing a Greek diplomat, everything is ready and awaits to be signed by Gligorov. The moderate Eleftherotipia writes that journalist circles in Skopje believe that Crvenkovski's visit to New York is linked to the announced summer vacation of Nimitz in Greece. This is considered to be a step showing favoritism on the part of the US special envoy, the paper explains.
In Tirana two days ago, the Albanian President Sali Berisha met Gert Arens to discuss problems in the region, A1 television reports. Arens described efforts of the International Committee for Securing Human Rights and Liberties in the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia. Berisha pointed out that Albania is interested in stable and good relations with Macedonia, but added this was preconditioned by respect for and implementation of rights of Albanians there.
'We stand for continuation of the dialogue between political parties of Albanians and authorities in Macedonia,' he said, 'and for solutions to all problems in the information system, education, communication and inclusion of Albanians in the state administration in Macedonia.'
The Macedonian Government held a press-conference yesterday, saying it had passed a Program for Investments in the Public Sector and turned down a request of the public electricity company for an increase in the price of electricity. The Investment Program gives priority to investment projects in the infrastructure, road communications, West-East corridor, energy and communications. The total needed investment is calculated at $1.113 billion, 475 million of which are to be foreign investments.
The request of the electricity company to increase the cost of electricity by 80 per cent was turned down, government officials explained, since it was not sufficiently documented. The electricity company was advised to complete its request with thorough analyses to be examined by the government.
The cabinet also adopted several resolutions and instructions to be submitted to customs workers regarding the control over exports and imports of Macedonian vegetables and other agricultural products. This was caused by recent reports of illegal sale of imported products to Yugoslavia.
Following a visit to Lagonisi, Greece, as invited by the Greek Helsinki Citizens Assembly, the Macedonian Helsinki Committee issued a joint statement to say, 'We, members of the Helsinki Citizen Assembly and other non-governmental organizations from Skopje, Struga, Prilep, Tetovo, Athens and Thessaloniki, have gathered in Lagonisi to exchange views on current relations between our two countries. During the meeting, we freely expressed our personal views to find out that, despite differing viewpoints, there is a desire to find common ground and resolve the ongoing dispute. We agreed that open dialogue between citizens and experts is a positive approach toward the achievement of understanding and mutual trust, these being the essential prerequisites for reaching a political solution through mutual compromise.
Therefore, we appeal to both governments to immediately step up the dialogue towards finding a solution to the dispute and help remove all kinds of barriers.'
As of next Monday, the Tutunska Banka of Skopje will start selling American Express travelers checks. The checks will be made out in US dollars and German marks and will be easily cashed abroad.
(The Globe and Mail, June 20 1995)
Event: Recent opinion poll results suggest a change of government in next year's Albanian election is likely. Significance: The fall of President Sali Berisha would place a question mark over US policy in the southern Balkans and over Albania's stand with respect to the Yugoslav's wars of succession.
Analysis: Albanians are turning towards the Socialist Party (SP). A recent opinion poll conducted by the Brussels-based Eurobarometer organization showed more than 60 per cent support for the SP. This turn to the left is being brought about by many of the same factors - loss of status for professional groups, falling living standards for old-age pensioners, and high and growing unemployment rates - which have led electorates in other East European countries to turn to ex-Communist parties:
- If disguised unemployment and severe rural unemployment are taken into account, the real jobless level in Albania is probably about 25 per cent of the working population. Although large numbers of Albanians (often illegally) work abroad, mainly in Greece and Italy, opportunities to work in more developed European states remain limited.
- Although real incomes have risen in Tirana and the more prosperous parts f the country since 1992, this recovery was from an extremely low base, and there are still many areas with living standards comparable to those of poorer Third World countries.
- A new urban underclass has been created, consisting largely of dispossessed collective farm workers who are building shanty towns on the outskirts of the cities. In political terms, the government of President Sali Berisha, led by Aleksander Meksi, has not recovered from its devastating defeat in last November's referendum. The government's proposals for a new constitution were rejected by the electorate in a poll widely seen as a midterm vote of confidence in Mr. Berisha and his government. There have been subsequently been a number of important defections from the governing Democratic Party, including former party chairman Eduard Selami and a number of right wingers dissatisfied with the government's proposals to water down its land restitution policy. Mr. Berisha - probably correctly - calculates that more votes are to be lost than won by pursuing the restitution of real property confiscated under the Communist regime to its former owners.
Those who stand to gain from restitution have abandoned the DP. Thomas Dosti, whose father led the anti-Communist opposition after the Second World War, has left the party over the restitution issue and founded the Democratic Party of the Right. Mr. Selami, for his part, appears to be moving closer to pro-Greek elements of the opposition. The government's response to its sagging political fortunes has been to crack down on the independent media. After a meeting last week of the Democratic Party governing council, a ban on sales of newspapers from non-government outlets was ordered. The general manager of the Socialist newspaper Zeril Poppulit has been arrested on corruption charges, and a number of the paper's journalists have fled to Italy. Independent non-aligned newspapers, such as the Italian owned Gazeta Shqiptare, have said they will have to close if the sales ban continues. The move against the press signals e revival of the centralizing, authoritarian trend in Mr. Berisha's government.
Mr. Berisha's attempt to emasculate the media will probably not enable him to stave off electorate defeat. However, the press clamp down could create serious problems for his international reputation. It appears almost impossible for Mr. Berisha to win next year's general election and remain in power without recourse to undemocratic methods. He will not resort to anything so overt as a coup or a cancellation of the election, but there is some risk of widespread electoral malpractice of the kind that marked last year's election in neighboring Macedonia. The prospect of a change of government raises questions about the future of Western - particularly US - policy in the southern Balkans, which has staked much on support for Mr. Berisha. While there is no reason to believe a Socialist government will be anti-Washington per se, it will be unlikely to be as cooperative as Mr. Berisha. No Albanian government of any stripe could adopt a pro- Serbian stance - indeed, none would wish to - but a Socialist government might prefer simply to distance itself from the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia rather than to support the West.
Conclusion: Mr. Berisha and the DP are unlikely to stage a political recovery before the election. A Socialist government in Tirana would raise the prospect of a less pro- US foreign policy.