MAK-NEWS 22/09/95 (M.I.L.S.)

From: "M.I.L.S." <mils@ITL.MK>

Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory

CONTENTS

MILS NEWS

Skopje, 22 September 1995

[01] TARSHES RECEIVED BY GLIGOROV

Macedonian President Kiro Gligorov, received yesterday the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Daniel Tarshes. They discussed recent experiences in the relations between Macedonia and the Council of Europe, preceding the admittance of the country in this organization. The admittance of Macedonia in the Council of Europe, according to President Gligorov, will mean an up-turn in the concrete realization of the European option as one of the basic determinations of the foreign policy. Mr. Tarshes stated that the acceptance of Macedonia in the Council will open new possibilities for its further international promotion and integration in the European processes.

Mr. Tarshes was also received by the Macedonian Parliamentarian President, Stojan Andov, by the Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski, and Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski.

The members of the delegation of the Council of Europe met with the members of the Macedonian Parliamentary Commission for Foreign Policy. They were informed of the Macedonian foreign policy particularly regarding the neighbors. They were interested in the Macedonian-Greek relations and greeted the signing of the agreement.

After meeting with the high officials, Mr. Tarshes together with Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski, held a press conference where he voiced his conviction for fast admittance of Macedonia in the Council of Europe. He stressed that in Macedonia a lot has been done for the accordance of the interior legislature with the Convention for human rights and other standards of Europe and that the rapporteurs have positive report for Macedonia. The admittance, according to the Secretary general should be about November 10. On the question of does he expect any impediments on the admittance of Macedonia and under which name it will be admitted, Tarshes replied that he does not expect any impediments to appear, while regarding the name "I don't have an answer" said he, adding that in the report for Macedonia the name FYROM is used.

[02] RECOGNITION OF MACEDONIA AFTER STABILIZATION OF THE RELATIONS WITH GREECE

Yugoslav Foreign minister Milan Milutinovic, after the meeting with the Greek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou two days ago in Athens, stated that Belgrade will not recognize Skopje until the negotiations with Greece about the name issue finish. This news was released by the Athens News Agency. But, after returning from Athens, Milutinovic stated that there was no word about the Skopje issue, repeating the attitude that Belgrade will normalize the relations with Macedonia after this is done by Greece.

[03] SKOPJE IS TO BE RECOGNIZED ONLY AS FYROM

Greatest Greek opposition party Nea Democratia called the Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou to a forthcoming non- formal meeting of the leaders of the EU to place most seriously the Macedonian name issue. The Greek opposition, as A1 TV informs, obliges the Greek Prime Minister from the EU alliances to ask Skopje not to be recognized under any other name but FYROM. According to the writing of the left wing newspaper, as Macedonian TV reported, the greatest opposition party in Greece Nea Democratia has "signed an agreement with Skopje". Namely, the Athens newspaper makes a citation of the declaration of the Euro- Parliament in which is greeted the agreement signed in New York and expresses hope that with "cooperation and good will, resolvement of the rest problems will be provided".

[04] PROMOTING OF THE RELATIONS WITH THE AGENCY FOR ATOMIC ENERGY

Macedonian Science Minister Sofija Todorova, who leads the Macedonian delegation at the 39th General Conference of the International Agency for Atomic Energy, held in Wien , after the yesterday exposition voiced satisfaction of the cooperation between Macedonia and this Agency, supported its initiative for providing secure and effective use of the nuclear energy for peaceful aims. As Macedonia media informs, Minister Todorova met yesterday with the Secretary General of the Agency, and talked about promotion of the future cooperation between Macedonia and this institution, and was stressed the interest of this country for including in the national, regional and international programs and projects for promotion of the science and technological capacities for use of the nuclear technology.

[05] DIPLOMATIC BRIEFS

-During yesterdays holding of the Bishops Conference in Republic of Germany, Macedonian Ambassador in Germany, Srgjan Kerim, met with the Federal Chancellor Helmut Kohl. The Chancellor Kohl sent his sincere greetings to the President Gligorov and voiced satisfaction regarding the signed agreement between Macedonia and Greece. To Kohl, Macedonia is on the right way and should stay on it, and it has time on its side.

-Sweden sincerely greets the normalization of the relations between Macedonia and Greece, stated in Stockholm by the Sweden Foreign Minister Lena Helm. To her, this agreement is an typical instance for solving the disagreements between the two countries through negotiations.

[06] A GREAT STEP FOR THE BALKANS STABILITY

In yesterday's statement for MILS, the Slovenian Ambassador in Macedonia, Jozica Puhar, said that Slovenia with a great relief greets the signing of the "Interim Accord" between Republic of Macedonia and Republic of Greece. She sent greetings to the Macedonian leadership for the courage to retreat and make this step, which is obvious proof of the Macedonian peaceful policy and its determination for solving the dispute between neighbors problems. The signing of the agreement will have positive effect on the situation in Macedonia, particularly referring the opening of the new economic possibilities, will enforce the position of Macedonia in relation to the neighbors and other countries, as well as speeding up the process of including Macedonia in the international organizations and associations, she stressed. "We are certain that this is a great step in the establishment of the long term stability in the Balkans" pointed out the Ambassador, adding that Republic of Slovenia always gave political support to Republic of Macedonia for its affirmation and entrance in the international organization and institutions.

[07] INTERVIEW OF GLIGOROV FOR MLADINA

Ljubljana weekly "Mladina" in its latest issue published a longer interview with the Macedonian President, Kiro Gligorov. "In the past four years, with our policy of equidistance towards the neighbors, which first of all means establishing good neighborly relations with them all, we proved that the survival of Macedonia, as an independent country is a significant factor for the stability in the region and Europe. Today the Macedonian issue in not any longer on the agenda, certain occasional territorial claims by some neighbors are considered as reminiscences of already overcome historical conscience, stresses Gligorov. On the question regarding the ideas for Balkanian federations or confederations Gligorov stressed that imposing of any Balkanian community, which would be politically isolated, would be catastrophic not only for the region but for Europe, too. "Therefore is needed an integration of the Balkanian states in the European institutions. It is of course a long process, which demands changes within the same states, but Europe itself will have a use of it. That does not mean that we are against any other kinds of integration, first of all on the economy and economical interests". As for the name Macedonia, "to us, stressed Gligorov, it is very clear.

Geographically viewed, the name Macedonia is referring to a region expanding from Greece, Albania, Macedonia to Bulgaria, but there is a political term and that is Republic of Macedonia in its international recognized borders. That is our name, and does not endanger nobody."

[08] INTENSIVE PARLIAMENTARY ACTIVITY FOR THE CHANGE OF THE FLAG

Parliament is leading intensive activity for the change of the flag, Macedonian radio informs. The signatures are gathered for the change of the law, and several parliamentary groups already had meeting to establish the basis of this procedure. Unofficially, the procedure will start at the beginning of the next month. According to the Athens News Agency, the flag will be changed on October 5th, and that is also a sun but will not be like the Vergina symbol. A1 TV calling to its sources claims that it is possible that the procedure has already started yesterday, and proposers are the delegates of the election coalition "Alliance for Macedonia".

Meantime, the announced 26th Parliamentary session is postponed, and the Government is asked that in the Draft- Law for local Self-management to include latest proposals accepted by the parliamentary body and communities. The parliamentarians finished four points of the agenda of the past parliamentary sessions. referring to the information for the work of the Agency for Privatization is asked addition of the Information based on the remarks of the parliamentarians of the Liberal party, regarding the balance of income and expenses, scope of the privatization process, the real estate of the enterprises which privatize, the process of the privatization of the 25th loss-producing firms and the obligement of the Government to supply the Parliamentary a proposal of the purpose of the means of privatization.

[09] GAS LINES CONNECTED BETWEEN MACEDONIA AND BULGARIA

Yesterday near Kriva Palanka, a connection was made between the gas system of Macedonia and Bulgaria. First filling of the gas system is planned for October 18.

[10] BOYCOTT IN OGNJANCI CONTINUES

Yesterday in the Skopje village Ognjanci, pupils of Macedonan nationality of the regional school "Koco Racin" boycotted the teaching. The reason- the decision that within the same rooms pupils of Albanian nationality to follow the teaching process. The pupils of Albanian nationality so far regularly attended the teaching in the school. Sreten Paunovic, President of the Parental Committee of the children of Macedonian nationality and the newly formed comities for protection of the Macedonian language and cultural space in the village Ogjnanci, which announced a protest meeting for today in Petrovec, as stated to Radio Skopje. The boycott will go on until a final decision is reached from the Education Ministry. He thinks that the pupils - Albanians should re-draw in the e former rooms until a proper solution is found. On occasion these events, Education Minister Emilija Simoska stated that the problem to the ministry is considered solved and there is no longer any resistance from the employees in the school "Koco Racin". Organization of certain groups using pressure, associations and comities is in the work of Interior Ministry, said Simoska, while inexcusable absence of the children form school re-draw sanctions for their parents, added she.

[11] 50DM FOR EXIT OF MACEDONIA?

Tourism experts will ask from the Macedonian Government, Macedonian citizens when exiting the state to pay 50DM, A1 TV informs. It is about so called - protective exit tax which purpose is prevention of the domestic tourist economy and advertising of the host guest to spend its vacation in Macedonia. Meantime, this past tourist season was marked as an exceptionally bad year for the tourism because the drop in nights spent averaged about 40-50%.

MILS SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT:

[12] INTERVIEW WITH MATTHEW NIMITZ

(Puls, 22 September) (Part I)

Completing his mission for signing the Macedonian-Greek agreement and establishing full diplomatic relations between Washington and Skopje, special envoy of the US President , Mr. Matthew Nimitz informed the journalists at the International Press Center in New York about the negotiations and achieved results. At the beginning Mr. Nimitz voiced his viewpoint for the issue.

"Two days ago was signed the Interim Accord, between Greece and the country referring as Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, in attendance of UN Secretary General, Mr. Syrus Vance, as UN special envoy, and I participated as a special envoy of the President Clinton , helping as a mediator in this process for about a year and a half. My work is now complete. Interim Accord is a very important document. It is most probably the only document between two countries which does not contain names of the both sides, since, one of the issues is referring to the problems of profound interest for both countries, but not with for example borders, or money, but with names, symbols and similar relations. Therefore, the Interim Accord is a unique agreement. If we look more deeper in its context, these issues contained, are coming decades ago from the problems existing in the Balkans then, when deep concern cause the initiation so the so called Macedonian issue from the beginning of this century. It was the time when the Ottoman empire, and various states to their places in the international community. People in this region formed these states, and certain states took decades to find their real place. The disintegration of Yugoslavia led to a decision that each state in it can decide whether to become independent or not. The Republic in Yugoslavia named Socialist republic of Macedonia became independent state and in its Constitution took the name Republic of Macedonia. Greece stood against the name, and then came up with several other problems, such as symbols, propaganda, trade relations etc. One of the main concerns that we have in the US and in the international community was that will this lead to hostile feelings to the south of the Balkans, particularly in conditions when we had such situation in Bosnia and Croatia. Luckily, according to me there was proper leadership in both countries, proper statesmen which recognized the moment and work together to overcome the discrepancies between them".

On this occasion Mr. Nimitz talked with the journalists.

Christians Science Monitor : Do you try to say that Greece does not negotiate about the name issue? Will this problem ever be solved?

Nimitz :There is a resolution which main purpose is that the both sides agree, not underestimating the differences for the name, to work together in other areas. Both sides want to maintain their positions for the name. It is said here: The Sides will cooperate with intent to enable their mutual relations despite the differences for the name. Both states and nations have differences, but agreed to that their differences will not interfere in other fields of cooperation. It is obvious that there will not exist perfect relations between these two countries, between these two nations regarding such differences for the name. However, great number of countries and neighbors have differences, and at the same time very good relations in other fields. This agreement opens the door, solves only several problems, such as Greek recognition of Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, recognition of the borders, then to have an agreement for solving all the problems in a peaceful way, they reached agreement for the Constitution, there is a agreement for the flag and the symbols (the flag will be changed), then they reached an agreement for open non-interfering trade which solves the issue of the embargo and there is one important question that Greece will not stand against the admitting of Republic of Macedonia in the international institutions. As you already know, Greece used it s right of veto to keep away the country from certain programs and organizations. All agreed not to use that power that they have. So, many, many problems are being solved. Did they solve all of them? No! But, it goes on.

Christian Science Monitor : But the name issue...

Nimitz : Well, Greece has a name. Allow me to say few words about the name. The Constitutional name of the country we referring to as Former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia is Republic of Macedonia. So, the state adopted its name. Greece stands against that name for historical reasons. The UN admitted the country, but did not change its name, neither added something to it. They use a reference which says : In UN this country will be addressed as Former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia, a formulation that I 'm not glad to use when I use it. It is as if you call the US "former Britain colony of America". This is not a name. It is just a reference. It is as if you say name Zimbabwe "former Rhodesia". It is not a name, but a reference used to address when you don't want to say "Zimbabwe". So, to this country we address in that way, but it is not its name, avoiding in that way all the possible remarks about the name use. In a certain way it is very philosophical, but it is the reality. Such name problems exists between Great Britain and Ireland. I don't know if you are familiar to that. The Irish do not recognize the name "United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland". They do not use that in any document, and as I understood, the agreement is not on paper, because Ireland did not recognize that name. Also, the British do not accept the "Iri", that is the pronunciation on the Irish language the word "Ireland" and instead use the formulation "Republic of Ireland", and not "Iri" referring to entire Ireland (including the Northern Ireland). It is since year 1920. However, both countries cooperate very well, although technically formally they have not settled their names. There are other places in the world with similar problem: Both China, for instance, since Taiwan is named "Republic of China" which we don't recognize as a name, so this country can be included as the country under the name "Taiwan". There are also other countries with similar problems, but they all work on its overcoming.

(to be continued)

(end)

mils news 22 September'95