MILS NEWS 08/02/96

From: "M.I.L.S." <mils@MILS.SPIC.ORG.MK>

Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory

CONTENTS

MILS NEWS

Skopje, 08 February 1996

[01] YEAR OF ACHIEVEMENTS AND TRIUMPHS

In his speech, President Clinton added that people from all over the world admired Macedonian people for the way they reacted to the cowardly terrorist act against Gligorov. 'Conscientiously following the constitutional procedures to fill the emptiness that appeared during the recovery of your President, Macedonian people ensured the triumph of the democracy. The efforts to lead your country to the democratic procedures, confronted with such a challenge of the stability, are inspiring. And you succeeded. We are all thankful for President's Gligorov fast recovery and for his returning to his duties. Your country is also an example of solving the conflicts.

During the last several years, unfortunately, your region was involved in a devastating war, but your country chose the peaceful way of solving the disputes with its neighbours. A great improvement in the relations with one of your neighbours was achieved last year. We praise to your leaders for their interceding for peace, and we hope others will follow this example.

The acceptance of the preventive forces of UN, is only one of the examples of Macedonia's contribution to the peace and stability in the region. I want to personally thank your Government for the warm welcome of the UNPREDEP forces, including the 550 US soldiers amongst them.

Despite the infavourable economical situation, partly due to the consequences from the war in the region and the embargo, your Government remained on the way of economic reforms and made big steps forward improving the life of your citizens. We praise your efforts to control the inflation and to privatize the economy, and we hope that you will have bigger successes in these areas', said President Clinton.

At the end of his speech, US President congratulated Macedonia's joining to the 'Partnership for Peace' program, to OSCE, and to the Council of Europa, saying the participation of Macedonia in this organizations is not only in the interest of the country, but also of the international community. President Clinton, also, expressed readiness to strengthen the friendly relations and cooperation between Macedonia and USA.

[02] SDSM REMAINS ON ITS DECISIONS

According to the unofficial information the Macedonian press, the new cabinet will have three vice-presidents:

Jane Miljoski, Bekjir Zutta and Ljube Trpevski. The new Minister of Culture will be Slobodan Unkovski, of Finances, Taki Fiti, of Education, Sofia Todorova, of Science, Aslan Selmani or Jevded Gega, of Agriculture Paraksov, current General Manager of 'Tikvesh' - Kavadarci, of Labour and Social policy Abdurahman Allitti or Naser Ziberi, and of Development Menaf Bejetti.

According to 'Vecer', the positions of Ministers of Foreign and Internal Affairs are still under consideration, and, according to unofficial sources, Macedonian Ambasador to Germany, Srgjan Kerim, will be the new Foreign Minister. The rest of the ministerial positions will remain unchanged.

[03] LIBERALS AGREE WITH GLIGOROV

[04] PDP - 'THE DISPUTES MUST BE SOLVED'

It was also stressed that the interests of the country must be above all, and particularly above the interests of the parties. In case SDSM and the Liberal Party can not solve their mutual problems, each of them should bear its own responsibilities for the further actions and happenings in the country.

PDP expects to be given five ministerial and four vice- ministerial positions in the new Government.

[05] REACTIONS TO THE APPEAL IN GREECE AND FR YUGOSLAVIA

The independent Belgrade daily 'Nasa Borba', yesterday also wrote about the disputes between the parties in Macedonia, describing them as 'a war of parties clans for controlling the capital'.

The statement of President Gligorov was reported by the Greek media also, and their estimation was that Gligorov called for unity of the Coalition partners and the public, as otherwise the crisis might widen and even endanger the reputation and the international position of the country.

[06] RECOGNITION OF MACEDONIA - IN MORE SUITABLE CONDITIONS

The only right solution, therefore, would be to recognize Macedonia when the conditions will be more suitable, and under the name on which Skopje and Athens will agree.

Meanwhile, the reporter of 'Nova Makedonija' from Athens informed that the worsened relations between Greece and Turkey have brought an additional internal pressure on the Greek Government to solve the name dispute with Skopje as soon as possible.

'Belgrade's recognition of Macedonia is the only condition for normalization of the relations between the EU and FR Yugoslavia, but it does not mean that the rest of the problems will not influence the economic and other cooperation of FRY with the EU.' - is said, according to 'Nova Makedonija', in the message of European Commission Spokesman, Niko Nestor, to the FR Yugoslav Premiere, Radoje Kontic.

[07] STRENGTHENING THE BALKAN COOPERATION

[08] AGREEMENT ON THE COOPERATION WITH THE ALBANIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE

Albanian skiers will participate in the Ski Cup of Shara Mountain, and Albanian swimmers in the international gathering in Skopje, scheduled for 6 and 7 April. Also, Albanian athletes will participate in all the international championships in Macedonia. Macedonia has signed such agreements with Croatia and Slovenia, and has written statements for cooperation with the Italian and Yugoslav Olympic Committees.

[09] BORDER COOPERATION BETWEEN GREECE AND MACEDONIA

'Makpress' informed that, in the frames of the EU - Macedonia negotiations, Macedonia will require a preferential using of the Thessaloniki port. A support from the EU will be also required for the border traffic development of the two countries.

[10] FUNDS INSUFFICIENT FOR THE RAIL TRACK TO BULGARIA

[11] PRESENTATION OF 'ALFA TV'

MILS SUPPLEMENT

[12] Macedonians in Greece - Second Rate Citizens

('Nova Makedonija', 07 February, 1996)

'Since more than 13 years ago, Macedonian political refugees and their relatives who live in Greece have been protesting on the Law 106841 from December 29, 1982, with which the right for repatriation was given only to those 'Greek by birth'. The Law 1540 from 1985 is similar to the previous one. With it to many Greeks either their properties were returned or were given some compensation.

It was not so with the Macedonian refugees, who are, in fact, fully excluded from the right to repatriation.' - told us Pavlos Voskopoulos, a member of the Central Committee of 'Rainbow'.

'It must be said that many Macedonians, political or economic emigrants, were deprived from the Greek citizenship, their properties have been taken away, and they even have no right to visit their native places. The Protest qualifies this policy as unjust and racist. It is even in contrast with Greek Constitution and laws, which, at least on paper, proclaim equality of all citizens.' - said Voskopoulos. That is a policy contrary to all international laws, which are signed by the Greek Government.

And while such a policy is being carried out towards Macedonians in Greece, the migration is being stimulated and justified in many ways at the abandoned areas, by a new wave of immigrants from the Eastern European countries. 'Greek authorities, says Voskopoulos, introduced many measures to incourage settlement in these areas, by giving settlers building sites, fields to cultivate, financial help, etc. A typical example of this is the official document no. 202 of the Greek Ministry for Macedonia and Trakia, from 17 April, 1995. It recommends to the local authorities of the municipalities and villages to give the public building sites, fields or abandoned houses to the people who are returning from the former socialistic countries. The document requires the same from the local representatives of the Ministry of Agriculture.'

'In the Protest', says Voskopoulos, 'Rainbow' points out that it is required to be evidenced how many families or citizens have had a house in the last 10 years in each village, or how many houses have been given by the state.

In practice, it means to check how many vacant houses are there in that places. The aim is obvious - to see the possibilities for settling Greeks from the ex-socialistic countries. The Protest warns that many of those houses and properties have been taken away illegally from the local Macedonians. That the official authorities approve of these actions, is clear from the fact that Greek Minister for Macedonia and Trakia, Constandinos Triaridis, participated in the procedure, due to which he may be called a 'Minister for migration in our settlements', says Voskopoulos. Nobody would have minded the settling of people who want to return to Greece, if Macedonian political refugees have been given the right to return to their native place. These actions of the authorities prove that they are trying to change the demographic structure of Aegean Macedonia and Trakia.

Besides that, Greek authorities carry out a perfidious plan for employing the newly settled Greeks in the so- called 'border guarding units', that do not really have a defensive role, but remind of the similar units in the past which terrorized Macedonians. Greek Government generously finances programs for teaching dialects of the immigrants and for cultural associations, which are being advertised in the papers. Macedonian culture is being, on the other hand, completely ignored. The funds from the EU, intended for teaching the minority languages, such as Macedonian and Vlach, are not used for the right purpose in Aegean Macedonia. The result of this policy is the bitterness and revolt that has appeared between Macedonians, as nobody cares about their problems and situation. The local authorities actively participate in the political and psychological terror of the Macedonian minority. This brings to social riots and intolerance between Macedonians and other nationalities, which could have severe consequences.

Voskopoulos says that the following is required from the Greek Government:

Introducing legislative and administrative measures which will give the right for repatriation to Macedonians, returning them the deprived citizenship and realization of the rehabilitation program. It is also required the properties to be returned, or, in case it is not possible, some compensation to be given. It is insisted the EU programs for education in the mother tongue of minorities, such as Macedonia mad Vlach, to be properly carried out.

Most of all, actions are required to prevent the unemployment and to stop the activities that limit the ideological and political freedom of Macedonian minority in Greece, as well as to abolish the 'border - guard units', that are not a regular army. 'Rainbow' also plans soon to raise the issue of returning the original geographic toponyms in the Aegean Macedonia.

It must be stressed that the results of the anti- constitutional policy, which is contrary to all international conventions and standards, will never be accepted by the Macedonian inhabitants and they will never consider it final. Greek Government constantly refuses to carry out the demands of Macedonians, despite the fact that it is obliged to do that by its Constitution and laws, and that it is a member of the international organizations. That is why this Protest is sent to the bodies of EU, to OSCE, to the European Council, to the Governments and members of the European Council, to the UN, and to the Greek and international NGOs for protection of human rights, concluded Voskopoulos.

(end)

mils news 08 February 1996