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MILS NEWS 24/05/94Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>CONTENTS
MILS SUPPLEMENTMILS NEWSSkopje, 24 May 1996[01] MACEDONIAN DELEGATION RECEIVED BY THE POPEMacedonian officials and Church representatives, led by Parliament President Tito Petkovski and Metropolitan Timotei, were received yesterday by the Pope John Paul the Second, during their stay in Rome on the occasion of the celebration 'Macedonia In Honor of St. Cyril'.As Macedonian media reported, Tito Petkovski expressed his gratitude to the Pope on behalf of the Macedonian people, for the support he had given to Macedonia. He also extended the invitation to the Pope, from the Macedonian President Gligorov, to visit Macedonia. Head of the Catholic Church said Macedonia had deserved the support by keeping the peace in that part of the Balkans. The Pope also talked about the long centuries of Macedonian history and about its struggle for independence. [02] 'ELEFTEROTIPIA' - POSSIBLE MEETING OF GLIGOROV AND STEFANOPOULOS NEXT MONTHPresidents of Macedonia, Kiro Gligorov, and of Greece, Costis Stefanopoulos, might meet in Strasbourg, at the session of the Council of Europe at the end of June. This information was presented by the Greek left-wing paper 'Elefterotipia' yesterday, reported 'Makfax' agency. The paper added that both Presidents will present their speeches at the session.[03] TALKS WITH USA MILITARY EXPERTSMacedonian Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski had talks yesterday with the US National Military College delegation, led by Professor Thomas Kinny, on the political situation in the country and in the region, the social and economic development of Macedonia, and especially about the level reached at the political and economic reforms.They also exchanged opinions about the security situation and the efforts of the Republic of Macedonia to preserve the peace and stability inside the country. It was said that Macedonia was a good example of solving all the open issues through a dialogue inside the institutions. Emphasizing the results from the UN peace mission to Macedonia, Crvenkovski pointed out the clear determination of Macedonia to join the collective security systems. The guests from USA yesterday also met with Macedonian Defense Minister Blagoj Hanjiski and with Macedonian Army Chief of Staff General Trajche Krstevski. Meanwhile, the Force Commander of the UNPREDEP in Macedonia, Brigadier-General Bo Wranker, considers the presence of UNPREDEP in Macedonia necessary even in 1997, reported today's edition of daily 'Vecer'. Wranker mention the problems: of the implementation of the Dayton Agreement, of the final settlement of the border line between Macedonia an FRY an of the completion of the Macedonian Army, as reasons for UNPREDEP to stay in Macedonia. [04] CONCRETIZING MACEDONIAN - FR YUGOSLAV RELATIONSMacedonian media reported yesterday that the FR Yugoslav Parliament will next week urgently ratify the Agreement on Relations and Cooperation between Macedonia and FRY. The information from Belgrade was that Yugoslav Federal Government had already submitted the draft Law on Confirmation of the Agreement to the Parliament.Meanwhile, the two-days expert talks between the Macedonian and Yugoslav Transport Ministers in Belgrade were concluded by signing a Protocol and a draft Agreement on regulation of all kinds of transport. The texts regarding the postal and railways transport were immediately agreed on, while the one referring to the road transport had been left open due to the disagreement on the number of licenses. Namely, as A-1 Television reported, Yugoslav party had offered only one third of the licenses number that was required by Macedonian party. This issue will, therefore, be again discussed at the next meeting in June. Agreements regarding the air transport and flight control were also reached, and they will be in force until Macedonian side completely takes over the flight control over Macedonian territory on 7 November. [05] GLIGOROV: KOSOVO ISSUE - A PRIORITY FOR THE REGION'After Dayton Accord, the solution of the Kosovo issue is a priority for the region and for peaceful co-existence of nations,' said President Kiro Gligorov of Macedonia for the Swiss paper 'Daily'. 'Makpress' agency reports that President Gligorov had estimated the latest killings in Kosovo as worrying, and said thing could get out of control as there are groups in Kosovo that disagree with Rugova's pacifistic option. He stressed that those groups were dreaming of a rebellion against Serbia, of liberation of Kosovo and its joining to Albania, which would be an enormous risk for the whole region. 'Powerful Serbian Army would enter such a conflict and it would bring to new ethnic 'cleaning'. Rugova is aware of that risk and is hoping to procure an autonomy for Kosovo by international pressure,' stressed Gligorov.He stated that Albanians in Macedonia were united with those in Kosovo and would certainly not watch the situation peacefully, which would spread the danger to the territory of Macedonia. Macedonian President added that there were some extremists in Macedonia dreaming of a Great Albania or federalization of Macedonia, but that according to him, the majority of Albanians in the country refused using force and supported the participation of their parties in the governmental institutions. He concluded that the only solution for Kosovo issue would be negotiations between Pristine and Belgrade which would be concluded satisfactorily for both parties. [06] RUGOVA: 'THE SOLUTION LIES IN PEOPLE'S WILL FOR INDEPENDENCE'Democratic Alliance of Kosovo has adopted a platform on discussions with Belgrade about the future of Kosovo, informed Belgrade independent press media yesterday. As alleged, Ibrahim Rugova had categorically said that the issue of the province would be solved on the basis of 'people's will for an independent Kosovo'. He expressed his belief that such an aim could be realized by political means and through discussions with Belgrade mediated by a third party. The leader of Kosovo Albanians also announced that Kosovo will be included in the discussions on former SFRY succession, as, according to him, this province was a constitutive element of former federation.In the meantime, Serbian Radical Party of Voislav Seselj issued an announcement yesterday, in which they accused the leader of SPO, Vuk Drashkovic, of secretly preparing a coalition with Rugova's Democratic Alliance. According to Seselj, Drashkovic and his party seriously intended to govern a part of the Serbian territory, and were working on it by supporting Ibrahim Rugova, who in return will give them the votes of all Albanians in Kosovo. [07] ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT GREEK VISASMacedonian citizens who will want to enter Greece from a third country, either for a temporary stay or transit only, and had previously not obtained a Greek visa in Macedonia, will be able to do that through a diplomatic - consular office of Greece in that third country. This was announced yesterday by Macedonian Foreign Ministry, reminding that, in accordance with the Interim Accord, the visas are being issued at Macedonia-Greece border crossings.[08] MONETARY POLICY REALIZED AS PLANNEDCouncil of Macedonian National Bank yesterday discussed the realization of the monetary policy at the first quarter of 1996, and concluded that it was being carried out as agreed and planned with the IMF, by which the agreed on limits of basic monetary aggregates had been realized. As it was officially announced, the Council concluded that conditions had been created to withdraw the last installment of 'Stand By' arrangement with IMF, by which it is successfully and definitely realized.The Council also estimated that, taking into account the movements of prices during the first four months, when a 0.4% deflation was realized, there was a need now to relax the monetary policy, which should encourage industrial production and increasing of GNP. That was the reason why the Council decided to reduce the discount rate from 12 to 10% annually, besides the previous decision to increase the denar investments in banks at the first half of 1996. It is expected from the commercial and savings banks to reduce their interest rates now. [09] OBJECTIONS TO THE LAW ON TERRITORIAL DIVIDINGSeveral objections to the proposed Law on Territorial Dividing of Macedonia were presented at yesterday's session of the Association of Municipalities and Towns. They referred to the cabinet-way of its preparing, to disrespecting the Law on Local Self-Government, and to the lack of a referendum for the citizens. Most of those present agreed that Macedonia should not be divided to more than 70 municipalities, regarding its size.President of Tetovo Municipality Shakjir Aliti said the new Law led to dividing up of municipalities and to weakening of the territorial connection, 'which is a politicization of the Law'. President of Debar Municipality required only one municipality, and not two, to be anticipated for this town. It was also said that the number of municipalities of Skopje should not be increased, as it would mean losing of its special marks. [10] THIRD INTERNATIONAL MOTOR FAIR IN SKOPJE OPENEDThe 3rd International Motor Fair 'Autoexpo '96' was opened yesterday in Skopje by Macedonian President Kiro Gligorov.More than 100 exhibitors from Europe, Asia and America will present themselves on about 22,000 square metres. A great number of cars, motorbikes and transport vehicles will be exhibited, as well as tyres, auto-cosmetics, paints, spare parts and other equipment. The Fair will be closed on May 31. [11] 'SLOGA JUGOMAGNAT' - WINNER OF MACEDONIAN CUPThe team of 'Sloga Jugomagnat' is the winner of the Cup of Macedonia finals in football. The game against 'Vardar' team from Skopje ended by penalty kicks with 5:3. 'Sloga' will, therefore, play at the European Cup, while 'Sileks' and 'Vardar' will represent Macedonia in other international competitions.MILS SUPPLEMENT[12] 'Macedonia Is Successfully Developing Relations with NATO'('Puls', 24 May 1996)NATO Secretary General Javier Solana, in an interview he gave for Macedonian weekly 'Puls' and for BBC after the North Atlantic Assembly spring session, talked about issues of greatest significance for the Alliance, such as: preserving the security in Europe; NATO extension process; practical applying of Partnership for Peace Programme; stability in the southern NATO wing and in Mediterranean; the role of IFOR and the functioning of Dayton Accord in Bosnia and Herzegovina; and, of course, about the place of Macedonia at the NATO extension process. Asked to explain the connection of the extension process with the preserving of the security in Europe, especially in the Balkan region, Solana said: 'The process of opening NATO is already taking place and I think the Alliance will, this year, deal to a great extend with establishing a dialogue with countries that want to join it. I suppose the new members will be accepted during the next year. My opinion is that it will mean widened area of security and stability in Europe. The decision for NATO to be extended was brought in 1994 in Brussels, and it has already began. We will continue to realize it wisely, but transparently and dynamically. I would like to inform you that the individual dialogue we had already started with different partners and members is being led in a good direction. We will, therefore, continue it till the end of the year and decide about two issues till December: first, what should the countries, which are already participating in the established cooperation and contacts, tell us and how they should adapt, and second, how should NATO be adjusted to the moment of becoming completely open for new members. Regarding the extension process of NATO, I must say it is an inevitable process and will certainly be realized. But, the countries which are invited to join the Alliance will have to be aware of their full responsibility and obligations. They will have to know that the solidarity within the Alliance is of the greatest importance. I would also like to say that the extension process has to be performed in a true way if we want it to be successful. We will, therefore, have to continue the dialogue to show the countries how much and what they should change about themselves and how they should adjust their structures to become useful NATO members. On the other hand, NATO also has to know how much it should adjust to be able to preserve and defend the basic principles of the security system in Europe.' Joining NATO is a very popular subject in many East European countries. One of them is the Republic of Macedonia, which had already signed the Partnership for Peace Programme and had participated at the North Atlantic Assembly as a joined member. We asked Mr. Solana where he sees Macedonia within the framework of NATO security system. 'Macedonia is on a good way and is successfully developing the relations with the Alliance. As I said before, we will decide who, when and why will join NATO, and the negotiations and analyses will last for a certain period of time. Maybe even for several years. Also, some eastern countries will become members at the very first round, and the others later. There is no going back now, after the process had started. Patience and persistent work is necessary, and in the interest of all. The results are, therefore, inevitable. Unfortunately, I did not have the chance to visit Macedonia during my recent visit to the East European countries, but I hope I will be able to do that soon. I already told that to your Foreign Affairs Minister during the North Atlantic Assembly in Athens.' (end)mils news 24 May 1996Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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