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MILS NEWS 05/07/96Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>CONTENTS
MILS SUPPLEMENTMILS NEWSSkopje, 05 July 1996[01] LONG TIME EXPECTED RECOGNITIONMacedonian media yesterday confirmed the information that Canada had recognized Macedonia. The two countries have established diplomatic relations on level of ambassadors by exchanging diplomatic notes. Macedonian Radio reported about a meeting held between Charge d' Affairs of Canadian Embassy in Belgrade Denis Sneider and Macedonian Foreign Minister Ljubomir Frchkovski where wider bilateral cooperation between the two countries was discussed.Announcement of the Canadian Foreign Affairs Ministry issued yesterday reads Canada's decision to recognize Macedonia and establish diplomatic relations should have come much earlier, but the delay was due to the sensitivity of the issue and to the relations with other Balkan countries. Recognition of Macedonia under its temporarily name, as announced, was due to the fact that Macedonia and Greece are still negotiating on the name problem. The priority in the bilateral relations will be promoting human and minorities rights. Canadian Foreign Ministry authorized the Canadian Embassy in Belgrade to be temporarily in charge of Macedonia until a diplomatic office is opened in the country. Macedonian Radio also reported that Greek ethnic union in Canada severely reacted to the decision of the Canadian Government. [02] PLEASED WITH RECOGNITION, DISAPPOINTED WITH THE NAMECanadian-Macedonian Human Rights Committee, on the occasion of the recognition of Macedonia by Canada expressed gratitude to Canadian Minister Lloyd Axworthy for the establishing of diplomatic relations with Macedonia, but underlined their disappointment with the fact that after five years delay Canada decided to recognize Macedonia under its temporary name, and not under its Constitutional one.The letter also read that this Committee members disagreed with information that the name is a subject of negotiations. According to them, what is going on in New York are talks, not negotiations. [03] MEMBERSHIP IN 'PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE' IMPORTANT STEP'Macedonia's joining the 'Partnership for Peace' Initiative was a significant step forward towards strengthening of security and international position of the country, and was simultaneously a contribution to the stability and peace in the region,' was one of the conclusions made at yesterday's meeting between Macedonian President Kiro Gligorov and Deputy Allied Commander for Europe General Jeremy McKenzie in Skopje. During the meeting, which was attended by Macedonian Army Chief of Staff Trajche Krstevski, the activities organized so far for the improvement of Macedonia-NATO cooperation were discussed. Following the guests' interest, Gligorov presented official Macedonian views on the current situation in the region and relations with the neighbours.[04] MACEDONIAN ARMY UNIT AT MANEUVERS IN ALBANIAAt the maneuvers of NATO and 'Partnership for Peace' Programme in Albania from 14 to 21 July, a Macedonian Army unit will be a part of multi-national armed forces outside Macedonia for the first time. Macedonian media reported that the unit of 91 soldiers had been trained for three months, and their main task at the maneuvers will be implementation of peace accords. Other participants at the maneuvers called 'Peace Making Eagle '96' will be USA, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Albania, Slovenia, Romania and Bulgaria.[05] STILL UNCERTAIN PRESENCE OF FRCHKOVSKI AT SOFIA MEETINGMacedonian media reported that, as a result of the Greek opposing to the usage of Constitutional name of Macedonia at the ministerial meeting in Sofia on one hand, and Macedonian Foreign Minister Frchkovski's refusing to attend it if Macedonia is named as FYROM, a compromise finding effort is undergoing in Sofia. Apparently, all the Ministers will be presented with their personal names and their countries flags. This proposal of the organizer will today be discussed by the Committee of Political Directors of the countries invited to the meeting. In case it is rejected, neither Minister Frchkovski nor any other representative of Macedonian Foreign Ministry will attend the meeting, which is a denial of the speculations that representatives of a lower range would go to Sofia.Besides the host, only Greece and FR Yugoslavia have confirmed the participation at the meeting. Romanian Minister will arrive with a delay, while Croatia will send an observer delegation. According to "Vecer', it is expected FR Yugoslavia to submit an amendment asking for a support in its re-integration in the international institutions. [06] NEW ROUND OF MACEDONIAN-GREEK TALKS ON 11 JULYMacedonian Ambassador Ivan Toshevski and the Greek one Hristos Zaharakis will meet again in New York on 11 July for a new round of talks on the name issue, reads today's edition of 'Dnevnik', according to diplomatic sources.However, no possibility for concrete results had been notified. [07] REGIONAL APPROACH - JOINT FRAME FOR NEGOTIATIONSEuropean Commission Special Envoy to Croatia Fulvio Paolini yesterday denied the speculations about the alleged intention of the Commission to create a new Yugoslavia or 'Euroslavia', stressing that Croatia is a new internationally recognized country. As A-1 Television reported an article of 'Slobodna Dalmacija', Paolini said EU was trying to organize a joint frame for negotiations with the regional approach to the territory of former Yugoslavia.He also emphasized that the Union wanted not only to help in the field of economy, but also to create good relations among East European countries. [08] POSSIBILITIES FOR GERMAN PRODUCTION CAPACITIES TO BE PRE- LOCATED IN MACEDONIAMacedonian Ambassador to Germany Srgjan Kerim yesterday in Dresden held a lecture on the subject 'Political and Economy Priorities of the Republic of Macedonia at the Doorstep of 21st Century'. Macedonian Radio reported that the lecture, which was organized by British-German Chamber of Commerce, was attended by over 50 significant entrepreneurs from industry, agriculture, tourism and trade areas. Special interests was expressed in the possibilities for certain production capacities in Germany to be pre-located in Macedonia, and was agreed Macedonian and Saxon entrepreneurs to meet till the end of this year to discuss that matter.[09] AGREEMENT ON COOPERATION WITH KAZAHSTANMacedonian Television yesterday reported that, within the framework of presentation of Macedonian economy in Moscow, an Agreement on Cooperation between Economic Chambers of Macedonia and Kazahstan was signed. According to information coming from Moscow, Macedonian booth at 'Bit and Fashion '96' Fair was attracting a great attention among Russian businessmen.[10] CATTLE DISEASE PUT UNDER CONTROLMacedonian media yesterday reported that foot-and-mouth disease among livestock in some parts of Macedonia had been put under control and new locations with infected cattle had not been discovered. Infected animals are being destroyed, and villages where the disease had appeared are under a strict control. A-1 Television reported that local inhabitants of some villages rejected to cooperate and were hiding their cattle from veterinarians. The situation at Macedonian-FR Yugoslav border crossing Tabanovce-Preshevo has normalized, but it is recommended other crossings to be used.Macedonian Veterinary Administration General Manager Mihailo Zoric went to Brussels yesterday, and should meet today with representatives of the European Commission General Direction for Agriculture, which had expressed readiness to help in vaccination of Macedonian livestock. [11] GLIGOROV, THE GOVERNMENT AND PDP BLAMED FOR DISCRIMINATION OF ALBANIANS IN MACEDONIAA protest meeting under the motto 'We Ask For Protection' took place at the square of Tetovo yesterday. The meeting, which was organized by parliamentarian and non- parliamentarian political parties and associations of Albanians in Macedonia, was intended against the recently announced imprisonment of the organizers of demonstrations in Mala Rechica last year: Fadilj Suleimani (self-declared rector of 'Tetovo university'), Miljaim Fejzi, Muslim Halili, Nevzat Halili and Azem Rusi. According to Macedonian Radio, PDP also called on its members to attend the meeting, but the leadership did not participate in it, although they supported the goals, as they 'were positive for the Albanians'.Meeting organizers appealed to the Council of Europe Parliamentarian Assembly, American State Department, UN General Assembly and Amnesty International to make help them improve the political status of Albanians in the system institutions, to legalize 'Tetovo university' within 'the educational system of FYROM' and free political prisoners. Several thousands of Albanians from Tetovo, Skopje, Kumanovo, Kichevo, Struga, Debar, but also from Kosovo and Albania, who attended the meeting, mainly expressed their negative attitude towards Macedonian President Kiro Gligorov, Macedonian Government and PDP blaming them for 'discriminating and depriving of the rights the Albanians in Macedonia'. The signs carried were messages to Gligorov not to rival with those present, descriptions of Macedonia as 'an oasis of hypocrisy', writings such as 'Government down!', 'Death or Freedom', etc. During the speeches, 'all the clashes between the police and the Albanians' were described as 'Gligorov's deeds, who was sowing discord among Albanians, by bribing them and appointing them at good positions'. There were the Albanian and the American flag hoisted, while the Macedonian was not, and only the Albanian national anthem was played. PDPA leader Arben Dzaferi announced similar demonstrations outside the country, such as in Bonn, Geneva and Washington, but also events inside the country in order to 'make the public realize that such a policy of Macedonia was inevitably leading towards reactions of Albanians outside the institutions. Fadilj Suleimani said the Albanians in Macedonia were put in ghettos and robbed by 'Ultra- communists' and by genocide-and-racist oriented 'Slav Macedonians'. The meeting passed without any incidents, and, according to Macedonian Television, Berisha's Democratic Alliance had sent a greeting telegram to it. MILS SUPPLEMENT[12] 'Living with Deeds for Half A Century' (Part 1)('Nova Makedonija', 5 July 1996)The recent threatening with 'controlled straining of relations' to Macedonia that came from Greek official circles can already be felt. Athens began to make obstacles to the attempts of Greek businessmen to invest in joint deals. Also, the (un)friendly mediating of Greek representatives in Brussels seriously jeopardized the signing of the already made Cooperation Agreement between Macedonia and the European Union. The only reason for all of that is, according to Greece, the firm stand of Macedonia in New York talks. They present the name issue as the only one opened issue preventing the two countries to reach permanent friendship and cooperation. In principle, that is true. But in practice it is, mildly said, far from the truth. Because the name issue that Greece imposed is directly connected with a large number of opened issues present for decades. They refer to the most elementary human rights of thousands of Macedonians and make one seriously suspect the alleged Greek will to develop the friendship and cooperation with Macedonia. Some of those issues are: the problem of the confiscated properties of 65,000 Macedonian refugees from Greek Civil War that lasted from 1945 to 1949; the still valid ban to the refuges and their inheritors to visit their birth places, not mention their returning there; the forced changing of the personal names of Macedonians who live in Greece and the administrative changing of the names of places in the Aegean part of Macedonia with Greek ones, etc. Precise range of the confiscated properties of Macedonian refugees (who were practically expelled from Greece with a terror) will probably never be known. Many houses were burnt or demolished together with the documents proving the ownership. Many of the people did not think of the documents running away to save their lives. A significant number of refugees, however, have the deeds, but from various reasons have not tried to return their properties. They have even not submitted them to Macedonian authorities. The incomplete data from 1991 showed that refugees who than lived in the Socialist Republic of Macedonia had submitted over 12,800 dossiers for returning of properties in Greece. They referred to over 6,000 hectares of land and 5,000 buildings. Other data show that Macedonian Secretariat of Jurisdiction, between 1985 and 1990, had submitted to Greek competent authorities 120 demands of Macedonians citizens for returning about 25,000 hectares of land. Greek Ministry of Jurisdiction returned those demands with an excuse that they were not competent for the matter. And that was not true, because the demands said that the submittors were asking for 'a free access to Greek courts and other organs in charge' and for a 'protection of their rights, as with certain laws of the Republic of Greece they were deprived from their real estates'. The Convention signed in 1959 between then the Kingdom of Greece and Federal National Republic of Yugoslavia read precisely that the Ministries, i.e. Secretariats of Jurisdiction were in charge of such demands. It is a fact that former Yugoslavia was not interested in understanding and solving of the problem of taken away properties in order not to disturb the 'good neighbourly relations' with Greece. The weak attitude of Yugoslav authorities at the time and their naive belief that Greece will become convinced in our good intentions and will yield in time, was greatly misused by Athens. Namely, various restrictive measures were brought for properties of Macedonians, such as the Decree 2536, i.e. Law on Colonization in Border Region from 1953, in which the confiscation of emigrants' properties was confirmed. Series of such decrees was accomplished with the racist Law nb. 1540 passed in 1985, with which the Republic of Greece confiscated the properties of citizens who were expelled from the country during the Civil War and promised to return them to those who would declare themselves 'Greek by birth' in the following five years. To put it in other words, not to Macedonians who were born in Greece, unless they gave up their nationality. Thanks to those laws, to planned colonization of the Aegean part of Macedonia with Greeks from Small Asia and former USSR, as well as to intended pre-parceling of the taken away properties, Greek authorities managed to make a great mess of this problem and to complicate to an extend which would almost make impossible for the original owners to prove their ownership. Although Greece should not have done that if it respected the international laws and numerous international documents about the human rights. We can only mention the Declaration on Human Rights which reads that 'noone can be arbitrary deprived from his property'. (to be continued)mils news 05 July, 1996Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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