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MILS NEWS 96-09-18Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>CONTENTS
MILS SUPPLEMENTMILS NEWSSkopje, 18 September, 1996[01] FINAL TALKS OF MACEDONIAN DELEGATES ON THE STUDY ON NATO EXTENSIONToday in Brussels, at the NATO headquarters, Macedonian delegation, led by Under Secretary of the Foreign Ministry Ognen Malevski and Deputy Chief of Staff of the Macedonian Army General Lt. Colonel Janakie Manasievski, will have final talks on the study for NATO extension. According to the media, due to the late accepting of the Republic of Macedonia in the 'Partnership for Peace', the procedure of talks on future Alliance extension has been accomplished in a few months only.Macedonian Radio reported that NATO Secretary General Javier Solana had invited 15 of the 27 member countries of 'Partnership for Peace'. The Macedonian party had prepared a so-called 'White Book' of 200 pages, in which Macedonian views about global security situation is fully presented. It also deals with Macedonian determinations to associate in the collective security systems and to become a full member of NATO, the structuring of the Army, with the defense budgeting and the projects that would provide complete compatibility with the standards of NATO. As alleged, the document had been accomplished 15 days ago and submitted to almost all NATO members. According to unofficial information from Macedonian Defense Ministry, Macedonian Radio reported that the document was extraordinary well received by Pentagon and Defense Ministries of main NATO members. It is expected Javier Solana to pay a visit to Macedonia at the beginning of October, by which the candidacy procedure of the country would be completed, Macedonian Radio reported. [02] GERMAN SECRETARY OF DEFENSE VISITING MACEDONIASecretary of Defense of Germany Perent Wills is expected to arrive to Macedonia for a two-days visit today, during which he and his Macedonian counterpart Blagoj Handziski should sign a cooperation agreement in the field of defense. Macedonia had already signed such agreements with USA, Great Britain and Turkey, and preparations are made for signing ones with France and Italy.Local media reported that the guest would be received by President Kiro Gligorov, Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski, Foreign Affairs Minister Ljubomir Frchkovski and Justice Minister Vlado Popovski. [03] MACEDONIA APPLIES FOR MEMBERSHIP IN MEDITERRANEAN ASSOCIATIONThe 96th Inter-parliamentarian Conference has began the day before yesterday in Peking, and is dedicated to the political, economic and social situation in the world. Macedonian Parliament Information Office announced that parliamentarian delegation had been attending it, and the application of Macedonia to be included in the Mediterranean security and cooperation process would be discussed. One of Macedonian delegates, Ratka Kuljan Zografska, had reported about the legislation and situation regarding the respect of rights of women and children.The Conference has been attended by 663 delegations from 120 countries in the world. Macedonian delegation yesterday met with those of Albania, Bulgaria and FR Yugoslavia, and was received by the President of the Chinese National Assembly Permanent Committee, Chao Shi. [04] GREEK LEFT WING INTERCEDES FOR A COMPLEX NAME OF MACEDONIA'The problem with Skopje should be solved by accepting a complex name for Macedonia,' leader of the left wing coalition Nikos Constandopoulos stated yesterday at a pre- electoral meeting in Athens. According to A-1 Television, the final pre-electoral meetings continued last night with the one of the Communist Part of Greece.[05] GERMANY CALLS ON DEVELOPMENT OF GREEK-GERMAN INITIATIVES IN MACEDONIA AND KOSOVO'German Government will soon ask from the Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis to develop Greek-German initiatives in 'Skopje' and Kosovo with joint economic- diplomatic activities in the Balkans,' Greek economic daily 'Ependitis' read yesterday. According to high Greek diplomatic circles, the paper underlined that highest German officials had already prepared concrete proposals for the realization of those initiatives. As 'Makfax' reported the article, it read that most of the proposals show 'the analog intention for participation of USA, as well', which had been confirmed by a German source in Athens, saying that 'Bonn had not a single serious reason to wish for an American-German antagonism in the Balkans for the time being'.The research of 'Ependitis' had been motivated by the recent statement of German President Herzog after his meeting with Macedonian Head of State Kiro Gligorov, when he notified an establishing of a Greek-German Chamber of Commerce in Thessaloniki and an economic cooperation with Macedonia. [06] COOPERATION OF 'VIDEO-ENGINEERING' FROM OHRID WITH 'SIEMENS'The firm 'Video-Engineering' from Ohrid and famous German company 'Siemens' yesterday signed a contract on cooperation in the production of electric meters that had not been used in Macedonia so far. According to Macedonian Television, the contract obliges 'Video-Engineering' to produce about 8,000 pieces of various kinds of meters several million DM worth and to market them in Macedonia and Albania. The Macedonian firm will invest DM 250,000 in this project, and will equip a modern laboratory in which electric meters will be controlled. The production had already been approved by the Economy Ministry.The contract was signed, after one year long preparations, by general managers of 'Video-Engineering' and 'Siemens'- Europe, in presence of Macedonian Government representatives and the German Ambassador to Macedonia Claus Schramaer. [07] WORLD CUSTOMS ORGANIZATION SECRETARY GENERAL IN MACEDONIAJames Shader, Secretary General of the World Customs Organization will come tomorrow to Macedonia and stay till 21 September to participate in the seminar on preparing of a strategic plan for the development of Macedonian Customs Administration in Ohrid. During his stay, as local media reported, the guest will be received by highest Macedonian officials.[08] MACEDONIAN-AMERICAN COOPERATION FOR LAKES PROTECTIONWithin the framework of the natural lakes protection project, an American delegation yesterday paid a return visit to Struga, which is a realization of the declaration of protection of Ohrid Lake in Macedonia and Shan Lake in USA. The guests had met with Struga Town Assembly President Rade Kotanovski. The subject of talks were the protection activities, especially the main sewer system for protection of the Ohrid Lake. USA delegations will leave for Podgradec, Albania, today to have similar discussions with Albanian authorities.[09] TURKISH CONSULATE IN BITOLATown Assembly of Bitola yesterday decided to fraternize with the city of Bursa in Turkey, today's issue of daily 'Vecer' reads. These two cities have been successfully cooperating in many fields, and there are notifications that Turkey will open a general consulate in Bitola next year, for which all protocol procedures had been accomplished.[10] PRE-ELECTORAL COMBINATIONS OF PARTIESMacedonian media yesterday reported on the stands and contacts of the political parties regarding the forthcoming local elections.Macedonian Television informed that Liberal Party will participate in the elections most probably independently. As alleged, it was decided yesterday by the Executive Board of the party, but the final stand will be announced after the meeting of the Republic Committee tomorrow. A-1 Television reported that VMRO-DPMNE would also participate in the elections, which was decided by their Executive Committee yesterday, and about which their Central Committee would be informed on Saturday. Macedonian Television reported that VMRO-DPMNE will organize a press-conference today, on which party leader Ljupcho Georgievski would present their stands regarding the local elections. Democratic Party (DP) has still neither decided about the participation in the elections, nor about forming a coalition. Macedonian Television had reported an information of their president Petar Goshev, according to which they had been constantly contacting VMRO-DPMNE and consulting them about the participation. One the other hand, A-1 TV unofficially reported that VMRO-DPMNE and the Democrats would appear joined in the mayors elections, and separated in councils members ones. As alleged, leaders of Liberals and of Democrats, Goshev and Andov, would have a meeting today. A-1 Television also reported that SDSM would appear independently at the elections, but did not exclude the possibility for a coalition in the second round. The Socialist Party had a meeting yesterday, and their decision would be announced soon, their President Ljubisav Ivanov said. [11] MAIN GOAL - UNITING THE DIVIDED DEMOCRATIC FORCESThe main goal of the newly formed Macedonian Uniting Party will be to strengthen the harmony and confidence between Macedonian citizens and to unite the divided democratic forces in the country. This was said at a press conference of the party yesterday. Macedonian Radio reported that President of the Party Branislav Sinadinovski said their aim was not to criticize the current government, but to offer an alternative based on analysis which would help for mutual goals to be realized and future of Macedonian citizens to be secured.[12] SCHOOL BOYCOTTED DUE TO DISSATISFACTION WITH THE TEACHERPupils of the first and second grades of the school 'Cyril and Methodius' in Romanovce have not been attending the classes for two weeks already, because their parents are not satisfied with their teacher Ms. Slavica Jakupovska. According to the media, the reason for their dissatisfaction is that the teacher has no qualities that her profession requires and that her religion is suspicious as she has been married to a Turk. According to Macedonian Radio, the authorities (Education Ministry Department in Kumanovo and School Principal Jovica Dimkovski) have an opposite opinion, i.e. that Jakupovska is a good pedagogue. The School Principal yesterday met with a group of parents, but without any success, as the parents kept their firm stand that their children would boycott the school until the teacher is replaced. As alleged, the case has been delegated to the Ministry of Education after that.MILS SUPPLEMENT[13] 'Bolivian' Privatization of The Refinery, Deep Excavation for REK 'Bitola'('Dnevnik', 18 September, 1996)The current configuration of the Skopje refinery is unendurable. Surface excavation in Suvodol, the greatest energetic potential of Macedonia that 'feeds' REK 'Bitola' with lignite, is a threat to the ecology. The governmental system of determining the energy prices is not good. The Government should not determine the energy prices of products for which there is free competition on the market. These are only a part of remarks stated in the report of James Mous and Anastasie Kochic, members of the World Bank Mission, who had visited Macedonia in July and November 1995. The report titled 'An Outline of The Energy Sector in FYR Macedonia' was made on 2 May, 1996, and is a confidential one. However, the WB Mission in Skopje allowed 'Dnevnik' to access it. Macedonia was visited by another two World Bank missionaries in November 1995 - Heintz Hendrix and Gordon Hues. The goal was to prepare a report on the situation at the energy sector of Macedonia. It anticipates the main energetic problems the country would face unless necessary measures are taken. One of the most urgent ones is preparing a governmental strategy for the energy sector (a matter which Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts has been working on). The refinery in Skopje produces too much solid oils and too little liquid products. The solid oils market will inevitably be reduced with the usage of the Russian gas that will replace them, reads the report. The WB Mission points out the bad connection of the refinery with the market. The only way raw oil is transported is by railroad from the Thessaloniki Harbour, which is very expensive. At the moment, the way for the refinery to survive is by customs protection. But, such a move would bring to negative consequences for the population, as there is a possibility for the derivatives prices to increase. Even in that case, the financial situation of the refinery would not significantly improve, according to the opinion of the WB members in Washington. The next study on the energetic development should have a realistic approach towards the eventual economic gains from closing the refinery. Intentions for its privatization also should be re-examined, as well as the possibility for additional investments. The study makers should examine the petrol market and the planned change from using leaded petrol (ecologically harmful) with unleaded. The possibility for transport of oil through oil pipeline from Thessaloniki should also be examined, as well as the one for transport through the proposed trans-Balkans oil pipeline. Since the refinery is not worth much, the Government can discuss the possibility for its privatization to be made in a 'Bolivian' way. It is a model according to which investors would offer different levels of investments in order to gain ownership of the half or more of the enterprise, as well as the control of its management, reads the WB report. The Bank in Washington is reconsidering the future of the steam power plant in Bitola. It was built in the 1980s and is the biggest and newest in Macedonia, providing the greatest part of the electricity in the country. The surface excavation in Suvodol is the source of the total fuel for the steam power plant. Suvodol excavation produces about 6 million tons of lignite a year and has reserves of about 118 million tones, which is enough for 20 years long exploitation. The cover removed from the main excavation is taken to external depos, which costs a lot, and is a threat to the ecology. World Bank representatives suggest a study to be made on a long-term plan for providing the plant with fuel. They suggest the excavation to be a deep one, i.e. the 'low layer' option. In case this is not accepted, they suggest the exploitation of the current excavation to be stopped, which would be useful both for the economy and for the ecology. Macedonia will not need a bigger electric energy capacity till 2003, and an eventual installation of the second block of the steam power plant in Negotino would postpone the need for additional quantity of electricity till 1009, reads the report. Further on, it says that the Government should create economic and legal conditions for establishing of independent steam power plants, which would provide additional energy. Six main hydroelectric power stations in Macedonia provide about 15% of the total electricity. WB Experts concluded that hydroelectric power stations in the country are much older than the steam power ones, and suggest certain reconstruction in order to have their producing power increased. The expert analysis confirmed the already presented fact that Macedonia has a great energy potential in the Vardar river and its main tributaries. It might be used by constructing dams and additional energetic objects, as dams would be hardly justified by being used for electricity production only. The gas pipeline to Sofia has just been accomplished. It would provide Macedonia with Russian gas via Bulgaria and Romania. The gas pipeline would supply several greatest consumers in Skopje. The Government is planning to develop a gas distribution system for over 50,000 households in Skopje, that currently have electric heating. However, funds for replacement will be a problem. The experts point out that the Government should prepare a strategy for obtaining those funds, as households are financially exhausted. On the other hand, greater need for gas would reduce the expenses for its transport. (end)mils news 18 September, 1996Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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