MILS NEWS 96-10-30

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From: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>

CONTENTS

[01] 'DNEVNIK': RUSSIAN GAS IN MACEDONIA NEXT MONTH

[02] DEFENSE COOPERATION TREATY WITH ITALY SOON TO BE SIGNED

[03] CONSENSUS IN MACEDONIA ON MEMBERSHIP IN COLLECTIVE SECURITY SYSTEMS

[04] SUPPORT FOR LATEST EU REGIONAL APPROACH

[05] CASE AGAINST OMO 'ILINDEN' SUSPENDED

[06] STRATEGY OF RE-EMPLOYING TECHNOLOGICALLY REDUNDANT CADRE

[07] CITIZENS' ACCESS INTO CANDIDATES' REGISTERS

[08] 2 000 MACEDONIAN BOOKS PRESENTED AT ISTANBUL BOOK FAIR

[09] PROMOTING ACTION '1 000 BASKETS FOR FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS'

MILS SUPPLEMENT

[10] 'Alibi-Assaults ... Going Both Ways" ('Nova Makedonija', 26 October, 1996)

MILS NEWS

[01] 'DNEVNIK': RUSSIAN GAS IN MACEDONIA NEXT MONTH

[02] DEFENSE COOPERATION TREATY WITH ITALY SOON TO BE SIGNED

Both officials - based on reports of MTV - also exchanged drafts of e treaty which would outline cooperation between the defense structures of both countries. Such a document would be signed during the next meeting of Defense Secretaries of Italy and Macedonia. What was furthermore stressed was the mutual content regarding collaboration up to now. The meeting also dealt with regional security issues.

[03] CONSENSUS IN MACEDONIA ON MEMBERSHIP IN COLLECTIVE SECURITY SYSTEMS

[04] SUPPORT FOR LATEST EU REGIONAL APPROACH

The Union's regional policy represents an important stability factor within the region, said Bulgarian Vice Foreign Secretary Glamonakov. He also stressed his country's willingness to further all forms of regional cooperation, and the fact that to this purpose Sofia would host the Regional Session on the Development of Infrastructure and Communication in November. Romanian Vice Foreign Secretary Romanescou also gave a positive assessment regarding the new EU regional approach - adding that his country is certainly ready to aid the Union in this undertaking. According to A-1 TV the Slovenian representative aired an identical opinion. European Commissioner Hans Van Der Bruck used this meeting to draw attention to the Black-Sea Initiative - evaluating the latter as an important factor concerning relations between states in SE Europe.

[05] CASE AGAINST OMO 'ILINDEN' SUSPENDED

[06] STRATEGY OF RE-EMPLOYING TECHNOLOGICALLY REDUNDANT CADRE

Session participants also assessed that the government programme on aiding small and medium-size businesses and entrepreneurship represents a contemporary concept - containing measures and approaches applied in countries with a developed market-economy. According to Finance Minister Taki Fiti some measures of this programme introduce a new quality regarding the endorsement of small and medium-size businesses - such as the 'business incubators', technological parks, so-called 'risk-funds', the establishment of consulting teams, menagers' clubs, the education of entrepreneurs, etc.

Based on MTV reports the 23 000 unemployed and companies looking for new staff will be able to publicize their needs within a modern data system starting next year - since this network is currently being set up in the National and Municipal Employment Agencies, thanks to international financial support. International experience is also used to aid the devising of a new MO for the National Employment Agency.

[07] CITIZENS' ACCESS INTO CANDIDATES' REGISTERS

So far the majority of parties entering local election campaigning have chosen to present their nominees and their programmes through rallies. Thus IMRO-DP staged a meeting in Kichevo, SDSM did the same in Krushevo and Novo Selo, DP organised a rally in Topolchani, Kratovo and Krivogashtani; LP in Makedonska Kamenica and Berovo - whereas IMRO-DPMNE held a meeting in Gevgelija and SP in Dojran and Resen ...

Press conferences were held by IMRO-DPMNE and the Macedonian People's Party. On this occasion IMRO-DPMNE leader Ljupcho Georgievski expressed his content with his party's campaigning activities - as well as criticism towards some journalists who - according to him - discriminated candidates of the trilateral coalition by their subjectivity. According to MTV Georgievski also dwelled on the distortion of his statement that 'once IMRO- DPMNE came to power it would start demolishing everything'.

This, he claimed, had been taken out of context on purpose and had been misused by SDSM spokesperson Nakje Stojanovski who thus averted people from voting for IMRO-DPMNE, DP & MAAK-KP. This statement had been addressed to 'all mistakes made by SDSM in Macedonia, Georgievski said, such as the generating of a 38% unemployment rate (the highest in the world); of 450 million dollars external debts in only 9 months (a record in its own right), or the signing of a treaty which definitely altered inherent and constitutional name ... all mistakes made by SDSM is what IMRO-DPMNE has promised to remedy'. The Macedonian People's Party would concern itself with the currently appalling communal issues in cities and the countryside - in order to contribute towards the protection of public interest ... this had been stressed during the press conference of this party yesterday. It was also revealed that this party had nominated council candidates in ten municipalities - whereas mayor-nominees would be set up in only a few units of Skopje for upcoming elections. This was due to the critical financial state within the party.

The LP held its National Rally in Bitola two days ago, where it presented its approximately 70 mayor-candidates and several council nominees. Party leader Stojan Andov said that no party could proclaim itself as the creator of a state (thus alluding to the SDSM motto) - since only the state's nation could have such a constitutional function, by sacrifiyng generations and generations for the liberty of Macedonia. Andov also aired the party's respect for all contending candidates, which is in concordance to the party's fundamental line that nobody except the electorate should assess the quality of all election participants.

[08] 2 000 MACEDONIAN BOOKS PRESENTED AT ISTANBUL BOOK FAIR

The first day of the book fair will be marked by the - already traditional - 'Macedonian Day' comprising of the latest editions publ. by 'Matica Makedonska' ('The Macedonian Immigrants' Assoc.'), and several books by 'Misla', 'Kultura' and 'Detska Radost'. This will include three books translated into Turkish: 'The Magic of Cairo' by Trajan Petrevski, 'Visions' by Ante Popovski and 'The Cry of the Song' by Petre Bakevski.

[09] PROMOTING ACTION '1 000 BASKETS FOR FIGHT AGAINST DRUGS'

MILS SUPPLEMENT

[10] 'Alibi-Assaults ... Going Both Ways"

('Nova Makedonija', 26 October, 1996)

Three more weeks until local elections! The atmosphere throughout the country i.e. all the campaigning, and the promises made by mayor and council candidates while wooing the electorate with statements that they are the 'right one' for the job - do certainly reflect this fact. Some of them choose to attack their contenders, others use arguments rather than slander. Political parties devise their campaign strategy 'as they go along' - based on the 'faux pas' and the shortcomings of their rivals - since those can be put to their own advantage. All this is to acquire the momentum of a snowball - or an avalanche - throughout the following three weeks, until the start of the pre-election moratorium. The efficiency of each approach will be measured by the number of acquired votes.

Citizens will have to weed out empty promises form realistic ones, they will have to weigh past government achievements against necessary changes, and eventually decide who and what they need for the future. Whom they will entrust with the execution of their wishes and needs ... On the one hand, there is the government - on the other, the opposition ... and to and fro between them a 'mish mash' of accusations, creating chaos and confusion. Sprinkling sand into the eyes of the public, manipulating it ... The 'subjet du jour' for taking pot shots at each other are 'voters' registers' at the moment.

Opposition parties were fighting a fierce battle to bring about an act of law on local elections which would contain their concepts which - according to them - will ensure fair and democratic elections. In the end they settled for the proposed version and abandoned their intention to boycott elections. It had been conceded by them that ratified regulations provide a basis for elections with not too many manipulations ... and this had been the prevailing opinion up to the moment when the issue on public access to electorate registers appeared on the agenda. Then the 3 largest opposition parties: IMRO-DPMNE, LP & DP declared them to be chaotic, out of date and highly dubious as far as reliability is concerned. One could also hear accusations on how the government attempted to create a state of 'controlled chaos' in order to manipulate elections, in order to avert people from casting their votes. Concrete examples of faulty information were offered - based on in- the-field inquiries - as well as instances where according to opposition parties a large number of previously registered voters had 'gone MIA', mainly those inclined favourably to the opposition.

As it could be expected, this was followed by a reply from the government, personified by Justice Secretary Vlado Popovski who merely returned the addressed accusations to the sender's address, by claiming that it is the opposition which trying to undermine upcoming elections by creating confusion. The concrete evidence was counter-attacked by the same category of empirical proof obtained by the government: documents which recorded opposition attempts to see what it could not have seen or detected under any circumstance.

Since - in addition to this - every step of the opposition is dissected and analyzed the final verdict was that accusations of this kind were being made to justify possible failure during elections. This would also leave enough room to criticize throughout the immediate aftermath - as it would raise enough dust to cover up for home-bread deficiencies, and facilitate the crowning of an 'extra mural' scapegoat. In opposition to this a government statement - by Vlado Popovski - has also acquired legendary status: 'it is not being said that the voters' registers are immaculate or problem-proof - but where can you find perfect registers of this kind?' This being another 'alibi' - this time in favour of the government - in case deficiencies are proved to be a bit more gravitating than initially expected.

This has to be considered with respect to the fact that the current register is comprised of 1 495 288 registered voters and 16 929 unassigned (to an electoral unit) citizens with the right to vote. This would amount to a percentage of 98,88% of the former and 1.12% of the latter category - which is indicative of a high level of contemporaneity of registers, a definite prerequisite to impending elections. Any declension of figures into any direction whatsoever is to reveal immediately who was using blind ammunition.

(to be continued)

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