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MILS NEWS 96-11-01Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>CONTENTS
MILS SUPPLEMENTMILS NEWSSkopje, 01 November, 1996[01] BONE OF CONTENTION: GRAZING GROUNDS ON SHAR PLANINAAs A-1 TV reports the joint Macedonian-Yugoslav expert group for the codification of inter-national borders has been conducting field work for the last three days. For the time being this implies the mere 'recording' of factual states, i.e. of points of contention. Data of this TV channel reveal that while investigating the border area Blace - Jazhinci it had been recorded that the border divides the chrome mining corporation of the Radusha region, which is a main supplier of ore to the 'Jugohrom- Jegunovce' company, into two sections. Thus the entrance to the mine lies on Macedonian territory, whereas the shafts themselves are in Serbia. Sources further claim that the most critical issue with the joint group of experts is the outlining of state borders at Gora on Shar Planina, where several hectares of grazing land are being contested.Communication between both sides - according to A-1 - is being established via interpreters in the official languages of both countries. [02] TRADE BETWEEN MACEDONIA AND SRY WORTH MORE THAN 1 BILLION DOLLARS TO BE ACHIEVED NEXT YEARLiberalization of trade between Macedonia and Yugoslavia may be conducive to reaching the annual quota of over one billion dollars once again. This could happen as early as next year ... Based on reports of the Macedonian National Radio, this information has been released by Economic Chamber representatives of both countries during a meeting in Belgrade yesterday. This meeting was also marked by the signing of an Agreement of Cooperation between both chambers, statements that both economies are committed to assume a more global and European course - which has to be preceded by the establishment of a more intense collaboration with neighbours in the region. In this context it was also evaluated that the economies of both countries are compatible - thus it would be easier and less expensive to emerge jointly on third markets.Macedonian Economic Chamber Chairman Dushan Petrevski said that what remained to be resolved by obtaining feedback of the Yugoslav side were problems hindering the exchange of goods between both countries. This was followed by the stressing that to such a purpose the Macedonian government attempts to suspend import quota regulations, and to liberalize traffic between both countries. Petrevski also mentioned that a mission of the Macedonian Chamber of Economy would commence its work in Belgrade next year. [03] CONCRETE SUGGESTIONS ON COOPERATION AMONG COUNTRIES IN THE REGIONA-1 TV reports the arrival of EU Energetics Commission President Christos Papoutsis in Macedonia tomorrow. The purpose of his visit is to submit several concrete cooperation proposals to the Macedonian government involving other countries in the region. These projects are to receive EU funding, and will be conducive to Macedonia's integration into the Black-Sea Regional Energetics Centre, which is concerned with the linking up of Balkan states on the energetics level through, for example, the extending of the gas pipeline to Tetovo and Albania ultimately; or the construction of an oil pipeline from Skopje to Thessalonica and the updating of existing electricity lines between both countries.Papoutsis is also to suggest the organizing of a workshop in Skopje, for representatives of small and medium-size businesses in Europe. Today's issue of 'Nova Makedonija' states that the last Summit of leaders of the Black-Sea Initiative member- states had not addressed the issue of Macedonia's admission as a fully-fledged member, due to Greece's objection that relations with Macedonia had not yet been regulated. The admission of new members within this association is based on the reaching of a consensus. [04] MACEDONIAN DEBT CAN BE PURCHASED FOR 78% OF ITS VALUEA-1 TV reports that after the regulating of Macedonia's debt with the association of commercial banks known as the London Club of Creditors, there is the possibility for Macedonia to purchase its debt in advance on the secondary market. The value of the Macedonian debt towards these commercial banks currently amounts to 78 cents per dollar, which is a rate based on the credibility of the country with foreign creditors at the moment. According to Macedonian government officials this rate is nevertheless too high, which does render any possible purchase unfeasible.A-1 TV also reminds that this rate used to be 30 cents per dollar when Macedonia gained its independence, then 45 cents per dollar last year and now, after talks with the London Club, it amounts to the above named rate. This has been compared to the fact that this very same rate of the Ex-Yugoslav Federation - prior to individual negotiations by each country - totalled the ratio of 15 cents per dollar. [05] NEW CRIMINAL LAW ENACTED TODAYToday's 'Nova Makedonija' announces the enactment of the new Criminal Law, which is to represent the basis of impending reforms in this section and the main instrument in the battle against crime. The most important novelty this law contains is the suspending of capital punishment, i.e. its substitution with a sentencing of 20 years imprisonment - as well as the introduction of life imprisonment for committing heavy felonies. According to new regulations it is also illegal to breech the right to strike with respect to elections, or the right to vote.Major changes have been made with regard to penal measures for extortion, usury, banking embezzlements, laundering money, forging stocks, breaking into computer systems, environmental pollution, damaging cultural sights, etc. The new Criminal Law is comprised of 426 articles - of which 35 are completely new, 121 outline new incriminating actions and 297 have been altered and then incorporated into this new act of law. [06] AROUND 1.5 MILLION VOTERS IN MACEDONIAAccording to preliminary data the general voters' register for upcoming local elections - closed on 30th October this year - has listed a total electorate of 1 498 479 voters. This statement was issued yesterday by Justice Secretary Vlado Popovski, who also added that definite data will not be obtained prior to a final check by the National Voters' Registration Commission, within the next five days. The electorate of parliamentary elections in '94 amounted to 1 360 726. This increase is mainly to be attributed to public access to the voters' register.According to Popovski 67 876 citizens requested access at 172 points of a total of 2 632 polling stations. Yet there are 16 929 non-classified voters which, Popovski says, is not a large number compared to the one of the '94 elections which amounted to as much as 43 000. To illustrate this a bit more explicitly the minister mentioned France as an example - where according to official data there are no sort of records on 10% of the overall population, whereas in Macedonia this percentage amounts to approximately 1%. It was also mentioned that the voting of Macedonian citizens will not be possible due to technicalities, i.e. the fact that Macedonia does not have diplomatic missions in all countries, and that additional documentation on 123 municipal units would have to be compiled. [07] SDSM COMMENTS ON RIVAL PARTIES AGAINYesterday SDSM spokesperson Nakje Stojanovski again addressed the campaigning strategies employed by other parties. He also expressed SDSM's conviction that they would obtain the majority of votes, due to analyses of election campaigning approaches used by the other parties so far - i.e. the fact that these mainly attacked basic values of Macedonia's integrity as an established country, and devaluated democratic processes and national symbols by implying the existence of a different country.This has been - first and foremost - the approach of PDPA, Stojanovski stressed. IMRO-DPMNE is focusing on three theses: of which the best represents a half-hearted confession that SDSM's efforts brought about the formation of Macedonia as an independent state ... the remaining two imply that once IMRO-DPMNE comes to power everything SDSM has built will be levelled to the ground - and that everybody who did not see eye to eye with this policy is facing banishment. With respect to DP Stojanovski posed the question why this party compared '89 elections to those of '96 ... and according to him the most probable answer is the fact that in '89 Macedonia was still a constituent of the Yugoslav Federation with a one-party system - and with Goshev becoming the head of the Communists' Association of Macedonia. The SP was again being referred to as 'Singo's Party' by Stojanovski and the party's theses that the economic crisis could be resolved by increasing inflation and forging an alliance with our northern neighbour - and that the country's future lies in the re-establishment of Socialism in the 21st century, had most likely been heard on some old tapes dating back to the beginning of the 80s. Stojanovski closed yesterday's press conference by greeting the LP appeal to the public for a massive turn- out during these elections [08] IMRO-DP: NO CHANCE FOR ALTERNATIVES DUE TO MANIPULATION OF THE PUBLIC'Politics in Macedonia has been outlined ages ago. Thus present conditions had to be expected - and any alternative solutions are being cut short through unscrupulous, primitive and brutal manipulations of the people' ...This, according to Macedonian media, is part of a press statement given by IMRO-DP leader Vladimir Golubovski yesterday. He also mentioned the introduction of a new campaigning strategy employed by bigger parties (SDSM & IMRO-DPMNE) to cart around supporters in busses for election rallies. According to Golubovski this represented the ultimate defeat to democracy in Macedonia, and media were only completing this by favouring governing parties. Golubovski also pointed out that the western region of the country was being neglected by Macedonian parties - and that this was conducive to a loss of faith and trust in the state by Macedonian citizens in that area, who are waiting for salvation from outside. Golubovski brought the conference to a close by commenting on the lack of objectivity exhibited by the media with regards to his party, and by stressing that even in spite of this the campaign - as a realistic option - had been well received by citizens so far. [09] OBSTRUCTING ELECTION CAMPAIGNS OF IMRO-DPMNE, DP AND LPYesterday the three above named parties gave a press conference in order to inform the public of an incident that had occurred in the village of Strmoch (near Probishtip) during an election rally two days ago. Members and supporters of these three parties were denied access to the hall which was to serve as the venue for this meeting - until eventually police forces intervened.Further information reveal that the rally had to be interrupted several time since electricity had been cut off, and yesterday morning the entrances to their respective election HQs had to be opened forcefully as locks had been blocked by solid objects. For the time being it has not been possible to apprehend the offenders. [10] 'DNEVNIK': VLACHS PROHIBITED TO OBTAIN THEIR TRADITIONAL NAMESAccording to today's issue of 'Dnevnik' the government has denied certain Vlachs the right to re-assume their traditional names - as this would alter the nationality structure of the country. Up to now there have been between 10 and 15 requests of this kind, and according to unofficial sources some of them have even received official documents (issued by the police) containing the argument mentioned above. These documents had been presented to the Helsinki Human Rights' Watch, where this issue has been discussed.'Dnevnik' reports that Vlachs in West Macedonia had retained their names, stating that 'experts acquainted with the situation' possessed an 'objective explanation' for this. [11] PRIVATE TRUCKING COMPANIES AND THE PROBLEM OF ILLEGAL PURCHASING OF PERMITSMacedonian private trucking companies are being confronted with the huge problem regarding the illegal selling of rarely issued transportation permits for goods designated for or originating from third countries - according to the weekly 'Makedonsko Sonce'. The latter furthermore claims 'Makedonija Soobrakjaj' which has the monopoly on TIR stickers is doling these out among its members who then again sell them for huge prices. To illustrate this the paper mentions that Macedonian private truckers are required to pay from 500 to 700 DM for a permit valid in Italy - though its regular price amounts to 700 denars.MILS SUPPLEMENT[12] 'Many Registered - but Few Active Companies"('Dnevnik', 31 October, 1996)Of all registered companies 86.6% have a giro-account, and of those 57.6% are actively operating. This calls for an intensified endorsement policy for small and medium-size businesses via duty and tax discounts, financial support and a simplification of work permit procedures. There will be more than 90 000 companies by the end of this year. This impressive figure is to be attributed to the domination of private property, of domestic capital, of trade over production - and to the fact that most of them are small businesses. Based on data of the National Statistics Institute, a percentage of 86.6 (or 78 000 companies) of the total figure of registered companies of 90 160 do have their own giro-account. Of the latter, 45 000 (or 57. 6%) are actually in business. Therefore hardly anybody will be surprised by the conclusion that half of the total number of companies have never entered production stage, i.e. they have never gone into business at all, there have been no final balance sheets. The remaining half has not had revenues higher than two average incomes. And this besides the fact that it is quite easy to register a company at the moment. The suspending of the Law on Companies, i.e. its amendments , by the Constitutional Court of Macedonia at the beginning of this year put a halt to government plans to end this chaotic state dominating registration procedures. Thus firms are still being registered in compliance to laws dating back to the Ante Markovic era, i.e. with no obligation to deposit a founder's fee or to appoint a manager of the firm. This condition is likely to thrive until 1st January 1998 when all firms are to be re-registered according to the Law on Commercial Associations. This act of law would allow the registration of an individual owner-merchant, provided that all personal property served as a security for large-scale ventures. The registration of a shareholders' assoc. with limited liability will require the depositing of a founder's fee totalling the amount of 10 000 DM, whereas the prerequisite fee for a share holding company is 50 000 DM. The actual amount for these fees have been a burning issue with the public for quite some time - since many stakeholders insisted that they be lowered. Legislators, however, remained firm by implementing the argument that this would be conducive to the creation of a certain financial security for business partners, some sort of insurance in case a business deal went down the drain. In the mean time companies will emerge and they will disappear and this is - according to Marija Zarezankova - Potevska, aide to the Macedonian Minister of Economy - a normal process throughout the world. The question to be answered now is: will the government help those companies to prevent their becoming another number which pops up sporadically in statistic studies? In an economic situation like ours, it is hardly surprising that people are in search of solutions, looking for profit. Difficult working conditions, growing unemployment, liquidations and bankruptcies, as well as laying off employees 'en masse' or categorizing them as technologically redundant - forced people to take their fate into their own hands. Some were more successful in this respect, others less. All this was conducive to the registration of most businesses as commercial associations. Since as such they require less initial capital, and profit is obtained faster than in any other branch ... as is the circulation of funds. Investments in the production sector, unfortunately, have been appallingly low - in spite of the fact that it offers different benefits and that this would contribute towards an improvement of the country's economic infrastructure. Even all merchants are not equally successful, as even trade is closely linked to production ... this explains unfavourable results - or numerous failures. In addition to this few of the announced endorsements promised by macro-economic policy-makers - such as micro credits, duty and tax discounts, or the simplification of work permit procedures, have actually been enacted to support the establishing of small and medium-size businesses. Thus entrepreneurs were left to their own devices, with no substantial support whatsoever - and revenues were whatever they could be. What should not be forgotten either is the fact that in spite of this huge number of companies, the unemployment rate is still not decreased. These firms do not even cover a tenth of the masses looking for work - which is a direct consequence of enormous taxes to be paid, but low revenue rates. Starting next year the intensifying of the rate at which small and medium-size businesses emerge will depend on the execution of the programme adopted by the government two days ago. The project itself is comprised of a large variety of measures and activities which indicate that there might be hopes to further the development of small and medium-size businesses. Though - Zareznakova-Potevska claims - we and the world have just began to realize that these are the future, due to their flexibility and adaptability to larger economic structures. They are simply indispensable in setting up production and substituting import goods. In addition to this they also have a key role within the so-called capillary absorption of unemployment, which is a gradual process and therefore exactly what our country needs at the moment. Thus institutional support is more than prerequisite, and the state will also aid the forming of local consulting agencies and specialized banks - or at least the setting up of discrete sectors within existing banking houses. Not everybody is obliged to start a company, but everybody can buy a machine or two which will help him to make a living. This would lessen the burden of the state. An incentive to achieve this would be the introduction of low interest- rate loans - an approach widely used throughout the world, and - of course - adequate subsequent support and guidance. (end)mils news 01 November, 1996Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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