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MILS: News from the FYROM, 96-12-10Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>CONTENTS
MILS SUPPLEMENTMILS NEWSSkopje, 10 December, 1996[01] `DNEVNIK': THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA (CAPITAL: SKOPJE) - LATEST PROPOSAL DURING GREEK-MACEDONIAN NEGOTIATIONSThe Republic of Macedonia (Capital: Skopje) is the most recent proposal submitted by the Macedonian Government within name negotiations conducted with Greece, claims today's issue of the above named paper quoting foreign Diplomatic sources. It is further being revealed that - provided the Greek side accepted this proposal - the Macedonian Government could push this through rather easily on a domestic level, as the Parliament had already discussed this issue. Complementary to this, `Dnevnik' reports that the same source stated that the Greek negotiation team entered an older option (`Slavomakedonija' i.e. `Slavic Macedonia') into the game again, which has been discarded by the Macedonian side as unacceptable quite some time ago.[02] REGIONAL COOPERATION WITH COUNTRIES WHICH ARE NOT TO JOIN `NATO' IN THE NEAR FUTUREThe Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary and probably Slovenia and Romania are most likely to become the first new members of the North Atlantic Treaty Oragnisation - whereas Macedonia, Albania and Bulgaria are not eligible for now due to regional instability. This was reported by A-1 TV yesterday, upon quoting unofficial sources in Brussels. The first group of countries to join NATO will most probably do so by the middle of next year. A-1 further informed that this - in addition to the new structure of the Alliance and the relations of the latter with Russia - is to be discussed during today's Foreign Secretary Meeting of NATO member- states in Brussels. The meeting in Brussels is also to concentrate on possible options to fortify the `Partnership for Peace' (PFP) Programme, which is to strengthen regional cooperation among those states not likely to join NATO in the near future. To this purpose the meeting will include a discussion on `Perspectives on Regional Stability' throughout the 2nd part of the session, between NATO member- state ministers and their `PFP' Programme counterparts. The Macedonian delegation is to be led by our country's Head of Diplomacy Ljubomir Frchkovski.[03] MINISTER FRCHKOVSKI: `NO MORE DIVISIONS OF IMMIGRANTS INTO PRO- AND ANTI-SUPPORTIVE ONES'`The Republic of Macedonia will definitely not repeat the mistake of previous systems by introducing artificial categorizations into immigrants in favour and against the regime', emphasized the Mac. Head of Diplomacy Ljubomir Frchkovski at the church of `St. Clement of Ohrid' in Toronto yesterday - upon meeting over 1 000 representatives of Macedonian religious communities, associations and clubs in Canada. MTV reports that Frchkovski spoke on the five- year period of independence, the priorities of Macedonian foreign policy and on the new strategy of the country in their treatment of our compatriots in the Diaspora in front of the almost 150 000 strong Macedonian community in Canada.The latter received the message by Frchkovski that the Republic of Macedonia should become the pillar of Macedonian national unification. Evaluating the position of Macedonia in the Balkans and the entire SE region as a fortified one, Minister Frchkovski stressed that with an internal coherence i.e. consensus the Macedonian people managed to face all types of pressure, in support of a positive equi-distance policy towards all neighbouring country. With respect to settling the name- issue with Greece the Mac. Head of Diplomacy stated that we are to `emerge with our head held up high'. [04] OXONIAN READER CRAMPTON ON BULGARIAN POLICY TOWARDS MACEDONIA`The thesis denying the existence of a Macedonian nation is not characterized by considerable political sustainability,' stated British academician Richard Crampton in an interview for the Bulgarian paper `24 Hours' (`24 Chasa'). according to MTV the British scholar claimed that he understood the motives for the Bulgarian denial of the Macedonian nation, adding that eventually recognition would become inevitable.When asked for his assessment of current Bulgarian policy towards Macedonia (recognition of the state, but not the language and its people), the Oxonian reader replied that this sort of compromise by the Bulgarian Government could be explained though it was not worth sustaining over a longer period of time. Richard Crampton further stated for the widely-read Bulgarian paper that he was `remembering that in 1993 President Zhelev went to Skopje to promote the book FASCISM translated into Macedonian, which implies that such a language might exist'. [05] `OMO ILINDEN' SUPPORTS TURKISH MINORITY IN BULGARIA`Makfax' reports that Sofia paper `Demokracija' printed a declaration by the Organisation of Macedonians in Bulgaria - `OMO Ilinden' - which supports the request of the Party for Rights and Liberties (DPS) of Bulgarian Moslems for recognition of the Turkish national minority in Bulgaria.The paper claims that this illegal organisation summoned the entire Bulgarian public to oppose the nationalist and chauvinist activities of the Organisation of Cultural Protection of National Interests and the IMRO-SMD which deny the existence of national minorities. [06] IMPROVED CREDIT RATING OF FORMER SFRY CONSTITUENTSThe credit rating of Croatia, SR Yugoslavia, Slovenia, Russia, the Ukraine and Macedonia has improved throughout the past quarter, according to the service on rating financial and political threats of the British `Economist Intelligence Unit'. According to the Mac. radio this upscaling applied to 12 countries (based on the opinion of the British experts), above all constituents of the Former Yugoslav Federation - whereas the rating of 9 states in the Near East, Asia and Africa had taken a plunge.[07] MACEDONIA POSSIBLY TO STAGE MEETING ON BALKAN TRAFFIC STUDYMacedonia has been invited to host a regional meeting on the Balkan Traffic Study by `G-24' according to A-1 TV reports.This has been a result of the Macedonian proposal submitted in Brussels in June. The meeting should be staged (by Macedonia) towards the end of January and the beginning of February 1997, preceding the `G-24' General Assembly in Brussels in February next year. [08] MANY COMPLAINTS AND INCIDENTS DURING REPEATED VOTINGRound 1, i.e. round 2 of local elections, have been repeated at 8 municipal units throughout Macedonia, whereas based on unofficial results obtained by Municipal Election Commissions the mayors have been chosen in 5. At Vraneshnica the new mayor is the SDSM candidate Jovan Nestorovski; at Podaresh the IMRO-DPMNE, DP & MAAK-CP candidate Blazho Georgiev; at Vrutok PDPA nominee Bajram Ajrulai; at Klechovce SPM affiliate Aleksandar Stankovski and at Lipkovo PDP candidate Vaid Saiti. MTV reports that at two Tetovo polling stations results have not been announced yet due to numerous PDPA complaints accusing PDP of violating the Local Election Law by planting a huge number of voting slips. As a result of this PDPA members staged a peaceful demonstration in front of the Tetovo Town Hall, demanding the annulment of elections.Throughout repeated voting public order and peace was also upset at Vraneshnica and Klechovce - remaining, though, without more gravitating consequences for election procedures according to information released by the Ministry of the Interior. Other than this, `Sitel' TV revealed two days ago that its camera team had been assaulted in front of the polling station at the village of Oblavce (Klechovce municipality). The casualty list amounted to a smashed camera and the loss of recorded material. Kumanovo police authorities commented on this matter that the identity of the offender had been determined and appropriate legal measures had been taken. It remains unclear whether the casualty list is to be augmented by a clobbered camera operator (as implied by the `Sitel' TV crew), or not. First reactions on this incident came form the DP camp in shape of severe condemnation and accusations addressed to SDSM `hooligan-supporters'. With respect to the Vraneshnica incident the Ministry of the Interior confirmed yesterday that immediately prior to voting a group of app. 150 citizens attempted to obstruct the passage of the vehicle transporting the election material to the Municipal Election Commission. Police intervention hampered this effort of the displeased citizens, who moved to SDSM premises to air their protest by throwing stones and fire-crackers. This entailed gunshots fired out into the air from within the SDSM quarters. Police inquiries on determining the identity of those causing this kind of unrest are still running. [09] ALTERATIONS AND ADDITIONS TO THE PAYMENT FLOW ACTYesterday the Macedonian Government accepted the alterations and additions to the Payment Flow Act, which is to codify the matter representing a key segment of the economic- financial system of the country. Bearing in mind the fact that the flow of payment is functioning normally - and reforms on saving and reconstructing several banks in the country are not yet completed - it has been proposed to prolong the deadline for the enactment of this new law from January 1997 to January 1998.During yesterday's session the Government also received information on the use of irrigative systems throughout the country - recommending their more rational use, as available resources could cover app. 400 000 hectares or 60% of the overall arable land in Macedonia. In order to improve the level of irrigation and a stable agricultural production, plans compiled by water supply companies and facilities in charge of these systems should be striving to balance programmes for `97 to available resources and the operational level of systems, recommends the Government. Official sources reveal that the Government also received data, i.e. the terms prerequisite to the establishing of a Free Trade Zone with Croatia, which should be in compliance to criteria outlined by all CEFTA member- states. [10] SKOPJE TRADE UNION EMPLOYEES ON STRIKEThe professional services of the Skopje Trade Union has reinstated the strike yesterday - after suspending this measure in May this year, media report. the strike is to continue until all requests (pay for the last 4 months, regulating of working conditions through a collective agreement, equal status of all Union Federation employees) are fulfilled. Employees on strike nevertheless claim that the main bone of contention is the SSM (Trade Union Federation) funding, i.e. the violation of its resolution regarding this issue.MILS SUPPLEMENT[11] `OSCE to Leave Macedonia?'(`Nova Makedonija' - 8th December 1996)The OSCE mission in Macedonia is most likely wrapping up its last mandate... the reason for raising this issue is the viewpoint of Macedonia that after the expiry of the current mandate in June next year the mission should transcend into a regional centre - or suspend its activities in the country. Although officially the first option, i.e. the opening of a regional centre, will be favoured - which is supported by the proposal made by Minister Frchkovski to the Summit in Lisbon. Such a centre would be the first of its kind in Europe. OSCE circles reveal that enthusiasm for this initiative a lacking, both within the organisation itself and its member- states. The OSCE mission has, however, been the first international mission to be opened up after the gaining of independence (on 20th September 1992), and throughout the past 4 years it has played a positive role within the development of events in Macedonia. This being above all due to the fact that it represented the first international factor covering 52 states at a time when the Republic did still not possess a legal status, i.e. when it lacked wider recognition. It is the oldest mission operating out of the ten running throughout Europe and the Former Soviet Republics, with a mandate unchanged since its beginnings: the preventing of a spillover of conflict into the country from outside, supporting the establishment of democratic institutions, etc. With the ratification of the Dayton Peace Accord on Yugoslavia - according to Macedonian estimates - its role became indispensable, which is, among other things, due to the fact that its range of activities predominantly dwelled on the monitoring of internal conditions. Though it has to be mentioned that Macedonia become the object of such study to the Council of Europe, the High Commissioner on National Minorities Max Van Der Stuhl (OSCE as well), to the EU and other organisations - let alone the embassies - thus multiplying this kind of international `observation' in a certain way. In opposition to this, as early as last year, Macedonia became rather weary of the visits by various international envoys which were basically useful - in spite of their creating the image of a troubled country burdened by conflicts, requiring outside intervention. In addition to this several unsuitable clich=E9s were offered as solutions (though not by the OSCE), irritating the Macedonian public as they implied exclusive rights and concessions for minorities - although such were not in compliance with the generally accepted norms of the Council of Europe, the OSCE and other organisations within this field. This has generated the viewpoint that the OSCE should leave the Republic throughout the past months, and this endeavour was helped by the attempt of the current Swiss Foreign Secretary Flavio Cotti who compiled a so-called exit strategy for operating missions which outlines criteria on when and why to set up such missions - and on when they are to be suspended. Regarding the latter examples listed were those in Macedonia, Latvia and the Ukraine... but eventually the vote of Russia `brought about the sentence', as it has interest in extending the missions within the Former Soviet Republics in order to protect its minorities remaining in these countries after disintegration. Unofficially, it has also become known that the idea of transforming the mission into a regional centre (with an not yet outlined purpose) is being opposed by the neighbouring states Bulgaria, Greece and Albania. This is mainly based on fears that such an institution would be dealing with minority and human rights - to the contrary of the current mission objective (the monitoring of inter-ethnic relations in Macedonia) which suits their purpose considerably, particularly that of official Tirana. The OSCE continues to monitor opinions and moods regarding the initiative of Macedonia among their member-states, but it appears that neither the EU nor the USA are supporting it. Thus it seems likely that the offered olive branch will be in shape of a Liaison Office. The only other OSCE office of this kind is to be found in Central Asia, covering a regional scope. It remains questionable, however, whether the Macedonian office would acquire an identical political connotation - and whether this sort of operation would be acceptable for us. The last extension of the OSCE mandate dates back to 21st November this year, and its expiry is due by 30th June - thus that a final ruling on its further status must be brought on by May. In the end it is obvious that the essence of alterations requested by Macedonia regarding the mandate, lie in a change of the office's `title'. Shortly, Macedonia does not desire a mission for the settlement of issues it can resolve regularly and equally - within the framework provided by this and other international organisations... and as the mandate cannot be extended without its consent, it is quite clear that the mission is soon to be transformed into something else, or it will have to close its offices. [12] CHRISTIAN FABER-ROD: `OSCE MISSION OPERATING ON THE BASIS OF UNALTERED MANDATE'Yesterday the Chief-of-Mission, H.E. Amb. Christian Faber- Rod stated that the OSCE Mission would complete the recently extended mandate - as well as that they had no influence whatsoever upon a further prolonging of the mandate after 30th June 1997. This was said in reponse to speculations that the Macedonian Government insisted on the transformation of the OSCE Mission into a regional centre - or its departure. As `Makfax' reports Rod stressed that the Macedonian Government knew that there was no necessity to pose this question in form of an ultimatum. With respect to the regional centre Rod said he could see no reason why the Macedonian Government should not have proposed this approach - but that the key question was whether such an institution would meet the demands of other stakeholders in the region.(end)mils news 10 December 1996Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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