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MILS: News from the FYROM, 96-12-13Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>CONTENTS
MILS SUPPLEMENTMILS NEWSSkopje, 13 December, 1996[01] `PULS': WESTERN DIPLOMATS LOBBYING REGARDING GREEK- MACEDONIAN ISSUEOn the subject of the Greek-Macedonian name-issue the Skopje weekly `Puls' reports that in Macedonia's capital Western diplomats have been lobbying to indicate the necessity for the Macedonian side to consider the adoption of a Declaration recognising a Hellenic past on the territory of Macedonia, as well as the right for Greece to use the term `Macedonia'. `Puls' reveals that this proposal had already been discussed by Athens and Skopje.[02] GRADUAL INCREASE OF TRADE BETWEEN GREECE AND MACEDONIAThe economic trade between Greece and Macedonia is increasing by degrees; throughout the first 10 months of this year it amounted to 113 million dollars. The export of Macedonian companies into Greece reached the value of 52 million dollars, whereas Greek imports into Macedonia totalled 61 million dollars. This makes Greece the seventh largest partner of Macedonian economy. These data were released during the two-day meeting of Trade and Industry Chamber Union by representatives of Lerin, Voden and Kukush in Greece and by Macedonian businessmen. The meeting took place at the Macedonian Economy Chamber, where it has been concluded that both countries have the potential to increase the annual trade rate to 300 million dollars - provided all capacities were used. To this purpose, the businessmen stressed, better knowledge of the countries' legal system is prerequisite - as well as the improvement of promotional activities (esp. of Macedonian goods), the complete outlining of transport regulations, etc. According to the Macedonian Radio, the Macedonian Economy Chamber representatives emphasized the need of establishing a representative office in Thessalonica ASAP - and both sides agreed to favour border region cooperation and trade. In this sense it has been proposed to open a Bureau of Border Region Trade in Bitola, as an office of the Greek Chamber of Commerce which would procure all necessary data to businessmen.[03] THE WORRIES OF FUTURE PENSIONERSAs media report, these days the number of requests for retirement pension has been on the rise in Macedonia - whereas unofficial information ascribe this trend to speculations on reforms within the retirement pension system in the future, which would reduce the basis of pensions from 80% of the average personal income by 15%.A-1 TV is quoting high-ranking Government officials that yesterday's talks focused on an IMF proposal, which is just being played around with, without having been subjected to government procedures. This only shows that the restructuring of the National Retirement Pension Fund is a `burning issue' indeed... as does yesterday's meeting of the Minister of Labour and Social Policy with World Bank representatives which was to round off preparations for today's Plenary Session on the reforming of the retirement system. Yesterday a session was also held by the Executive Board of the Pension and Impairment Insurance Fund, with a thematic focus on analysing the institutes affecting the height of retirement pensions. With respect to this A-1 TV reports that the Board approved of the Fund's Financial Report outlining the deficit in its work. `Vecher' reveals that the Macedonian Government is reallocate additional funds worth 1 300 million denars - besides the regularly provided ones to cover the working of the Fund - within the 1997 National Budget, in order to fasten the process of financial balancing, the consolidating of the Fund and in order to facilitate the regular payment of support. The reallocation of these means and the conducting of concrete restructuring measures within the retirement pension system - according to `Vecher' - pose prerequisites required by the IMF to procure a credit for fortified structural adaptations. [04] ECONOMIC STATISTICS: 900 FIRMS SHUT DOWNThis year - unlike throughout the past few ones - for the first time a reduction in the number of actively operating companies in Macedonia has been noticed: it has dropped from 32 881 towards the end of last year to 32 027 in September this year. According to the Executive Board of the Small Businesses Association within the Macedonian Economic Chamber, this trend is mainly affecting commercial firms (900 have been shut down), then financial, consulting and other service providing enterprises. The only increasing figure is the number of construction companies which - it is being said - is not a result of successful working within this branch, but merely a consequence of the disintegration of large conglomerates.Another problem burdening the small business sector and its condition, is illegal employment which requires the strengthening of inspection authorities. [05] IMRO-DPMNE & DP: POLITICAL RULING OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURTDP leader Petar Goshev and IMRO-DPMNE Vice-President Dosta Dimovska stated that the ruling of the Constitutional Court, according to which this legal institution proclaimed itself not competent to analyse the Parliamentary Decision to reject the request for early parliamentary elections, as a political move. `Dnevnik' reports that Dimovska claimed this to be indicative of the fact that the Constitutional Court `does not constitute an independent judicial system in Macedonia, but largely depends on the incumbent party, this being the SDSM'. The Constitutional Court does not respect the principal act of law, the Constitution, by violating it in the crudest manner and by ignoring the will of 220 000 Macedonian voters who submitted their signatures in favour of early elections, says Dimovska while stressing that the outcome had been an expected one. According to her the Court's ruling is highly paradoxical as its first part emphasizes that the Parliamentary Decision did not provide a basis for constitutional / legal analysis, whereas the second clarifies that the Constitutional Court deems the initiative anti- constitutional.According to Petar Goshev the Constitutional Court of Macedonia has found itself in stormy waters with this ruling, billows threatening to swallow democracy in Macedonia in general... `This shows the level of independence of our judicial system, in addition to several rulings brought on during local elections - when mainly objections of the incumbent party were sustained and those of the opposition were overruled', claims DP leader Petar Goshev. [06] REPETITION OF VOTING AT 11 MUNICIPALITIES ON SUNDAYOn Sunday, 15th December, round 2 of mayor elections is to be conducted at 4 municipal units, and the same stage is to be repeated at 6 municipalities. At one unit the first round of both mayor and counsellour elections is to be repeated, according to NEC data.At the Lozovo, Krivogashtani, Sopishte and Kamenjane municipalities round 2 of mayor elections are to be conducted, and their repetition is to be staged at 4 polling stations in Ohrid, at 3 polling stations of Chucher-Sandovo and Mogila, at 2 polling stations of Lipkovo and at 1 in Izvor and Bach respectively. The first round of mayor and counsellour elections is to be repeated at one polling station of the Bogdanci municipality. Besides this, the Skopje City Council Chairman Jove Kekenovski revealed yesterday that the Constitutional Session of the newly-elected City Council is to be held on 19th December. The Council will be comprised of 8 SDSM members, 6 IMRO-DPMNE members, 3 members of the LP and DP respectively, 2 members of the SP and by 1 member of the PDPA, IMRO-DP and the PDP/NDP coalition each. [07] ON MACEDONIAN MEDIA COVERAGE OF EVENTS IN SERBIAThe Association of Serbs, Macedonians and Montenegrins of Tetovo have asked the Macedonian media to suspend their coverage of current events in Serbia, and to `stop concerning themselves with all sorts of things, especially with assaulting the legitimate government in SR Yugoslavia.' This open letter, containing the assessment that the only achievable objective of such coverage by the Macedonian media is to damage the positive trend in bilateral relations (which would eventually only be to the disadvantage of Macedonia), has been publicised by the Belgrade paper `Nasha Borba'. The Association also considers the public demonstrations in the streets of Belgrade the exertion of anti-democratic pressure upon the final outcomes of local elections in Serbia.[08] THE KOSOVO ISSUE NOT BE RESOLVED BY REINSTATEMENT OF AUTONOMYLeaders of the Kosovo Albanians oppose the settling of the Kosovo issue by reinstating the autonomy this region once enjoyed, reports `Makfax' by quoting articles of several independent Albanian newspapers. The agency also quotes the statement given by one of these leaders, by Bujaku Koshi, according to whom the reinstatement of autonomy on Kosovo is out of the question, as Albanians on Kosovo already have their own republic. Albanian papers, upon analysing anti-governmental demonstrations in Belgrade and their effect on the Kosovo issue, evaluate that it is still too early to draw any conclusions due to Miloshevikj's unpredictability.[09] FORGERERSMacedonian media report that these days Macedonian customs officers have detected the use of forged certificates specifying the origin of goods, within trade operations with SR Yugoslavia. Concordant to the Free Trade Zone Agreement, bilateral customs-exemption is one of the provisions - but only regarding goods produced in either country, which is proven by certificates issued by customs authorities of both states.So far it has remained unclear how and where these papers are being forged. The City Dept. of Interior Affairs in Skopje have revealed their apprehension of 3 forgerers of `banderoles' i.e. control seals marking cigarettes to prevent their smuggling. As far as it is known those 3 offenders have succeeded in printing app. 40 000 false seals, which have been entered `into circulation' for quite some time now. [10] 5OTH ANNIVERSARY OF TRANSFUSIOLOGY IN MACEDONIAThe 50th Anniversary of Transfusiology in Macedonia has bee celebrated at the Army Club of Skopje yesterday. The festivity was attended by Macedonian Head of State Kiro Gligorov and numerous high-ranking officials, public health workers, public personalities and representatives of international organisations.The Macedonian Health Minister Ilija Filipche - on reminding us of the importance of blood-donorship in the health sector - mentioned that the first transfusiology facility in Macedonia had been established on 1st July 1946. Presently there are 21 such institutions in our country with a staff of 350, carrying out their duty. On this occasion he also said that 45 000 blood donations had been made in `94, and this year's figure was higher by 5 000. Welcoming this positive trend Minister Filipche emphasized that the programme for procuring blood reserves in Macedonia for the following three years is to be aided by the World Bank. MILS SUPPLEMENT[11] `AUDI 3 to be Manufactured in Macedonia Starting June Next Year'(`Dnevnik' - 12th December 1996)As of June `97 the AUDI car manufacturing company, the Government of Macedonia and ASIBA - as well as interested stakeholders i.e. independent shareholders - will instigate the construction of a modern state-of-the-art car manufacturing facility for the A 3 model, says ASIBA Chairman Pece Dameski. The latest production series of the AUDI company called `A 3' is to be manufactured in Macedonia, based on a decision of the Executive Board of this German enterprise of the 10th December. The Contract with the `Volkswagen' top officials (as AUDI is a component of this concern) is to be signed in January, next year - and by June the first vehicles assembled on Macedonian soil should go into serial production. In June `97 the AUDI company, the Macedonian Government, ASIBA and independent shareholders should commence construction of a state-of-the-art production facility for the `A 3' model line. The complete production process - in which Macedonian companies will be involved from 25 to 30% - is to start in 1999, revealed ASIBA CEO Pece Dameski for `Dnevnik'. `After extremely long negotiations we have finally succeeded in convincing the AUDI Board and the top executives of the `Volkswagen' Group that an investment in Macedonia will yield profit. It remains unclear at which point of time the German side will invest its capital - whether this will be immediately at the beginning or - as it had been agreed upon previously - throughout the second stage of the project. The idea being played around with currently is that AUDI would invest capital directly, upon the ratification of the contract itself in January', says Dameski. The latter also claims that the first assembled vehicles are to emerge upon the market towards the close of April and throughout May `97. This should be paralleled by the commencement of construction procedures of the manufacturing facility for the entire `A 3' series which is to be completed throughout 1998. `There was no inclination in Germany - and I have to admit here as well - to resort to using existing production facilities. Our estimates have proven that in all of them together we would be able to manufacture the maximum of 12 000 to 15 000 vehicles per annum - which is far from sufficient. We expect the total number of manufactured cars to exceed the number of 50 000 in the second year already, which is why we are building `a new plant on a green meadow'. Staff at ASIBA claims that the production of the AUDI `A 3' series is to influence the initial evolution of the country quite considerably. The project is decisive as it also foresees the involvement of domestic suppliers by 25 to 30% of all vehicle components. This covers Macedonian industrial capacities which have yet to find their stake in this venture. `This is one of the major advantages of this arrangement... presently around 30 Macedonian firms are being monitored. Out of this base we will determine the five `top' suppliers, which will subsequently be granted access to be German market within the entire production range of the `Volkswagen' Group. This refers to parts which are to be manufactured here; they, however, will not only be used for the AUDI line but for the complete `Volkswagen' programme. Thus the 5 `top' suppliers are being awaited with export arrangements to Germany worth from 200 to 300 million dollars a year, explains Dameski. (end)mils news 13 December 1996Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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