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MILS: News from the FYROM, 97-01-30Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>CONTENTS
MILS SUPPLEMENTMILS NEWSSkopje, 30 January, 1997[01] NEW `UN' AMBASSADOR: NASTE CHALOVSKIMedia report that changes have been made within the top ranks of the Macedonian UN mission. These amount to the appointment by President Gligorov of Naste Chalovski (so far Advisor to the Macedonian Government) as the new Macedonian UN Representative, an office held by Ambassador Denko Malevski so far. The newly-appointed Chief-of- Mission is to assume his duties throughout the next month, in spite of the fact that the mandate of Ambassador Malevski would not have expired for another seven months.A-1 TV reports that this personnel changes are to be ascribed to the fact that his mandate overlaps with the possible admission of Macedonia into the UN Security Council as a temporary member. This would give Chalovski another six months of permanent working towards this objective. [02] DELAY OF ALBANIAN PM VISIT TO MACEDONIA DUE TO VISASThe main reason for the repeated delay of the visit of Albanian PM Alexander Mexi to Macedonia is the difficulty connected to the visa regime... stated the First Secretary of the Albanian Embassy in Skopje, during an interview for `Flaka'. So far diplomatic circles have listed the fact Albania insisted on the FYROM reference as a denotation for the Macedonian side in all papers which would possibly be signed - as the key factors for the postponing of this visit. First Secretary Kamber Faruku, however, has denied this in the `Flaka' interview, claiming that the bone of contention was Macedonia's refusing to sign an agreement which would suspend the bilateral visa regime. `Makfax' reports that the Albanian diplomat has also stressed that another impediment lay in the fact that Macedonia did not accept the lowering of fees for obtaining a visa - concordant to tariffs implemented with Greece. In addition to this he stated that PM Mexi might nevertheless visit Macedonia - but certainly not prior to the 2nd round of the bilateral expert meeting - whose definite date has not been determined yet.[03] `IMF' ASSESSMENT OF FISCAL POLICYAs of today an IMF delegation, which is to discuss the implementation of the `ESAF' arrangement with the Macedonian Government, will be staying in Macedonia for a couple of days. According to Finance Minister Taki Fiti the IMF delegation will also study the implementation of the National Budget throughout the last fiscal year, and Government policy measures with regards to this sector.The findings of this delegation will further determine whether the `ESAF' arrangement will be given the `go- ahead' by the IMF Board... said Finance Minister Taki Fiti for MTV. [04] GREEK LEFT-WING CONDEMNING ATHENS' BLOCKING `EU' FUNDING FOR MACEDONIAThe Greek left-wing coalition of progress `Synaspizmos' addressed severe criticism to the Greek Government yesterday for blocking EU funding for Macedonia - according to `Makfax'. It has been reported that the coalition accused Athens of swerving away from the New York Interim Agreement, and from the officially proclaimed objective to strive towards multilateral economic and political cooperation with all Balkan states.[05] ORGANISATION SHORTCOMINGS PRESENTED AS POLITICAL SCANDALBulgarian papers have evaluated the cancelling of the appearance of the Macedonian Philharmonic Orchestra at today's opening of the Pazardzhik Festival as a scandal with a political motive yesterday. They have furthermore conveyed the information released by the National Bulgarian Press Agency `BTA' that this was to be attributed to the decision passed by the Macedonian Ministry of Culture because of the security conditions - i.e. the tensed political situation - in Bulgaria... This possible explanation had at least been suggested by the Macedonian Embassy in Sofia. The Bulgarian press claims that this is being done in order to present Bulgaria in the bleakest perspective.According to A-1 TV the Macedonian Embassy in Sofia have revealed that the security situation in Bulgaria is merely an excuse, whereas the problem is to be sought on the organizer - visitor plain. The difficulty practically boils down to the fact that the visiting artists have been offered a `per diem' of 1 000 L. (i.e. 1 US $) to cover all expenses. The Macedonian Ministry of Culture informed that the decision to cancel the performance had been brought on by the Macedonian Philharmonic Orchestra, whereas the Ministry supported this decision. [06] ADAPTING VIEWS ON TRANSPORTATION SECTOR WITH SR YUGOSLAVIAAs of today a delegation of the Macedonian Ministry of Transportation and Communications is to meet their Yugoslav counterparts in order to discuss transportation issues left open between both countries. Macedonian Radio revealed that the Macedonian side would endeavour to permit the passage of 30 000 bilateral, 50 000 transit transports - in addition to 5 000 transports of goods from third countries. Another issue to be debated is the reciprocal decreasing or suspending of all fees, such as entrance charges, pay toll and charges for terminal use - which are reported to be exceptionally high in SR Yugoslavia. Bus transportation and the non-recognition of TIR labels in Yugoslavia are other questions to be regulated.[07] RAILWAY EMPLOYEES STRIKE POSTPONED TILL 28TH FEBRUARYThe strike of `Macedonian Railways' employees - scheduled for tomorrow - has been postponed until 28th February, as Independent Trade Union representatives hope that by that time their requests (to accept proposed changes and amendments to the Collective Agreement Law) will be fulfilled. In addition to this railway employees have been forwarded their December pay which - besides the demanded enactment of a Railway Transportation Law (codified at the last Government session) - has been one of the key requests of this Trade Union Organisation.[08] INCREASED TOBACCO PRODUCTION DUE TO TIMELY PAYMENT OF PURCHASED HARVESTIn 1996 a total of 13 760 tons of unprocessed tobacco have been bought from tobacco producers in Macedonia. This represents 75% of the overall planned amount of 18 000 tons. It has been stressed that the registered rise in tobacco production compared to last year by 10% is to be attributed to the timely payment for the purchased amounts of tobacco. The Assembly of the Macedonian Tobacco Production Association has also stated yesterday that the average cost of one kilo unprocessed tobacco in Macedonia in 1996 totalled 73.11 denars. The state has to pay 12.3% more in order to achieve the minimum guaranteed quota of 82 denars per kilo. It has been emphasized the entire harvest had been paid for within the agreed 45 days - while many firms had settled their obligations even ahead of time. This entailed favourable words by the Association - though it had been remarked that some companies still adhered to irresponsible business practice and bureaucratic and monopoly modes of operation.[09] `SDSM' IN FAVOUR, OTHERS AGAINST `PF' BILLAn almost five-hour-long discussion on the draft-bill regulating the use of minority languages at the Pedagogical Faculty (PF) has characterised yesterday's Parliamentary session. Voting on this draft and the final decision are most likely to be conducted during today's sequel to this 58th session.Upon justifying the Government proposal, Education Minister Sofija Todorova emphasized that due to the lack of a Law on Tertiary Education - and the importance and political sensitivity to the issue of education in minority languages and concrete problems at the PF - it had been decided to submit this proposal / PF Bill. According to Minister Todorova it remains undeniable that the latter does not provide an integral solution to all higher education issues. This has also been one of the most frequently aired objections during Commission debates. It merely creates a legal basis to maintain the operating of the PF, and a means to facilitate the objective resolving of problems which have befallen this institution. Discussions among Members of Parliament took a similar course. Thus Albanian MPs stated that the draft-bill merely provided a buffer-zone to lessen the impact of the genuine needs of Albanians with respect to higher education - and that what had to be achieved is the enactment of the Law on Tertiary Education, which would facilitate the institutionalisation of the `Tetovo University'. Albanian MPs have further underlined that the draft-bill only covered the training of teachers for pre- school education and general studies, whereas the training of teachers for other levels was left unaddressed. The SDSM Parliamentary Members announced that they would vote in favour of the law, as it offered concrete solutions to concrete problems - at a concrete moment of time. Ilinka Mitreva claimed that the attitude exhibited by Albanian MPs as regards the draft-bill embodied a `well-known stereotype'. Kenan Safiti of the Democratic Party of Turks said that this act of law should not be passed in a case where every stakeholder considers it a trap. DPM leader Tomislav Stojanovski said that the holiness of the Constitution should not be besmeared, by abusing it dependent on urgency and time. SPM MPs mainly objected to the fact that the bill was being processed too speedily. Parliamentary debates on this law regulating the use of minority languages at the PF of Skopje, have been scheduled for today. [10] TENSED ATMOSPHERE AT SOCIALISTS' CAMPThe atmosphere prevailing within the SPM ranks is reported to be `extremely tensed' these days, Macedonian media report. This `cranking up of heat' is being ascribed to the statement given by party leader Ljubisav Ivanov - Singo, i.e. the public distancing himself from the top party leadership structure comprised of Vice-President Blagoja Filipovski, Secretary Mirko Tripunovski and the three Ministers Trpevski, Filipche and Naumovski. It is also due to Ivanov's attitude exhibited in his correspondence with the SDSM. `Vecher' reports that according to yesterday's comment made by Ivanov, the three above mentioned party officials had been labelled as `functionaries', as `gentlemen more attached to their armchairs, while they cared as much for the party as for last year's snow'. These very `functionaries' have now started to react by stating that `a man overburdened with functions in all possible domains should speak of clinging to armchairs and functions'. What has further been held against Ivanov is the ignoring of regular party procedures upon forming views on coalitioning with the SDSM, while the Executive Council of the party is being used as an alibi. Ivanov, it is being said, is attempting to obtain the favour of municipal structures - which would be entailed by the `sidelining' of those fellow party members who dared to raise their voices against him.MILS SUPPLEMENT[11] `The Making of... a Democratic - Liberal Marriage'(`Vecher' - 28th January 1997)It has not been clarified yet what shape this union is to assume - but a tight relation seems to be preferred. The Liberals suggest that future party leadership should be entrusted to DP head Petar Goshev... The Democrats and Liberals - constituents of the political centre - are preparing to redefine the political map of Macedonia. The concept of `bulking up' parties, of creating a strong and powerful political centre component has one objective: victory at the next parliamentary elections. This wave is the first to ripple the silent political sea in Macedonia in two months, after tempestuous local elections which more or less determined the contours of Macedonia's political map. This is being confirmed by sources close to the leading structures of both parties which add that the initiative was being subjected to fission. The Liberals expect the soon crystallization of a new central political entity. Within this party it has been said that this merging should not take anybody by surprise, as both parties have similar agenda contents, and the structures of their electorates are almost identical - thus why should they be partitioned? Expectations at the Liberal camp are high: the establishment of a political party which will obtain majority support within the country. Within the top DP circles it has been registered that `the first announcement of the initiative - which has the consent of both party leaderships - it has to be distributed vertically and be verified within all DP structures. It has not been determined in detail yet what shape this merging is to assume - that of a party, a union, or something else. We have nevertheless found out that a more solid alliance is preferred, i.e. there is the readiness to create a political subject. At the Liberal camp one hears the view that `the establishment of a new party within Macedonia's political centre, the initial party surrounding will be abandoned'. The opinion is being entertained that this is merely another attempt to resurrect the political past of Macedonia: with the SDSM on one side, IMRO- DPMNE on the other and the centre - vacant or stifled. It is high time, we have been told by our LP sources, to put an end to this past of Macedonia - and to form parties which will guide Macedonia into the 21st century. Both parties have admitted that in spite of the fact that such issues as party leadership and the genesis of a new political entity are rather specific, they have been discussed. The Democrats state that a consensus can be reached on all, thus even this, issue. LP sources reveal that their leader Stojan Andov has rejected the post as initial formative stages require a great deal of organisation and technical working, whereas his own opinion is that he could make a larger contribution with respect to the political / programmatic aspects. Liberals have suggested that - provided both parties agree - leadership should be entrusted to Petar Goshev. The other political parties in the country appear to have been surprised by the news on cooperation between the Liberals and the Democrats. Up to now the incumbent SDSM has restrained itself from making any comments. These are bound to follow once all angles have been covered. The same can be observed with respect to the PDP and IMRO- DPMNE. Though the latter were expected to say at least something - bearing in mind their coalition activities with the DP during local elections. Democrats think that their merging with the Liberals should not entail the worsening of their relations with the IMRO-DPMNE, as they will adhere to what has been negotiated during local elections and remain open for further cooperation with the IMRO-DPMNE. According to statements obtained from the latter's leadership structures, they had no knowledge whatsoever of a possible Liberal / Democrat alliance since neither side had issued any premonition. Their reaction is to follow a thorough analysis of all data regarding this unification. [12] CSA: JOINT EFFORT TO PROVIDE ORGANIC FOODThe formative meeting of the `CSA' (Community Supported Agriculture) project has been scheduled for tomorrow at the VOCA (Volunteers in Overseas Cooperative Assistance) premises (Leninova 5a) at 16 hrs. This initiative has been designed in shape of a cooperative with the objective to facilitate the supplying of fresh and healthy crops to consumers at reasonable prices - as well as to support farmers to engage themselves in a profitable production of organic food. The US-based VOCA have designed the project as a non-profitable, private initiative which is to procure income to farmers / producers of organic food - in order to provide incentives for this kind of production, a secure market and to convey know- how on ecologically sustainable agriculture. The `CSA' Cooperative is to be controlled by its members, the consumers, through a Board of Directors - which will enter into arrangements with one or more farmers to supply the initiative with crops of a determined quality and quantity required by its members.The latter will have the option of purchasing shares (portions of the crops), which they may obtain at the farm directly, or the initiative could set up a delivery service once or several times a week to a central venue where consumers could pick up their `veggies and fruits'. It has been outlined that farmers will be responsible for all aspects of production, whereas `CSA' members will benefit by having access to fresh organic produce directly from the producers - without any mediation. Farmers will have the advantage of possessing secure placement of crops, thus being able to focus on production only. `CSA' members and families will have the opportunity to visit the farm, and get first-hand input on production which is ecologically sustainable - and on its impact on preserving the environment and the improvement of our habitat is. In addition to these organised visits, the `CSA' will create opportunities for members to acquaint themselves with methods of ecologically sustainable farming, to participate in harvesting and celebrate the same with picnics and social events. (end)mils news 30 January 1997Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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