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MILS: News from the FYROM, 97-02-14Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>CONTENTS
MILS NEWSSkopje, 14 February, 1997[01] ITALIAN PRESIDENT SCALFARO IN MACEDONIA END OF THIS MONTHThe Macedonian Foreign Office announced yesterday that the Italian Head of State, Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, is to pay an official visit to Macedonia as of 26th February - upon invitation of his Macedonian counterpart President Kiro Gligorov.[02] GREAT BRITAIN SUPPORTS MACEDONIAN REQUEST FOR `EU' AIDGreat Britain is looking favourably upon the Macedonian request for EU funding, and it will insist upon its implementation - states the letter addressed to the Macedonian Ambassador to Great Britain Risto Nikovski by British Defence Secretary Michael Portillo. MTV reports that in this letter Great Britain expresses its constructive approach towards the preparations for the Donors' Conference in Brussels, scheduled for 25th this month - in addition to the conviction that the Macedonian case is to be considered carefully, bearing in mind the sustainability of economic stability in Macedonia.These days the Macedonian Transport and Communications Minister of the Republic of Macedonia Dimitar Buzleski has been visiting several financial and consulting firms in Great Britain. MTV reveals that talks during these meetings focused on possibilities to privatise Macedonian telecommunications. [03] PROMOTION OF MACEDONIAN ECONOMY IN VIENNAThe Vice-President of the Macedonian Government Jane Miljoski has been received by the Secretary-General of the Austrian Foreign Office Roan; by the EU and Aid for Transitional Countries Coordinator at the Office of the Federal Chancellor Stacher; by the Head of the `Giro Kreditbank' Lazina and by the `SECI' Initiative Coordinator Bussek in Vienna yesterday.At the Vienna Institute of Comparative Economic Studies Vice-President Miljoski also delivered a lecture on `Macedonia, its Economic Situation, the Privatisation and Investment Possibilities'. Media report that the purpose of Vice-President Miljoski's visit to Vienna is the promotion of Macedonian economy and legislation with respect to this domain. [04] GREEK INITIATIVE FOR CONFERENCE ON PROBLEMS IN BALKAN COUNTRIESMacedonian media report that Greece has launched an initiative to stage an international ministerial conference on problems prevailing in Balkan countries in Athens next month. It has been said that the meeting would only be attended by the Foreign Secretaries of EU member-states, of the US, the Russian Federation, SR Yugoslavia, Albania, Bulgaria and by OSCE representatives. This initiative should be considered at the next EU ministerial meeting in Brussels, on 24th February.[05] MACEDONIA LISTED BY ITS CONSTITUTIONAL NAME IN `WORLD ALMANAC'The Republic of Macedonia has been listed within the register of states by its Constitutional name in the `World Almanac 1997' - according to `Nova Makedonija'. This book contains 276 pp. of data on the most relevant event occurring in the world last year, such as election results, natality and mortality rates, historical and economic data, information on transport, the global climate, the number of HIV-positive, etc. Half a page has been dedicated to Macedonia, under the letter `M', the above mentioned daily states, adding that publishers had opted for a wise solution by listing the reference `Former Yugoslav Republic' underneath.[06] OMBUDSMAN BILL RATIFIEDYesterday the Macedonian Parliament adopted the Ombudsman Bill with 72 votes in favour, one against and one abstention. This act had been proposed almost two years ago by LP representative Zoran Krstevski - and its importance had also been underlined by Council of Europe experts and domestic experts on this legal issue. In concordance to the newly-adopted bill the Ombdusman will represent an independent institution of the Republic of Macedonia, dedicated to the protection of Constitutional and legally guaranteed civic rights - should they have been violated by state authorities or other structures and organisations with public competencies. The Ombudsman and his deputies are to be appointed and suspended by the Parliament over a period of eight years, with the right to a second mandate. The office of the Ombudsman is incompatible with the holding of any other public function and professions - or with any party affiliation.In the opinion initiator Zoran Krstevski the bill corresponds to the evolution of democratic processes in Macedonia, and the Ombudsman is essentially functioning as the legal counsellor of citizens - offering his assistance free of charge whenever civic rights have been violated in processes with Government authorities. Krstevski stressed that the Ombudsman is by no means to be considered a surrogate for regular legal measures at the disposal of the citizens with respect to legal disputes or judiciary matters. He continued that the Ombudsman is a parliamentary `confidant' who is at the same time embodying a relevant monitoring instance of the executive government. A genuine outburst of reactions and a two-hour-long debate has been caused by the draft-bill on taking up a loan by the International Agriculture Development Fund i.e. implementing the project on the development of the rural regions in the Southeast of the country, during yesterday's parliamentary session. In spite of the fact that the project justification dwells on the favourable terms of this 11.16 million dollar loan, the PDP representatives nevertheless refused to discuss this issue - i.e. opposed this credit as it was based on the anti-Constitutional premise of dividing Macedonia into regions (as the loan would be intended for the southern and eastern region of the country). The draft- bill was nevertheless adopted yesterday, and the sequel to the session scheduled for next Wednesday. [07] SUPREME COURT RULING IN FAVOUR OF PENSIONERS PUBLICISEDYesterday the Supreme Court of Macedonia released the official ruling according to which pensioners are to receive the withheld 8% of their retirement pensions. Among other things the justification supporting this ruling states that the ruling passed by the Constitutional Court (suspending the legal conditions other authorities) became legally binding on its day of announcement. As of that moment the suspension of the act has to be respected in order to prevent the further generating of any consequences. The Court has also listed in its justification that from 13th December 1994 onwards (when the Constitutional Court was passed) authorities had been obliged to forward the complete amount of pensions as the restriction had been suspended. As far as consequences to the financial balance of the Fund are concerned, i.e. the assumption that economic developments in the country would be upset, it has been stated that such considerations could not affect the contents of this ruling.[08] BANKERS APPROVING MOST RECENT `NBM' MEASURESThe Dept. of Banking and Insurance within the Macedonian Economy Chamber has rendered its support to the most recent NBM measures with regards to determining the scope of activities and mode of operation of savings houses in the future which - it is hoped - will increase safety. Upon endorsing the Central Bank's decision, the Dept. underlined that these measures and the avoiding of risky business practice and conducting of high- risk business transactions should be in the interest of banks and savings houses in order to procure the sustaining of stable activity and good repute.The `ALFA-S' bank scandal has been assessed as an individual case by the Dept., which should not besmear the credibility of the banking system and its safety network. The Dept. has also stressed the necessity of the consistent implementation of the NBM role within the investigation of the entire case. At the same time the Dept. has distanced itself from the scandals with respect to the companies `Jugomarket', `Dzhamadanche' and `Makedonija Reklam' - as these are not integrated into the banking system but legal entities. The Dept. further insists on increased education of the public and stricter legislation, which means that there is a necessity of efficient state supervision besides monetary control. In connection to the Savings Insurance Fund it has been emphasised that this body is still in its formative stage, i.e. that it will not commence operations until all members and clients have been announced. In terms of interest rate policy the Dept. has stated that consensus remains a necessity in spite of the NBM view that interest rates should be formed on a market basis. [09] IN OHRID CLIENTS OF `LAVCI' SAVINGS HOUSE DECEIVEDThe Macedonian Radio reported that the fate of app. 500 clients of the `Lavci' savings house of Ohrid and other cities throughout the country, who had deposited around 9 million DM, is no longer an uncertain one. Their Board of representatives has been informed by NBM Governour Borko Stanoevski that the Council of the Central Bank had announced the bankruptcy of the `Lavci' bank, which means that all activities of this bank have been suspend, except for the disbursement of clients. According to the Chairman of the bank clients' Board Sasho Gugovski the `Lavci' bank owes an estimated 20 million DM. This is due to the founded suspicion that an amount of accepted deposits have never been registered with the NBM.[10] OWNERS OF `ALFA-S' AND `JUGOMARKET' APPREHENDEDIn connection to the cases of financial fraud and embezzlement of clients of the `Jugomarket' and `ALFA-S' savings institutions the Ministry of the Interior has arrested the owners of these banks: Jasmin Muralich and Slobodan Toshevski. Currently both men are in custody until their initial court hearing.[11] STRIKE OF `ZLETOVO' MINERS PUT ON HOLDYesterday `Zletovo' miners suspended their strike, commenced six days ago, as the management has agreed to meet part of their demands. The forwarding of withheld pay and a rise of the latter are nevertheless conditioned by the achievement of the set production objectives. The Strike Board has decided to continue cooperating with the Trade Union as regards the fulfillment of the remaining requests, such as the providing of one hot meal for the miners, the supplying of reproduction material as well as the forwarding of the withheld 20% pay rise over the past few months.[12] FOOD IMPORT CHARGES ENCOURAGE SMUGGLINGHigh duty charges and other import fees charged upon the import of agricultural produce and food, which vary from 20 to 60%, as well as discrete charges between 5 and 70 denars per kilo -bear a negative impact and stimulate smuggling according to the Dept. of Agricultural Produce within the Economy Chamber of Macedonia. Thus illegal trade is on the rise with each day, and conspicuous on every market where one can buy products for almost their manufacturing price... it has been stressed at yesterday's meeting of merchants with food products. What has also been criticised is the allocation of consignments, as - based on MTV reports - these have been granted to firms not dealing with food products. The Association of the Agriculture Sector and the Food Industry has proposed that they should not only be concerned with import - but also with the trade of domestic reserves in apples, milk, beans, etc. A global conclusion aired at the meeting that an agriculture development strategy was still missing in Macedonia.[13] CONSUMER GOODS PRICES UP BY 3.9%This January consumer goods prices have been up by 3.9% in comparison to December `96 - the National Institute of Statistics. The largest rise in prices has been registered with the services sector (by 9.8%), due to the increase of Postal Services charges by 186.3%, as well as the rise in car insurance installments, public transport costs and culture expenses. An increase by 5.2% has been registered with respect to agricultural produce, whereas prices of beverages have been raised by 2.4% in comparison to the previous month. January had been marked by a decrease in prices for processed food products by 0.9%.With respect to last year's average consumer goods prices for this January are higher by 6.2%. As a result of price variations of consumer goods, living expenses have gone up by 1.3% compared to December `96...data issued by the National Institute of Statistics reveal. [14] SOCIALISTS REMAIN IN GOVERNMENT COALITIONDuring yesterday's session of the SPM National Council both ideological and politically divergent factions within the party reached a consensus, `Nova Makedonija' reports, adding that the ultimate body of this party has decided to maintain its coalition with the SDSM on `an equal basis'. A mentionable fact is that this around 45-minute-long meeting was held in Skopje. The afore said daily reveals that both opposing factions (the one of party leader Ljubisav Ivanov and the one of his Deputy Blagoja Filipov) have exchanged `less belligerent words'. Yet the Ivanov report on the success at local elections had not been adopted, as it was labelled partially unobjective and incomplete. Thus the working group has been asked to compile another revised version which would be submitted for discussion at the next session.This meeting had initially been scheduled for tomorrow in Ohrid, but was then rescheduled by President Ivanov, who said that preparations had literally been completed over night. [15] THE `IMRO-DPMNE' LEADER ON HIS VIST TO THE USA AND ON POLITICAL TURMOIL IN MACEDONIAThe visit of IMRO-DPMNE leader Ljupcho Georgievski to the US and his attending the National Prayer Day Breakfast at the White House - was the thematic focus of the party press conference held yesterday. In this context Ljupcho Georgievski informed that he had been invited to the Breakfast upon the initiative of US Congressman Bill Barett.In the US the IMRO-DPMNE delegation also had the opportunity to meet other congressmen, as well as representatives of the Greek opposition party `Nea Demokratia', the Fatherland Party of Turkey, several Croatian officials and numerous businessmen. The conclusion after all these encounters is that the Balkans are a closely-monitored region. This includes Macedonia whose situation has been assessed as catastrophic - though superficially stable as citizens have not flooded the streets yet. The US possess accurate data on Macedonia, as well as substantial analyses, which does not disconnect it from the reference `critical area'... Georgievski stated. In connection to the Foreign Office release according to which Secretary Frchkovski had been placed at the President's table, Georgievski claimed that this was textbook example of desinformation as Frchkovski had merely been in the same room with President Clinton - along with 800 other people. This false data has been attributed to the endeavour to create the impression of some sort of huge US support of the incumbent Mac. Government. While commenting on the unrest surfacing within the ranks of several parties, Georgievski stated that all those were conducive to the democratisation of relations - one more step towards early parliamentary elections. As regards the LP / DP alliance Georgievski said that though he was slightly disappointed - this did not represent a problem to him. The IMRO-DPMNE had been maintaining contacts with the PDPA on a more basic level, he continued, without completing any concrete arrangements, though. [16] CELEBRATIONS OF THE `MACEDONIAN AUTHORS' ASSOCIATION' JUBILEE HAVE BEGUNThe marking of the 50th anniversary of the `Macedonian Authors' Association' has commenced with the holding of festive session at the Macedonian Academy of Arts and Sciences yesterday. The ceremony has been opened by President Kiro Gligorov, and consisted of the multi-media project `20 Centuries of Macedonian Literature'. Several Macedonian artists also read fragments of the works of numerous Macedonian poets and spiritual leaders, and the annual awards of this association were also distributed. The recipient for poetic output was Jordan Danailovski, for prose writing - Ivan Chapovski, essays and criticism - Milan Gjurchinov and the award for children or teenage writers went to Slavka Maneva. Slavko Janevski received the newly- established `Makedonsko Slovo' life achievement award.Further celebrations are to be held throughout the entire year in several cities, under the auspices of President Gligorov. [17] JOURNALISM AWARDS CEREMONY HELDYesterday the Judge's Committee of the `Krste Misirkov' Journalism Award, given away by the Macedonian Association of Journalists, has awarded the following journalists for 1996: Veroljub Andonovski (`Nova Makedonija') for life achievement, Petre Klinkarov (Macedonian Radio) was voted `Journalist of the Year', Zoran Bogatinov (MTV) and Atanas Kirovski (A-1) for the best TV news-story, Vlado Bojkovski and Angele Gushevski (Macedonian Radio) for the best radio report and Josif Dochkov (`Nova Makedonija') and Remzi Dzhenova (Birlik) for the best press news-story.(end)mils news 14 February 1997Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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