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MILS: News from the FYROM, 97-02-27Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>CONTENTS
MILS SUPPLEMENTMILS NEWSSkopje, 27 February, 1997[01] DONOR'S CONFERENCE IN BRUSSELS PROVIDED HELP OF 65 MILLION DOLLARSOn he second day of the Donor's Conference for Macedonia taking place in the capital of the EU in Brussels Macedonia is being provided with a financial help amounting up to 65 million dollars, reports A-1 Television. The means to support of the pay balance and the paying off the debt of Macedonia towards the European investment bank were granted by the EU amounting up to 50 million dollars as a favourable credit, and irretrievable means which were granted by : Holland - 8 million dollars, Japan - 5 million dollars and the USA - 2 million dollars.The left over of about 20 million dollars necessary to cover the pay deficit in the state of 87 million dollars, according to the Head of the Macedonian delegation, Jane Miljoski, should be provided by additional donations expected to be granted after the ending of the conference and by savings in the programme for economy restructuring. Assessing the Donor's Conference in Brussels as highly successful for Macedonia, Vice-Prime Minister Miljovski stressed in his statement for the Macedonian Television that the provided means will enable Macedonia to enter three year ESAF-agreement with the MMF and the World Bank which of great importance for Macedonia. A-1 TV yesterday reported that at the Donor's Conference in Brussels promises are given for support in the realization of the development programme of Macedonia in the sphere of social insurance and private sector which acquire125 million dollars. A part of these means should be provided through the World Bank with financing of several projects and the same should be done by the European Commission through the PHARE programme. The organizers of the Donor's Conference in Brussels, the World Bank and the European Commission, as well as MMF, according to A-1 TV have given their full support to Macedonia underlining that she is an example on the Balkans regarding the achieved results and the way of conducting the reforms. As main problems in Macedonia are pointed out the unemployment and the small quantity of foreign investments which are absent due to the instability in the neighborhood. [02] MACEDONIA APPRECIATED PARTNER TO ITALYItaly stands by Macedonia in its will to join Europe and regards that Macedonia's presence will enrich the EU', this was stated yesterday by the President of Italy, Oscar Luigi Skalfaro, who came for a one day's official visit to Macedonia together with 15 delegates. At the press conference held with the Macedonian president, Kiro Gligorov , the Italian president stated that Italy is interested in Macedonia's stability and its total security from the threat by drugs trafficking and the Muslim fundamentalism's aggression.President Gligorov stated that Republic Italy is a priority for Macedonia because it is one of Macedonia's most important partners although there are many unused possibilities for advancement of the collaboration especially in the field of investments. President Gligorov informed that there was a demand of Italian support for the Macedonian candidacy to become a temporary member of the UN Security Council and for prolonging the mandate of the peace forces in Macedonia. The visit of President Skalfaro opens new pages in the relations between the two states, underlined Gligorov. The Italian president yesterday in the talks with the Macedonian political ruling circles addressed the members of the Macedonian Parliament giving the statement: 'Today we look at your country with trust because it plays an essential role in the region which is of a great importance to the security in the old continent. We are aware that Macedonia is European oriented and we are convinced that it should gradually get closer to the EU which has already contracted an agreement on collaboration. All kinds of support to this development will be given by Italy.' The Italian president also stressed that the contracts Macedonia made with Greece and Yugoslavia, and the improvement of the global climate in the relationships with Albania and Bulgaria have highly contributed to the strengthening the regional security. President Scalfaro has assessed the bilateral relations between the two states as high-quality ones which do not only indicate friendship but they also present a basis for further developments. During the visit of president Skalfaro in Macedonia, Foreign Affairs Minister, Ljubomir Frchkovski and the Vice-Secretary of the Italian Foreign Affairs Ministry, Piero Fasino, have signed contracts between the two states on finance protection, on abolition of visa requirement on the diplomat and official passports and on rejecting Macedonian citizens with unregulated citizenship status. The announced agreement on recognition of the Macedonian driving licenses in Italy was not signed but it is expected to be done in few days. Fasino yesterday informed that there is an agreement made with Minister Frchkovski on creation of two work groups for economic collaboration between the two states (finance and industry). Yesterday president Gligorov honored the guest with a solemn lunch at which several toasts were exchanged. At this occasion the Macedonian president stressed that the development of the democratic processes, the creating of a European oriented civil society are directions towards which the Republic of Macedonia is aiming. The Italian president Scalfaro in his toast underlined that Macedonia is a state which sets an example on citizen co-living and that is very important for the peace and stability in the whole region. [03] GREAT PUBLICITY IN ITALY ON SCALFARO'S VISIT TO MACEDONIAThe visit of the president of the Italy Republic, Oscar Luigi Scalfaro to Macedonia, as reported by the Macedonian Television, has gained great publicity in the Italian media. The Italian agency ANSA has given a special comment in which a short history of Macedonia is cited, as well as a history on its existing foreign and domestic politics.It has been pointed out that Italy presents a foreign- trade partner to Macedonia, immediately behind Germany. The Italian press pointed out that Macedonia expects a lot of support from Rome in fastening the tempo of integration with the EU. [04] BULGARIAN PRIME MINISTER SOFIJANSKI IN MACEDONIA TODAYThe President of the Bulgarian Government, Stefan Sofijanski, is expected today to come on a visit to Macedonia, reports A-1 TV. During the first active visit to a foreign country Prime Minister Sofijanski who comes on the invitation from the Macedonian Prime Minister Crvenkovski is expected to view the bilateral relations between the countries and the relation in the region.During the two-days visit the Bulgarian Prime Minister shall meet Skopje's new mayor , Risto Penov. [05] YESTERDAY AGAIN PROTESTS AGAINST THE PEDAGOGICAL FACULTY BILLThe protest of the students and secondary school students directed against the Pedagogical Faculty Bill in Skopje yesterday was taking place in front of the Constructing company `Pelagonija' (near the General Assembly) because strong police forces had not allowed access to the General Assembly during the visit of the Italian President Skalfaro. The protest of few hundred students and secondary school students consisted of exclamations of the well known demands over a public-address system which a few policemen have unsuccessfully tried to turn off. The organizers of the protest pointed out that besides the police cordons in front of the General Assembly, in the centre of the city there were a large number of policemen who pressurized the students to quit protesting.According to A-1 TV the organizers informed that the police pressurizes the families of two protested (Petrovski and Dimovski). According to `Vecher' and `Nova Makedonija' at yesterday's protest there was a large number of elderly people and party activists among the students. Yet in yesterday's protest in Skopje there were no incidents and there were no exclamations of offensive nationalistic slogans and there was no hurling of objects at the state institution buildings. The protest organizers yesterday held a press conference at which they informed about a demand reception in 6 foreign embassies in Skopje and in UNPREDEP. They are expecting a reply these days. A general strike is scheduled for 4 th March unless their demands are met. The media report that students protests took place in Tetovo, Gostivar and Strumica. In Gostivar no Macedonian student goes to school classes and the atmosphere in the city is tense, reports `Vecher'. In front of the School of Economy in Gostivar a fight broke out between a Macedonian and Albanian student but the quick police intervention prevented a massive fight and greater clashes. In Tetovo the secondary school students held a protest in the morning while in the afternoon there was a rally of the PDPA party. It has been arranged the student to come to Skopje by train and to hold joined a protest with Skopje's students. [06] MVR PRESSES CHARGES AGAINST UNKNOWN DOERSThe Macedonian Domestic Affairs Ministry regarding the protests of the students gave this announcement yesterday: `MVR has pressed charges against unknown doers due to criminal offenses - violence shown towards an official from the highest state bodies, racial and other discrimination. The first charges are against a doer who on 19 th February had broken a window of the President's cabinet with a stone, and the second charges are against the doers who that same day in front of the Parliament and the Education Ministry handed out leaflets in form of a bill on nation protection by which they have broken the basic human rights and freedom accepted by the international community .'[07] DPM - JUSTIFIED REVOLT CAUSED BY PEDAGOGICAL FACULTY BILLThe Democrat Party of Macedonia in yesterday's announcement stated that `it is crystal clear that the hastily enforced Pedagogical faculty (PF) Bill on the usage of the languages of the nationalities at the PF in Skopje whose only aim was through recreating act 48 from the Constitution to amortize the demands on legalization of the so-called Albanian University in Mala Rechica has lead to a justified revolt on the majority university professors, the Senate and the President's office of the University in Skopje. DPM justifying the students protest demands this bill to be re-examined at the first following session of the parliament and also demands looking into the High Education Bill.[08] CELEBRATED ELECTION VICTORY OF PDPA IN TETOVOIn Tetovo yesterday there was a rally organized by PDPA on the occasion of the local election victory of this party's candidate Alajdin Demiri, i.e. his election to be mayor of Tetovo. The Macedonian media report that about 5 thousand followers and members of the party appeared at this rally at which dominated Albanian flags and the signs of `TU' (Tetovo University). Before the address of the PDPA members, Arben Dzaferi, Menduh Tachi and Aljadin Demiri the Albanian hymn was played. Addressing the people preset Arben Demiri underlined the necessity of the usage of the Albanian language in all institutions, realization of the project `University' and regionalization of the Tetovo- Gostivar move. The new mayor of Tetovo stressed that PDPA has taken the Albanian fire, saying that ` the party has no intention to burn anybody with that fire'. Menduh Tachi in his speech pointed out that the victory of PDPA in Tetovo presents a support to the Albanian brothers in Kosovo, and that `they expect new struggles with the Communists'. Regarding the Law on Local Self management Tachi stressed that it reduces the position of the Albanians in the state because on the opposite side stands the Macedonian factor deeply rooted into the executive government which gives agreement on realization of the local administration'. This mechanism of local self management should be taken down', stated Tacci pointing out that PDPA will soon call the Albanians on civil disobedience in non-payment of the taxes and will activate the Albanian flag as well as the Tetovo University. The PDPA rally in Tetovo turned into a youth rock and folk happening with Albanian songs.[09] NEIGHBOURS' SITUATION DIRECTS TO NEW UNPREDEP MANDATEUNPREDEP representatives headed by the spokesman Claire Grimes yesterday visited Debar where they held a press conference informing about the new activities of the peace forces in Macedonia and the decrease of their number down for 300 soldiers till the end of April. The Macedonian Radio reports that the three monitoring places on the Albanian frontier will be withdrawn because near Debar a new one will be positioned and it will provide a constant coverage on that part of the frontier. On the frontier with SR Yugoslavia the monitoring places will be reduced by 6, thus there will be only 2 UNPREDEP monitoring positions. According to spokesman Grimes the situations in the neighbouring states are getting more tense. This should be taken into consideration at the following session of the UN Security Council and those situations should be analyzed so that a decision is made on prolonging the UN mandate in Macedonia.[10] COMPUTERIZATION OF CUSTOMS DUTY NEAR FINISHThe last two days there has been a delegation of the UN Conference of Trade and Development (UNCTD) visiting the Customs Administration of RM headed by Peter Freuler, leader of the ASIKUDA project. The Macedonia media report, in the talks with the manager of the Customs Administration, Ilija Iljovski, analysis have been made of this project's development in Macedonia and future activities have been arranged. It has mutually been assessed that the first phase in its implementation had been successful and had been finished before the time limit. Main occupation in future should be completion of the computerization procedure for export in all internal customs terminals as well as computerization of import duty payment .[11] STATISTICS ON SALARIES IN DECEMBER LAST YEARThe average paid net salary per worker for December last year in Macedonia amounted up to 8.931 denars which is 0,9% less than the previous month, announced the Macedonian Statistics Institute yesterday. According to the statistics the average salary in the economy businesses in December amounted up to 8.693 denars while in the non-economy businesses - 9.523 denars. In December last year 23,4% workers did not receive their salaries. In the economy the number of such workers covers 30,1% while in the non-economy business - 3,4%.MILS SUPPLEMENT[12] `Overpopulated Cities and Desolate Villages'(`Dnevnik' - 25th February 1997)Approximately 45% or 318 607 hectares of the overall arable land in Macedonia is left barren. Of 1 601 villages, 126 are totally deserted, 572 have up to 100 inhabitants, and even 959 small villages have up to 300 inhabitants - all of them with an unfavourable age structure. 56% of the territory is covered by barely one third of the population. Villages are deserted, there is nobody to farm the land and cities are ruled by unemployment. According to (still) unofficial data obtained during the last census Macedonia has an overall population of 1 945 932 inhabitants. Of these 1 161 538 (i.e. 60%) live in urban societies and 782 334 (40%) are residents of rural communities. Thirty years ago conditions were quite different. Based on 1961 census data a total 61% of the population lived in rural communities. This process of depopulation of the latter has been particularly prevailing in 48 municipalities (56%) of the overall territory of 27 543 square kilometers, which houses merely one third of the population. `This is a catastrophe. Should this negative trend of increasing urban communities continue, there will soon not be anybody left to farm the land', says reader Mitko Panov who is studying demographic issues, and is one of the authors of the new territorial division. According to professor Panov this is not the case of only desolate villages. With the new territory division of the land there was no concern for the demographic and socio- economic parameters of the terrain and of the possibilities of a certain territory to come to life as a municipality. The division into 123 municipalities is more a political and local rather than a demographic one. The nature has created a certain configuration which is not respected and which soon will should be overcome, says Panov. In Macedonia there are cases of agrarian overpopulation which appear in the Polog ravine. For instance the new municipality near Gostivar, Chegrane, has 11.746 inhabitants and 1.749 hectares of farming land. According to this data it turns out that 1 hectare of farming land is inhabited by 7 people. The world standard is one inhabitant per one hectare. The situation is quite different in the course of the Vardar and eastern Macedonia. For instance, in the municipality Konopishte on a land of 600 square kilometers which covers 4.104 hectares farming land live 514 inhabitants, which means that there is one inhabitant per 8 hectares of farming land. And this is not the worst example. Krushche, a village near Veles, covering a territory of 11,37 square kilometers and 245 hectares of farming land has only one inhabitant. The Bitola village Oblakovo with only one inhabitant registered covers 209 hectares of farming land. The case is worse in the well known Galichnik. In this village, which at the beginning of the century had 4.000 inhabitants, is now desolate. It has no inhabitants and it covers a territory of 5.553 hectares of meadows and 23 hectares of farming land. Typical of these villages is the bad age structure. Most of the inhabitants who live in them are over 60 years of age which means that one day soon these villages will become desolate. Because of all there reasons the state should plan re- migration. This means that in the villages there should be created the basic infrastructure conditions. Local roads, aqueducts and sewerage systems should be built, electricity and telephone should be introduced. Small- and middle-sized shops should be open for people who can not live on farming. There should also be given favorable credits for farming and cattle raising development. Only in this way will we keep the population in the villages and take back into the villages the unemployed from the cities where they had migrated , regards professor Panov. (end)mils news 27 February ,1997Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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