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MILS: News from the FYROM, 97-03-04Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>CONTENTS
MILS SUPPLEMENTMILS NEWSSkopje, 04 March, 1997[01] MACEDONIAN PEDAGOGICAL FACULTY (PF) STUDENTS COMMENCING HUNGER STRIKE TODAYWith a peaceful one-hour protest in front of the Parliament of the Republic of Macedonia in Skopje, the demonstrations of university and secondary school students against the PF Bill continued. The number of assembled protesters was small and no slogans were carried. The subsequent press conference also embodied a symbolical gathering, and a preparation for today's hunger strike. The latter - as the PF students informed - is to be ascribed to the fact that the requests submitted to the Government (suspending the PF Bill, suspending minority university admission quotas and the resignation of Education Minister Sofia Todorova)have not been fulfilled. The thus previously announced hunger strike is to commence at 10 o'clock this morning. Concerning the demand for the urgent enactment of the Law on Tertiary Education, it has been emphasised by the students that they were aware of how time-consuming procedures are - and that they are willing to stop insisting on the fulfillment of this term if the remaining requests are fulfilled. The hunger strike of the 15-member Student Body Council is to take place at `Zhena-park' in Skopje (the park opposite the Parliament building), where tents are to be set up.At yesterday's press conference the PF students have also appealed for the staging of a general strike which should last until their demands are fulfilled. The students have further emphasised that they have received the support of several cities throughout the country - as well as that they expect to be joined by citizens from the country's interior. They have also informed that these days several parents (with their children) have been invited to the police for informative talks, which have been marked by threats of criminal charges and law suits. It was nevertheless stressed that the students would not give in to such pressure. [02] VECHER: SPARKS OF `SPORTSMANSHIP' AMONG SUPPORTERSToday's edition of `Vecher' reports that during the football match between Vardar and Sloga-Jugomagnat in Skopje the police had registered several instances of disturbed public order outside the city stadium, near the Stone Bridge and in the centre of the city on Sunday afternoon. These had been initiated by supporter teams of both camps. There were several fights between supporters of Albanian and Macedonian ethnicity, during which even passers-by were attacked and injured - though fortunately no serious injuries were inflicted. These fights and instances of violent behaviour also resulted in the damaging of one bus of the public transport company - the daily informs upon quoting police sources. The police is still investigating matters, although it has been revealed that they located one group of hooligans and that tort and criminal charges were being filed.[03] MENDUH TACHI: `CURRENT PROTESTS WAR BETWEEN SDS AND IMRO- DPMNE'With respect to the PF Bill and the protests entailed by its enactment, one of the PDPA leaders Menduh Tachi has stated for Albanian TV that this act of law is not a problem of his party - nor a problem of Albanians in Macedonia as it has been passed by Macedonian MPs, i.e. by SDS MPs without obtaining the consent of the Albanian political subject. A-1 TV reports that Tachi denoted current events as a war between the SDS and the IMRO- DPMNE.`It is quite usual for Macedonian parties such as the SDS and the IMRO- DPMNE to attempt to restore their rating by labelling the Albanians as a destabilisation factor in Macedonia', stated Menduh Tachi for the prime time news broadcast of the Albanian Radio and TV. As regards events in Tetovo where he functioned as one of the key figures, Tachi said: `It is normal for us to celebrate our victory in Tetovo, and to use our national essence which embodies the identity of Albanians in Macedonia'. [04] THE RIGHTS OF ALBANIANS IN MACEDONIA STUDIED BY UN COMMITTEEAt the session of the UN Committee for Racial Associating, which has commenced yesterday and is to last until the 21st this month in Geneva, one thematic focus will delve into to violation of human rights of Albanians in Macedonia - the Albanian-language paper `Flaka E Vlazerimit' reports.According to the latter the Committee is to study conditions prevailing in 21 countries (Burundi, Rwanda, Cambodia) - including SR Yugoslavia and Macedonia. Upon quoting the UN Committee's press release (published in Geneva these days), the paper informs that the rights of Albanians on Kosovo and in Macedonia are to be treated as a priority issue, in order to defuse current tensions and avert the outbreak of violence. [05] RECOMMENDATION TO AVOID TRAVELLING INTO ALBANIAWith regards to the current state of affairs in neighbouring Albania the Macedonian Government expressed its worriedness over the introduction of the state of emergency during yesterday's discussions. According to Foreign Secretary Ljubomir Frchkovski the Government studied the reports submitted by several ministries concerned with these matters and issued recommendations regarding the protection of citizens and economic entities cooperating with this country. The Foreign Office has thus released a recommendation addressed to citizens who are planning to travel to the Republic of Albania, advising them not to do so. Businesses located in this country have been advised to contact the Macedonian Embassy in Tirana, in order to facilitate their speedy and efficient evacuation. Concordant to the Foreign Office report - as Frchkovski informed the Macedonian media - (both legal and illegal) trade across the Albanian-Macedonian border remains in its usual proportions, without any indicators on an increased influx of refugees into our country. In this context it was also stressed that the situation is being monitored, and that appropriate measures were to be taken should conditions change[06] GOVERNMENT HAS OUTLINED EMPLOYMENT ACTDuring yesterday's session the Government has outlined the proposal on enacting the Employment Act and Unemployment Benefits. Official session records reveal that the Act codifies a labour exchange system, the rights and obligations of employers, unemployed and the state. By enacting this law the legislation covering this domain is to be adapted to the macro-economic policy measures, and it is to provide continuity and the unimpeded implementation of the rights and obligations of beneficiaries - as well as the restructuring and reinventing of the Employment Agency in these recently-created conditions. The Act is divided into 10 chapters and outlines the basics on labour exchange, the maintaining of records on employers and unemployed, on unemployment benefits i.e. social insurance, as well as on the organisation structure and governance of the Employment Agency of the Republic of Macedonia as a discrete institution.[07] AGENCY FOR THE ATTRACTING OF INTERNATIONAL CAPITAL DUE SOONYesterday the Macedonian Government has discerned and accepted the data on the influx of international capital (in shape of joint investments and privatisation of businesses) into the Republic of Macedonia so far. In this context it is planned to set up an Agency for the Promotion of Investments, which is to conduct all activities connected to the identification of investment possibilities. The Agency is also to facilitate the informing of potential foreign investors in connection to details concerning registration of international investments and the procurement of all administrative agreements and permits.[08] 370 MILLION DENARS OF THE NATIONAL BUDGET FOR AGRICULTUREThe Macedonian Government has also adopted the Programme for Furthering the Development of Agriculture in Macedonia for this year. According to the National Budget 370 million denars will be allocated for this purpose. These are to be used to develop livestock breeding, fishing and apiculture - as well as for the financing of small capacity accumulation dams, irrigation systems and for the preparation of artificial grazing land.[09] DNEVNIK: `USA GRANTED 33.5 MILLION DOLLARS TO MACEDONIA, NOT 2'Upon quoting US diplomatic sources, `Dnevnik' reports in its current edition that the financial aid given to Macedonia by the US at the Brussels Donors' Conference amounts to 33.5 million dollars - and not to 2 million dollars, as it has been conveyed to the Macedonian public. As the daily claims, these funds are to be used for several purposes throughout the entire year. Thus the agricultural sector is to receive 10 million dollars, 4.5 million are to be implemented to improve the infrastructure of Macedonia (i.e. upscale the entire communications network) - which should be conducive to the more expedient admission into NATO. 15.2 million are to be allocated for technical assistance (development projects to stimulate the private sector, market economy and democracy), whereas part of these funds are to be used to cover the country's payment balance.According to `Dnevnik' it has been announced at the US Information Service in Skopje that by the end of September 1996 the USA had rendered a total of 58 million dollars in assistance to Macedonia. For the years 1993 and 1994 these figures amount to 10.5 million dollars for the agricultural sector. This year Macedonia has also been aided with 325 million in reprogramming its dues to the Paris Club of Creditors. The USA have implemented their influence with the International Credit Consortium (ICC) in attempting to decrease debts towards the London Club of Creditors by 5.4%. [10] `EU' COOPERATION AGREEMENT MOST LIKELY DUE TOWARDS THE END OF APRILA-1 TV reports that the ESAF Arrangement with Macedonia is to be verified by the IMF Board of Directors towards the close of this month. Whereas towards the end of April the Cooperation Agreement between the EU and Macedonia is to be paraffined.[11] PULS: `PRIVATISATION ALMOST COMPLETED'Based on data released by the Privatisation Agency - publicised by the Macedonian weekly `Puls' - the privatisation of 914 companies has been completed in Macedonia throughout the past year. Privatisation procedures are still in progress in 257 cases, which means that in order to bring the privatisation of 1 216 businesses to a close - 10 more firms with national capital need to be subjected to transformation. Concordant to the estimate made by `Puls' the transformation of the commercial sector of nationally-owned companies in the country should be completed by the first half of this year.In addition to this, presented data reveal that assets worth 2.35 billion DM have been transformed so far, while bearing in mind that in cases where privatisation is still in progress another 734.5 million DM are to be generated by the issuing of stocks. The 914 privatised companies employ 144 539 people, of which the majority are also stockholders. In terms of economic sectors the majority of privatised companies (333) falls off to the industrial domain, this is followed by the commercial sector with 293 privatised businesses. The bottom of the list is occupied by the transportation sector with 34 transformed businesses. With respect to the representedness of privatisation models, the most frequently employed approach continues to be employer stock-ownership (in 301 cases), while the purchase of businesses by the management has been implemented in 121 cases. [12] SAVINGS DEPOSIT INSURANCE FUND COMMENCED OPERATIONS YESTERDAYMedia report that as of yesterday the Savings Deposit Insurance Fund (founded as a stockholding association by 27 banks and savings houses) has officially commenced its operations. Until 15th this month Fund is required to compile an assessment on the `bonity' (`financial credibility') of its members in cooperation with the Central Bank - which is to serve as a foundation for their categorisation upon insuring their savings deposits with the Fund.Concordant to a decision passed by the Central Bank yesterday, all banking houses are required to publicise a list of the overall deposits - including the number of depositors, the date the deposit has been made, the term of maturity and the binding interest rate value. Inspectors of the Central Bank have further begun to monitor the implementation of these recently enacted NBM decisions (as regards the scope of work handled by these banking houses and the business practice exhibited by them), as of yesterday. The outcomes of this inspection should be known within a few days. [13] IMRO-DPMNE: `SDSM REPEATING LOCAL ELECTIONS VIOLATIONS'The IMRO-DPMNE has reacted most vigorously to the `express' decision of the Elementary Court of Strumica which consist of the nullification of the appointment of the new Director of the Public Community Hygiene facility by the mayor and the city council of Strumica. Such a decision - the release states - is merely confirming once again that the SDSM has not forsaken the well-known communist manners of manipulating the so-called independent judiciary in order to violate the competencies of the mayor, and thus leave him helpless as regards the resolving of local issues affecting the public. Should the contesting of election results continue and the local governance throughout cities where the opposition emerged victorious be obstructed further, the IMRO-DPMNE announced the undertaking of corresponding measures.MILS SUPPLEMENT[14] `Private Practice in Social Sector As Well'(`Dnevnik' - 2nd March 1997)Throughout this year appropriate legal provisions are to be determined for the social sphere. The proposal to pass a new Social Protection Act has just recently been undergone governmental procedures , whereas the Parliament is to start discerning it in about a month. The basic stress upon suggesting the renewal of legislation on this sector is being put on social prevention and internal institutional forms of social protection, says Ilija Rajchanovski, Aide to the Minister of Labour and Social Policy. Thus, in his opinion, it would be attempted to gradually abandon the system of institutionalised social protection which is prevailing at the time, via the developing and furthering of settling socially endangered people in other families or other forms of non- institutionalised forms. An important novelty in this legislative proposal is the introduction of the private sector into the social sphere. What has been outlined is the opening of private social protection institutions. These may be opened by a Macedonian national, and in certain cases also by a foreigner - after having received the approval of the Government previously. The only private institution which may not be established outside the public sector are social welfare centres (as it has public competencies), and educational facilities for children with social problems, or suffering from social neglect. The only stakeholder entitled to establish these institutions is the Government. Regardless, however, whether the founder of such a facility is the municipality or an individual - it may only function if the prerequisite premises, equipment, personnel and means have been procured. Should the opposite be the case and legal criteria not be fulfilled, the Government may withdraw the working permit. Expert services are to be provided by qualified personnel, mainly with university degrees, in spite of the fact that the law provides for possibilities to retain insufficiently educated staff who are already in employment in order to provide specialist services. In addition to this provisions have been made conducive to the establishing of facilities for children and adolescents without parental care, those suffering from neglect, obstructed psychological development, physical impairments; as well as facilities for adult and elderly people who are impaired physically or (both partially and extremely) psychologically. Other provisions focus on the founding of a facility for the study of social problems and phenomena, and for the furthering of social services. A more recently enacted provision within the Employment Act is finally to obtain a basis for its implementation through the new Law on Social Protection. That would be the option for one of both employed parents of an impaired child to work a maximum of four hours, after which time (s)he could take care of the child. As Rajchanovski explained, this provision within the Employment Act is embodied within Article 33 of the newly-proposed act of law on social protection. Reimbursement for the curtailed working hours of one parent is to be provided by social welfare centres. Thus the company will only pay for the actual working hours, whereas the remainder of the time spent with the child will be reimbursed with 30% of the average pay of an employee in the non-economic sector. One more significant novelty is the fact that individuals providing child care services at home will in a way receive the status of employees. Article 68 concretely outlines that a person looking after three and more children without parents in their family, or after two and more children with educational or social problems, those suffering from neglect or development difficulties, may establish a relation of employment at least on a temporary basis with the social welfare centre. The law also provides the option of forming daycare centres, work and productive therapy programmes for adults with moderate or gravitating psychological impairments. A non-institutional form of protection is social prevention in shape of initial social services, individual assistance, family assistance, domestic care and aid, which also includes daycare and reallocation into other families. Institutional protection would include the right to professional training and the right to accommodation in an institution providing social protection. New legislation is also to cover existing forms of financial social support for the care of other people, irretrievable funds and the permanent support of people without any sources of income. This act assigns health care to the latter category, as well as to individuals allocated to another family or a social protection institution, or to recipients of financial aid for engaging in domestic care - should they not be insured otherwise. Penal measures outline fines between 10 000 and 300 000 denars for violating the Law on Social Protection by an institution for social welfare or any other legal entity, whereas the person in charge is to be fined with between 1 000 to 50 000 denars. As Rajchanovski explains, concordant to this law social services may be rendered to Macedonian nationals and foreigners in possession of a permanent residence permit, as well as to other persons in strictly outlined conditions. Funds for social protection are mainly to be procured via the Budget of the state, as has been the case previously. Should the law be implemented this year, additional funds are to be required for the second half of the year. This also applies to the introduction of several novelties which requires 17 880 000 denars. Of these 4 812 000 are to be allocated to the disbursement of 200 people working shorter working hours as they are taking care of an impaired child. Another 7 368 000 denars are needed as pay for foster- families which will be entitled to enter a temporary relation of employment with social welfare centres, and 5 700 000 denars more are to go into the setting up of five planned daycare centres. (end)mils news 04 March 1997Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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