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MILS: News from the FYROM, 97-05-07Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>CONTENTS
MILS SUPPLEMENTMILS NEWSSkopje, 07 May, 1997[01] PM CRVENKOVSKI STARTS DIALOGUE WITH POLITICAL PARTIES TODAYAs of today PM Crvenkovski is commencing the announced dialogue with political parties in Macedonia, in order to facilitate the preparation of electoral provisions necessary to stage the next parliamentary elections in the country. A release issued by the PM's Cabinet yesterday stated that all activities and consultations are to be conducted in two stages. The first one will consist of separate meetings with the leaders of all political parties which emerged as the most successful ones during the most recent local elections. This would refer to the IMRO-DPMNE, the LDP, the SPM, the PDP and the PDPA. The second stage would focus on talks and consultations with all political parties in Macedonia. In the end it is being revealed that a meeting with IMRO-DPMNE leader Ljupcho Georgievski has been scheduled for today,[02] `IMRO-DPMNE' PROTEST MEETING SCHEDULED FOR 15TH THIS MONTHAt yesterday's press conference the IMRO-DPMNE leader Ljupcho Georgievski confirmed that he is to meet PM Crvenkovski today. The Macedonian Radio further reports that Georgievski made the staging of the protest meeting official by informing the public that it is to take place in Skopje on 15th May. This event under the motto `Stop the Economic, Social and National Decay of Macedonia' had initially been postponed after the speech of the PM made at the Parliament. Georgievski stated that the decision to use this option had been revived by the party's Executive Committee two days ago, as it had been concluded that little had been done with respect to the promises to solve the numerous scandals uprooting the country. Four large- scale affairs of this kind - in the opinion of Georgievski - are the banking scandals headed by `TAT', the pharmaceutical supplies affair (generating about 100 million DM in damage), the squandering of funds by the Ministry of the Interior and all public tenders issued by the Government over the past 2-3 years (worth app. half a billion dollars).According to the IMRO-DPMNE the only alternative for this country are early parliamentary elections. Thus protesters will request the resignation of the Government, the forming of an administrative government and the signing of a National Reconciliation Declaration. At the press conference Ljupcho Georgievski - leader of the IMRO-DPMNE - also said that the meeting with PM Crvenkovski would not entail the cancelling of the protest meeting unless the date for early elections is determined today. [03] `TAT' BANKING SCANDAL: `POLITICAL AND INTERNATIONAL DIMENSIONS TO THE AFFAIR'As of this Tuesday the `TAT' banking scandal has obtained political overtones, and clients have also announced the readiness to make it an international issue, Macedonian media report. Discontent clients - the Macedonian Radio states - aired their intention to request the support of all political parties in their endeavour to achieve complete restitution including interest rates. At a press conference held yesterday the Chairman of the Bank Clients' Association Ilija Nevenovski stressed that this would also entail the `internationalization' of this problem. He further adds that clients are demanding the disbursement of 100 million DM, discarding the claim of Sonja Nikolovska's legal defence that the difference between the bank's assets and liabilities amounted to trifling 3 to 4 million DM. The Macedonian Radio quotes Nevenovski upon reporting that PM Branko Crvenkovski had a grudge against Bitola MPs. this is being confirmed by the fact that MP Branirod Mihajlovski has not succeeded in making an appointment with the PM. In this context Nevenovski denoted this as the last chance for the Government to hear the demands of deceived clients, as in the future no trips would be taken to Skopje and the issue would be addressed in Bitola. Client representatives also threatened to surround `TAT' and `TAT Insurance' premises and obstruct all investigations without them being present. It has also been stressed that the initiating of bankruptcy procedures would be prevented, as this appears to be an approach tolerated in Macedonia alone.Clients have also once again held NBM Governor Borko Stanoevski responsible for all illegal and incriminating procedures, It has been assessed that he attempted to obscure all problems connected to the plundering of the public since day one. As regards `TAT' owner Sonja Nikolovska, client representatives and experts stated that a clear picture could only be obtained during court hearings, while NBM Supervisor Gazmen Kadriu was dismissed as the Borko-Stanoevski-delivery-boy. Meantime the Investigative Judge of Bitola Slobodanka Pakovska stated that the request of bank client representatives to attend court hearings had been rejected as this would be contrary to law. Hearings are to be conducted by Investigation experts appointed by the state, in attendance of Sonja Nikolovska and her two legal counsellours. The Skopje Elementary Court decided to release NBM Vice- Governor Tome Nenovski from police custody yesterday, after the 450 000 DM bail had been paid. [04] `SAL' ARRANGEMENT FOR MACEDONIA APPROVEDYesterday the WB Board approved the implementation of the `SAL' arrangement for Macedonia in Washington. Media report that this arrangement consists of a 60-million- dollar loan for structural adaptations. Of these 30 million represent a credit granted according to IDA principles. MTV reports that the funds designated to support the Government Programme for Economic Reforms have been increased by 15 million dollars to the total of 60 million. The loan is expected to speed up economic growth by promoting a policy of reforms in trade, agriculture and the development of the private sector.[05] FRCHKOVSKI ATTENDING MINISTERIAL MEETING OF `COUNCIL OF EUROPE'This Tuesday the 100th Jubilee Session of the Foreign Secretaries of all 40 `Council of Europe' member-states began in Strasbourg. This included an address to this assembly by the Macedonian Head of Diplomacy Ljubomir Frchkovski, stressing the view that Macedonia considered itself a part of Europe. In this context, A-1 TV reports, Frchkovski supported the notion of holding a second summit of the Council, claiming that the time has come to create a new legal cohesion for the now considerably enlarged European region, through the codexing of the existing corpus - the Conventions of the `Council of Europe'.In addition to this Frchkovski had several informal bilateral meetings in Strasbourg, with Swiss Foreign Secretary Flavio Cotti and his Slovenian counterpart Zoran Taler, for example. [06] MACEDONIAN PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION IN ANKARAYesterday a delegation of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Commission - headed by Ilinka Mitreva - has been received by Turkish Head of State Suleyman Demirel, by the Chairperson of the Parliament of Turkey and the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Commission. In a statement for MTV Mitreva said that talks had focused on the extraordinary intensity of Turkish- Macedonian relations, especially on Turkish support for Macedonia. In this context a great deal of significance has been attributed to the visit of the Macedonian delegation. particularly in terms of strengthening cooperation on an inter- parliamentary level. Today the Macedonian delegation is to be received by Turkish PM Nedzhmetin Erbakan, as well as by his Deputy and Foreign Secretary Tansu Ciller.[07] IN THE SPOTLIGHT: THE NECESSITY OF EXTENDING THE `UNPREDEP' MANDATEThe UN Under-Secretary for Peacekeeping Operations, Bernard Millet, currently on a two-day visit to Macedonia, has met the top officials of the country's Government yesterday. Talks with President Kiro Gligorov focused on the highly favourable evaluations on the role and contribution of the UN Peacekeeping Forces to preserve peace in Macedonia, and stability in the wider region.Official sources further reveal that another thematic focus were the reasons for extending the mandate of the UNPREDEP mission in Macedonia throughout the following months. Other topics included current conditions in Albania (with emphasis on the necessity of international presence and humanitarian relief in this country), and the role of Macedonia in humanitarian aid operations. Under-Secretary Millet has also been received by PM Branko Crvenkovski, Parliamentary Chairman Tito Petkovski, Defence Secretary Blagoj Handzhiski and Foreign Office Under-Secretary Ognen Malevski. `Vecher' reports that these meetings again focused on the extension of the UNPREDEP mandate, as Millet is to submit a Report on the necessity of this to the UN Security Council. [08] SITUATION UNDER CONTROL AT MACEDONIAN-ALBANIAN BORDERDue to the situation in Albania cooperation between the population of the border region and the members of the Armed Forces and the police has been increased. This is one conclusion brought forward at yesterday's meeting hosted by Debar Mayor Kemal Dzhafa, and attended by representatives of the Armed Forces, the police, UNPREDEP, the Deputy of the municipal DA Office and the Chairman of the Municipal Council. The alertness of all structures has been reported to be raised, due to attempts of illegal crossing of the border, arms and ammunition trafficking, the frequent looting of arable land and populated settlements. So far authorities have managed to prevent the entering of armed Albanian gangs onto Macedonian territory. It has also been informed that law enforcement is capable of handling the increased number of livestock theft, and that for now conditions were not alarming, though gunfire shuts are still heard from the Albanian side of the border each day.[09] VISIT OF 20 GREEK JOURNALISTSAs of today 20 Greek reporters are to stay in Macedonia till 10th May, upon invitation of the Information Secretariat of the Republic of Macedonia. The visitors are representatives of Greece's most eminent and influential electronic and print media. Throughout their stay they are to meet Macedonia's top political officials in order to become acquainted with current political and economic trends in Macedonia - the press release of the Information Secretariat claims.[10] NEW AIRLINE COMPANY ESTABLISHED`Dnevnik' reports that a new airline specialized on short- destination flights with small aircraft, should commence its operations in Macedonia soon. This new company, called `Air-Service', is to employ around 40 former employees of the ruined airline `Palair-Macedonian'. The business has been registered this March, and these days the contract for the leasing of the first aircraft (a `Bicc 1990' with 17 seats) has been wrapped up. It is to conduct four flights a day, from Skopje to Thessalonica, Sofia, Athens, Tirana, Belgrade and Sarajevo. According to `Dnevnik' the new airline intends to provide several other aircraft of this kind, which could be chartered by sports teams, medical institutions, businesses and political organisations, etc.[11] POLICE TRADE UNION NOT SATISFIED WITH COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTThe Macedonian Trade Union of the Police Force has asked for a meeting with Minister Tomislav Chokrevski and PM Branko Crvenkovski in order to overcome contentious issues contained within the Collective Agreement covering law enforcement. Yesterday Union representatives stated that such a meeting should take place by 15th May. Should the outcome of talks be unfavourable, an opinion poll among union members would be held, and in case of a 51% majority a strike will be organised.[12] NOVA MAKEDONIJA: `THE MAY OPERA FESTIVAL NOT TO BE HELD `This year's May Opera Festival (`Majski Operski Vecheri'), a cultural event of Skopje with a long tradition, is most likely not to held. Instead of the opening ceremony scheduled for 9th May, the employees of the Opera within the MNT are to assemble in front of the MNT main entrance at noon that day, in order to stage a protest concert.`Nova Makedonija' reports that the artists have decided to undertake such a step to make it clear that the Opera cannot survive in the existing conditions. This is above all due to lack of pay and technical working conditions. Several hours of debate among employees of the Opera Ensemble on current issues resulted in the requested nullification of the institution MNT and the immediate resignation of its General Director Ljupcho Petrushevski. MILS SUPPLEMENT[13] `Huge Interest But No Funding'(`Vecher' - 6th May 1997)Following the visit of the French delegation headed by European Affairs Minister Barnier and the General Director of the `Companie Nationale Rhone' (CNR) Guyodin, when the final touch was given to the `Vardar Valley' project, the second stage of the feasibility study on it is being completed. This delay is attributed to the interest of French Electricity Supplies to join the project, which entailed the need to update data on the pneumatic model and its requirements. The feasibility study should nevertheless be finished by the end of May. After conducted revisions the third phase should be completed by the close of this summer, whereas a regional meeting which would encompass all neighbouring countries as well as Turkey has been scheduled for September. The list of invited guests will also include representatives of international financial institutions, and the event will concentrate on the presentation of the feasibility study on the `Vardar Valley' project. Its long-term objectives require the distributing of the feasibility study to interested partners from all over Europe by the close of 1997. To this purpose it has been agreed in principle to present the study within the EU in Brussels. `What is particularly interesting and significant is the establishment of a Government body which is concerned with all preparations to present Macedonia at the World Fair `Expo 2 000' at Hannover, including the `Vardar Valley' Consortium. This working group has already held several meetings and visited the `Expo' organizers as well in order to acquaint them with the Vardar Valley concept, with a particular emphasis on ecology. This is being attributed to the fact that specific attention has been paid to the protection of the entire Vardar river basin, says the General Coordinator of the `Vardar Valley' project engineer and architect Andrej Tokarev. Bearing in mind that this project is to represent one of the most promising undertakings of this kind in Macedonia for 21st century, the consortium has proposed to also integrate the Ministry of Urbanism, Civil Engineering and Environmental Protection - as it is to finance the part of the project concerned with the rivers Crn Drim and Strumichka - and thus ensure that the whole country is covered by the project. This will create a specific informative model which, among other things, will be linked to water management in Macedonia. such an ecological component, Tokarev states, is prerequisite to obtain funding for the economic part of the study. Practically the Ministry invests 70 000 DM for this aspect to the project, while the remainder - as agreed - has to be provided by the consortium (20%) and by the Government of France (80%). Besides this, and without the ecological component, the prerequisite overall costs for the `Vardar Valley' project have initially been assessed to amount to 1 million DM. This sum is being raised to 1.2 million DM by including expenses to ensure the monitoring of water quality. The extra share covered by the Ministry remains a separate investment which will actually entail the implementation of the National Ecological Plan for Action. `Meantime a huge amount of interest has been exhibited by several countries which would like to make varying investments, i.e. provide loans, establish joint ventures or concessions. There is the will to enter concrete negotiations once the study has been completed. In order to reach this stage, however, several key legislative changes, closely tied to this area, are necessary. This would include the enacting of a new law on development property, a new bill on water management (whose delay represents a huge impediment), etc. as this leaves conditions undetermined so far', states Tokarev. For now, he further adds, there was a huge amount of interest exhibited by Turkey, and the project has already been discussed with a delegation of this country. Though at an unofficial level, there is information that Greece would also be interested. So far financial assistance has been requested form the members of the consortium as well. Four of them have already fulfilled their obligations in this respect, while the remaining 12 have done so partially. This is why the whole machinery appears to be `running out of steam' i.e. money towards the closing stages of providing the feasibility study. (end)mils news 07 May 1997Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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