MILS: News from the FYROM, 97-05-08

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From: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>

CONTENTS

[01] DIALOGUE BEGAN WITH CRVENKOVSKI-GEORGIEVSKI MEETING

[02] PF-BILL NOT CONTRARY TO CONSTITUTION

[03] INVESTIGATIONS ON `TAT' BANKING SCANDAL STARTED

[04] THIS MONTH MACEDONIA PRESIDING OVER `OSCE' FORUM

[05] `IMF' PRESIDENT VISITING MACEDONIA

[06] SIGNING OF FREE TRADE ZONE AGREEMENT WITH CROATIA

[07] ITALIAN MINISTER ANDREATTA IN MACEDONIA TOMORROW

[08] OBTAINING OF SWISS VISAS FACILITATED

[09] GREEK MEDIA: `PROVOCATION AS REGARDS NAME'

[10] NEW CONCEPT ON TAX REFORMS OUTLINED

[11] ATTORNEY-GENERAL BILL: `ONE ATTORNEY-GENERAL AND TWELVE DEPUTIES'

[12] PERMANENT BATTLE AGAINST CRIME AND INTERACTION WITH MEDIA

[13] PDPA: `REQUESTING LEGITIMACY'

MILS SUPPLEMENT

[14] `You Cannot Hide From 150 000 Signatures' (`Vecher' - 5th May 1997)

MILS NEWS

Skopje, 08 May 1997

[01] DIALOGUE BEGAN WITH CRVENKOVSKI-GEORGIEVSKI MEETING

While assessing yesterday's talks with the PM positively, Ljupcho Georgievski stated after the meeting that several questions had been raised with respect to the current political and economic situation in the country, the elections and everything in connection with the latter.

Consensus has been reached as regards the compiling of new election laws ASAP - Georgievski informed, adding that the IMRO-DPMNE has aired its support for a combined election model within which the majority principle would prevail.

In the opinion of Georgievski this is merely the beginning of a political dialogue among parties on election laws, which should eventually - through a permanent exchange of views - result in a final version reflecting reality in Macedonia. During talks yesterday, the IMRO-DPMNE also raised the question on the date on which early elections would be staged in the country. In this context Georgievski stressed that the party considered that it would be possible to hold elections as early as this autumn.

In the opinion of PM Crvenkovski the objective of this entire series of consultations with political parties is to arrive at the broadest consensus and support possible in terms of determining an election model and complementary provisions, which would be prerequisite to the staging of regular, democratic and fair parliamentary elections. Once the election laws have been outlined, a realistic joint evaluation of a rational time span for its implementation (and the holding of parliamentary elections) is to be compiled - Crvenkovski stated. To him it seemed understandable that the opposition insists on the staging of elections sooner rather than later, but it was also the and democratic and legitimate right of the position to accept or discard this. The SDSM believes in its programmatic commitments and in the course it is to follow in the future. In this sense the party does not rule out early parliamentary elections as impossible - Crvenkovski stated, while adding that he hoped a compromise could be reached through political dialogue among political parties. In the end Crvenkovski announced that he would attempt to defend the viewpoint of the country's PM on this occasion, rather than assuming the role of the SDSM party leader, in order to ensure transparency for the public with regards to what is being discussed with political parties.

[02] PF-BILL NOT CONTRARY TO CONSTITUTION

Besides this, Macedonian media reminded yesterday, the ratification of this Bill has been the cause of the recent university and secondary school student protests, which have been upsetting the country for several weeks.

[03] INVESTIGATIONS ON `TAT' BANKING SCANDAL STARTED

A group of around 50 revolted bank clients functioned as a welcoming committee to Sonja Nikolovska in front of the `TAM' premises (where all `TAT' records are being kept and investigations are being conducted) yesterday. The group even attempted to use physical violence, but was prevented from doing so by the police.

MTV reports that client representatives met IMRO-DPMNE leader Ljupcho Georgievski in Skopje yesterday.

Georgievski fully supported their claims, including the reimbursement of interest rates in addition to deposited funds. In this context the IMRO- DPMNE leader also accepted the clients' invitation to attend a protest meeting scheduled for 10th May. The President of the National Association of `TAT' bank clients, Mende Mladenovski, evaluated talks held two days ago with Deputy PM Ljube Trpevski and Finance Minister Taki Fiti (where clients had once again presented their demands) as unsuccessful.

[04] THIS MONTH MACEDONIA PRESIDING OVER `OSCE' FORUM

[05] `IMF' PRESIDENT VISITING MACEDONIA

[06] SIGNING OF FREE TRADE ZONE AGREEMENT WITH CROATIA

[07] ITALIAN MINISTER ANDREATTA IN MACEDONIA TOMORROW

[08] OBTAINING OF SWISS VISAS FACILITATED

In his speech H.E. Amb. Dr. Gaudens Ruhf provided a short survey of bilateral relations since 1993 when Switzerland recognized Macedonia. The Swiss Diplomat stressed that this Dept. represents the last stage of laying the foundation for solid cooperation. According to Ambassador Ruhf the offices are to adhere to existing bilateral treaties. This necessity has been generated by the fact that app. 40 000 Macedonian nationals live in Switzerland.

This also means that Macedonian citizens will no longer be required to travel to Sofia or Belgrade in order to obtain entrance clearances.

Yesterday the Swiss Ambassador to Macedonia has been received by President Gligorov as well, and both statesmen underlined the continuous development of bilateral relations.

[09] GREEK MEDIA: `PROVOCATION AS REGARDS NAME'

This resulted in the use of the `FYROM' reference - concordant to UN provisions - in all subsequently provided documents, `Ta Nea' stresses.

Another Athenian paper, `Eskoussia', also speaks of one more provocation with respect to the name. This one having to do with the visit of the 20 Greek journalists to Macedonia, and being executed by the Macedonian Government. In this context it is being stated that the invitation forwarded by the Macedonian Information Secretariat referred to the Republic of Macedonia without any quotation marks.

[10] NEW CONCEPT ON TAX REFORMS OUTLINED

[11] ATTORNEY-GENERAL BILL: `ONE ATTORNEY-GENERAL AND TWELVE DEPUTIES'

The basic novelty offered with respect to the Attorney- General, is that this office (which is to cover the entire country ) is to protect state property in legal suits. As it is to encompass all Macedonia, there will only be one Attorney-General and 12 Deputies assigned to larger urban communities.

As regards the draft-bill on public utilities, many objections were aired, esp. by the LDP. It has been stated that the Government `loves meddling with local government', that there `has never been a law more contradictory or weak to come out of the Government workshop', that `this law only left a tiny portion of authority to local government - which had been initially outlined through the Law on Local Self-Management, while everything else is being covered by this bill.'

SDSM representatives, however, fully supported the draft- bill, stating that all offered provisions `gave greater freedom to mayors, and the regionalization approach in this sector will only increase cost-efficiency and functionality.'

[12] PERMANENT BATTLE AGAINST CRIME AND INTERACTION WITH MEDIA

In honour of this day a delegation of the Macedonian law enforcement - led by Minister Chokrevski - has been received by President Gligorov. MTV reports that talks focused on difficulties confronting the police and the need to introduce further measures and activities concordant to the Constitution and the law, in order to procure a higher level of security, peace and tranquillity for the Macedonian public.

[13] PDPA: `REQUESTING LEGITIMACY'

Upon delving into future party activities, PDPA leader Arben Dzhaferi stated that the situation of Albanians in Macedonia was far from favourable. In this sense the party would by all means fight for their acquisition of legitimacy in the state, as this was the only way to secure the implementation of all rights of Albanians in the country.

MILS SUPPLEMENT

[14] `You Cannot Hide From 150 000 Signatures'

(`Vecher' - 5th May 1997)

An initiative to stage a referendum may be launched by 10 000 to 150 000 citizens i.e. voters of the Republic of Macedonia. The number of these, however, depends on the relevance of a current issue. Such an initiative may also be launched by the Parliament i.e. its members, the Government and the Head of State. Otherwise the referendum is being announced by the Legislative House (`Zakonodaven dom'). The instigating of such a procedure however does not entail an imperative, i.e. the Parliament has to give its majority vote prior to the staging of a referendum. An exception to this are requests backed by 150 000 signatures. In this case MPs are required to announce a referendum, provided the law and the Constitution determine the contentious issue as one subject to this procedure.

These, in short, are the main traits of the Government proposal as regards the enacting of a Referendum and Civic Initiative Bill. This process is to be commenced within the Parliament towards the close of this month. The proposed text includes sections connected to the preparing and conducting of a referendum and electoral voting, which are largely relying on election laws.

In cases where the Constitution states that a decision has to be reached via referendum (changing of Macedonian borders, the decision of joining an alliance or community with other states), there is not much work to be done, except for its announcement and execution. The mentioned issues are being decided by the Parliament, but they remain inapplicable should they not be confirmed at the referendum.

An initiative for a referendum to alter the Constitution may also be launched by a minimum of 30 MPs, 150 000 signatures of Macedonian citizens - in addition to the President and the Government. Should 150 000 voters instigate such procedures, the Parliament becomes obliged to stage a referendum. In terms of other initiators the text makes room for provisions according to which the Legislative House accepts the initiative should the majority of MPs vote in favour of it. There are two alternatives as regards determining a certain issue via referendum: concordant to the basic one the majority of the overall electorate in Macedonia need to vote in favour of a certain decision, whereas a second option is based on the overall turn- out; in this case there are two standards to be met - the turn-out needs to be over 50% and the majority of these must have voted in favour of the decision.

In addition to the Constitutional referendum, the law also provides regulations for staging a referendum in order to ratify international treaties. A separate chapter is `dedicated' to the legislative referendum, where it has been outlined in detail that this process may precede the enactment of legal provisions by the Parliament or complement the already ratified acts by this body.

Provisions which exclude budgetary issues, tax, national reserves, elections and appointments as well as the granting of clemency from referendum voting, have been complemented by several more regulations as well. Thus the Government also prohibits the holding of a referendum on laws passed via curtailed procedures in states of emergency, for extraordinary defence purposes or with regards to laws immediately affecting the implementation of the budget.

A request for a legislative referendum may be submitted by any MP, by the Government or at least 10 000 voters. In such cases the Parliament will insist on the complete and thorough justification of such an undertaking. Should it require additional explication of the initiator (if necessary) and encounter lack of cooperation, it may decide not to stage the referendum. The opposite is only possible if the majority of the overall parliamentary membership have voted in favour of doing so. It has however been emphasised that the Parliament is obliged stage a legislative referendum if the initiative is supported by 150 000 signatures.

Besides this, the proposed text offers deadlines within which the Parliament has to decide on the staging of a preceding referendum: 30 days are given since the submission of the request, i.e. 7 days in case of an ancillary referendum. The latter is regulated by one more restriction - the initiative has to be formally launched within 7 days since the enactment of the law by the Parliament.

Decisions reached via a (Constitutional or another kind of) referendum are binding and obligatory. The draft-bill proposes a period of 2 years, in case of a Constitutional referendum, in which it is not allowed to pass a decision contrary to that reached via referendum. In case of a legislative referendum to deadline has been decreased to one year.

From the moment it has been decided to stage a referendum until its actual implementation, the draft-bill proposes that not less than 30 but not more than 60 days may pass.

The right to opt for a referendum is only granted to those citizens who are registered voters. Any advertising of the referendum has to cease 48 hours prior to its execution.

The law also covers many other issues connected to voting by referendum. Indeed, it is quite obvious that the Government attempts to clog up all legislative loopholes which have been the cause of so many controversies so far.

(end)

mils news 08 May 1997

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