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MILS: News from the FYROM, 97-07-30Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>CONTENTS
MILS SUPPLEMENTMILS NEWSSkopje, 30 July, 1997[01] GOVERNMENT DENIES NAME SPECULATIONSYesterday there were reactions from the Macedonian Government conveyed by the spokesman, Zoran Ivanov, considering the reports broadcast by A-1 Television and written by `Vecher' that the mediator in the Greek- Macedonian name dispute, Cyrus Vance, will return the mandate after which the UN Security Council will adopt the name `New Macedonia', and that Macedonian as a response to that will withdraw from the UN. These claims were assessed by spokesman Ivanov as mere speculations. This refers to the claim that the UN Security Council could sign up Macedonia under the name of `New Macedonia' and the speculation that Macedonia would leave the World Organization.According to Ivanov the negotiations in New York regarding the name continue to be conducted through the mediator Cyrus Vance, the Macedonian attitude remains unchanged and the next meeting is due to take place in August. The Government, as Ivanov stressed, must not necessarily put in the agenda this item regarding the position of the Macedonian Republic at the New York negotiations and the public will be informed for any eventual change or news. The Macedonian radio and `Dnevnik' yesterday reported a statement given by a high official from the Macedonian Foreign Ministry according to which the Security Council can not pass any decisions and resolutions unless the parties concerned agree on it, and thus no one can impose a name on Macedonia. [02] `KONTINENT' - LANGUAGE DISPUTE UNDER INFLUENCE OF ATHENS AND BELGRADEThe language dispute between Bulgaria and Macedonia has not come up independently, yet it was a result from a friendly persuasion done by Belgrade and Athens on Sofia, writes yesterday's `Kontinent' from Sofia quoting the Bulgarian agency `BTA' and `Nova Makedonija'. According to `Kontinent' the purpose of these persuasions was to make Bulgaria forget the development of the relations with Macedonia, till Greece and Serbia decide what to do with this new state. As `Makfaks' reports, `Kontinent' writes that this established a balance among the Greek non-recognition of the name, the Serbian rejection to fortify the border and Bulgarian non-recognition of the language.[03] DIPLOMATIC INFOThe Minister from the Government of the Macedonian Republic, Vladimir Naumovski yesterday had a meeting with the Chief of the UNPREDEP Mission, Henryk Sokalski at which through a constructive discussion they exchanged opinions and ideas closely related to the integration and gathering closer together different groups of people living in these regions which is of an extreme importance to every state. As it is cited in the official report of the meeting, Minister Naumovski in detail conveyed the Government's endeavors to clear up the events that occurred in some municipalities in the Republic and the relaxing tension. He also underlined that he will continue to advocate a consistent adherence and implementation of the constitutional provisions and laws on which the sovereignty and territory integrity of the Macedonian Republic is fortified.The Economy Minister of the Macedonian Republic, Boris Rikalovski, yesterday received the Ambassador of SR Yugoslavia, Zoran Janachkovich. At the meeting, besides summing up the results of the realized Treaty for free trading between the two states, particular stress was placed on the necessity of liberalization of the relations in the bilateral goods transport , underlining the need for a more recent exchange of an additional contingent permits for truck transport. The talks also covered issues regarding positive resolution of the property-rights relations between the two states in the overall trade and economy collaboration. The Minister for Forestry and Water Power Engineering of the Macedonian Republic, Kiril Dokuzovski, yesterday received in a protocol visit the Chief of the Relation Chamber of the Greek Republic, Alexandros Mallias. They discussed issues of mutual interest for the collaboration between the two states. Minister Dokuzovski informed his guest that part of the means from the international organization PHARE granted to Macedonia are already used for modernization of the border crossings `Bogorodica' and `Medzitlija' which will fasten flow of goods and travelers at these border crossings. [04] DISASTROUS SITUATION OF MACEDONIAN WATERSYesterday in Skopje the feasibility- study for protection of the waters in Macedonia was presented. As it has been pointed out, the elaboration of this study presents an introduction into the huge project `The Vardar valley' which should improve Macedonia in an economic, agricultural and tourism sense. For the study, sponsored by the French Government and prepared by the French firm `Betur Hidrolog', scientific and expert institutions were used. It covers the river basins in Macedonia - the Vardar, the Black River and the Strumica, as well as the three natural lakes, the Ohrid, the Prespa and the Dojran. The study offers a complete picture of the quality situation of the Macedonian waters. The Macedonian radio reports that the study confirms the ascertainments that the situation with the waters in Macedonia is disastrous.Concerning the Vardar, poor quality is especially noticed at the places where the river leaves the bigger towns such as Tetovo, Skopje and Veles. At those spots the quantity of oxygen in the water is equal to zero, it is assessed in the study. The presence of ammonia in the waters is beyond any classification. The waters of the Vardar, Treska, Lepenec and Pchinja are assessed as belonging to the third class of chemical pollution, and in the forth class of bacteria pollution, which means that they can not be used for watering and bathing. The situation with the rest of the waters in the state is similar to this one. Particular attention is paid to the Prespa Lake the purity of which influences the one of the Ohrid Lake. The presence of phosphor in the Prespa Lake in the last decade has enormously been increasing, i.e. from 11 it went up to 65 micrograms per liter which turned the lake into one that is dying out. Measures for overcoming these situations, according to the study, would be the construction of purifying stations in the more populated areas and in all industrial capacities that use water. The whole project on water protection in Macedonia is estimated with the value of 600 million dollars, and the means are to be provided in several phases. The main source would be the taxes according to the system `the polluter pays', and another source would be international finance institutions. As larger polluters of the waters in the state are considered: `Alumina', Godel', `OHIS' and `Alkaloid' from Skopje, the forge in Veles, `Jugohrom' from Jegunovce, the swine farm and leather factory from Kumanovo, `Shekjerana' from Bitola, `Zastava' from Ohrid and others. [05] OHRID `EMO' EXPORTS TRANSFORMERS TO TURKEYOhrid `EMO' and the Turkish firm `Setazz' these days has signed a new treaty on export for Turkey of 186 transformers with the power of 400 up to 1.600 kilotvolt ampere amounting up to 1 million and 316 thousand dollars. The Macedonian radio reports, the first 35 transformers are intended for the electrical industry for Turkey should be delivered by the middle of August this year, and the overall deal will be realized by March next year. This year from the investment of all sorts of electrical equipment and other investment enterprises Ohrid `EMO' plans to realize the export of 17 million dollars.[06] MAAK-CP ANNOUNCES ILINDEN CELEBRATION IN MONASTERY `PROHOR PCHINSKI'MAAK-Conservative party undertakes activities for conducting a peaceful and dignified demonstration on 2 August in the monastery `Prohor Pchinski'in SR Yugoslavia where in the year 1943 the ASNOM session took place. According to the leader of the MAAK-CP the motive for this is the 2335-th anniversary of the battle at Heroneja, the 94-th anniversary of the Ilinden uprising, the 53-rd anniversary of the first ASNOM session and the 7-th anniversary of the manifest passed by the MAAK in `Prohor Pchinski' for a sovereign and independent Macedonian state. For that purpose the party through the Macedonian Embassy in Belgrade demanded approval for a rally from the Yugoslav Interior Ministry.According to announcements from the Macedonian Embassy the approval should be granted and in contrary the party will only place flowers in the commemorative room or will just privately visit the monastery. The MAAK-CP leader, Strasho Angelovski, announced yesterday that the party will demand from the head of the Macedonian Orthodox Church, reverend Mihail to appear at the rally and the bishop of Polog and Kumanovo, mitropolite Kiril is to hold a speech as well. As it has been announced in the celebration of the jubilee in `Prohor Pchinski' should also participate the World Macedonian Congress and about 2 to 3 thousand Macedonian citizens are expected to appear in the monastery. Quoting unofficial sources A-1 TV yesterday announced that the Macedonian Government demanded from the Yugoslav authorities to allow the Macedonian state delegates on 2 August to visit the commemoration room in `Prohor Pchinski' where the ASNOM session took place. The reply of the Yugoslav authorities to this demand is yet not known. [07] SDP - EXTREMISTS COMMITTED NATIONALISTIC INDOCTRINATION ON ALBANIAN POPULATIONThe Social Democratic party of Macedonia at yesterday's press conference conveyed its positive assessment regarding the implementation of the Constitutional Court resolution on removal of the foreign flags in Gostivar and Tetovo. That act is regarded as a logical epilogue to the stopping of the long-tolerated and escalated nationalism of separate leading subjects from some political parties of the Albanians in Macedonia. Taking advantage of the crisis and the political and social situation in the state they conducted a nationalistic indoctrination on the peaceful Albanian population which has been living for centuries with the Macedonian population and other nationalities, it was stated by the SDP. They also send an appeal for a peaceful resolution of the conflicting situation in Gostivar and Tetovo in favour of peacekeeping, safety and stability of the state.[08] TRIAL OF TETOVO MUNICIPAL LEADERSHIP COMMENCES TOMORROWFor tomorrow in tetovo is scheduled the trial of Alajdin Demiri, mayor of Tetovo and Vebi Bedzeti, president of the municipality Council, under the charges of committing criminal acts `unfulfillment of a court decision'. The accusation regards the unfulfilment of the Constitutional Court decision on revoking the decision of the Tetovo municipality Council and removal of the Albanian flag in front of the township building. The defense of Demiri and Bedzeti has already filed a demand to the Court for postponement of the trial for gaining time to complete the documentation. The media (particularly the foreign) speculate that due to this trial there are possibilities for unrest and protests in Tetovo and other towns inhabited by Albanians.The Democratic Party of the Albanians yesterday informed that delegates of this party were not granted visit to the mayor of the Gostivar municipality, Rufi Osmani, and the Council chairman, Rafik Dauti, who are held in pre- trial confinement in Skopje. In the announcement the party protests against this act of the legal bodies, saying that the visit was rejected with no explanation. [09] SCANDAL `FORGED VISAS' - EMINE POLOZZANI ALBANIAN CONNECTION IN TEMPORARY ARRESTThe Albanian citizen Paraskeva Barbi is suspected to have participated in the scandal of forging American and Canadian visas and that's why she is temporary imprisoned in Struga. The role of the 60 year old Barbi from Tirana , according to unofficial information from `Dnevnik', was the one of a mediator, i.e. she played the role of a connection between the Albanian citizens in want of visas and Emine Polozzani who supplied the forged visas. As it has already been reported, Emine Polozzani, spouse of the Deputy- Minister of Justice in the Macedonian Government, Mersim Polozzani, is in pre-trial confinement on account of fraud after 6 people with false American and Canadian passports had been caught at the Skopje airport. According to the accusation the false visas were issued by Polozzani ( owner of the `Anila marketing' agency) charging them for 40.000 dollars.[10] MACEDONIA ACCEPTS 40 CHILDREN FROM FLOODED REGIONS IN POLANDThe well established collaboration with the Red Cross of Macedonia with the Polish Red Cross is evident these days when Macedonia is accepting some 40 children from the regions caught by the catastrophic floods in Poland. `Vecher' reports, the youth group from the Red Cross of Poland will stay for one month in the personnel centres of the Red Cross in Macedonia.MILS SUPPLEMENT[11] `Short Breath Persecutions'(`Vecher', 25 July, 1997)Our state, particularly in the last few years, presents no tourist attraction, yet, as the well acquainted with the circumstances and the citizens openly say, Macedonia, especially the western part, is `swarming' with foreigners! The presence of foreign citizens in the Macedonian Republic, most frequently coming from our `neighbours', has been noticed since 1991 when the unrest in the Balkans has commenced. This year, somewhere after February, a real invasion of people has been coming from Albania which is resulting from the events happening to our western neighbour. At the same time pressures are created by `visitors' from Kosovo. Citizens from the region Tetovo-Gostivar-Kichevo manipulate with a figure of 20.000 to 30.000 people, mainly Albanians who are illegally staying in the Macedonian Republic. These figures, according to claims of authorities from the Analytic and Investigation Administration by the Ministry for the Interior, is too bold! As opposed to this assessment we have also heard the fact that there really is an `invasion of foreigners illegally staying in the state who are persecuted in groups and returned to their home states by busses'. However this doesn't have a long lasting effect because those same people again find a way to come back to Macedonia. And it all seems like a vicious circle. According to some assessments from the IM a cure for this would be an extremely integral action of the chain : police - court, i.e. precise and consistent implementation of the established regulations. Regulations that control the stay of foreign citizens in the RM i.e. procedures of their persecution do exist. There is the Bill on movement and stay of foreigners since June 1992 which regulates the rights on entering, visas, stay cancellations, forceful expulsion of foreigners, asylum, travel and other documents, records of stated security and protection measures, as well as cancelled stay of foreigners. It is unusual that in out talks with the authorised we gained no specific figure regarding all of these strong regulations. However, regardless that there are no figures, the fact that the Macedonian Republic is being `occupied' by illegal foreigners was not denied. On the contrary, that is the actual truth only open remains the question what sort of a barrier to be placed against the illegal stays? What is typical for the last few months is the `attack' on the green Macedonia-Albanian border area. Since the snows on the Korab have melted down illegal entrances have become a daily routine. The situation now is different, much unlike prior situations when the illegal residents tried to enter unnoticed. They are aggressive, regularly carry fire arms and shoot at the border patrols, thus, there is hardly a day passing by without a shoot-out. The illegal residents are also supported by border patrols of their home state to cross the border line. In our state they seek and find areas for criminal activities, they regularly deal with arms and tobacco trafficking, commit thefts and other criminal acts, in short live on crime. This is almost the daily picture of the Albanian border. The last few months there is a pressure coming from Kosovo. Regarding the northern border, illegal entrances, as the IM informs, are mostly done by citizens from Romania who are travelling to the south and make a transit pass through our state. No less attractive is the eastern border where the illegal crossings are most frequently done by women coming from the Ukraine and Bulgaria with the purpose to work as `women for entertainment'. They enter illegally because they are not welcome here. The IM control mostly succeeds in finding them after which they are persecuted with a ban for another entry. The law besides the persecuting procedure provides and fees amounting up to 10.000-25.000 denars for: every person caught illegally crossing the border or staying in the state with no documents, for persons not leaving the state after the pronounced prohibition. These fees hardly anyone is able to pay. Imprisonment would be the appropriate solution which would suit the book of the illegal residents, but would create greater expenses for the state and thus it is not practised. According to the opinion of IM authorities, the Bill is precise and it would have a real effect if the sanctions predicted against the employees providing existence to the illegal residents are implemented and made more severe. The fees on mediators and associates to illegal residents move from 100.000 to 250.000 denars. The problem is that when it comes to illegal stay the police and the courts do not act very co-ordinated. People acquainted with these cases consider that the influx would be apparently diminished if the labour inspection were more rigorous, i.e. if besides charging fees, the future activity of those employing illegal residents is put at stake. If one starts closing the cafes or restaurants where illegal residents are being employed then the employees would not act so carelessly towards the regulations which should be adhered. In our case of not having a barrier to defend ourselves from illegal residents the same game of hide and seek will continue to be played: the police will detain illegal residents, the court will conduct the appropriate measures of persecution, the police will again transport them to the border of their home states, they will cross it - and after a day or two come back with new packages of cigarettes, arms and other goods for selling... (end)mils news 30 July, 1997Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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