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MILS: News from the FYROM, 97-06-06Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>CONTENTS
MILS SUPPLEMENTMILS NEWSSkopje, 06 June, 1997[01] DNEVNIK: `BILATERAL TALKS ON NAME-ISSUE AT MINISTERIAL MEETING IN THESSALONIKI'Macedonia is to be represented by its national flag and the name of its Foreign Secretary during the Ministerial Conference on Stability, Security and Cooperation in SE Europe, which is to be held in Thessaloniki on 9th June. During this event the Foreign Secretaries of Greece, Theodoros Pangalos, and of Macedonia, Blagoja Handzhiski, are to meet and (according to `Dnevnik' which is quoting Macedonian diplomatic sources) discuss the progress of the name-negotiations in New York. The same Foreign Office sources a tendency to resolve this issue as soon as possible does not only exist within the international community, but in Greece as well. This change of heart is being ascribed to the pursuing of a new objective: becoming the leading country in the region. `Dnevnik' further reports that Macedonia advocates the name `Republic of Macedonia' for international use while Greece would use a bilateral reference.[02] DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH MALTAYesterday Macedonian President Kiro Gligorov received the Ambassador of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta to Macedonia, H.E. Amb. Guenther Granser, who forwarded his letters of accreditation. The ceremony was also attended by newly-appointed Foreign Secretary Blagoj Handzhiski. President Gligorov stressed that the establishing of diplomatic relations between Malta and Macedonia embodies the first step in the developing of bilateral relations in all domains of mutual interest. According to official sources, H.E. Amb. Granser emphasised that his country is maintaining full diplomatic relations with over 80 countries, in addition to being a member of many international organisations. In this sense cooperation with Macedonia would certainly benefit Malta.[03] PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE ON DRUGS AND THE NARCOTICS BUSINESSUpon request of the LDP parliamentary faction, yesterday's session of the Macedonian Parliament delved into drug abuse, the narcotics business and the heroin epidemic taking over Macedonia. For the time being nobody knows how confiscated drugs are being handled, i.e. whether they are being destroyed after court procedures of if they find their way back onto the market - LDP MPs point out, as these narcotics disappear somewhere on the way from the Ministry of the Interior to the judiciary.Therefore the LDP faction has requested information on who handled confiscated drugs, how these were destroyed and how much of them. Interior Minister Tomislav Chokrevski stressed that he did not want to render a comment on extreme and malicious discussions, as well as the Ministry was considerably burdened by having to guard these narcotics since the courts cannot store it anywhere else. Minister Chokrevski stated that it was not commendable to abuse a such a gravitating problem as drug abuse for political marketing. The Ministry was more than ready to submit its entire corpus of documents to examine this issue. In this context Minister Chokrevski also requested the speedy enactment of the Pharmaceuticals Act by the Parliament, as well as the passing of legal provisions on countering drug trafficking and the handling of confiscated drugs. Towards the close of the discussion the Government revealed the information that of the total of 1 700 registered drug addicts in Macedonia 31.8% are juveniles most often hooked on heroin. The Parliament adopted several conclusions which encourage all stakeholders to pay particular attention to drug- related issues, while the Government committed itself to introduce more efficient measures to ensure the implementation of the National Agenda on Countering Drug Abuse and Drug Trafficking. The Macedonian Parliament also adopted the 1996 Report of the Privatization Agency, with the recommendation that the Government passes a news Liquidation Law. [04] NEW `SAL' CREDIT FOR MACEDONIAConcordant to A-1 TV coverage the Macedonian Government and the WB are negotiating a new credit which is known by the reference `SAL - 2' for now... This new loan would instigate reform procedures in the so-called `social sphere': the health sector, education, social policy and the retirement system. General discussions on this matter have already been led between WB Delegation Leader Hassan Feyz'l and Macedonian Finance Minister Taki Fiti. A-1 TV has also broadcast that the implementation approach of this credit would differ in comparison to similar transactions conducted so far. Means are most likely to be forwarded to the Stock Reserve while the Government would have more lee-way in determining the application of these funds.[05] MINISTER ZIBERI: `NO PENSION CUT-DOWN'These days Macedonian media were swamped with rumours about the imminent `streamlining' of retirement pensions. Yesterday the Vice-President of the Macedonian Government and Minister of Labour and Social Policy, Naser Ziberi, denied these speculations as unfounded in an interview for A-1 TV. Ziberi attended yesterday's session of the Retirement Pension and Disability Fund. Afterwards he revealed that thorough reforms of the retirement pension system were not to be expected prior to the second half of 1998. Thus for the time being no novelties are on the horizon. Efforts are being concentrated on analyzing the CARANA proposal (which favours the decreasing of pensions) and other options and research studies. The Fund session focused - he stated - on the financial difficulties confronting this institution and on possible solutions. The adopted conclusions may yield results, said Naser Ziberi, while underlining that he would back these up during the next Government session.[06] FIRST DOMESTIC MONITORS OF `ISO 9 000' STANDARDSThis Thursday at the Macedonian Chamber of Economy the first 14 trainees for monitoring production quality according to `ISO 9 000' standards have been given their final certificates for completing their training, the Macedonian Radio reports. Thus they will be able to pursue their career both in Macedonia and all over the world. The training has been organized by the Macedonian Chamber of Economy and the British `Know-How' Fund.The introducing of the internationally recognized standardization in Macedonia is of particular significance as they are applied as the national regulation corpus in over 80 countries. Besides this the EU conditions the import of non-EU products with the compliance to these standards. Representatives of the `Know-How' Fund stated that the implementation of this reform and training programme has reached 40%, and that it should be completed by April 1998. [07] MORTGAGE NOT DUE IN LESS THAN 284 DAYSThe fundamental deficiencies as regards the subject of mortgages in Macedonian legislation are: lack of an all- inclusive set of records and the inefficiency emerging during its executive stage. In ideal conditions a mortgage cannot be implemented for less than 284 days in Macedonia. This data - MTV reports - has been presented during yesterday's opening day of the Convention covering legal provisions on securities, mortgages, executive procedures, securing demands, investment funds and liquidation. The Convention is being organised by the Economists' Association of Skopje and US-based NGO `IRIS'. The Head of the Macedonian `IRIS' Office, Ms. Ruth Cinniger, proposed the establishing of a working group which would coordinate and speed up activities to provide a legal framework on the above-mentioned issues. It has further been stressed that such a set of provisions and guarantees are a key prerequisite to creating an `investment- friendly' climate in Macedonia. A possible model of such a law with the title `Insolvency in Countries in Transition' has been presented by Project Advisor Harry Siegmann yesterday. Today debates are to revolve around bankruptcy and executive procedures.[08] 25 MACEDONIAN BROKERS AND BANKERS PREDICT WALL STREET CRASH SOONA group of 25 Macedonian brokers and bankers representing all major banks and savings houses in Macedonia have predicted that the New York Stock Exchange is on the verge of a collapse. The Macedonian Radio reports that this group consists of participants of a seminar held under the auspices of the Macedonian Stock Exchange, with Dr. Sam Vaknin from Israel as the main seminar instructor. Concordant to the estimates of these Macedonian bankers and brokers the growth potential of Wall Street amounts to a maximum of 10 to 15 more percents.There also were clear indicators that the upward trend had come to a halt. Following a period of stability the New York Stock Exchange would experience a crash and stocks were to take a drastic 35% plunge minimum... most probably towards the end of October this year. [09] HOSPITALS IN SKOPJE NEED BLOOD PLASMA AND IV SOLUTIONSThese days the Transfusiology Institute of Skopje has suspended the production of blood plasma derivatives due to the old-fashioned and malfunctioning production equipment. `Nova Makedonija' reports that currently the very last reserves were being used up. Should necessary funding not be procured this institution will merely be in the position to collect blood, but not to process the same. Institute Director Ms. Stefanovska stated that the plasm production equipment had been purchased in 1980, which meant that it required repairs and spare parts in order to resume production. According to her no assistance has been offered so far, neither in this case nor with respect to the similar deplorable state of affairs in connection to production equipment for IV solutions, which are not being produced either. New machinery is needed in both cases, but no funds are available for its purchasing. The premises housing the Institute itself could use some refurbishing as well - at least in the opinion of the National Inspector.[10] `GOCE DELCHEV' BRIDGE IN SKOPJE MAY CRASH, TOOMacedonian media have been broadcasting expert estimates on the safety of the `Goce Delchev' bridge in the centre of Skopje. The bridge may eventually crash due to distortions emerging over a longer period of time, though recently they had become even more apparent. Thus the span of the bridge had increased by 30 cm and crags have appeared in the surface. Experts also claim that the strain on each lateral carrier is simply too large. Measurements have proven that the bridge may crash by any time without any warning. Due to the weight of this issue - according to A-1 TV - a reconstruction project has already been compiled and it is currently being evaluated by the Civil Engineering Faculties of Skopje and Belgrade. The corresponding Ministry has also been briefed in on this matter. It is being speculated that after 27 years the construction material used by `Pelagonija' is simply amortized.[11] `CENTAR' MUNICIPAL COUNCIL: RESOLUTIONS AVAILABLE IN ALBANIANIn the future the Statute, all resolutions and other general acts are to be passed in two languages at the `Centar' municipality of Skopje: in Macedonian and Cyrillic script and in Albanian and Latin script - concordant to a decision of the Municipal Council. `Vecher' reports that the latter has been reached upon request of the PDP and NDP Counsellors who had demanded the use of Albanian language in all municipal structures. This proposal, however, was not adopted.[12] NEW CHAIRPERSON OF THE `EMIGRANTS' ASSOCIATION'Yesterday the Emigrants' Association of Macedonia held its electoral session during which it chose its new Presidium and the new Chairperson: Professor Gjorgji Tomovski from Ohrid. The Macedonian Radio reported that the session was characterized by its very critical tone with respect to its activities so far. A more active approach towards emigrants has been requested, in addition to the compiling of a National Strategy on this subject. Criticism was also aired with respect to the line-up of the new Presidium, the main objection being that it was merely another copy of the previous system.[13] `OCS' TRIES `TOUGH LOVE' APPROACH ON `OCM'The leadership of the Orthodox Church of Serbia (OCS) has assumed a more rigorous position as regards the non- recognition of the OCM during its last session in Belgrade - MTV reveals. Thus the Holy Archiepiscopal OCS Synod has appointed Patriarch Pavle as the new Administrator of the Diocese of Skopje, Zletovo-Strumica and Ohrid-Bitola region, during its session on 23rd May. `Deeply suffering from the wound inflicted by the illegal proclamation of Autocephaly by the OCM - and in concern for the well-being of the clergy and worshippers alike - in the hope of bridging this deplorable situation, Patriarch Pavle has accepted the post of the OCS Administrator in Macedonia', the official release states. It is further being said that the OCS was particularly worried about the standings of the OCS in the Republic of Macedonia, which happens to be the only state in the world barring its doors to OCS bishops and where the OCS is prohibited from holding mass by court order.The incumbent Administrator of OCS dioceses in Macedonia, Bishop Pahomije of Vranje has resigned this office, the same sources reveal. MILS SUPPLEMENT[14] `Lose the Shovel, Lads - The Moneys Are Coming'(`Vecher' - 5th June 1997)Yesterday the 40 `clansmen' were supposed to reach an agreement as to who would have which role during the division of `Granddad's heritage'. Should this attempt result in a positive outcome they may agree to publish a photograph of Christo Tolev a.k.a. `Dedo Icko' (`Grandpa Icko'), the close friend of Al Capone and Vladimir Ilich Lenin... A noteworthy piece of news: the Gjogjiovski family from Prilep has inherited 10 million dollars, deposited in a Chicago bank by their relative Christo Tolev, the driver of America's most notorious Mafioso Al Capone and a close friend of Lenin (!!!??)... But here's the catch to the story: for more than two years the Gjorgjiovski family cannot agree on how the money should be split, therefore nobody has been appointed as their agent to travel to the US and submit all necessary documents to prove their descent. The grandson of this renowned globetrotter and crony of Al Capone, Ljupcho Gjorgjiovski, has been intensifying the holding of `family councils' these days in order to obtain a consensus and eventually the heritage. Thus he went to visit former mayor of Prilep Iliya Dimoski - Shatorot (arch. `umbrella'), who is also one of the forty relatives entitled to a part of the sum. The question to be answered now is the following: will the whole `clan' succeed in finding a common ground after two years, in order to transfer their money to Macedonia i.e. Prilep? The city beneath the `Markovi Kuli' (renowned fortification in Prilep) is brimming with rumours that not only is there little peace among the kinsmen - but that not even fundamental interaction is possible... Thus it remains questionable indeed whether the whole lot of them will manage to appoint one family member to go to the US and sort things out. It is however no coincidence that the grandson of Christo Tolev claims that an outsider would be entrusted with the job, though his identity is not being revealed for the time being. Neighbours of the Gjogjiovski family (resident at `Nikshikjka' St. No. 4) state that these days the Gjorgjiovskis have been `burning the midnight oil' as different cars pull up in front of the house of Marija and Ljupcho Gjorgjiovski every hour. `I would not like to bother you with details of those conversations, which are a family matter any way. I can only tell you that these members of my family consider that all this fuss about the heritage is only providing rascals with a target to look forward to... I went to the market today and couldn't even buy a kilo of tomatoes because of all the curious people. We haven't even seen a cent of the money and people are already congratulating us and extending their best wishes. I answered that if we were lucky enough to get the heritage, some 15% of it would be divided among the family while the remainder would go to charity. We would like to build a new school and dedicate it to Grandpa Christo, so that the future generations will remember him...' He was a modest resident of Prilep who worked in mines and on the construction of railway tracks, a man prudent with his earnings. Would he not have been disappointed by the doctrine promoted by his close friend Lenin, Granddad wouldn't have stayed in the US for so long. He would not have made this much money and we would not inherited it', says Gjogjiovski. The most difficult thing for Ljupcho Gjorgjiovski was his brother's warning not to let rumours about the money spread due to security reasons. `Watch your back, Grandpa earned this money with the Mafia. Here similar types could take it away again.' The news that Christo Tolev passed away in 1983 was revealed to the Gjorgjiovski family in may 1995 by the US Embassy in Belgrade. Still, nobody could really believe its authenticity as 10 million dollars are quite a chunk for even the wealthiest person. Many residents of Prilep still have their doubts. Ljupcho Gjorgjiovski is known for re- telling a two-hour film for four hours. Maybe this is just another tale of his... `The 10-million-dollar heritage is neither a film nor a fancy tale - bur a very credible piece of reality. We have been notified by the US Embassy, and you are bound to be familiar with the strict legal system in this country. It has not happened that even half a dime of one's pension was withheld there - or not restituted. My relative Iliya Dimovski couldn't believe it either but when I visited him yesterday I told him to lose the shovel, the money was on its way. We have determined an agent who will pursue matters and prove our eligibility. Once the money is here both Macedonia and Prilep will benefit from it.' states Ljupcho Gjorgjiovski. One day ago all 40 relatives were to outline their roles in handling the heritage, and should this be the case the family agreed to reveal more about this close friend of Al Capone and Lenin. His grandson says he would certainly deserve it. (end)mils news 06 June 1997Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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