MAK-NEWS 03/11/95 (M.I.C.)

From: "M.I.C." <mic@ITL.MK>

Macedonian Information Centre Directory

CONTENTS

SKOPJE, NOVEMBER 3, 1995 (MIC)

[01] "MULTIGROUP" STILL IN LIMELIGHT OVER ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON GLIGOROV

The largest and most influential financial group "Multigroup" is the first foreign company to be fingered as one of the organizers of the assassination attempt on the President of the Republic of Macedonia Kiro Gligorov, Makpress reports.

Many things are unclear and unable to prove in relation to this firm in Bulgaria, however, according to Bulgarian sources, it can be said that the enterprise was formed by high- ranking Bulgarian politicians, with the help of the Bulgarian Secret Service, towards the end of the last decade. The firm is owned by former intelligence service workers, sons, sons-in-law and other people close to the Bulgarian political top towards the end of the Zhivkov regime.

Towards the end of 1988, another corporation under the name "Multiart" was registered, where the present leader of "Multigroup" is one of the associates. His contacts and links with the secret services of Bulgaria and contacts in high state and political circles stem from here.

The second associate is Dimitar Ivanov, an official in the first sector of the Sixth department of State Security. Until October 2, 1995, he was vice-president of "Multigroup." One day before the attack on Gligorov, he was released from his duties as vice-president, however, remained in the firm as chief for regional development.

Ivanov's name is mentioned in some Bulgarian and Greek analyses of the statement made by Frchkovski, whereby it is emphasized that he was the man that visited Macedonia on September 28, 1995, and made the explosive that was used in the attack on Gligorov, in the Skopje area. According to some information, "Multigroup" has 3,500 employees in Bulgaria alone. In an interview last year, the president of "Multigroup," Pavlov, stated that the firm also had 300 to 400 people working for it in Macedonia. The firm has its organizations in Europe and the U.S.. The latest demonstration of the international ambitions of "Multigroup" is its interest to get into the Russian-Bulgarian company "Top Energy." In terms of this, Pavlov's firm has Russian support, thanks to Lukanov's relations with the Russian Prime Minister Cernomirdin, as well as the head of the Russian firm "Gazprom."

[02] "MULTIGROUP": "WE ARE NOT INVOLVED IN THE ATTACK"

"Those are serious allegations. Something like that is far away from our line of business," Ivo Janchev, director of the representation office of the Bulgarian company "Multigroup" in Macedonia said in relation to accusations that this company is involved in the assassination attempt on the Macedonian President.

In the statement for today's "Nova Makedonija," Ivo Janchev says that the problem lies in the fact that in the last couple of years, relations between Macedonia and Bulgaria have improved immensely, both on a political, diplomatic and business plan. "This development obviously doesn't suit someone. There is some logics in all of that."

"Incredible things are being written about 'Multigroup'. As a structure, it has a large number of offices not only in Macedonia, but in at least 30 cities throughout the world. That is in line with our business interests. We trade. 'Multigroup' deals exclusively with trade, and of course, financial-credit business relations, etc. We don't have any connection with any political parties in Macedonia," Makpress reports Janchev's statement for "Nova Makedonija."

Nikolaj Vulkanov, vice-president of "Multigroup" told "Nova Makedonija" today, categorically dismissing all speculation about the corporation's involvement in the attack on Gligorov, that "We started working with Macedonia a long time ago and we give out credits to Macedonian state firms. 'Multigroup' has business partners, it has mixed companies and business relations with the leading countries in the world and in Macedonia, as well. Only to mention a few : "Gaspromet" from Russia, "Tisen," "Siemens," and many other organizations. 'Multigroup' was the first to start giving out financial and commodities credits to 'Fenimak'. At that time, government delegations of Bulgaria and Macedonia discussed opening a commodities credit line. Even though that line was not realized, 'Multigroup' reacted in its own way. In 1993 we supplied one million fresh money for 'Fenimak' and commodities as well. The whole technology in the mine, the machines and reserve parts, all came from Bulgaria, and we took them to Macedonia, to the mine R'zhanovo. All the materials were delivered to Macedonia, charging only for the transport costs. We haven't made any speculative deals. From 1993 to 1995, 'Multigroup' has been approving credits and providing direct financing of 'Fenimak' then, it founded "Balkan Bank," in order to help the credit business connections between Macedonia and Bulgaria, etc. Meanwhile, other 'Multigroup' structures are formed in the Republic of Macedonia. From this year, we are taking part in another object, the railroad track Skopje-Deve Bair-Bulgaria. It will continue through Burgas to Istanbul, which was confirmed at the presidential summit in New York. We are working together with 'Pelagonija," the Macedonian construction giant. We also do business with 'Makpetrol', which gives us guarantees for the import of petrol, as well as 'Makmetal'."

[03] DORIS PACK: "THIRD UNIVERSITY IN RM - LUXURY"

The head of the delegation of the European Parliament which stayed in Macedonia the last couple of days, Doris Pack, said in the talks with representatives of the political circles in Tetovo, that "Three years ago, the Albanians wanted a faculty for teaching staff in Macedonia, which has been opened. Now they want a third university in Macedonia, a country with a population of two million, and a lot of problems in its economic development," "Vecer" reports.

Pack went on to say that even Germany, which had a much higher standard, wouldn't allow itself such luxury. Therefore, she suggested that more students should be admitted to the two existing universities, with a possibility of conducting classes in Albanian language. In relation to the matter of increasing the number of Albanians employed in the administration, Pack said that this should not be done at the expense of leaving the Macedonians on the street. "You must deal with that question systematically, and not over night," she said.

At the end, she appealed for tolerance, expressing the hope that the problems will be resolved rationally.

[04] PARLIAMENT ADOPTS BUDGET REBALANCE

At yesterday's session the members of the Macedonian Parliament adopted the rebalance of the budget for 1995.

The MPs adopted the law on the ratification of the statute of the Council of Europe, which finalizes the procedure for Macedonia's membership in this association.

The session was opened by Finance Minister Jane Miljovski, who emphasized that it was not unusual to discuss rebalancing the budget in the last quarter of the year. Still, he stressed that this government proposal was unusual, because, unlike previous years, for the first time, it is proposed to reduce the budget. The reason for this is that this year, the inflation rate has been held at a far lower level than projected. At the end of September, it was 3.2%. The fact that the structural changes are carried out with the planned dynamics, that significant results have been achieved, even in cases where things did not get off to such a good start, is largely responsible for this low inflation rate. However, minister Miljovski admitted that the rebalance was such because the GDP was still dropping (by the end of the year - 4%), that the planned budgetary revenues have not been realized because of the low inflation rate, and because of tax evasion. Therefore, the rebalance of the budget will be 16.6% lower than planned, which is, in terms of money, 8 billion denars.

This rebalance will imply restrictions with all users of budgetary funds, which, the Government feels, should be distributed equally among all ministries. Minister Miljovski emphasized that the first "cuts" will be made in the salaries and compensations (K 15), the funds for the agricultural stock exchange and the program for commodities stocks, while, in terms of money, the biggest restrictions will be made in the program of the road company (450 million denars), gasification (400 million denars) and the railroad construction, where there is a cut of 1,275 million denars.

[05] SIGNED PROTOCOL ON COOPERATION WITH ROMANIA

The delegations of the Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Macedonia and Romania, led by Under Secretary Victor Gaber and Deputy Minister Marcel Dinu, held a conference in Bucharest yesterday, at which they exchanged views on the development of bilateral relations, cooperation on an international plan, as well as the current situation in the region. Furthermore, the two sides determined the dynamics for the agreed regulation of relations and cooperation between the two countries. At the end of the consultations, Under Secretary Gaber and Deputy Minister Dinu signed the Protocol on cooperation between the Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Macedonia and the Romanian Foreign Ministry.

During the day, the Macedonian delegation was also received by the Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Maleskanu. The talks focused on the need to hold more frequent meetings and to exchange opinions on a high political level. Minister Maleskanu was pleased to accept the invitation to pay a visit to Macedonia soon.

[06] FULL DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH LITHUANIA

At the ceremony in Vilnus, last Friday, Tihomir Ilievski, ambassador of the Republic of Macedonia, based in Stockholm, submitted his credentials to the President of the Republic of Lithuania Algiridas Brazauskas.

In the discussion with the Lithuanian President, the two sides exchanged opinions on the prospects and interests of the two countries to strengthen bilateral cooperation in all fields. President Brazauskas asked ambassador Ilievski to convey his best wishes for President Gligorov's speedy recovery.

Ambassador Ilievski also had separate meetings and talks with the Lithuanian Prime Minister Adolfos Slezevicius, as well as Foreign Minister Pavlios Gilis.

[07] MACEDONIA AT INTER-PARLIAMENTARY CONFERENCE ON SECURITY

The Second Inter-Parliamentary Conference on Security and Cooperation started in Valeta (Malta) on Wednesday. Macedonia is represented at the Conference by Nano Ruzhin, member of the Macedonian Parliament.

In his address, Mr. Ruzhin focused on the situation in the Republic of Macedonia and the global processes in the Balkans and the Mediterranean. Ruzhin emphasized that the stability in the Balkans and the Mediterranean largely depends on the stability in the Republic of Macedonia. For these reasons, he said, the Republic of Macedonia is seeking full political, economic, financial and diplomatic assistance from the countries in the Mediterranean, as well as mutual trust and respect.

[08] EUROPEAN YOUTH IN SKOPJE

Starting from today, and through to Sunday, Macedonia will host the European Youth Council, which will hold its regular session in Skopje. Participating in the meeting of the Executive Committee of this European organization will be 75 delegates from 36 European countries.

The Youth Council of Macedonia, which became a full member of the European Youth Council in March, this year, is the acting host. The president of the Council, Stefan Burkhalter said at yesterday's news conference that the fact that Macedonia has been chosen to host this regular session "is a gesture that should contribute to the establishment of closer links with the young people in Macedonia, in order to keep the stability and peace in this part of Europe."

At the opening of the meeting of the Executive Committee of the European Youth Council, the participants will be addressed by Macedonian Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski.

The main topics that will be discussed in the meeting in Skopje will be the relations between the European youths and the Council of Europe and the European Union, the youth policy as part of the UN and the youth police in regard to women's emancipation.

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