MAK-NEWS 13/11/95 (M.I.C.)

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

Macedonian Information Centre Directory

CONTENTS

SKOPJE, NOVEMBER 13, 1995 (MIC)

[01] MACEDONIA IN "PARTNERSHIP FOR PEACE"

The Macedonian Defence Ministry was informed on Friday by official NATO sources that the 24-hour silence passed without any objections of the 16 NATO member-states to Macedonia's full membership in the "Partnership for peace" initiative. Simultaneously, the signing of a general agreement between Macedonia and NATO was announced for November 15 in Brussels.

The decision was made unanimously, which means that all NATO member-states believe that Macedonia meets the conditions defined in the initial agreement for the development of democratic relations in the country, that the Macedonian armed forces can independently avert the penetration of eventual aggressors with strong potentials, that Macedonia contributes to the building of the new European security architecture and the independent participation in the European integration systems.

The special program for Macedonia, with which it will take part in the "Partnership for peace" activities, creates possibilities for the fulfillment of two additional conditions for eventual future participation in NATO, namely, coordination of the procedure for command of the armed forces and compatibility of the communications systems. A line of exercise activities with the NATO member-states will create possibilities for the speedy fulfillment of the standards of the Northern Alliance, the Macedonian Defence Ministry announced.

[02] RUSSIAN SUPPORT OF SOVEREIGNTY AND INDEPENDENCE OF RM

The delegation of the Russian Federation, led by Deputy Foreign Minister Nikolay Nikolaevich Anasijevskij, met on Saturday with the Speaker of the Macedonian Parliament Stojan Andov, Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski and Foreign Minister Stevo Crvekovski.

The announcement of the Macedonian Foreign Ministry says that in the talks with Parliamentary Speaker Stojan Andov, Mr. Anasijevskij condemned the attack on President Gligorov and expressed wishes for his speedy recovery and return to his function. The Russian diplomat expressed the support the Russian Federation is giving to Macedonia in regard to its sovereignty, independence and inviolability of the border.

The talks also tackled the issue of the situation in the war-torn regions, giving full support to the meeting between the warring parties in Dayton (Ohio). An emphasis was placed on strengthening the cooperation on an economic, political and cultural plan, as well as the continuation of the traditionally good relations between the two countries.

In the talks with Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski, the accent was placed on the alarming drop in mutual trade, accenting the consequences from the sanctions, as one of the chief reasons for the difficulty in communication on an economic plan. It was concluded that this situation is a consequence of the, as yet, unsigned agreements for regulation of relations in the economy. It has also been agreed to intensify the inter-bank cooperation, which would contribute to the easing of the balance of payments between the two countries. The gas line was pointed out as an example of good cooperation, and it was added that the construction of the second phase has to be intensified.

The meeting with Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski focused on the advancement of the relations between the two countries, the cooperation between Macedonia and the Russian Federation in the international relations, as well as the current situation in the region. The European orientation of the two countries was emphasized, as well as the need for cooperation on this plan.

[03] "MACEDONIA" - FATAL FOR THE GREEK HISTORY

"If the Skopians keep the name Macedonia, this will destroy our entire history. If the theory that the Macedonians are not Greeks prevails, this will disrupt the whole process of our nation's history," Nikola Martis, former Minister for Northern Greece said in the interview for the Athens daily "Tipos," conveyed in yesterday's "Nova Makedonija."

"The worst thing is that the foreign encyclopedias and the school textbooks abroad accept the idea that the Macedonians are not Greeks, as well as the funny idea that the language of the Macedonians is not Greek," Nikolas Martis says.

He also mentions the "insolence" of Gligorov when he stated for a Canadian Television that a large number of golden discs with eight rays were found in Philip's tomb. Subsequently, this Greek former minister will point out that the new flag with eight rays establishes the links with the Macedonian dynasty.

[04] GREECE: "MACEDONIA WILL GET A NEW NAME BY NEW YEAR"

The Athens press claims, calling upon sources in New York, that the permanent Greek representative to the UN, ambassador Hristos Zaharakis had met with UN mediator Cyrus Vance, whereby the main topic was "the Macedonian question," Makpress reports.

The newspapers claim that "they reviewed the possibilities surrounding the continuation of the negotiations over the name." Although no details have been released, it is stated that the contacts will continue next week, when Zaharakis will meet with Vance again, who will meet with a representative of the Republic of Macedonia in the meantime.

Calling upon confidential sources, the Athens press says that Vance proposed three names for the northern neighbor, including the name Republic of Macedonia. Quoting diplomatic sources, some Athens newspapers inform that it is not ruled out for the negotiations over the name to reach some acceptable solution to both sides during November.

Some officials from the world organization said, the newspapers claim, that Macedonia asked for a certain postponement of the negotiations in view of the assassination attempt on the Macedonian President Gligorov. Still, it is emphasized that mediator Vance is determined to maintain officials meetings, as well, with both sides, and to close the question in relation to the name by the end of the year.

[05] IVAN STAMBOLICH: "MACEDONIA HAS SUCCEEDED"

"What Macedonia has managed to do in these tragic and turbulent times, under the leadership of Kiro Gligorov, is a real move. By constituting its own state, Macedonia has helped its neighbors the most." This was stated for the weekly "Puls," by the former president of the Presidency of the Socialist Republic of Serbia Ivan Stambolich, who personally admits that Milosevich is largely his responsibility.

From the aspect of the new reality of the Macedonian- Serb relations, Stambolich feels that one of the priority Serbian national interests is the strengthening of the independence of the Macedonian nation, in order for the relations between the Serbian and Macedonian people to develop more successfully.

When asked to comment the fact that FR Yugoslavia is one of the last countries on the Balkans that have still not recognized Macedonia, the once prominent Serbian politician stated: "That is not the only wrong step of the Serbian politics, but I hope and believe that time will fix that, because the roots of the relations and closeness between the two peoples are such that I think they will overcome that."

[06] 35 POLITICAL PARTIES IN THE "OUT"

In accordance with the provisions of the Law on political parties adopted in August, last year, 35 political parties have been erased from the register of the District court in Skopje, which has literally halved the number of registered parties from one year ago.

Most of the parties that have been erased from the court registry have not met the legal condition concerning the number of members, whilst a part of the parties have ceased to exist or have joined other parties. According to the law, every political party is required to submit a written document to the District court in Skopje, 15 days before the end of every year, proving that the minimal number of founders is maintained.

These legal provisions caused bitter reactions among most party representatives, and the matters were even taken to the Constitutional court, where the controversial elements in the law were determined.

[07] LP EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: "THE PARTY HAS SHOWN ITS IMPORTANCE IN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE COALITION"

The Executive Committee of the Liberal Party issued a longer announcement last week in which it states that Macedonia has kept its stability, internal peace and peace within its borders, in the sensitive period following the assassination attempt on President Gligorov. The announcement stresses that, "under those conditions, the Liberal Party has shown, in the best possible way, how important its participation in the government is, as well as its determination and consistency in maintaining the country's political orientation, as a factor of peace in the region," is said in the announcement.

This party highly assesses the contribution and activities of the leader of the party and Parliamentary Speaker Stojan Andov, who, applying the constitutional norms, has stood up in defence of the politics promoted by President Gligorov, with great determination and decisiveness.

Furthermore, the LP Executive Committee praises the activities of minister Stevo Crvenkovski, who, as it is said "only a couple of days after the assassination attempt on President Gligorov, showed the world public with his clear and precise appearance in the UN General Assembly, that the Republic of Macedonia will not deviate from its set foreign policy. Therefore, the main goal of the organizers of the appalling terrorist act, has not been achieved," the announcement says.

The LP Executive Committee assesses that it is of utmost importance for Macedonia's stability for the parliamentary coalition to continue functioning successfully, and hopes that the people responsible for the assassination attempt will soon be brought to justice.

In assessing that President Gligorov will soon start carrying out his presidential duties, the Executive Committee stated that in the period following the attack, expressions of support and recognition of the true values of President Gligorov's politics and his positive role and significance for Macedonia and the whole Balkan region have constantly been coming from leading statesmen and politicians. The only exception is the appearance of one known personality, Mr. George Soros. In his two interviews, he attacked President Gligorov's policy, without any arguments, and even him personally. In addition, he tried to pit the Macedonian Government against Mr. Gligorov, by saying that he had all his problems with Mr. Gligorov himself, unlike the Government, with which he had an excellent understanding.

The Executive Committee informed the public that it dismisses this attempt by Mr. Soros to divide the people, with great indignation, saying that "not one minister from the present coalition should sit even one hour in a Government that even thinks of choosing between Mr. Gligorov and Mr. Soros," is said in the announcement.

[ MACEDONIAN PRESS REVIEW:

[08] "NOVA MAKEDONIJA": DANGEROUS POLITICAL GAMES

In its weekend issue, "Nova Makedonija" comments the announcement of the Executive Committee of the Liberal Party, saying, among the rest: "The creation of an atmosphere that the Liberals are the only ones that are continuing the policy of President Gligorov, by ranking and adopting mutual merits, and using the assassination attempt for their own political and party propaganda and self-marketing, emphasizing who contributed or did not contribute to the stabilization of the state, can open up a serious process of political destabilization of the country."

The commentator Erol Rizaov feels that "cases such as this only show a totally irresponsible attitude and obvious aspirations of certain police, army or party structures, to impose not only public marketing, but also certain political positions."

The author feels that the Liberals are calling the other partners in the coalition and the Government to answer, when they are urging for: "reinforced activities in discovering and apprehending the instigators, organizers and perpetrators of the assassination attempt," with a public roll call that "the perpetrators will soon be brought to justice."

It is evident that this information in the announcement of the Liberals should present an answer to minister Frchkovski, who spoke in a speculative way at his news conference about the instigators of the assassination attempt, about some kind of plan for recomposing and restructuring the political team ruling the country, which was interpreted in the public as an association directed towards the Liberals.

Simply, as if the Liberals were too afraid to ask Frchkovski for some direct answers as to what he means when talking about "a recomposed team in power, that will benefit from an assassination." Instead, the Liberals chose to directly criticize the Government, quite indicatively, alluding that the allegedly, the investigation was being conducted badly, that some institutions (the police) should hurry up to build themselves up.

The commentator Rizaov feels that the Liberals are inflicting an artificial dilemma with the assertion that "not one minister from the present coalition should sit even an hour in the Government which would even think of choosing between Mr. Gligorov and Mr. Soros."

"Do the Liberals doubt the answer they are provoking themselves?," "Nova Makedonija" wonders.

(end)