MAK-NEWS 05/12/95 (M.I.C.)

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

Macedonian Information Centre Directory

SKOPJE, DECEMBER 5, 1995 (MIC)

CONTENTS

[01] U.S.A.: "SFRY ASSETS AND LIABILITIES TO BE DIVIDED"

In response to commentary in the Macedonia media, speculating on the U.S. position on state succession of the former SFRY, the U.S. Information Service issued a press release containing the U.S. position.

"In the U.S. view, the former SFRY has ceased to exist. None of the successors represents its continuation. The UN Security Council has stressed the need for the former Yugoslav republics to reach agreement among themselves on issues relating to SFRY assets and liabilities. In this context, the Security Council has also focused on the need to address claims in accordance with applicable law. We expect many SFRY assets frozen in the U.S. to be subject to a variety of claims.

The U.S. supports early mutual recognition among the republics of former Yugoslavia and actively supports efforts toward that end.

[02] INDEPENDENCE OF UNPREDEP

The head of the UNPREDEP mission in Macedonia Henrik Sokalski expressed hope at yesterday's news conference in Skopje that the UN Security Council will soon make a decision on the independence of UNPREDEP. Sokalski stressed that the UN Secretary-General Boutros Ghali supports such a decision in his report to the Security Council.

The military commander of UNPREDEP General Juha Engstrom emphasized the significance of the UN mission in keeping the independence and sovereignty of Macedonia. He assessed that there is "no unavoidable military threat" to the territorial integrity of the country.

Speaking of the report of the UN Secretary-General Boutros Ghali, which he submitted to the UN Security Council last Monday, Sokalski said that, although it is short, it depicts the general security situation in the Republic in the last eight months quite objectively. According to Resolution 983, more specific assessments with all aspects for the entire region should be delivered to the Council by January 31, next year. As Sokalski emphasized, the UN Secretary-General's report particularly stresses Macedonia's growing role on the international scene, which has contributed to the maintenance of the internal peace and security, with a certain progress in the inter-ethnic relations. In this context, the significance of the Interim Accord with Greece is emphasized, which has strengthened Macedonia's international position, seeing it was followed by the establishment of diplomatic relations with a couple of other countries, accession to the OSCE, the Council of Europe, as well as participation in the "Partnership for peace" initiative.

Sokalski underlined that the report speaks of the need to renew the mandate of UNPREDEP in the next 12 months, regardless of developments in other parts of the field of operations.

Asked why the Russian Federation did not give a "green" light, and the mandate has been continued only six months, General Juha Engstrom said that he had no official statements from Russia on that, but that it was a rule in the work of the Security Council. Had the term been continued another 12 months, it would have presented an exception. However, he added, the length of the mandate will depend on the UN's financial possibilities in future.

[03] EVIDENCE LINKED WITH ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT

The Saturday police action carried out in several suburbs on the territory of the Kisela Voda municipality, in which a couple of thousand of homes, garages, cellars, shacks, cars and passers-by were searched, will soon reveal its results and findings in a written form, which the Interior Ministry will deliver to the District Court judge Zdravko Vasilev, who is leading the investigation.

Namely, according to judge Zdravko Vasilev, the police findings have been coming in from Saturday and over the next couple of days. Although there is no confirmation from the head of the investigation, it is presumed that the police report will have to contain all the traces and indications found in the action, and which might lead to the revealing of the identity of the anonymous buyer of the car bomb "Ami 8," which was used to carry out the assassination attempt on President Gligorov.

As it is known, in the action, the police was mostly interested in re-sellers of spare car parts, car repair shops, scissors for cutting wire, and have taken samples of sand (found in the car bomb) for laboratory analysis.

[04] REPROGRAMMING THE DEBTS TO GERMANY

Negotiations on a German-Macedonian Government agreement finished successfully in Skopje on the first of this month, which will regulate the Macedonian part of the foreign debts of the former Yugoslavia. The agreement was signed by the Macedonian Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Development Lazarevski, and the German head of delegation from the Federal Ministry of Finance Miller.

According to the agreement, Macedonia has assumed 175 million DEM of the general debt of the former Yugoslavia. Namely, the debt is related to financial credits from export deals, guaranteed by HERMES and the export deals from the former DDR. On one hand, the Macedonian assumption of the debt applies to credits used directly by Macedonian importers, and on the other, to the Macedonian part of the unlocated foreign debt of the former Yugoslavia, which, according to the Macedonian quota of the IMF, amounts to 5.4%.

Furthermore, the agreement foresees a long-term extension of the pay-back deadlines (up to 15 years) for a part of the assumed obligations, especially from '95 and '96. The total amount in question is 120 million DEM. The basis for this reprogramming is the multilateral agreement with the Paris one, from July 17, this year.

[05] NEGOTIATIONS ON TRADE COOPERATION WITH EU POSTPONED

At its meeting in Brussels yesterday, the Council of EU Ministers postponed the discussion on giving consent to the start of negotiations between the Union and Macedonia on an agreement on cooperation and trade.

Makfaks reports that Spanish diplomatic sources in Brussels have explained the postponement with technical reasons. According to the same sources, approval from the Council of Ministers for negotiations is nevertheless expected by the end of the year.

At yesterday's meeting, the EU Foreign Ministers were supposed to stipulate the necessary sum for reconstruction of former Yugoslavia, as well as the final date of the conference of donors.

The European Commission proposes a sum of US$ 3.7 billion, for a period of three years, and US$ 6 billion for a period of five years, for reconstruction of the war-torn regions from former Yugoslavia.

[06] GREECE: "220 MACEDONIAN CITIZENS SENT BACK FROM BORDER"

7,152 persons from Macedonia have entered Greece from the signing of the Interim Accord up to November 29, and some 220 have been sent back, the pro-government newspaper "Ta Nea" said yesterday. Most of the people were sent back for not having green cards or the required sum of money. Only 24 people were not allowed to enter Greece for having the toponyms of Greek origin written in "Slav language."

As Makfaks reports, "Ta Nea" stresses that the Greek authorities do not approve passports in which the Greek birth places are written in Macedonian language.

[07] LIAISONS OFFICES BETWEEN ATHENS AND SKOPJE IN JANUARY

The liaisons offices between Athens and Skopje will be opened towards the middle of January, next year. This news, as Makfaks reports, was announced yesterday by the Athens news agency. The pending opening of the liaisons offices was announced at the meeting Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski had in Skopje last week with Aleksandar Maljas, high-ranking official in the Greek Foreign Ministry.

The exact date of starting with work is not yet determined, however, it was said at the meeting Crvenkovski- Maljas that their simultaneous opening in Athens and Skopje will contribute to the strengthening of the cooperation between the two countries, as well as the mutual confidence.

[08] INFLATION RATE - 1.6%

Compared to the previous month, the retail prices were 1.6% higher this month. According to the Bureau of Statistics, the largest increase in retail prices is recorded with the "group" agricultural products - 28.7%, which is owed to the increase in the prices of the vegetables - 46.1% and fruits - 7.4%. The other product groups note only minimal price increases, namely, the industrial products only 0.2%, the non-food products 0.3% and services 0.4%.

The cumulative price increase in retail products for the period January-November 1995, compared to the same period last year, amounts to 16.5%.

Compared to the previous month, the living costs increased 1.9% in November. This increase is noticed with the food - 3.7%, clothing and footwear - 1.3%, hygiene and health - 0.9% and household expenses - 0.8%. The cumulative index of the living costs for the period January-November 1995, compared to the same period January-November 1994, is 16.4% higher.

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