MAK-NEWS 26/12/95 (M.I.C.)

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

Macedonian Information Centre Directory

CONTENTS

SKOPJE, DECEMBER 26, 1995 (MIC)

[01] STEVO CRVENKOVSKI: "EQUAL SIGNIFICANCE OF TRANSPORT CORRIDORS"

The Foreign Minister of the Republic of Macedonia Stevo Crvenkovski gave an interview for the Macedonian Radio yesterday, in which, among the rest, he discussed the process of Macedonia's rapprochement with the EU, the interest of Greece in this agreement, as well as the equal significance of the transport corridors. "During the defining of the EU mandate for signing the Agreement on cooperation with the Republic of Macedonia, it became apparent that Greece was actively promoting some positive elements of that agreement, because it also has an interest, through the Union, to get involved in a more active cooperation with us. However, it should also be underlined that we should not submit to the different political dispositions, in one or another direction, in terms of the transport connection and orientation of the Republic of Macedonia.

Over these past couple of years, it was exceptionally important for us to promote the East-West corridor on an international plan, and I always said we should not neglect the North-South corridor as well. Now may be the moment to say the opposite - if the North-South corridor starts functioning normally, then the East-West corridor must not be neglected. Because, the Republic of Macedonia can not benefit from its geographical position in the Balkans only if the cross-section of these two directions is in the Republic of Macedonia. They have their own weight, their own significance, only provided both of them are developed. We should also clearly insist on developing the links towards Burgas, and towards Duress, especially considering the fact that, in the long-run, Duress may be a very interesting orientation for the entire region."

[02] GOVERNMENT ACCEPTS MACROECONOMIC POLICY FOR 1996

At yesterday's session, chaired by Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski, the Macedonian Government reviewed and accepted the macroeconomic policy of the Republic of Macedonia for 1996, which, in the coming year, will be realized in a much more favorable atmosphere, with a larger number of private and privatized companies. This will set a new quality in the manner of doing business, based on market principles and a modern way of management, compared to the past years, the Government Information Service announces.

However, as the Government concluded, in order to ensure the proper implementation of the macroeconomic policy in the first half of 1996, the remaining laws from the economic system have to be adopted, such as business associations, public companies, denationalization, customs tariffs and state administration. Also, whenever the need arises, the Government will make appropriate amendments to the existing regulations, to provide greater consistency and preciseness of the system and its more efficient application.

As part of its competence, the Government accepted the proposal to adopt a law on guarantees of the Republic of Macedonia on the agreement on a loan for the project - credit line for small and medium-sized companies, which was approved to Macedonia by the EBRD, to the amount of 40 million DEM, with a pay-back deadline of 5.5 years, including an 18 month grace period.

The Government has also accepted the information on the utilization of the hydromeliorative systems in the Republic of Macedonia, with draft measures to increase the percentage of their use, which will provide conditions for optimal production and a start to the sewing season on farming land encompassed with the irrigation systems.

[03] PFER LEADING IN UNIT 114

The State Election Commission announced the preliminary official results of the Sunday voting at the additional parliamentary elections in election unit 114 in the Skopje municipality of Center. It was announced that 45.38% out of 13,540 listed voters turned up.

Of a total of 11 candidates, six gained passage to the second election round. Amdi Bajram from the Party for the Full Emancipation of the Rhomas (PFER) received the most votes - 1,363, who is followed by Vasil Drvosanov from the Alliance for Macedonia with 1,298 votes. Next is Dzemail Bafti from PDPA with 776 votes. The independent candidate Todor Petrov won 661 votes, Vladimir Golubovski from IMRO-DP - 549, and Krste Jankovski, the joint candidate of the Labour Party, the People's Party and IMRO- MNDS, received 437 votes.

[04] NO LARGER INCIDENTS AT ELECTIONS

The elections in election unit 114 in the Skopje municipality Center went by in a fair and democratic atmosphere, with the exception of a couple of polling stations, the Association of the Citizens' Initiative of RM, the only non-party and non-government association to monitor these elections, assessed.

The biggest problems arose in regard to the voting lists, the I.D. documents, the failure to provide proper conditions for observing the secrecy of the ballot, and in the local community Nikola Karev - a direct agitation of the candidate. According to 20 observers of the Association, there were serious disruptions in polling stations 36 and 37, and the local community Nikola Karev in Topansko Pole.

Propaganda material was distributed at the polling station, with the picture of the candidate Amdi Bajram, and a calendar for 1996. There was no secrecy of the ballot, and a couple of individuals stood in front of the polling station urging the people to vote for him. Furthermore, people were allowed to vote with invalid documents, old passports, invalid I.D. cards or with their health cards. "For these reasons, we feel the voting at these two polling stations should be invalidated, considering that is precisely where the candidate Amdi Bajram received most of his votes," the Association of the Citizens' Initiative says.

[05] CARGO TRANSPORT WITH GREECE REDUCED TO MINIMUM

During the Christmas holidays in neighboring Greece, the number of Greek citizens arriving by car from the Western European countries, through the border point Bogorodica, on the Macedonian-Greek border, has significantly increased. Contrary to this, the cargo transport has been reduced to minimum, while the railroad cargo transport through the point Idomeni has come to a complete stop. The number of Greek citizens staying in Gevgelija and Dojran has also increased.

[06] LAST PARLIAMENTARY SESSION FOR THIS YEAR

Tomorrow, the Macedonian Parliament is scheduled to hold its 34th, last session this year, starting at 10.00 hours. The session will focus on a number of legal projects from the field of finance. The draft-budget for 1996 is expected to be in the limelight, together with the law on its implementation, as well as the legal proposals for the restriction of the original revenue for financing the public needs in 1996, turning the short-term credits from the primary issue to long-term credits, and the changes to the law on customs tariffs.

Among the rest, the daily agenda of the 34th session includes the supplements to the law on housing relations and the legal proposal for the transformation of companies with state- owned capital, from the field of farming.

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