MAK-NEWS 09/02/96 (M.I.C.)

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

Macedonian Information Centre Directory

CONTENTS

SKOPJE, FEBRUARY 9, 1996 (MIC)

[01] NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN FRY AND RM SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED?

The FR Yugoslav Assistant Foreign Minister Zhivadin Jovanovich stated for Radio Yugoslavia on Wednesday that the negotiations for the normalization of relations with the Republic of Macedonia have been successfully completed.

"We believe that the normalization of relations will soon be formalized, since it is in the interest not only of the two direct neighbors, but, in the long-run, also in the interest of the normalization of the peacekeeping process in the Balkans at large," Jovanovich said, TANJUG reports.

[02] "NEW DEMOCRACY" ASKING FOR AN END TO "FRONT" WITH MACEDONIA

"The closing of the front with Macedonia, as soon as possible, is a Greek national need," the honorary president of the oppositional party "New Democracy," Constantinos Mitsotakis stated.

Mitsotakis asked for a settlement of the problem with the use of the compound name, which "is the best possible solution."

[03] ARGENTINA RECOGNIZES REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

The Republic of Argentina has recognized the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. President Kiro Gligorov was informed of this in the letter from the President of Argentina, Carlos Menem.

The cited letter, received today from the Argentinean embassy in Vienna, emphasizes that the negotiations for the establishment of diplomatic relations will present a start to a fruitful and close cooperation between the two countries, the Macedonian Foreign Ministry says in its announcement.

[04] STRENGTHENING ECONOMIC TIES WITH GREECE

The process of normalization of relations between Macedonia and Greece is expected to improve the trade conditions between the two countries by allowing the Thessaloniki harbor to be used again.

Prior to the unilateral Greek economic embargo, the overall exchange in 1991 totalled in excess of $ 147 million. In 1993, the exchange dropped to $ 108 million, while during the embargo, in 1994, it scaled down to only $ 35.5 million. This cooperation, although quite negligible, was carried out with the mediation of third countries. This down-ward trend continued during the nine months of 1995, mainly through the import of Greek goods, with a symbolic sum of $ 400,000, while the overall exchange in this period reached only $ 13 million.

The lifting of the blockade is expected to add a new dimension to these relations. Following numerous meetings between Macedonian and Greek businessmen, cooperation is anticipated in the field of oil industry. Furthermore, Greek enterprises have expressed an interest in investing in the Macedonian pharmaceutical and dairy industry, as well as building joint hydro-energy objects in the Vardar valley.

In terms of Macedonian exports, the Greeks are expressing the most interest in beech wood, cotton yarn, refined copper and non-alloy zinc.

The chief Greek exports to Macedonia mainly consist of vegetables, tobacco, oranges, cotton, salt, motor oil, household gas, etc.

[05] PREFERENTIAL USE OF THESSALONIKI HARBOR

As part of the regulation of the use of the European harbors, great attention is given to the request for support by the EU to renew the preferential use of the Thessaloniki harbor for the needs of the Macedonian economy. The future negotiations will also discuss the institution of local border traffic. Although it is a characteristic only for bilateral relations between two countries, support will be requested from the EU in order to realize this kind of economic cooperation between Macedonia and the EU (Republic of Greece).

[06] MEETING OF TOURIST WORKERS FROM MACEDONIA AND GREECE

The tourist workers from Macedonia and Greece held a meeting in Skopje yesterday, at which it was agreed to renew their cooperation in the interest of tourists from both countries.

Furthermore, they discussed appearing jointly in third countries. The representatives of the Association of Tourist Agencies from Northern Greece informed that the prices of the tourist services in Greece this summer will be increased 7%.

[07] COOPERATION WITH GREECE IN FIELD OF ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY

There are great possibilities for Macedonia and Greece to cooperate in the field of electrical industry, which has been confirmed at the meeting in Athens between experts in this field from both countries.

A special emphasis was placed on the possibilities of exchanging electrical power, the existing projects and the plans for the construction of various objects with potential joint investments.

In the future, plans are to sign agreements on cooperation in this field, between the two neighboring countries.

[08] DUTY FREE SHOPS IN BUSINESS AGAIN

The eleven duty free shops on the border with Serbia will work in the next two years, after which they will be put on auction for obtaining government concessions.

As a reminder, these shops were closed down more than a year and a half ago by the Skopje Customs Administration, under the explanation that they failed to provide normal working conditions. In addition, it was said that there were no conditions for the flow of traffic, that the conditions for customs clearance were made more difficult, there was illegal sale of goods, especially cigarettes and alcohol, a rise in illegal border crossings by citizens from Macedonia and Yugoslavia, as well as the purchase of goods intended for smuggling.

[09] STOCK EXCHANGE TO START WORKING TOWARDS END OF MARCH

The Macedonian Stock Exchange is scheduled to start working towards the end of March, this year. The preparations are almost near the end, and the preliminary tests for brokers, who, in order to work at the stock exchange, also have to pass a brokers' examination, are due to start these days. Plans are to organize free-of-charge promotions of stock exchange activities in a number of towns throughout Macedonia.

[10] PARLIAMENT PASSES LAW ON PUBLIC PROSECUTION AND FAMILY

Without much discussion, the Macedonian Parliament passed the Public Prosecution Law and the Family Law yesterday.

Parliament also verified the mandate of the new MP who won in election unit 114 in Skopje, Amdi Bajram from PCERM (Party for the Full Emancipation of the Rhomas in Macedonia).

[11] 120 APPLICATIONS FOR NEW MUNICIPALITIES

As part of the preparations for the new Law on Territorial Division of Macedonia, 120 applications for municipalities have been submitted to the Ministry of Justice. According to Gjorgji Prija from this ministry, the application deadline has already expired, and the expert commission will have to determine which of the local communities that have submitted applications fulfill the necessary criteria to become municipalities. The new territorial division of Macedonia should bring the country closer to the European standards on local self- management.

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