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MILS NEWS 18/01/96From: "M.I.L.S." <mils@MILS.SPIC.ORG.MK>Macedonian Information Liaison Service DirectoryCONTENTS[01] ESTABLISHING DIRECT COMMUNICATIONS[02] BRITISH SUPPORT FOR INTEGRATION IN EU[03] MUTUAL PROMOTION OF PEACE AND SECURITY IN THE WORLD[04] AGREEMENT ON ROAD TRAFFIC WITH SLOVENIA SIGNED[05] VISA AND PASSPORT REGULATIONS WITH ALBANIA[06] HEAD OF THE MONTENEGRIN POST OFFICE - FUTURE AMBASSADOR IN MACEDONIA?[07] CHANCE TO LEGALIZE UNLICENSED CONSTRUCTIONS[08] DIARY PRODUCERS WILL REQUIRE FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO RESIGN[09] WITHOUT MAJOR CHANGES[10] VMRO-DP REQUIRES NEW ELECTIONS[11] DOSTA DIMOVSKA - 'SEVERE AND MERCILESS BATTLE FOR DOMINANCE'[12] DENIAL FROM 'BALKANSKA BANKA'MILS SUPPLEMENT:[13] WIDER EXPORT HORIZONS? ('Vecer', 18 January, 1996)MILS NEWSSkopje, 18 January 1996[01] ESTABLISHING DIRECT COMMUNICATIONSWith hoisting of the flags in Skopje and Athens yesterday, Liaison Offices of the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Greece were officially opened. The ceremony in Athens was attended by Greek representative Grigoris Papadopoulos and Macedonian Consul, Cvetko Sotkovski. In his speech, Sotkovski said: 'This act completes the first part of the Interim Accord and ensures furthers development of the bilateral cooperation between the two countries in all areas.' The personnel and the official head of Macedonian Office in Athens will not arrive till 1 February 1995.The hoisting of the flag at the premises of the Hellenic Liaison Office in Skopje was performed by its head, Alexandros Mallias, in the presence of the Office personnel, Macedonian Ambassador Ivan Toshevski, and representative of the Macedonian Foreign Ministry and media. Alexandros Mallias, in his address said: 'Functioning of the Liaison Offices will definitely contribute in the positive atmosphere created with the Interim Accord and other agreements on practical measures between the two countries. The work of the personnel will be to strengthen our relations in future and to establish direct communications.' According to A-1 Television, the head of the Macedonian Office should be appointed today, and this position will most probably be taken by Assistent Foreign Minister, Ljupcho Arsovski. [02] BRITISH SUPPORT FOR INTEGRATION IN EUMacedonian President Gligorov met yesterday with the Under-Secretary of the British Foreign Office, Tom Richardson. On the meeting, also attended by the British Ambassador to Macedonia, Tony Millson, it was concluded that the relations of the two countries are positively developing, as well as that mutual recognition of Macedonia and FR Yugoslavia is very important for the stability in the region. Under-Secretary Richardson gave a massage from British Premiere John Major to Gligorov, saying that Great Britain is prepared for further development of the excellent mutual relations, as well as to help Macedonia in the improvement of closer relations with EU.Richardson, also had a meeting with Macedonian Premiere, Branko Crvenkovski, during which he promised a complete support of Great Britain to Macedonia in its faster integration in the international organizations and institutions. [03] MUTUAL PROMOTION OF PEACE AND SECURITY IN THE WORLDAmbassador of Pakistan to Macedonia, Inam Ul Hak, handed the credentials to Macedonian President Kiro Gligorov yesterday. Gligorov stressed the fact that Pakistan was one of the first Asian countries that recognized Macedonia. Ambassador Ul Hak said both countries will cooperate with the UN in promoting the peace and security in all parts of the World.Pakistan Ambassador also met with Macedonian Premiere, Branko Crvenkovski and with President of the Macedonian Parliament, Stojan Andov. [04] AGREEMENT ON ROAD TRAFFIC WITH SLOVENIA SIGNEDMacedonian and Slovenian Ministers of Traffic, Dimitar Buzlevski and Igor Umeg, signed an Agreement on the road traffic between the two countries, yesterday in Ljubljana.The Agreement, it was said, will enable a faster and more rational transport of goods and passengers in both directions. Macedonian Ambassador to Slovenia, Dimitar Mirchev, and Slovenian Ambassador in Macedonia, Iozhitza Puhar, attended the ceremony. Macedonian delegation had discussions yesterday with the representatives of the Slovenian telephone company 'Telecom', with representatives of the Kopar Port and Slovenian Railways. [05] VISA AND PASSPORT REGULATIONS WITH ALBANIAMacedonian Television reported yesterday on the discussions between Macedonian and Albanian delegations, led by Macedonian Assistant Foreign Minister, Ljupcho Arsovski, and Director of the Consular Administration of the Albanian Foreign Ministry, Mirian Misha. Delegations brought into accord the Draft Agreements between the two Governments on abolishing the visas for diplomatic passports, on coordinating the taxes for other visas, and for regulating the border traffic. These Agreements will contribute to the cooperation and strengthening the mutual confidence, as a very important matter is being regulated, which will help to prevent and solve the incidents on the border and to maintain and organize the border crossings.[06] HEAD OF THE MONTENEGRIN POST OFFICE - FUTURE AMBASSADOR IN MACEDONIA?Macedonian Television reported the information of the independent Montenegrin agency 'Montena-fax', according to which the first Yugoslav Ambassador in Macedonia will be the General Manager of the Montenegrin Post Office, Jusuf Petakovic. The appointing procedure, according to this information, has already been completed, and what is waited for is the mutual recognition of FRY and Macedonia.This is the second 'forecast' of a Yugoslav Ambassador in Macedonia, after the one published in yesterday's 'Vecer', according to which Zoran Janachievic, Head of the Security in Foreign Ministry will be appointed on this position. [07] CHANCE TO LEGALIZE UNLICENSED CONSTRUCTIONSMacedonian Parliament, on its first session this year, adopted the Law on Area and City Planning, the Draft Law on National Public Defender and the Law on Copyrights.Minister Shundovski informed that the Law on City Planning was created in accordance with the instructions of EU, and gives a chance to all owners of unlicensed constructions (100 000 in Macedonia, 40 000 of which in Skopje), that are in agreement with the urban plans, to legalize these objects in a one year period. In case they fail to do this, defining of the land will determine the destiny of the objects. In case the land is in public property, the object will become a property of the State. The Liberal Party deputy, Zoran Krstevski, who proposed the text of the Law on National Legal Officer, asked the procedure to be returned to the form of a Draft Law, due to the big number of amendments and suggestions which need to be reconsidered. Macedonian Radio said this was done by Krstevski because he was convinced that members of Social Democratic Party will reject the Law. Members of the Parliament also discussed on the first version of the Customs Tax Law, which should finally be adopted till the end of this year. [08] DIARY PRODUCERS WILL REQUIRE FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO RESIGN'The Government destroys domestic diary production by protecting the smugglers' - said the General Manager of the Diary Production Department of 'Crvena Dzvezda' from Shtip, Angel Mitev. He added that diary producers from Macedonia will require from the Government to resign, as they have no more confidence in it, because of the import of milk and diary products from Turkey, Bulgaria, Serbia, Russia and other countries, despite Macedonia offers a great quantity of them. This can be supported, said Mitev, by the fact that even smuggling milk and diary products from radio-active areas in Russia is tolerated.[09] WITHOUT MAJOR CHANGESToday's 'Vecer' guesses the announced reconstruction of Macedonian Government will take place, but without major changes. This means that the Premiere will not only refuse future partnership with the Liberals, but the changes will affect everybody, so that both Coalition partners will be equally (un)satisfied.The speculations are that the formula will be 'two-one- one', i.e. two ministers from SDSM, one from Liberal Party and one from Party for Democratic Prosperity. 'Vecer', however, warns that, most probably, the situation will be uncertain till the last moment. [10] VMRO-DP REQUIRES NEW ELECTIONS'The relations between the coalition partners in many democratic countries are not ideal, but they have disputes on the development of the country. Coalition partners of the Alliance for Macedonia, however, have disputes due to their wish to rule and their personal and group interests.' This is stated in today's announcement of VMRO-Democratic Party, which continues: 'They have three more years mandate and they should fulfill the promises they have given and to solve the social and political issues of the country. VMRO-DP requires from them to admit their weakness and to schedule new elections, in the name of the future of Macedonia.'[11] DOSTA DIMOVSKA - 'SEVERE AND MERCILESS BATTLE FOR DOMINANCE'Vice-President of VMRO-DPMNE, Dosta Dimovska, in today's 'Nova Makedonija', presents her opinion on the major motives for the intolerance between the members of the Alliance for Macedonia. 'The severe and merciless battle for dominance, for political influence and the power of the members of both parties. These disputes were intensified soon after the establishing of the illegitimate Parliament and Government, when the 'wild' capitalism began to function, involving: robberies, bribes, corruption, organized crime and the illegal privatization especially of the big enterprises.'[12] DENIAL FROM 'BALKANSKA BANKA'Leadership of 'Balkanska Banka' yesterday denied the accusations of giving a bribe to an inspector of the Public Revenue Administration, that came from the Internal Affairs Ministry of Macedonia. The denial further says that it completely respects and carries out all legal regulations of Republic of Macedonia. Mistakes are possible in the work, but not after they are realized. The complete documentation and the employees are at the disposal of competent control administrations. In the above mentioned case, there was an inspector who tried to obtain a bribe from the Bank, which was immediately reported to the authorities by the Bank.MILS SUPPLEMENT:[13] WIDER EXPORT HORIZONS?('Vecer', 18 January, 1996)The Cabinet of Macedonian Premiere, Branko Crvenkovski, forecasts a trade deficit of 160 million US$ for 1996, as a result from the expected export figures. They are projected to about 1 270 billion dollars, in contrast with the import transactions of 1 430 billion US$. 690 millions will be lined for export of raw and reproduction materials, 480 million US$ for consumer goods, and 55 million US$ for equipment. The list of the import items is the same, but with different figures: 960, 480 and 180 million US$ respectively.Precisely 385 million denars (for 22 million more than in 1995) are planned as a budget participation in the stimulation of Macedonian export transactions. The new tariffs will also affect the import, as it promises a continuity of the determination to liberalize the trade cooperation with foreign countries. Namely the average tax rate will be reduced to 11.27% from the previous 11.59). The new tax regulations pay a great attention on protection of the domestic industry and agriculture. Stability of the future trade construction of the country (now supported by the free north-south corridor), will depend on solving the triple export-import dilemma: FR Yugoslavia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The customs tax rates between Macedonia and Yugoslavia have raised from the previous one percent (only for customs evidence). The regular margin now varies from 0 to 25 percent, plus additional 16 percent. On the other hand, 50% of Macedonian import-export transactions depend on Serbia and Montenegro. During the visit of Slovenian President Milan Kuchan, a future tax free cooperation between Ljubljana and Skopje was announced. Will this increase the trade cooperation with Slovenia after last year, when the figures have reduced to half. And, finally, Macedonian interest to participate in the future greatest European building site - Bosnia and Herzegovina. Macedonian Civil Engineering Minister, Jorgo Shundovski, promises a mutual Macedonian-Slovenian work on the Bosnian market, which should be rather profitable. Mr. Borko Stanoevski, Governor of the National Bank, says that eventual changes in the payment-balance matrices might bring to a devaluation of the denar. This might be understood in the way that the under-valued national currency is not considered an option to stimulate the export. The eventual covering of the trade bills will be made with the import reduction by controlling the personal and public consuming. The rest of the trade 'menu' should be offered by the announced economy jump-off, if one takes into account that positive economy steps coincide with the increase of the export figures. Bohemia raised the export level of 4.7 to 11.8 billion US$, in only four years. Macedonia has been at the level of 1.2 billion US$ for five years already, and it is high time to widen the export horizons. (end)mils news 18 January 1996 |
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