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MILS NEWS 96-09-06Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>CONTENTS
MILS NEWSSkopje, 06 September, 1996[01] MACEDONIAN-POLISH AGREEMENT ON COOPERATION IN THE FIELD OF DEFENSE SIGNEDMacedonian Radio reported yesterday that the Republics of Macedonia and of Poland had signed an Agreement on Cooperation in the field of defense. The document was signed by Defense Ministers of Macedonia, Blagoj Handziski, and of Poland, Stanislav Dobzhanski. Within the framework of his visit to Warsaw, Macedonian Defense Minister was received yesterday by the Vice Prime Minister of Poland Pjetrevski, and talked to him about the forthcoming signing of bilateral agreements in the fields of economy, education, science and culture. Minister Handziski had meetings also with the Vice Foreign Affairs Minister Vizner and with representatives of the Defense Committee with the Polish Sejm.[02] MACEDONIAN DEBT TO THE UNITED KINGDOM REPROGRAMMEDAn Agreement on Reprogramming of the Macedonian DM 11 million Debt to the United Kingdom was signed yesterday in Skopje by the Macedonian Finance Minister Taki Fiti and the UK Ambassador to Macedonia Tony Millson. With it, the repayment of debt has been postponed for 15 years, and a grace period of 6 years was established.Media reported the statement of Minister Fiti that this reprogramming of the debt was a way ahead towards the establishing of Macedonia in the international institutions, i.e. a consolidation of the credibility of Macedonia abroad. Fiti informed the press that Macedonia had already signed agreements with several member countries of the Paris Club, and that debts remaining to be regulated were that to Holland, USA, Italy, Japan and Kuwait. [03] AGREEMENT ON FREE TRADE MOSTLY EMPHASIZEDBelgrade media yesterday mostly emphasized the signed Agreement on Free Trade between Macedonia and FR Yugoslavia, as the most significant part of Prime Minister's Kontic visit to Skopje. A-1 Television reported that Yugoslav media had mainly cited Kontic's statement made after returning to Belgrade that customs and non-customs payments should be abolished during the following month, except for several specific products, for which the procedure would be carried out gradually. According to A-1 Television, the impression one might get from Yugoslav papers was that a separate Agreement on Establishing Free Trade Zone had been signed in Skopje. The independent papers had, however, precisely stated that Macedonian party had still not made a definite decision to form a free trade zone with FRY.[04] MARKING THE INDEPENDENCE DAY, 8 SEPTEMBERLocal media reported that the 5th Anniversary of the referendum on which Macedonian citizens had declared in favour of an independent Macedonian state would be marked with many events. President Kiro Gligorov will make a speech at the celebrating academy in the Macedonian National Theatre in Skopje on Sunday, 8 September. Parliament President Tito Petkovski will organize a reception in the Macedonian Parliament on the same day, while Macedonian Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski will officially put into operation the mobile telephony net and promote the new bank notes. On the occasion of the holiday and of the 50th Anniversary of the Aircraft Association of Macedonia, an aero-meeting will take place tomorrow at the sport airport 'Stenkovec' near Skopje, which patron is Parliament President Tito Petkovski.[05] MARKING THE MACEDONIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY IN SOFIA, ATHENS AND STOCKHOLMSOFIA - The 5th Anniversary of the independence of Macedonia was officially marked last night in Sofia with a reception organized by the Macedonian Ambassador to Bulgaria Gjorgji Spasov. According to Macedonian Television, the reception in the hotel 'Sheraton' was attended by many Bulgarian officials, such as Parliament President, Foreign Minister Gjorgji Pirinski, Government members, political parties representatives, the diplomatic corps, as well as by Macedonian economic representatives in Sofia and a delegation of OMO Ilinden. In the talks, both Macedonian and Bulgarian representatives had underlined their interest in and readiness to continue the development of relations and cooperation between the two countries.Meanwhile, the ruling party paper 'Duma' yesterday again accused OMO Ilinden of preparing anti-Bulgarian provocation. As 'Makfax' agency cited the information, the paper, avoiding to mention the Constitutional name of Macedonia, read that the 'illegal' organization OMO Ilinden has organized a celebration of the Macedonian Independence Day in the restaurant 'Makedonija' in Sofia. As alleged, OMO Ilinden leader Jordan Konstantinov had invited the Macedonian Ambassador Gjorgji Spasov and guests from Skopje and other towns of the 'Bulgarian south-western neighbour'. ATHENS - 'Makfax' agency reported about the revolt provoked in Athens by the invitations for the celebration of the Macedonian Independence Day sent by Macedonian representative in Greece Ljupcho Arsovski, which the Constitutional name of the country was stated. Greek left- wing paper 'Elefterotipia' had understood this act as another manifesting of Skopje's determination not to yield in the negotiations on the name issue and as a provocation. The paper read, according to 'Makfax', that Greek Foreign Ministry was searching for a way in which it would react. However, the paper read that Arsovski's correspondence was strictly respecting the Interim Accord, according to which the bilateral correspondence should be done with names accepted as official by both parties. STOCKHOLM - Independence Day of Macedonia was marked by a reception in Stockholm, as well. It was attended by the diplomatic corps representatives in Sweden, high representatives of the Swedish political, economic and cultural life, representatives of the media and of the Association of Macedonian Emigrants in Sweden. The reception was also a celebration of the 2nd Anniversary of the first Macedonian diplomatic office opening in Sweden. [06] ON AUSTRALIAN - MACEDONIAN RELATIONSIn organization of the 'Australian-Macedonian Society' and MILS, Mr. Paolo Nocella is paying an unofficial visit to Macedonia from yesterday till 8 September. Mr. Nocella is a member of the Legal Board of the South Australian Parliament and a Director of the Administration for Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs.During the visit, the guest is expected to have meetings with Macedonian Parliament President Tito Petkovski, Macedonian Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Bekjir Zhuta, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Ognen Malevski, Vice President of Macedonian Economic Chamber, representatives of Macedonian Emigrants Association and with representatives of opposition parties. Australian Senator yesterday visited Macedonian Radio and Television and had talks with the representatives of this house about Macedonian-Australian relations, the situation with Macedonian population in Australia and an intensifying of the cooperation between MRTV and Australian TV and radio station who have programs in Macedonian language. The need for an Australian Embassy to be opened in Skopje as soon as possible was underlined during the talks. [07] LAW ON LOCAL ELECTIONS PASSEDEarly this morning, Macedonian Parliament passed the new Law on Local Elections, but without the votes of the Liberal Party Parliamentarian group. The most recent information of the Macedonian Radio was that Liberals had left the session after their request for the discussion to be postponed was rejected. Although a number of remarks presented by the opposition had been included in the Law, according to opposition representatives, several crucial ones had not been included.Macedonian MPs yesterday adopted the Draft Law on Medicaments and Medical Aid Appliances. The MPs were shown a documentary film about the problematic situation in culture, after which, they agreed that efforts must be made for the situation to be improved. [08] ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION ON LOCAL ELECTIONSUS National Democratic Institute in Skopje yesterday organized a round table discussion on the subject of the Law on Local Elections, which was attended by Macedonian Minister of Justice Vlado Popovski and representatives of several parliamentarian and non-parliamentarian parties. Minister Popovski once again stressed that most of the remarks made by the Institute and opposition parties had been included in the Law.NDI Director Brenda Pierson stated, according to 'Dnevnik' daily, that although 80% of the Institute comments had been included, there were still three very significant issues remaining: constituting the electoral commissions and boards, electoral lists conditions and financing of the electoral media campaign. Opposition party representatives had presented the already known general remarks to the regulations, underlying that the discussion was being held at the same time with the Parliament session, of which Agenda the Law was an item. [09] RULING AND OPPOSITION PARTIES ABOUT THE LAW ON LOCAL ELECTIONSMacedonian Minister of Justice Vlado Popovski and representatives of opposition parties (Liberal, Democratic and VMRO-DPMNE) had a meeting yesterday in the Ministry of Justice. The subject discussed was the Law on Local Elections, and the result of the meeting was that most of the 28 amendments submitted by the Liberal Party had been accepted. Liberal Party leader Stojan Andov stated that, however, several crucial amendments had not been adopted, such as that referring to the electoral IDs and the way of entering the second round of elections. Democratic Party leader Petar Goshev said although an improvement was made, two-three important issues had still not been solved.Boris Trajkovski, a member of VMRO-DPMNE said that some matters had been agreed on in principle, but that his party was not giving up the initial demands. According to Macedonian Television, representatives of all three opposition parties said they would wait for the final text of the Law and for the decision of the Parliament, after which they would decide whether they would participate in the local elections. Minister Popovski stated, on the other hand, that the Government could not make any more compromises, as 27 of the 30 offered amendments had been accepted. Minister Popovski was handed a letter of all three parties, titled 'Minimum Conditions For Regular Local Elections', made of six items. Rejecting the title as inadequate, Minister Popovski said the first demand for a new State Electoral Commission to be appointed was not treated by this Law. He agreed with the suggestion for the commissions and boards members to be elected by the biggest opposition parties, as well as with the suggestion for the political parties to be included in the updating of electoral lists. Popovski agreed, as well, with the last two suggestions: only those citizens who are listed in the official lists to be allowed to vote, and equal access in the media to be allowed to all parties. [10] SUMMER UNIVERSITY OF THE EUROPEAN FORUM OF ASSOCIATIONS IN OHRIDThe summer university of the European Forum of Associations began yesterday in Ohrid, in organization of the European Forum for Freedom of Speech, the European Centre for Helping the Association Life, and of the Macedonian Centre for Helping the Non-governmental Organizations. The Forum, which will last till September 8, is attended by 60 participants from over 23 European countries, and the subject will be the reality of life of associations, i.e. of non-governmental organizations and institutions in Europe. Its goal is, according to Macedonian Radio, deepening of the cooperation among such institutions, developing bilateral projects and fining partners for their realization and financing.Macedonian Radio reported that the European Forum for Freedom of Speech and the European Centre for Helping the Association Life had accepted the initiative of Macedonian President Gligorov for a comparative study of the positions of national minorities in the Balkans to be made. MILS SUPPLEMENT: [11] 'NO PRIVILEGES FOR ANY OF THE NEIGHBOURS'Extracts from the interview of Macedonian President Kiro Gligorov for Macedonian Radio and Television ('Vecer', 06 September, 1996)President of the Republic of Macedonia Kiro Gligorov gave an interview for the Macedonian Radio and Television on the occasion of the 5th Anniversary of the Independence of Macedonia. 'I am most pleased to see that this country has kept its integrity despite all the problems it had during the last five years. Those who expected its economic failure or conflict between nationalities and internal war did not live to see that. Also, those who wished for the independent Macedonia to come closer to some of its neighbours, also did not live to see that. Maintaining of such a position is a very complex matter, which requires permanent information, monitoring the events, reacting, and all that with a sense of measure and tolerance,' President Gligorov underlined. 'Macedonia was heard about quite a lot during the last few years. It has been talked about in terms of disputes regarding us, but also in terms of certain internal moves that were made, such as the inviting of the UN Peace Forces just in time to Macedonia, in order to act as the first obstacle to any eventual attempts for Macedonian territorial integrity to be violated. Macedonia also became popular for its so called preventive diplomacy, which has after that been promoted by the UN as the diplomacy of the future and the major method in solving of conflicts, misunderstandings, etc. We were the first to submit a Resolution on Global Balkan Cooperation in the UN, which was unanimously accepted. The European Union is now insisting on a regional cooperation, but we can not understand what regions they have on their minds,' Gligorov said. About the situation inside the country, the President said what has been started should be completed, such as passing the Laws on Local Elections and Territorial Dividing, as well as the regulations referring to criminal acts and their sanctioning, without which the security of the citizens and the functioning of the so-called third government would be impossible. Gligorov stressed that passing of the Laws on Parliamentarian and Presidential Elections has become obligatory, as they would be inapplicable in a year from now. 'I hope that local elections will solve a major problem of this country,' President stated, adding that it would be an important thing to elect new people to do new tasks 'when time comes for a new Parliament to be elected, as it was a fact that the two more important opposition parties had boycotted the second round of the previous elections; it raised many questions and suspicions: whether it was done as a sign of a protest, to make a damage to the ruling parties or there were really irregularities which damaged not only those parties, but the democratic mechanism in general.' Referring to the position of Macedonia, President Gligorov said: 'I see the future of Macedonia in its economic establishing on Balkan and European markets and in its European orientation, as well as in Macedonian readiness to open the borders for cooperation with all countries and in its determination that none of the neighbours can be privileged.' (end)mils news 06 September, 1996Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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