MILS: News from the FYROM, 97-03-20

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From: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>

CONTENTS

[01] CONDITIONS IN ALBANIA REASON FOR PANGALOS' VISIT

[02] SURPRISE AND PUBLICITY IN GREECE

[03] SITUATION AT THE BORDER QUIET, POSSIBLE EXODUS DUE TO FOOD SHORTAGE

[04] US STATE DEPT. SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS ON INTER-ETHNIC TENSIONS IN MACEDONIA

[05] `FITU' MEMBERS SPREAD ACTIVITIES INTO OTHER CITIES

[06] GOVERNMENT TO RESOLVE SAVINGS DEPOSITS ISSUE

[07] `TAT' CLIENTS RECEIVED BY GLIGOROV

[08] NOVA MAKEDONIJA: `PENSION FUND IGNORING SUPREME COURT RULING'

[09] INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION INCREASED BY 5% LAST MONTH

MILS SUPPLEMENT

[10] `Order ON the Air' (`Vecher' - 17th March 1997)

MILS NEWS

Skopje, 20 March, 1997

[01] CONDITIONS IN ALBANIA REASON FOR PANGALOS' VISIT

Official sources further reveal that talks with President Gligorov had revolved around the significance of this first visit by the Greek Foreign Secretary attributed by the Macedonian President, who has assessed this meeting as a possible turning point for imminent close friendly relations and the all-inclusive cooperation of both countries.

Following talks with the Macedonian political leadership, the Greek Foreign Secretary Pangalos and his host Ljubomir Frchkovski held a joint press conference. The Macedonian Radio informed that Foreign Secretary Frchkovski had denoted the visit of Pangalos as extremely significant, and that their meeting had mainly concentrated on bilateral relations and conditions in the region - as well as on bilateral ventures in several fields considered of particular importance and are therefore to be implemented in the near future. Other thematic focuses included cooperation within international institutions, and particularly with respect to Macedonian integration into the EU.

The Greek Head of Diplomacy Pangalos stressed that his visit has been planned some time ago, while its actual implementation was mainly facilitated by current conditions in Albania. In his opinion there is a danger for the crisis in Albania to spread into neighbouring countries, especially into Kosovo and Macedonia. This visit of his to Skopje - as well as the one to Belgrade - are representing an effort to initiate a joint preventive plan to counter regional destabilisation. According to Pangalos it had been stated during meetings that both countries are prepared to cooperate in order to secure peace and stability in the region. To this purpose joint endeavours have been launched to maintain constant direct contacts throughout the following week. Both governments had further agreed to adhere to demarcated borders and uphold a normal, peaceful and democratic life - as well as the rights of all citizens and all ethnic minorities.

In his statement Minister Pangalos emphasised that he had proposed the Greek concept of a wide-ranging plan for EU assistance for this region - as without it the transition into a market economy may not be achieved. He expressed his conviction that the EU and the USA would have an increased benefit from the economic development in the Balkans - Pangalos stated.

In response to the question whether the UN Security Council is to act as the ultimate instance in terms of resolving the name-issue. Pangalos stressed that, not in his personal opinion but as a result of all conducted and ongoing procedures, this last issue standing between both these countries should be resolved through the endeavours made by both countries. Both governments are striving towards a better future - backed by the majority of peoples in their states, which should be conducive to overcome those voice advocating regression, Pangalos stated.

[02] SURPRISE AND PUBLICITY IN GREECE

MTV reports that these days Greek media have been informing that PM Costas Simitis is embarking on a tour through all Balkan states - including even Macedonia - today.

[03] SITUATION AT THE BORDER QUIET, POSSIBLE EXODUS DUE TO FOOD SHORTAGE

* Following yesterday's meeting of the Ohrid and Podgradec delegations, two more border region cities staged a meeting - this time Debar and Peshkopeja. Discussions focused on possibilities to procure urgently needed help for the Albanian population in grain. The Head of the Civil Self- Defence HQ of Peshkopeja, Ilir Zenga, stated that there is an alarming shortage of food felt throughout the city and the neighbouring villages along the Albanian-Macedonian border. He further said for MTV that unless these deplorable conditions were remedied over the next few days by urgent imports of flour - a mass exodus of the population of this area towards Macedonia could be expected. Zenga also informed that military patrols would commence securing a section of the Macedonian-Albanian border, as well as that measures were being undertaken to collected the illegally obtained weapons. The Macedonian side informed that it was collecting humanitarian aid and food which was to be forwarded to Albania as soon as possible.

* A-1 TV reports that yesterday around noon a helicopter of the Albanian `VEFA' company (with two of its managers) had landed in Ohrid without having had obtained the clearance to do so. The Ohrid airport police immediately arrested both passengers.

[04] US STATE DEPT. SPOKESMAN NICHOLAS BURNS ON INTER-ETHNIC TENSIONS IN MACEDONIA

We welcome the declaration by the Parliament on promoting inter-ethnic trust and respect. We are especially encouraged by the broad support this resolution has received among the different political parties.

The United States supports FYROM in providing all its citizens with equal human and civil rights and to guaranteeing protection of cultural diversity. We believe that substantial progress has been achieved.

We do not support efforts to establish parallel structures, nor do we support any effort to establish ethnically-based federalism in FYROM.

We urge all citizens and political parties to work within existing legal and political structures to address their concerns through peaceful, democratic means.

We condemn acts of intimidation directed against ethnic nationalities. These have no place in a civil society.'

[05] `FITU' MEMBERS SPREAD ACTIVITIES INTO OTHER CITIES

Opposite the Macedonian Parliament, at the `Zhena-borec' park, the third day of the hunger strike staged by FITU (Federation of Independent Trade Union Organisations) activists, unemployed, laid-off and technologically redundant workers. A document containing the concrete requests of these strikers has already been forwarded to the President of the Republic and the Prime Minister - while concrete measures for their implementation are reported to be staged in Shtip, Sveti Nikole, Kavadarci and Negotino.

Another group assembling in front of the Macedonian Parliament were around 10 deceived bank clients who awaited the denouement of the parliamentary session focusing on the most recent banking scandals and the `en masse' plundering of its clients.

[06] GOVERNMENT TO RESOLVE SAVINGS DEPOSITS ISSUE

With respect to highly-favourable assessments on `TAT' transactions in the past, made throughout 9 NBM inspections, Stanoevski attempted to justify this by stating that due to provisions on confidentiality the NBM had received data on merely 20% of the bank's assets. In this context he further stressed that it is prerequisite to determine and differentiate between the liability of individuals within the NBM, and the responsibility of the bank as an institution whose integrity should not be questioned. He also emphasised that his resignation as a moral act would follow the remedying of conditions at the `TAT' bank.

As regards the `Lavci' savings house of Ohrid and Skopje- based `ALFA-S' Stanoevski stated that there were realistic possibilities to disburse clients, while the cases connected to `Makedonija Reklam', Jugomarket' and `Dzhamadanche' did not fall within his jurisdiction.

Justice Secretary Vlado Popovski stressed - upon providing a legal interpretation of provisions within the NBM Act and the Bank and Savings Houses Act - that there was no legal substance to the claim that the NBM could not conduct thorough and qualitative investigations of all cases.

According to Popovski the NBM possesses positive authorisations within the field of supervision which does not only ensure access to official documents, but also to all other activities and relations of a savings house to other financial institutions.

Yesterday MPs were also addressed by Vice-President Trpevski who clearly underlined the responsibility of the Government in view of all occurrences in Macedonian banks, with respect to finding a solution for current conditions. He further stressed that the Government would not cast off this responsibility.

The Wednesday sequel of the 59th session resulted in the unanimous adopting of the proposal made by MP Veljo Tantarov regarding the signing of written statements by all Members of Parliament that they have never been granted a loan by the `TAT' bank or any other of the compromised banks in the country.

During discussions almost all members demanded the liability of the Central Bank of Macedonia, and its head Borko Stanoevski as both - it has been assessed - have exhibited inertia and incompetence in countering crime within the Macedonian banking system. Speakers at the Parliament also requested the NBM to speed up `TAT' investigations, while the Government has been asked to compile a law on the restitution of bank clients as soon as the latter had been brought to a close. Another demand focused on the complete investigating of all other banking scandals, regardless of the political affiliation of all protagonists in this foul play.

The session has been adjourned for 11 o'clock today.

[07] `TAT' CLIENTS RECEIVED BY GLIGOROV

[08] NOVA MAKEDONIJA: `PENSION FUND IGNORING SUPREME COURT RULING'

[09] INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION INCREASED BY 5% LAST MONTH

MILS SUPPLEMENT

[10] `Order ON the Air'

(`Vecher' - 17th March 1997)

The draft version of the Radio-Broadcasting Act - it is being reported - should be on the Government agenda for today's session and after the possible `purgation' it should be submitted to parliamentary discussion. Its eventual enactment is to untie one of the most highlighted Gordian knots, i.e. uncodified issues such as radio-broadcasting. At the moment there is a huge number of radio and TV stations in this country. The contents of this act, otherwise, were certainly among the most frequent topics of public debates - as many panels have been organised, resulting in the airing of numerous objections due to the fat that certain provisions of this act (provided during stage 1) did not satisfy both the private media and MRTV.

Many of these objections - as Transportation and Communications Minister Dimitar Buzlevski indicates - have been heeded and integrated into what is now being offered by the Ministry (as the carrier of this act) for adoption. In this context many objections generated during debates of the parliamentary commissions have been respected, as well as those brought forwards by other stakeholders and experts of the EU who analysed the text.

No significant changes have been made in the section on establishing radio broadcasting facilities. Thus the Act will still make provisions for the existing of both public and commercial entities. The former are divided into such covering the entire country (to be addressed by a separate act) and those catering for the local community (with municipalities functioning as founders). The latter may also be categorised into the same classes, with the difference that national media may only obtain a permit if they cover at least 70% of the country's territory.

This section is to entail a great number of responses, above all by the Association of Local Radio Stations, which are to be placed `under the wings' of the municipalities in the future. In the opinion of Magdalena Naumovska, Chairperson of the above mentioned Association, it is their intention to provide one standard codification of all public radio broadcasting facilities, without leaving them within the competency of municipal communities (this had been of vital interest to the entire country during their formative stages) - as this would be conducive to their subjection to political influence exercised by parties which emerged victorious during local elections (there have already been announcements to form regional radio broadcasting corporations in some municipalities). It is their objective - as Naumovska states - to remain outside MRTV boundaries, but retain an equal status to the latter.

This fear, according to Minister Buzlevski, should not persist as the operating of such entities above all depends on the decisions brought on by the Radio-Broadcasting Council which - among other things - issues permits appointing or suspending directors. This issue is certain to encounter a large amount of attention during commission debates as well as Naumovska reveals that their Association has already received an invitation to participate in discussions.

Certain amendments to the new text of the law have also been made in section referring to the Radio-Broadcasting Council, whose nine members are to be appointed and suspended by the Parliament - which is to receive an annual report by this body - on grounds of a majority vote. Members are to serve a six-year mandate, with the right to be re-elected and the additional provisions that after the first generation three members are to serve a two-year, four-year and six-year mandate. One of the most relevant activities of this Council will be the granting of concessions, i.e. the compilation of proposals, whereas the final say on these will remain with the Government which is to launch a bid. Funds gathered through the radio- broadcasting fee will then (which is to equal 3% of the average net income in the country) be allocated upon proposal of the Council.

Minister Buzlevski emphasises that other amendments to this section refer, above all, to the adopted proposal to ensure that the fee is a transitory Budget revenue, which is to impede the inappropriate use of these funds. Another novelty is that the public is to pay this charge integrated into the electricity bill, i.e. in case of car radios the charge is to be paid upon the registration of the vehicles. It also has to be mentioned that regardless of the number of appliances in a household, only one fee will be paid - whereas in the case of companies one fee will be paid for one appliance per 20 employees.

As far as gathered funds are concerned, it has been proposed that 61% of those are forwarded to a nationally-owned public facility to compile a programme; 16.5% for establishing a network and maintaining the same and 7.5% for the development and technological equipping of the facility.

Local public facilities are mainly to be financed out of municipal sources, while fee funds are comprise 5% of their financial basis - i.e. those 5% are to be granted by the Government upon proposal of the Council. In the end 10% are to be used to finance discrete projects of both public and private stations or independent producers, after submitting a bid.

It has been proposed that the act will be implemented in practice as early as one month and a half after its enactment. Over this period of time the Council will have to be constituted, and within three months the Ministry will have to outline the technical parameters prerequisite to the obtaining of a concession. For the latter a bid is to be announced within the next six months. Those private stations failing to meet set standards, will automatically be closed.

The already determined charging of the fee is commence within one month after the enactment of this law.

(end)

mils news 20 March 1997

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