MILS: News from the FYROM, 97-04-07

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

CONTENTS

[01] `COUNCIL OF EUROPE' CENTRE IN MACEDONIA

[02] POSITIVE FINDINGS OF THE `IMF' MISSION

[03] PANGALLOS: `NAME-ISSUE DIFFERENCES SECONDARY'

[04] GERMAN DEFENCE SECRETARY ARRIVES TOMORROW

[05] JOINT EXERCISES OF MACEDONIAN AND US SPECIAL FORCES

[06] `TAT' BANKING SCANDAL: `MINISTERS HAVE NOT USED BANK CREDITS'

[07] DNEVNIK: `RUSSIAN BOMB TRAVELLING THROUGH THE BALKANS'

[08] METAL BEAM CRASHED DOWN ONTO THE AUDIENCE AT THE `MNT'

MILS SUPPLEMENT

[09] `New Statute for Churches in Australia and New Zealand' (`Nova Makedonija' - 4th April 1997)

[10] `Press Release by the Movement of Loyal Religious Communities' (4th April 1997)

MILS NEWS

Skopje, 07 April, 1997

[01] `COUNCIL OF EUROPE' CENTRE IN MACEDONIA

The objective of this visit is to open the Council of Europe Information and Documentation Centre in Skopje. He will also meet several Government officials. During a press statement Tarchise stressed that the Centre is to possess all Council of Europe materials and documents.

These will be accessible to anyone wishing to find out more about the activity of the Council of Europe and the promoting of democracy.

Upon assessing conditions in Macedonia, Tarchise underlined that the peaceful coexistence of different groups represented here is of vital importance. In his opinion Macedonia is a country with difficulties in preserving peace and democracy, though it had to be admitted that a great deal has been done to decrease tensions and to lay the foundations for peace and progress in the country.

It should be mentioned that Tarchise has also been received by the Macedonian Head of Diplomacy Ljubomir Frchkovski. Today he is to meet President Kiro Gligorov, PM Branko Crvenkovski, Parliamentary Chairman Tito Petkovski and a delegation of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Commission.

[02] POSITIVE FINDINGS OF THE `IMF' MISSION

It was also stressed that the arrangement proposal is to be presented to the IMF Board of Directors this week.

[03] PANGALLOS: `NAME-ISSUE DIFFERENCES SECONDARY'

`Makfax' reports that Greek media assessed the reply by Pangallos to the question if the name-issue was of secondary importance with the phrase `Pangallos drops another bomb'. Thus `Katimerini' stated that the political edge prevailing a few years ago was no longer attached to the name-issue - while warning that its underestimating may entail gravitating side effects, i.e. nationalist feedback in both countries. `Eskoussia' stressed that now was the time for the Skopje leadership to accept Greek proposals with regards to the name-issue.

[04] GERMAN DEFENCE SECRETARY ARRIVES TOMORROW

According to the Macedonian MOD this paper embodies the implementation of the already established partnership, and of the Cooperation Agreement on the Armed Forces level, signed last September. In addition to talks with his Macedonian host, Ruehe is also to be received by President Gligorov and PM Branko Crvenkovski.

[05] JOINT EXERCISES OF MACEDONIAN AND US SPECIAL FORCES

[06] `TAT' BANKING SCANDAL: `MINISTERS HAVE NOT USED BANK CREDITS'

To this NBM Governour Borko Stanoevski replied that apart from the already known cases, several other dubious contracts were being examined (once more), in order to determine the exact identity of the clients and remove the even slightest suspicion. In this context an examination of all these statements seems necessary ASAP with respect to other financial institutions (which went bankrupt in the country) as well - the Governour states in his reply.

At the time when this letter was publicised in the country, media coverage is dominated by speculations on the involvement of several other Government ministers. In this context the most frequently mentioned name is that of Minister `Burly Man' who has been seen to withdraw his savings in Bitola (clad in a jogging suit) prior to the collapse of the `TAT' bank, after which he had gone back to Skopje. `Dnevnik' also reports that three high- ranking church officials of the Sacred OCM Synod had deposited several hundred thousand DM at the `TAT' bank. For now these speculations have not been confirmed by official authorities. Media continue to speculate that the Bitola and Resen based part of the SDSM membership has started to exert pressure on PM Crvenkovski to decrease the intensity of investigations and abstain from `getting to the bottom of things'. In this context it is being estimated that the PM attempted to transfer all guilt to the Bitola cadre, in order to shield those in Skopje, and to obscure their involvement. The Bitola D.A. Office has spent these days in augmenting the `riot acts' to be read to `TAT' owner and director Sonja Nikolovska with charges of tax evasion (of almost 1.5 million DM). Rumours have it that alone over the past few months Nikolovska embezzled around 40 000 DM a day. Her trial date has been scheduled for 21st April. So far it has not been disclosed whether the trial is to take place in Bitola or Skopje.

Several media report that the collapse of the `TAT' bank has entailed a complete halt in Bitola's economy. Shop- owners complain of a plunge in trade by even 90%, claiming that only prerequisite food products are being purchased.

This is above all being ascribed to the fact that around 3 million DM of funds in circulation which had been paid `TAT' interest rates are no longer available. It is just as evident that almost all transactions in the Bitola business sector have been suspended, due to their interrelatedness with the activities of this bank. The majority appears to await the final outcome of investigations, i.e. the fate of those (in-)directly blocked funds, due to this banking scandal.

[07] DNEVNIK: `RUSSIAN BOMB TRAVELLING THROUGH THE BALKANS'

In addition to this it is being said that this container containing Uranium is only one of four which had emerged in Bulgaria two years ago, and had been intended for the Near East. This contingency had been `scattered into all four directions' after a razzia by the Bulgarian police in 1995. Yet all of them remained in the Balkans. The Macedonian public is also being swamped by speculations these days, that the Uranium had been on offer at Skopje's black market for over a year.

`Dnevnik' has also consulted experts on the contamination with alpha-rays upon handling this radioactive substance.

In their opinion the risk exists while opening the container and handling the container from a few centimeters' distance. Experts further claim that one kilo of enriched Uranium is sufficient to manufacture a nuclear bomb. Around 250 g of it have been located in Skopje.

Meantime Macedonian media report that the Albanian MOD informed the public that dangerous radioactive substances had been stolen from four Albanian storage facilities. The same applied to a huge amount of toxic substances, the Albanian MOD revealed - adding that this represented a considerable threat to the entire population of the country.

[08] METAL BEAM CRASHED DOWN ONTO THE AUDIENCE AT THE `MNT'

MILS SUPPLEMENT

[09] `New Statute for Churches in Australia and New Zealand'

(`Nova Makedonija' - 4th April 1997)

The Sacred Archiepiscopal Synod of the OCM has adopted the following decisions after a several-day session focusing on conditions in the Macedonian Orthodox Eparchy of Australia and New Zealand, after thorough consultations with representatives of the OCM communities in these countries - in order to overcome all misunderstandings.

*The draft statute on religious communities of the OCM Eparchy of Australia and New Zealand is to be forwarded to all religious communities. Their General Assemblies will further analyse the paper and submit possible objections by the end of three months to the Sacred OCM Synod , via the corresponding archbishop.

The Sacred OCM Synod does also demand the suspension of legal suits between the Eparchical Board of Australia and New Zealand and the religious community `St. Nicholas' of Preston (Melbourne). Expenses are to be covered equally by both sides.

In order to overcome worsened conditions at the above mentioned religious community, the Sacred Archiepiscopal Synod has decided to hold an electoral meeting of the community membership and elect a new leadership.

The Initiative Council for the establishing of the OCM at St. Albans (Melbourne), is to submit a request with the Sacred Archiepiscopal Synod for the admission of the `Holy Virgin Mary' Church into the canonical and spiritual jurisdiction of the OCM. This would entail the appointment of a regular parish priest.

The Macedonian Orthodox Church `St. George' of Fitzroy (Melbourne) is to continue its regular church and parish life by obtaining a regular parish priest and electing its community leadership.

The Sacred Archiepiscopal Synod is further dementing all statements made so far by the `St. George' religious community of Fitzroy (Melbourne) that it was under the jurisdiction of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. In this context the Reverend Metropolitan of Australia / New Zealand Petar has publicly apologised for this given statement, as he had been provoked by certain documents of the first year of the existence of this religious community - and by the desire to unite all communities registered in Australia and New Zealand under the OCM Eparchy.

The Sacred Archiepiscopal OCM Synod requires all Macedonian churches in Australia and New Zealand to be placed under the canonical jurisdiction of the OCM.

It further demands the unconditional acceptance and implementation of its decisions by all churches and monasteries in the OCM Eparchy of Australia and New Zealand. The opposite would entail accountability to the Macedonian people and the OCM, and penal measures outlined in the Eparchy Statute, the OCM Constitution and the Holy Canon of the Sacred Orthodox Church.

[10] `Press Release by the Movement of Loyal Religious Communities'

(4th April 1997)

A delegation of the Movement of Loyal Religious Communities for the Preservation of the Integrity of the OCM in Australia, which represents 8 churches of the Australian-Macedonian Eparchy, is staying in Skopje at this time for negotiations with the Synod. This body is accepting the decisions of the Synod publicised yesterday in connection to problems in Australia with a great deal of reservedness.

`Although it is quite clear that our requests are not being fully met by the Synod, particularly with respect to Bishop Petar and his stay in Australia', states team leader Michael Radin (Adelaide, South Australia), `we will nevertheless discern all proposals with our membership once back in Australia. Then we will notify the Synod of whether we accept their terms, in order to overcome existent misunderstandings and resuscitate unity and harmony into the Macedonian community.'

Radin further continued that `it is also quite clear that a certain number of issues remained unresolved. These are likely to continue to cause tension and misunderstandings between the church hierarchy and local municipalities. The Sacred Synod and the structures on an Eparchy level must now exhibit goodwill, flexibility, respect, tolerance and a sense of appreciating the values, practice and lifestyle in Australia - in addition to Australian legislation. Our people and structures will very attentively monitor the work of clerical organs, and should past mistakes be repeated - stricter measures will be implemented.'

There is no doubt that the delegation emerged victorious in connection to two rather important issues. `The delegation is content with the Synod decision to suspend all legal action initiated by Bishop Petar at the Victoria Supreme Court against the Melbourne-based church `St.

Nicholas'', Michael Radin stated. `Even more important is the fact that the Synod authorised the legally elected municipal leadership to stage the next General Assembly for the appointment of the next generation of municipal government. This will assert its statutoriness. Secondly, the consent to appoint a priest for the `Ascension of Holy Mary' church of St. Albans and the surroundings as soon as possible (prior to `Veligden' = Easter) - embodies a long- awaited victory for the entire municipality. The appointing of parallel religious communities and the overall conduct by Bishop Petar were severely condemned by the Sacred Synod, and discarded as unacceptable.' It had also been requested o nullify the decision by which Bishop Petar proclaimed the excommunication of Vlado Trpchevski, Ico Najdovski and Mile Dimovski.

The delegation considers its mission in Skopje accomplished. `Most of our requests have been addressed, and I believe that we are being better understood by officials in the republic who deal with the Macedonian community in Australia - whether this are politicians, diplomats, clerical officials, administrative personnel, party representatives or congressmen. Their understanding and respect has increased. We have established prosperous private and social ties in a highly-civilised community.

This has to be appreciated for several reasons, as standards there are higher than in the Republic. The principal mistake would be to consider us unstable, to impose Macedonian norms on us - or structures and values in an Australian environment. Particularly without prior consultation and consensus. We think it necessary to await the new millennium together, in expectation of forming a new partnership - a partnership in cultural, social, legal and economic spheres which will be of mutual benefit to the entire Macedonian public in the years to come', Radin claimed.

He concluded his observations by stating that `it is as important to stress that there is no substance to rumours on the existence of private churches. Only individuals considerably unfamiliar with democratic processes and basic legal concepts would accept such false information.

Our communities and their churches (including all assets and structures) are exclusively the property and responsibility of the membership's General Assembly. This fact is being confirmed by their registration as communal, non-profit organisations. Any attempt to prove the opposite is a ridiculous denial of reality. Due to this it is my opinion that the key apple of discord will the codification of our relations with the Synod by accepting canonical jurisdiction. This remains a Gordian Knot.'

The delegation of the Movement of Loyal Religious Communities of Australia has severely condemned the statement given by Bob Spasenovski - Head of the Delegation of the Australian Eparchy - with respect to the request for the resignation of the Director of the Macedonian Immigrants' Association, Dr. Dimitar Keramichiev.

`The views of the Macedonian Immigrants' Association and its staff - including its President and Secretary - as regards the stay of both delegations in Macedonia has been correct and decent from all possible aspects', stated the delegation leader Immigration Judge Michael Radin.

`The Immigrants' Association functions as a relevant centre for Macedonian immigrants. It embodies a bridge between Macedonia and the Diaspora, rendering equal services to all Macedonians who wish to visit the country.

Thus it quite naturally addresses all basic needs and provides all services to such individuals and organised groups. In this context we consider the assistance rendered to us equally available for every individual or delegation wishing to obtain the same', Radin said.

`Any suggestion that the President or any employee of the Immigrants' Association has chosen any side in this matter, is presumptuous and malicious - not based on the factual truth. The claim that the President demanded the resignation of the clerical Head of the Australian and New Zealand Eparchy, Metropolitan Petar is absurd and not more than a cynical manipulation of facts. This is to be attributed to political motives of people who have already exhibited intolerance towards Macedonians of certain parts of the country', Radin concluded.

(end)

mils news 07 April 1997

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