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MILS: News from the FYROM, 97-04-30Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>CONTENTS
MILS SUPPLEMENTMILS NEWSSkopje, 30 April, 1997[01] AGREEMENT BETWEEN `EU' AND MACEDONIA SIGNEDThis Tuesday the current EU Chairperson, the Head of Dutch Diplomacy, Hans Van Mierlo and Macedonian PM Branko Crvenkovski have signed the Cooperation and Trade Agreement between the EU and Macedonia in Luxembourg. The signing itself has been conducted through the exchange of letters as Greece objected to the use of Macedonia's Constitutional name and Macedonia did not approve of the FYROM reference. The implementation of this treaty is to commence on 1st July this year, following its ratification by the European and by the Macedonian Parliaments.This treaty may be assessed as a good start in terms of Macedonia's aspirations on EU integration, the promoting of relations of good neighbourliness and regional cooperation among Central and Eastern European countries - stated Euro-Commissioner Hans Van Der Bruck during the signing. A-1 TV reports that Van Der Bruck repeated the EU support of Macedonian Government policy and its endeavours to strengthen inter-ethnic relations within the country, placing particular emphasis on positive measures introduced to ensure the education of the Albanian minority. This represents a substantial gesture of recognition to our democratic orientation and our role as a stability factor in SE Europe - stated PM Crvenkovski while signing the treaty. In his opinion this step entails huge responsibilities throughout future activity. On this occasion the Macedonian PM once again reminded of Macedonian aspirations for full EU and NATO membership, stressing the willingness of the country to accept all European standards of etiquette and cooperation - unlike imposed forms of regionalization and conditions. [02] PANGALLOS: `FURTHERING OF EU RELATIONS DEPENDING ON CERTAIN CONDITIONS'Yesterday A-1 TV broadcast the statement of Greek Foreign Secretary Theodoros Pangallos from Luxembourg. The Greek statesman expressed his content with the signing of the treaty, but in terms of EU associate membership for Macedonia he said that Greece would only support such an initiative should the name-issue be resolved. The Pangallos' team also revealed that so far no progress had been achieved with respect to this problem.[03] ELEPHTEROTYPIA: `GREECE WORRIED ABOUT THE RIVER VARDAR (AXIOS)'Greece and Macedonia need to reach an agreement as regards the rational use of the water of the Vardar. In this case the latter would no longer be the Vardar and the Axios - but one river that unites both peoples. This view - `Makfax' reports - has been published by Athenian `Elephterotypia' in an article bearing the title `The Axios (Vardar) Is Being Strangled', which concentrates on the construction of hydro-electricity plants along the Vardar. According to this Greek daily Macedonia intends to build 14 such facilities with the capacity of around 3 000 million cubic meters of water. This, it is being stated, would destroy the entire ecological equilibrium of the river delta and render the water supply of the population along the Vardar and in Thessalonica impossible. In this context `Elephterotypia' reminds of the existence of a provisional agreement between Yugoslavia and Greece over the summer period, which has become invalid with the disintegration of the Former Yugoslav Federation.[04] SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF PREPARATIONS FOR `RESCUER `97'Representatives of the countries attending the Final Conference of the preparatory stage for `Rescuer `97' - a multinational military exercise which is to be held at the `Krivolak' training facilities between the 12th and 16th May, as part of the `PFP' programme - have assessed that Macedonia has successfully completed all preparations for `Rescuer `97'. During the Conference in Skopje it has once again been confirmed that the exercises are to be attended by eight countries. Four of these are NATO members (the USA, Italy, Turkey and Greece) and four are integrated into the `PFP' programme (Slovenia, Bulgaria, Romania and the host-country Macedonia). Countries functioning as observers are to include Hungary, Poland and the Czech Republic. Macedonian media have also not ruled out the participation of Albania, as these days the Albanian Ambassador to Macedonia has conveyed such a wish and the readiness of his country's top military structures to deploy troops.Macedonian Defence Secretary Blagoj Handzhiski stressed that this is the first multinational military exercise to be held in Macedonia, almost 15 months since its admission into the `PFP' programme. He further added that over this period o time Macedonia had evolved into one of the most active `PFP' members, contributing towards the gradual but steady spreading of the spirit of this partnership in the region. [05] USA: `AUTONOMY FOR KOSOVO - OR SPECIAL STATUS WITHIN SR YUGOSLAVIA'The US have not changed its policy towards Kosovo, as it is still considered that the region should be granted autonomy or a special status within SR Yugoslavia - stated the US Under-Secretary of State for Europe and Canada Rudolph Perina according to the Belgrade US Embassy Newsletter. In an interview given for `VOA' Perina stressed that the basic rights of Albanians on Kosovo need to be protected, as well as that the US would use their influence to convince Serbian authorities that conditions on Kosovo have to be addressed.A-1 TV is quoting the Belgrade paper `Dneven Telegraf' (`Daily Telegraph') upon reporting that the Presidents of Serbia and Montenegro - Slobodan Miloshevikj and Momir Bulatovikj - have agreed on the restructuring of the Yugoslav Federation. The basic postulates of the new federation would be a powerful head of state, united law enforcement structures, the establishing of Kosovo as a republic and the unification with `Republika Srpska' (Serb-held territory in Bosnia). In this context it has also been stated that the presidency is being reserved for Slobodan Miloshevikj, while Bulatovikj is to be appointed Prime Minister. [06] SONJA NIKOLOVSKA TO PARTICIPATE IN `TAT' INVESTIGATIONS AS OF 5TH MAYIn connection to the recent encounter of `TAT' owner Sonja Nikolovska with representatives of the `TAT' Bank Clients' Association (headed by Ilija Nevenovski), Sonja Nikolovska has given a statement for Radio Bitola yesterday. In it she denies having promised to attend the Saturday protest meeting, adding that she would face clients once she is back to her old self again. MTV reports that Nikolovska said how she had in no form be allowed to participate in investigations, which is to change on 5th May when she is to air her findings at a hearing.The Bank Clients' Association of Bitola has also addressed the public yesterday, in order to deny that Nikolovska had been offered her old post as bank director should the financial institution resume work again. In addition to this `TAT' Bank Clients have met Mayor Siljan Micevski and several Bitola MPs. A-1 TV reveals that during this meeting the MPs had been requested to obstruct the Parliamentary processing of the client restitution draft-bill, for those holding deposits at `TAT, `ALFA-S' and the `Lavci' bank. Should the bill however be adopted, client representatives announced that they would hold their MPs responsible and demand their resignation. These days `Dnevnik' reported that `disappointed by the fact that the biggest scandal in the country - the TAT affair' had been thrown onto the backs of the local population, the people of Bitola were becoming increasingly vocal in `putting an end to the Skopje invasion'. The daily further states that residents intended to form their own `party of Bitola' which would associate people concerned with the well-being of their city. `The people of Bitola would like to draw public attention to the fact that so far all those imprisoned, accused or proclaimed as politically responsible of this affair involving the embezzlement of 100 million DM come from Bitola. Yet we do not believe that this deed could have been executed without back-up from Skopje. Speculations even suggest that this is an attempt by Skopje to ruin this city. To cut a long story short: the people of Bitola are convinced that the `TAT' scandal has been cooked up by the CORDON BLEU chefs of Macedonian politics', `Dnevnik' states. [07] RETIREMENT PENSION AND IMPAIRMENT INSURANCE FUND: `98% OF PLANNED REVENUE FOR 1996'Last year the Retirement Pension and Impairment Insurance Fund of Macedonia has generated the total of 18 326.72 million denars in revenues, i.e. 98% of what has been planned. This represents an increase by 1.7% in comparison to 1995... these data have been issued within yesterday's release of the Fund's Executive Board. In addition to the regular disbursement of 12 monthly pensions, the Fund also managed to forward seven-twelfths of withheld means, according to this release. Besides this last year has also been marked by the payment of dividends based on shares and contributions (generated through the transformation of social capital) for the first time. Thus the total of 47.18 million were obtained by 28 businesses.Concordant to the release the main priority of the Fund is to be the devising of possibilities to maintain the regular disbursement of pensions. [08] PRESIDENT GLIGOROV: `ENCOURAGING THE CREATIVE POTENTIAL OF PEOPLE'This Tuesday the Macedonian Head of State Kiro Gligorov attended the traditional meeting organised by Trade Union Federation Chairman Zhivko Tolevski to mark International Labour Day. In his speech the President referred to the initial steps of Macedonian independence and the numerous problems confronting the country - especially in the economic sector. Gligorov stressed that in conditions of increased unemployment, lack of basic and transaction funds to maintain production, the business sector has to be the one striving to transcend this situation. In the opinion of President Gligorov both the state and the business sector need to encourage the creativity of people with all their technical, economic and other knowledge - in order to ensure that all this is put to use to revive and develop the country's economy. Although something has already been done in this respect, Gligorov thinks that it takes more time for this trend to become the `spiritus movens' of production. President Gligorov stressed that the Trade Union Federation of Macedonia has succeeded in following the fine line `between taking to the streets for no reason and the abandoning of the true interests of the work force', which is of key importance in remedying economic conditions.According to the Chairperson of the Macedonian Trade Union Federation Zhivko Tolevski, the Federation is striving to create a productive atmosphere in the country under the motto `For Work, Pay and Social Justice'. Tolevski also stressed that the crisis hitting the country has already hit the all-time low, so that things could only get better over the few next years. [09] TRADITIONAL RECEPTION GIVEN BY `OCM' HEADOn occasion of the greatest Orthodox Christian holiday - Easter, the Resurrection of Christ - the Head of the OCM, the Archbishop of Ohrid and Macedonia The Reverend Mihail and the OCM top clergy have hosted the traditional Easter reception at the Ceremonial Hall of the Macedonian Archiepiscopality yesterday. Invited guests included President Kiro Gligorov. Parliamentary Chairman Tito Petkovski, Macedonian Government Ministers, representatives of the catholic church and other denominations, of the Diplomatic Corps in Macedonia and of cultural, scientific and other institutions.`Nova Makedonija' reports that upon welcoming the guests, the Reverend Mihail stated that with each year the OCM played a more important role in contributing to the well- being and prosperity of this country, by advocating love and brotherhood among all people regardless of their faith or nationality. MILS SUPPLEMENT[10] `In Most Cases No Quality and No Control'(`Vecher' - 29th April 1997)What kind of food do we eat, what enters our body on a daily basis, what sort of control exists to monitor the control of food produced in the country and imported into it. This burning issue is unfortunately hardly ever the subject of attention or activity as regards our state authorities. This is being confirmed by the fact that until this very day neither the Government nor the Parliament of the Republic of Macedonia have enacted one single legal provision concerning this domain. Thus old Federal regulations are still considered binding. The most recently enacted of these dates back to the 80s... Abroad however all regulations concerning the quality control of food are being revised and updated every five years - incorporating latest scientific achievements. Such an attitude towards a domain as important as this one has entailed a genuine state of chaos. Due to irregular and insufficient control of everything available on our markets, nobody in this state possesses the `audacity' to claim that we are consuming healthy food. Upon passing this question on to institutions which are in charge of food control, the most frequently obtained reply is: a shrug of somebody's shoulders. Such conditions have been the reason to stage a panel on this subject quite recently. Its organizer, the Ecological Association `Opstanok' had invited renowned lecturers who disclosed a considerable amount of indeed worrisome facts: thus the milk we consume is generally speaking of low quality, agriculture produce of the private sector is not being controlled at all, brucellosis is on the rise, prohibited bio-stimulators are being used widely, as is the case with pesticides and chemicals, juices contain additives... Dr. Petar Kocev of the National Health Care Institute of Skopje revealed that last year the least satisfactory results were obtained during the quality control of samples of milk, dairy products, meat and meat products. These categories are also leading the way with regards to vulnerability to bacteria such as escherichia coli in the case of milk, whereas the proteus bacteria has been detected in most cases of examined grilled meat. Dr. Mihail Danev of the Veterinary Institute has revealed the alarming data that last year a total of 55.4% of all examined milk samples and dairy products have been of insufficient quality. Dr. Danev also seriously warned of the spreading of brucellosis due to which preventive measures need to be taken, such as the pasteurization of milk. According to Dr. Stefanka Grujoska, an employee of the Pediatric Clinic of Skopje, the low quality of milk mostly affects the youngest, as the intake of polluted food by the mother influences the quality of her breastmilk and the liver of a newborn is incapable of coping with those toxins. The quality control of agricultural produce sold at the markets is insufficient, conducted at random, from time to time. Last year such `out- of-the-blue' inspections revealed an unacceptable percentage of lead and cadmium in several fruit samples. What remains worrisome is what else would possibly be discovered if quality control were conducted on a regular daily basis... Last year the National and City Institute for Health Protection conducted examinations on agricultural produce of the Drachevo / Lisiche area near Skopje, due to the pollution of ground waters through chemical substances released by OHIS. Regular controls of the area had initially been scheduled for this very same reason. Dr. Petar Kocev of the Skopje Institute revealed that produce had been examined only once for its contents in heavy metals and pesticides. Findings had been satisfactory, though they did not refer to contents of tri-chlor- etylene, tetra-chlor-etylene and other substances polluting the ground waters in that area. In the opinion of Dr. Gjorgji Martinovski of the Skopje Faculty of Agriculture there is no need to use any artificial bio-stimulators due to the geographical position of Macedonia, especially its large number of sunny days... and yet tons of pesticides, herbicides, additives, growth stimulators are being used in agriculture. Thus the latter is turning into industrial production - as Dr. Martinovski claims - the production of 200 tons of tomatoes in greenhouses cannot be called anything else. Unfortunately this is accompanied by all problems affecting industry, such as the pollution of the environment and the product itself. A particular problem in the food industry are imported goods. It is very often the case that there is no border control whatsoever, so that health- damaging produce enters the country. Once this has occurred, nobody inspects these goods in department stores either. One more specific problem are outdated regulations, such as the one outlining that border inspectors have the liberty to decide whether one product (incl. such sensitive goods as meat) are to be examined `superficially' or forwarded to one of the appropriate laboratories for analysis. It was also mentioned during this panel that solid and correct monitoring could not be expected if inspectors were not stimulated sufficiently (i.e. left with a pay of 12 000 denars). This argument is being opposed by the health of an entire nation. (end)mils news 30 April 1997Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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