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MILS: News from the FYROM, 97-07-31

Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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


CONTENTS

  • [01] SHOOT-OUT BETWEEN A MACEDONIAN PATROL AND A 3 MEMBER GANG OF ALBANIAN CITIZENS
  • [02] MACEDONIAN AMBASSADOR IN TIRANA RECEIVED BY NEW PRESIDENT, REDZEP MEJDANI
  • [03] MACEDONIAN RADIO - CYRUS VANCE WILL MEDIATE NEGOTIATIONS
  • [04] IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE TREATY WITH EU BY NEXT MONTH
  • [05] IN FIRST HALF YEAR - PRODUCTION INCREASE OF 2,4% AND DEFICIT OF 245 MILLION DOLLARS
  • [06] LARGE INTEREST FOR GERMAN GOVERNMENT CREDITS
  • [07] VMRO-DPMNE WILL NOT HAVE A PARALLEL CELEBRATION OF ILINDEN
  • [08] POSTPONED TRIAL OF THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL CHAIRMAN IN TETOVO MUNICIPALITY
  • [09] PROJECT ON PROTECTION OF PRESPA LAKE

    MILS SUPPLEMENT

  • [10] `Panicking Fear to Place Shares on the Market' (`Nova Makedonija', 30 July, 1997)

  • MILS NEWS

    Skopje, 31 August, 1997

    [01] SHOOT-OUT BETWEEN A MACEDONIAN PATROL AND A 3 MEMBER GANG OF ALBANIAN CITIZENS

    Yesterday early in the morning in the place called Trishil near Struga on Macedonian territory at the Macedonia-Albanian border an incident involving fore arms occurred between the Macedonian Army and a three member gang of Albanian citizens, reports `Makpres'. According to unofficial information coming from the agency the gang attempted to illegally leave Macedonia, and when discovered it attacked the Macedonian patrol. In the shoot out an Albanian citizen, Trauni Shpeti, from the village of Rachica was wounded. He underwent a surgical intervention in the Medical centre in Struga and is in no life danger. According to `Makpres' the Albanian gang had illegally crossed the border and stayed in villages surrounding Struga where it committed robberies and then sold the stolen goods in Tirana.

    [02] MACEDONIAN AMBASSADOR IN TIRANA RECEIVED BY NEW PRESIDENT, REDZEP MEJDANI

    The Macedonian Ambassador in Albanian, Nikola Todorchevski, yesterday in Tirana was received by the new Albanian President, Redzep Mejdani. They expressed willingness for more frequent contacts between Macedonian and Albania on all levels. The Macedonian Television reports that President Mejdani at the meeting advocated Europeisation of the Balkans politics, underlining that a dialogue would be the only way of overcoming existing problems. Dialogue and understanding is favored by every state in the interest of good bilateral relations and stability in the region, underlined Mejdani.

    Ambassador Todorchevski in the name of the diplomatic corps accredited in Tirana congratulated President Mejdani the presidency election promising a complete support from all diplomatic missions in Albania. Todorchevski to Mejdani also conveyed regards from the Macedonian President, Kiro Gligorov. The problems of the Albanians in Macedonia and the relations between the two states were subjects of discussion between ambassador Todorchevski and the Chief of Albanian Diplomacy, Paskal Miljo. According to Radio Tirana, the Albanian Minister demanded his compatriots in Macedonia not to be treated as a destabilizing element, adding that the Albanians deserve more respect and rights and greater participation in the state administration.

    [03] MACEDONIAN RADIO - CYRUS VANCE WILL MEDIATE NEGOTIATIONS

    The mediator in the Greek-Macedonian name dispute, Cyrus Vance, has no intention to return the mandate to the UN General Secretary as it has been speculated these days in some Macedonian and Greek media, stated yesterday a high representative from the Office of Ambassador Robert Aukun with a seat in New York. In the statement, according to the Macedonian radio it is cited that at the moment Cyrus Vance is on vacation, and negotiations between the two states are to continue in New York in August. The high diplomat from New York stated that in the last period there has been no new proposal for the name of Macedonia suggested to the UN Security Council as a final solution, i.e. that in the New York negotiations there are no changes in that direction.

    The pro-governmental Greek paper `Escusia' yesterday wrote that between Skopje and Athens there is an unofficial agreement that the name solution is to be left to the Security Council and that a triple variant is in preparation - `Republic Macedonia -Skopje' to be used by the UN, Macedonia is to use the Constitutional name, while Greece would have the right to use any name. The paper yesterday reported that ambassadors Toshevski and Zacharakis mediated by Cyrus Vance held a secret meeting in New York.

    [04] IMPLEMENTATION OF TEXTILE TREATY WITH EU BY NEXT MONTH

    The EU Ministry Council has recently passed a decision which facilitates temporary implementation of the Treaty on trading with textile products between Macedonia and the European Union by the 1-st of August this year, reports the Macedonian Television. Thus the Macedonian Republic and the European Union agreed the treaty to be implemented before it is even officially signed and before the completion of all legal procedures so as to facilitate a sooner application of the agreed more liberal regime in export of textile products from Macedonia to the EU.

    [05] IN FIRST HALF YEAR - PRODUCTION INCREASE OF 2,4% AND DEFICIT OF 245 MILLION DOLLARS

    The Republic Statistics Institute at yesterday's press conference announced information referring to the economic development in Macedonia in the last 6 months this year. The industrial production in the last 6 months in comparison to the same period last year marks increase of 2,4%. According to the Institute this is due to the growth of production of working means for 3% and consumers goods for 11,1%. From the industrial branches a lower production was realized by the metalworking and textile production, and a greatest decrease is present in the production of oil derivatives for 45,5%. The overall value of the sold agricultural products in the 5 months of this year amounts to 1.621 million denars and is increased for 12,2% in comparison with last year.

    In the period of January - June 1997 the estimated data showing foreign-trading goods exchange of Macedonia express a realized export of 572 million dollars which presents 2,1 % more than the same period last year. In this period the impost amounts to 817 million dollars, which is 6,1% more than the previous year. The impost covers the export with 70%, i.e. according to the estimated data the exchange balance is negative and shows a deficit of 245 million dollars. In the same period 1996 the deficit amounted up to 210 million dollars. In the first half year in 1997 the trading turnover has been nominally increased in the retail trading for 45,2%, while in the wholesome trading for 69,4%. The turnover in the hotel and restaurant managing has nominally fallen for 7,5%.

    In the first 6 months this year in comparison to the same period last year an increase has been noticed in the industrial production prices for 1,4%, the retail prices have fallen for 3,9% and the hotel and restaurant managing servicing prices for 0,7%. The living expenses in the first 6 moths this year in comparison to last year's average have increased for 2,4%, while in comparison to the same period of 1996 they have increased for 1,8%, and in comparison to last December they have decreased for 0,4%. In the period of January - May this year the net income per worker in Macedonia compared to the same period last year was higher for 5,2%, i.e. it amounted to 9.121 denars. In the economy businesses it was 8.957 denars, higher for 6,7% and in the non-economy activities it was 1% higher, i.e. amounted to 9.486 denars.

    [06] LARGE INTEREST FOR GERMAN GOVERNMENT CREDITS

    In Ohrid yesterday a press conference was held at which the coordinator of the German-Macedonian programme for business founding, MD Diter Falk , revealed to the reporters the ongoing realization of the credit line for 20 million DM granted to Macedonia by the German Government. The programme which starting from last year is being realized by the `Bank for settlement' -from the German side, and `Almako banka' from the Macedonian side includes 2 credit lines of 10 million DM each. One of the two is purposed for people who have returned from Germany in our state after 1 January 1991, and the other one is intended for those who are interested to open private businesses excluding businesses in the trade, agriculture and transport. The height of the credits granted for a period of 8 years with a annual interest of 9% amounts to 150.000 DM, and for the offered production programmes up to 250.000 DM. For gaining such credits, besides participation with ones own assets, it is also necessary the newly formed firms to work profitably and the have the feasibility of returning the credits.

    According to information from coordinator Falk, to `Almako banka' 500 demands have been delivered by now, out of which 70 have been granted worth 6,5 million DM. According to Diter Falk only 5 of the submitted demands are from people that have returned from Germany. As it has been informed the `Bank for settlement' from Germany besides these 2 credit lines, grants another credit of 1 and a half million DM intended for people who are not able to give guarantees on credits under the previously mentioned conditions.

    [07] VMRO-DPMNE WILL NOT HAVE A PARALLEL CELEBRATION OF ILINDEN

    VMRO-DPMNE on 2-nd August on Meckin Kamen will not have a parallel celebration and it will participate in the state festivity of the most important Macedonian holiday - Ilinden. At yesterday's press conference the leader of the party , Ljupcho Georgievski, said that thus the party will clear up all polemics regarding the massive, people's gathering to be held in Krushevo. According to Georgievski, VMRO-DPMNE will organize its own night camping on 1-st August, and a picnic with a programme of entertainment which will follow the official state festivity.

    The VMRO-DPMNE leader on 2-nd August will not address the present audience with a speech, and Georgievski called all party supporters and citizens of the Macedonian republic to participate in the celebration of the greatest Macedonian holiday. Yet Georgievski again opened the issue of, as he underlined, `the permanent margining of the Ilinden holiday', `a day unjustly treated on the same level with the rest of state holidays in Macedonia ( 1st May, 11 October, Bajram...)'. `The Macedonian Republic must decide whether 2 August will be proclaimed as a national and not only a state holiday. The Macedonian Parliament should regulate this issue as soon as possible', stated Georgievski.

    [08] POSTPONED TRIAL OF THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL CHAIRMAN IN TETOVO MUNICIPALITY

    The trial of Tetovo mayor, Alajdin Demiri, and Council chairman of Tetovo municipality, Vebi Bedzeti, which was supposed to commence yesterday was postponed for 14 October this year.Otherwise, Demiri and Bedzeti are accused of non-fulfillment of a decision passed by the Constitutional Court of the Macedonian Republic on removal of the Albanian and Turkish flags in front of the building in the tetovo municipality. The defense of Demiri and Bedzeti has asked for postponement of the trial so as to gain time to collect necessary evidence. The defense informed yesterday that they have not received from the Ministry of the Interior the demanded photocopies of the correspondence of mayor Demiri which they claim had been taken by the police in the course of the office searching.

    According to Demiri that correspondence includes the Constitutional Court's decision on the flags removal. The defense also informed yesterday that the lack of time for collecting evidence is due to the fact that the accusation was not followed by investigation proceedings. The prosecutor explains that investigation was not necessary because the breaching of a court decision was more that obvious.

    [09] PROJECT ON PROTECTION OF PRESPA LAKE

    The project `Continual campaign SOS for the lake of Prespa' organized by the Youth Council from Resen has the objective to undertake an ecology action of widening the ecology consciousness of the citizens, the authorized state bodies and institutions towards a more effective protection and conservation of the lake. This has been underlined at yesterday's press conference informing on the activities fro protection of the Prespa Lake, a project that will be conducted till 31 March next year. The Prespa Lake lies in great danger especially due to the pollution with chemical agents used for protection of fruit trees, with industrial waste waters and waste waters from numerous surrounding settlements and resting places. Latest examinations of the waters of the lake done on 7 points of the lake show that the water is of the second class.

    The Project is supported by the American institute for permanent communities and it will include issuing and distribution of propaganda material, popularization of the problems, organizing a round table, establishing a monitoring, i.e. a system of following the ecological state of the lake, as well as participation of the International symposium for protection of the Prespa Lake which is due in November this year in Korcha.

    MILS SUPPLEMENT

    [10] `Panicking Fear to Place Shares on the Market'

    (`Nova Makedonija', 30 July, 1997)

    Yesterday brought nothing new in the Macedonian stock market for long-term valuable papers - besides the offer, not one share was bought to quicken the capital market. Compared to last year the overall flow has been increased, but the main characteristics of the stock market working by now has been the chance, i.e. making deals now and then with many days of `empty steps' in the mean time. The stock market as a highly regulated institutionalised market of capital in the economy and theory and practise of market economies is considered to mirror the situations governing in the economy and even wider in the society. Many experts agree that this assertion can be implemented in our society, elaborating the reasons why in Macedonia the Stock market can not function successfully.

    Behind this general conclusion there are, of course, specific answers which, if depending on whether they are coming from the Stock market, its founders, the authorised brokers or the state institutions or firms are partially different or complement each other. According to official data in Macedonian there are several ten thousand share holders, estimations of competent individuals and institutions point out that the citizens own about 500 to 800 million DM kept under the pillow, managers constantly complain of high interest rates on bank credits... And besides all this, the place where all these (and other) elements should intermingle and mobilise the free capital for developing purposes, usually remains empty.

    Macedonia is encompassed by a panicking fear of bringing out the shares on the market. Everybody is frightened. Including those who can sell shares and those who are able to buy them. There is no confidence. Stock market experts say that the incomplete process of privatisation is one of the reasons why the firms are not on the list of those whose shares or bonds are the trading object on the official markets. Besides this, the regulations which allow the share companies to impose limits on the selling of shares which are on the disposal of the owners, narrows down the trading within the firm frames. It has been for several months now that the first official market of the Macedonian stock exchange, in which only large companies or state drawees can be rated, practically exists no more. After the decreased demand for bonds of the Agency for bank rehabilitation due to its bankruptcy, as well as the infamous finish of the stock marketing regarding the City Trade Centre in Skopje, no firm dared to appear on the wind blown market and to affirm their own valuables. Stock brokers point out that the main reason for this is the obligation for public presentation of the finance indicators of the functioning in the last 3 years. That which in the world presents a normal occurrence to each share company, especially to those rating and are potentially rating on the stock markets, here with us it presents a one of the most hidden top secrets.

    Besides this, investment funs are lacking, which with their potentials could enliven the market of capital. The reason lies in the delay of implementing regulations that are to control their functioning. The Bill, which is being prepared, is in a working version. The Macedonian stock market believes that a real turn of events on the market will occur in the second half of next year. This optimistic view is based on the announcement of the Macedonian `Telecom' privatisation, which gives many expectations. In addition is said that the same mistakes done with the hasty decision on the ratings will not be repeated, as was the instance with the CTC. By the half of next year privatisation is expected of several attractive firms which will open the way towards shares selling through the stock market.

    (end)

    mils news 31 August, 1997


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