MAK-NEWS 21/10/95 (Miscellaneous)

From: Sacha Shopov <shopo-sa@EELAB.SU.OZ.AU>

MAKNWS Directory

CONTENTS

Comments:
Sources include XINHUA and ITAR-TASS. Reproduced here for fair use only.

[01] 10/20 1630 Greece, Macedonia to Set Up Liaison Offices

The memorandum was signed after talks between the delegations from the two sides which commenced last Wednesday.

Greece and Macedonia signed an interim accord in the middle of September in New York, which provides for gradual normalization of relations between the two Balkan neighbors. The Greek government lifted its 19-month economic sanctions against Macedonia on October 15 following the latter removed an ancient Greek symbol from its flag.

[02] 10/19 2251 Macedonian President Meets UN Envoy

This is the first time Gligorov formally met with foreign guests since he was seriously injured by a car bomb attack on October 3 in Skoplje on his way to work.

Gligorov, who has successsfully recovered from a brain and ophthalmic surgery, left hospital on Thursday.

[03] 10/19 1719 UKRAINE AND MACEDONIA ADMITTED INTO COUNCIL OF EUROPE

PARIS, OCTOBER 19 (ITAR-TASS) - THE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS -- THE EXECUTIVE BODY OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE (CE) -- ADOPTED A RESOLUTION ON THURSDAY TO ADMIT UKRAINE AND THE FORMER YUGOSLAVIAN REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA INTO THIS INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION.

THE ADMISSION WAS HELD ON THE BASIS OF RESOLUTIONS ADOPTED BY THE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE (PACE) AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER.

AS IT IS KNOWN, EUROPARLIAMENTARIANS "GAVE A GREEN LIGHT" TO UKRAINE'S AND MACEDONIA'S ADMISSION TO THE CE AND DECIDED TO RESUME THE PROCEDURE OF RUSSIA'S ADMISSION TO THIS INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATION. THE PROCEDURE WAS "FROZEN" BECAUSE OF THE CHECHEN EVENTS.

THE OFFICIAL CEREMONY OF UKRAINE'S AND MACEDONIA'S ADMISSION TO THE CE WILL BE HELD AT THE PALACE OF EUROPE IN STRASBOURG ON NOVEMBER 9 DURING THE REGULAR SESSION OF THE COMMITTEE OF MINISTERS OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE.

YUR/

[04] 10/16 2206 Bomb-Hit Macedonian President Allowed to Take Walk

The surgeon was quoted as saying that the 78-year-old president was allowed to walk around for the first time since the October 3 bomb blast.

Local newspapers said that Gligorov's eye and arms have basically recovered their functions after three operations in the hospital.

The president was also allowed to have meals as usual and he started reading newspapers Saturday, according to the reports.

[05] Roundup: Greece Lifts Embargo Against Macedonia

This was the first since an interim accord was signed in New York last month when Greece officially lifted its 20-month economic sanctions against the neigboring country.

Greece imposed economic sanctions early last year in a bid to force Skopje to change its name, remove ancient Greek symbols from its flag and change its constitution.

The two squabbling Balkan neighbors made rapid progress toward ending their unusual feud over the use of the name "Macedonia" and related symbols and clauses since the signing of the accord.

Two rounds of direct talks between the senior Foreign Ministry officials from the two sides were successfully held in Athens and Skopje last week following Macedonia removed the "Sun of Vergina", ancient Macedonian symbol from its flag, replacing it with a totally different broad-beamed star. It also proceeded to re-examine two clauses in its constitution which, like the Vergina Sun, were interpreted by Greece as implying territorial ambitions on its northern province of Mecedonia.

Greece also followed rapidly the move desired by Macedonia and other concerned countries.

While announcing its lifting of the economic blockade of Macedonia earlier this month, Greece also declared that it would give up its objections to Skopje becoming a member of the Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe.

Lifting of the embargo has opened good prospects for business relations between the two sides.

According to local press reports, numerous Greek firms belonging to the manufacturing and commerce sectors are ready to squeeze into the Macedonian market.

Plans for the penetration of the market are currently being prepared by the Commerce and Industry Chambers of Athens and Salonika, the Federation of Greek Industrialists (SEV), the Panhellenic Federation of Exporters (PSE), and the Federation of Northern Greek Exporters.

A commercial center will also be opened in Skopje to promote economic ties between the two sides.

Greek exports to its northern neighbor amounted to approximately 140 billion drachmas (about 610 million U.S. dollars) in 1993, the year before the embargo was imposed. The PSE estimated that this figure would exceed 250 billion drachmas (about 1.1 billion U.S. dollars) within the next three years while the country's Economy Ministry is determined to assist Greek entrepreneurs by extending as much as 100 billion drachmas (about 430 million U.S. dollars) of export credits.

[06] 10/14 0912 Macedonia, Greece Sign Memo After Second Round of Talks

The memorandum was reached with the mediation of the U.S. Liaison Office in Macedonia after both sides made compromises, sources in Skoplje said.

The second round of talks was about how to implement the temporary agreement on normalizing bilateral relations signed by the two sides on September 13.

During the talks, the two sides reached consensus on a number of issues, including the establishment of liaison offices in each other's capital cities, opening of common borders and the procedure of visas.

The talks were scheduled to end on October 12, but were interrupted for "technical reasons."

As a result of the memorandum, Greece will lift its trade sanctions against Macedonia, according to other sources.

[07] 10/14 0903 U.S. Seeks Closer Military Ties with Albania, Macedonia

In Albania, Shalikashvili, after studying the possibility of establishing an international military training center in the country, told a press conference that his country will send military personnels to Albania to make an on-the-spot observation of the topography there for establishing such a center.

He said that the United States now has no plan to set up its own military base in Albania, which, he stressed, should join NATO by moving step by step.

During his visit in Albania, Shalikashvili attended the closing ceremony of the U.S.-Albanian joint military exercise and viewed the country's military bases.

While visiting Macedonia, the chairman met with President of the Macedonian Assembly Stajan Andov and Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski. He also went to see President Kiro Gligorov, who was wounded in an assassination attack last week.

Albania and Macedonia are non-NATO countries in the southern Balkan which maintain close military links with the United States.

In 1995, the United States, which has four unmanned spy planes stationed in Albania's military bases, has carried out eight maneuvers in the country.

Half of the U.N. peacekeeping forces In Macedonia are from the United States.