MAK-NEWS 18/10/95 (M.I.C.)

From: "M.I.C." <mic@ITL.MK>

Macedonian Information Centre Directory

CONTENTS

SKOPJE, OCTOBER 18, 1995 (MIC)

[01] PRESIDENT'S HEALTH - GOOD

The President of the Republic of Macedonia Kiro Gligorov is being treated in the Surgical clinics - central unit for intensive treatment with the Clinic for Anesthesiology, reanimatiology and intensive care.

The President is in a good health condition. The hospital treatment is continuing, is said in the announcement of the medical team.

[02] SECURITY COUNCIL: SITUATION IS STABLE

The Security Council of the Republic of Macedonia held a session yesterday, which was presided over by Parliamentary Speaker Stojan Andov. The session focused on the current political-security situation in the Republic of Macedonia, which was described as stable, with normal functions of the system.

The Council was also informed about the course of the investigation into the recent assassination attempt on the President of the Republic of Macedonia Kiro Gligorov, is said in the announcement of the cabinet of the President of RM.

[03] FORMAL COMMEMORATION OF 50 YEARS OF UN

As an equal and full member of the world organization, the Republic of Macedonia yesterday joined the celebrations marking the 50 year anniversary of the UN. Yesterday's formal assembly in the Macedonian National Theater presents an introduction into the events that have yet to take place, under the organization of the committee for the marking of the jubilee, which will be held during next month.

Parliamentary Speaker Stojan Andov addressed the formal assembly with the words that Macedonia's accession to the UN is of exceptional importance for this country which is struggling for the peaceful development of the Balkans. "Macedonia, as it is known, accomplished its independence through peaceful and legitimate means, avoiding the ethnic war on the regions of former Yugoslavia."

Before the beginning of the assembly, a collection of basic documents of the UN was promoted, as the organization that is most concerned about the economic programs in the developing countries, and which is the most dedicated protector of the hungry, sick and displaced persons. As such, the UN has received several Nobel prizes.

[04] MACEDONIA HAS LIVED THROUGH AN ATTACK OF VIOLENCE

Parliamentary Speaker Stojan Andov emphasized, on the occasion of the 50 year anniversary of the UN that "unfortunately, in the wake of this COMMEMORATION, the Republic of Macedonia lived through an attack of violence, and assassination attempt on the President of the Republic of Macedonia Kiro Gligorov. And, on this occasion, I would like to repeat the unanimous assessment and stance of the citizens of Macedonia that it was a terrorist act and brutal attempt to eliminate the most prominent personality of our day and to deter the course of the Macedonian state towards its consolidation and accession to the European and world integrations. This appalling attack was an attack against the reason and peace in the region, and against the Europeization of the Balkans. President Gligorov has survived the attack and is recovering. I has one this battle, as many others before.

However, these days have been trying for all of us. The Republic of Macedonia has shown that there is no power that can deter it from the path it has set for itself with the Constitution and other acts, as an expression of the will of the citizens. Furthermore, it has also established its role as a key factor of the peace in the south of the Balkans, it has confirmed that it has the strength, even under such criminal pressure, not to back down from its lasting orientations and strategic goals: to strengthen the Macedonian state, its European orientation, to get included in the European and world organizations as soon as possible, to develop good-neighborly relations and an active policy of equidistance with all neighbors, to stimulate the process of Europeization of the Balkans, to strengthen the legal state and the civil society, to keep the inter-ethnic and inter- religious peace, tolerance and mutual trust.

Precisely for these reasons, we all wish President Gligorov a speedy recovery and return to his regular duties."

[05] ANDOV: "THE UN WILL ACCEPT MACEDONIA'S CONSTITUTIONAL NAME"

In his speech on the significance of the World organization and its humane and peace-keeping mission throughout the world, Andov said, among the rest: "I would like to express my conviction that in the interest of its own Charter and in the interest of the peace, stability and protection of the right to self-orientation, the UN will accept our country's constitutional name. Even more so seeing it has proven to be utterly irrational to think it could disturb the security in the region. Patiently, Macedonia has taken the place in the international community that belongs to it naturally, and has never deviated from the policy of dialogue, tolerance and understanding in the relations with its neighbors and the broader international community. As a result, normal relations have been restored with the Republic of Greece, with the benevolent help of the UN. An Interim Accord has been signed between the two countries, and Macedonia has fulfilled its obligations from that accord even before the foreseen period. It has done that in the interest of the two countries and peoples, and in the interest of the peace and stability in the south of the Balkans.

[06] REGULATION OF TRANSPORT, CONNECTIONS, CUSTOMS

In accordance with the Memorandum for "Practical measures," signed on October 13th, 1995 in Skopje and related to the Interim Accord signed in New York by the foreign ministers Stevo Crvenkovski and Karolos Papoulias, several groups of experts from a couple of ministries, public companies and agencies from the Republic of Macedonia left for Athens yesterday, for talks with their Greek colleagues.

Over the next couple of days, the experts will be working on the details surrounding a number of questions, including transport, connections, PTT traffic, customs regulations, green cards, the visa regime, etc. the Foreign Ministry of the Republic of Macedonia announced.

[07] MACEDONIA PROPOSING GAS LINE SKOPJE-SALONIKA

The Macedonian Assistant Minister of Energy Nikola Cerepnalkovski proposed the building of a gas line linking Skopje and Salonika, at the international seminar that was held in Salonika yesterday afternoon, on the theme "The links for the traffic with natural gas, petrol and electric energy in the Balkans." The gas line would be 400 km long, in both directions, and could help in the development of the refineries that exist in both towns. This will replace the railroad transport of the petrol, and reduce travel costs.

He added that the Macedonian Government has been considering such a plan for a longer time already, in parallel with the former proposal for the gas line Burgas - Skopje - Duress. It is considered that the Skopje-Salonika alternative would pay off much quicker, so an official proposal to this effect will be submitted to the Greek Government during next year, the Assistant Minister of Energy said. Under conditions when everyone is pulling on their own side, when there is no cooperation and joint planning between the Balkan countries, and Athens is especially interested in the realization of the gas line Burgas-Aleksandropolis, Cerepnalkovski's proposal comes as a complete surprise to many people in Athens.

[08] BORDER WITH FRY WITHOUT GREATER TRANSIT

Following the opening of the border with Greece, there doesn't seem to be much traffic on the border points along the Macedonian-Yugoslav border these past three days. At the border point Tabanovce, the flow of passenger and cargo vehicles in both directions is as usual. Over the last 24 hours, some 1,200 vehicles with some 5,500 passengers have been noticed waiting 15 to 30 min. to enter or exit Macedonia, which is even less than one month ago. The number of Greek vehicles transiting through this border point is still at the same level as in the previous days.

[09] PETROL THROUGH DEVE BAIR BY END OF YEAR

According to the valid agreements, the convoys with petrol and oil derivatives for Macedonia will continue coming in through the border point Deve Bair in Bulgaria until the end of this year.

Under the conditions of the Greek blockade and sanctions against FRY, this border point was the only link with the world, especially for the import of strategic raw materials and import-export activities of the economy.

The frequency at this border point is expected to drop some 30% after the opening of the border with Greece. However, the intensity of the shopping tours toward Sofia and Istanbul is expected to remain the same. It is estimated that due to the established economic and other links, and the cheaper market in these countries, people from Macedonia have in Bulgaria and Turkey, this type of transit will not decline.

[10] LOCAL SELF-MANAGEMENT IN PARLIAMENT TOMORROW

The Macedonian Parliament will be reviewing the draft- law on local self-managemement tomorrow. This is one of the key laws from the field of the political system, which will add the final touches to the establishment of the local authority in the country.

Last month, this law successfully passed the commission debate in Parliament, where it got a green light.

During the discussion, a number of amendments to this law were brought by the commissions in Parliament. In general, they dealt with specifications to the text of the law. However, a number of amendments applied to some essential supplements, or changes to the offered solutions. The law has also been coordinated with the law on elementary education, the competence of the mayor has been outlined, and to a certain extent, the authority of the chief city architect has been reduced. In addition, corrections have been made to the part pertaining to the bilingual use of languages, by increasing the use of the language of the nationality in municipalities predominantly inhabited by members of a certain minority.

[11] ILLEGAL UNIVERSITY STARTS WORKING

The illegal university in Tetovo started its academic year yesterday in the object in the village Mala Rechica in Tetovo, where clashes broke out between the police and Albanian citizens on February 17, this year.

At the formal ceremony which was attended by the professors Milaim Fejzi, Safedein Haruni, Rahmi Tuda, Ismail Hodza, Masar Kodra, as well as representatives from UNPREDEP, the president of the university Fadil Sulejmani informed that 1,254 students have been enrolled, of which half are girls. He added that 150 professors have been engaged to hold classes in 17 lecture halls.

Otherwise, Fadil Sulejmani was tried on charges of inciting citizens to resistance and was sentenced to two and a half years in prison. Sulejmani was released on a bail of 100,000 DEM.

Today, "Nova Makedonija" comments that Sulejmani is carrying on with his illegal activities and is encouraging Albanian young people to study at this University which is not recognized by anyone, and where they can easily acquire diplomas that have no validity.

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