MAK-NEWS 30/10/95 (M.I.C.)

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

Macedonian Information Centre Directory

CONTENTS

SKOPJE, OCTOBER 30, 1995 (MIC)

[01] NEIGHBORS WITHOUT COMMENT ON ORGANIZERS OF ASSASSINATION

The assertion of Interior Minister Ljubomir Frckovski that the assassination attempt on President Gligorov was organized by a "multinational, financial-economic group from a neighboring country," did not come across official comments, nor comments in the press in Athens, Belgrade, Sofia and Tirana, Makpress reports.

In Sofia, the newspaper "24 Hours" says in a heading "Skopje accusing neighbors." The newspaper of the ruling Socialists "Duma," calling upon radio BBC, writes that the Russian mafia and the KGB are involved in the assassination.

In Greece, "Katimerini" says on the cover page "Skopje involving the neighbors," while "Elefterotipia" writes that "Frckovski described Bulgaria, but only didn't mention its name."

In Serbia, all the newspapers published the news about Frckovski's resignation and the results of the to-date investigation, while "Nasa Borba" was the only newspaper to report this matter on the first page, with the assertion that "the assassination was organized by a corporation from a neighboring state."

Newspapers in Albania are conveying the reports from the news conference without any comments.

[02] REACTIONS IN MACEDONIA

Following minister Frckovski's news conference in Macedonia, the first to speak up was the party IMRO-DP, whose president Vladimir Golubovski tabled a couple of questions to the Government. If the Government stands behind minister Frckovski's statement, then we would like to ask if that multinational company had made any capital investments in Macedonia, how many and which economic subjects cooperated with it, and which party did the people who took part in this economic group belong to.

In relation to this matter, the newspaper "Vecer" wrote in the editorial of its Saturday issue: "Therefore, it is not said for no reason that even if the man who made the evil device is found out, and brought to justice, the analysis of the true motives of those who inspired the terrorist attack on Gligorov will remain in the sphere of speculations and assumptions, but even such an outcome is better than none at all, since then the question of responsibility here at home (which was opened by Frckovski not only as a moral act, but also with the undoubtedly brave assessment as to his objective responsibility) can be expanded.

If the Government has taken the results of the to-date investigation seriously, that question will have to be raised regardless of the outcome of the investigation. It's a public secret that many of our newly-formed businessmen are highly involved in transactions with dubious partners, and some, maybe even with the infamous group. It's also a public secret that many of them also have serious political influence, sponsoring parties or corrupting individuals in the administration. When Prime Minister Crvenkovski announced the action to stamp out crime and corruption, the public expected results for which there might not have been realistic justification.

Now, that the mobsters responded spectacularly and with action, which the whole public experienced very painfully, there are no more dilemmas - the prime minister gave his word, he promised results and he is expected to fulfill what he promised. If what Frckovski announced is true, it turns out that the devil has taken away the joke.

And, not only because of the cross puzzle that is intimidating. Hardly a day goes by without hearing a story about some mobster who had come to the country, after crossing the border as if its not a border, walking through the streets of the town and personally liberating Skopje, having fun with his "business" partners and their "business escorts" in the Skopje bars, beating up his debtors in the middle of a bar, and then returning back to his country, as if nothing had happened.

People are asking: will there ever be an end to this chaos? A little while longer, the time of the "ordinary" man will come, who is not a businessman, who doesn't owe anything, nor anyone owes anything to him, who doesn't care much for gambling or chasing after "business" ladies, to simply be afraid to go to a bar and walk down the street. People expect that to stop one day, even at the cost of some newly-formed businessmen and their corrupted friends from the Government, to have their golden springs dry out, and to lose their "business" partners with whom they exchange both debts and fists, and sometimes something even more dangerous. Only not to forget in the end. Only a couple of minutes after the assassination attempt on Gligorov, a larger group of children from some Skopje kindergarten crossed the street "Makedonija." They have only their lucky starts to thank for being alive and healthy today. Today luck, what about tomorrow?

[03] OSCE RECOMMENDING IMPROVEMENT OF RELATIONS WITH ALBANIANS

The OSCE High Commission on Minorities Max van der Stoel stated that Macedonian has been recommended to improve its relations with the Albanian minority. Speaking about his activities in former Yugoslavia, at the two-day meeting of the OSCE High Council in Prague, Stoel added that an improvement of the relations can be achieved through the educational system and through greater presence of the Albanians in Macedonia in the state administration. He assessed that his Commissariat was exceptionally active in Macedonia, unlike the other former Yugoslav regions, where, as he said, there is no more work for him, because "it ends when the conflicts start."

[04] SULEJMANI DEMANDING APOLOGY FROM GOVERNMENT

The self-proclaimed president of the illegal university in Tetovo Fadil Sulejmani said at the news conference held in Tetovo on Friday: "Although the retrogressive forces in Macedonia tried to obstruct the wish of the people for education, thanks to precisely that support from the people and the determination of the students and professors, the University in Tetovo is continuing its work."

The president of the illegal university informed that the University has six faculties, 1,259 students, 17 lecture halls, three laboratories, a library, administrative offices, etc. According to Sulejmani, the university is working as part of the educational system in Macedonia, which he argues with the fact that it is founded by the Albanian political subjects and three municipal assemblies, which also function in Macedonia's state system.

"Lately, it is becoming clear that the Macedonian Government has started developing a moderate policy for the realization of the cultural rights of its citizens, regardless of nation, race and religion. This is making us optimistic that the Government will change its old bolshevist policy toward us, the Albanians, and that it will not discriminate us as before," Sulejmani said, who couldn't answer a journalists' question as to where this impression comes from that the Government has taken on a more moderate attitude toward the activities of the University.

According to Sulejmani, the activities of the University and its ------- personally are not against the Government and therefore it should publicly apologize for closing it down, and appropriately compensate for lost time.

[05] "MARSHALL PLAN" FOR MACEDONIA

"The proposal of the German Prime Minister Klaus Kinkel for the 'Marshall plan' for Macedonia does not apply to this country alone, but in general, to building up the countries of former Yugoslavia. It will not be a separate institution, but realization of the help through the existing instruments of the European Union. In addition, that will not be help from Germany alone, and only as part of the bilateral German-Macedonian relations," the acting German ambassador to the Republic of Macedonia Paul Ditrich told Makpress.

"Macedonia is an especially important partner to us. Chiefly because of its peace-loving policy in the region. It will have a reflection not only on a political, but also on an economic plan. So far, the help was mainly technical, but from now on, it will also be realized through concrete financial help. Germany will make strong efforts to expand the bilateral cooperation and to strengthen the relations with the EU."

"In the period ahead," Ditrich says, "the economic help will pertain to the railway line toward Bulgaria, the irrigation systems and the hydro-dams Turkey, Ilovica and Mantovo, the ecological measures for the Dojran and Prespa Lake, the projects of the food industry, primarily in the field of control of the food products, support of the Macedonian companies for participation in the international fairs, the promotion of Macedonian exports, mainly textiles and wine.

Last year, Germany allocated Macedonia technical help to the amount of six million marks, and a credit of fifteen million marks. So far, the overall German help for Macedonia amounts to 48 million DEM," Ditrich said.

"This year, that help is much greater, and with a tendency to keep increasing in the coming years. Our efforts, as a country with the highest percentage of participation in the EU contributions, 28% will be used to incorporate Macedonia in the European programs, like the PHARE program, which should also happen in a couple of weeks," Paul Ditrich said.

[06] CHANGEABLE ATTITUDE OF GREEK BORDER ORGANS

The Greek border officials at the crossings Evzoni and Dojrani, on the Greek-Macedonian border, started accepting the green cards for the insurance of Macedonian vehicles from yesterday afternoon. This means that the payment of 160 DEM for cars and 500 DEM for trucks is no longer valid.

Unlike before, visas are issued much faster, which has enabled some ten Macedonian vehicles to enter Greece. In the railway traffic, Macedonians travelling with the express trains for Salonika and Athens are still required to show 400 DEM at the border. If not, they are sent back, which is exactly what happened to some people from Kavadarci two days ago. The dynamics of the transportation of crude oil from the Salonika port is not going as planned. Instead of the planned four compositions in one day, the transport is carried out with two compositions per day, which are brought to the railway station in Gevgelija by Greek engines, which then return back to Greece with empty wagon cisterns.

(end)