MAK-NEWS 18/12/95 (M.I.C.)

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

Macedonian Information Centre Directory

CONTENTS

SKOPJE, DECEMBER 18 (MIC)

[01] BRANKO CRVENKOVSKI: "MACEDONIA WILL ACCEPT NO ASSOCIATIONS"

In the interview for the Macedonian Radio broadcast last Saturday, Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski specially emphasized the relations with the neighbors and declared: "It is completely clear that regarding international recognition there is only one question left unsolved, and that is arranging the relations between the Republic of Macedonia and the state of Serbia and Montenegro. Since this question was not solved at the Conference in Paris, i estimated that I should not travel now, although Macedonia was also represented on a proper level at the meeting, because Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski was there.

To us, all kinds of new alliances and associations are unacceptable, because first of all, we don't want to limit ourselves in such a way so that we could be able to develop such relations with others. We think that there is no significant dispute between us and our Northern neighbor. We are absolutely prepared to immediately begin mutual recognition and arranging of relations. We do not deny the continuity of Serbia as former part of SFRY - she has it".

Answering economic questions, Crvenkovski said: "We did not let chaotic things happen, we put the inflation under control to create conditions for a sound national currency, we managed to increase our foreign currency stock in the middle of a most difficult period to a level which we could not have predicted even in the most optimistic predictions a few years ago, so now, in my opinion, we are in a new environment with open borders, or in other words, the worst period is left behind. We are in a situation when we can say that new prospects are being opened. For the last two months, we have had parameters showing increase in industrial production, improvement of all parameters and I think that next year we can expect a new turn in the sphere of economy and commerce".

[02] EU DEMANDS IMMEDIATE MUTUAL RECOGNITION OF FORMER YU REPUBLICS

In the Declaration adopted by heads of EU states, the parts of former Yugoslavia are urged to "immediately start mutual recognition", and the emphasis is put on "the significance of solving the issue of Eastern Slavonia for the entire peace process in the region.

[03] NEW CREDIT LINES FROM THE EUROPEAN BANK - 30 MILLION DM

The Macedonian Government and four Macedonian banks yesterday signed a contract in London with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on credit lines worth a sum total of 39 million DM.

The European Bank allowed four Macedonian banks a total loan of 30 million DM, meant for financing smaller and middle- size enterprises.

The contract for financial crediting of the reconstruction of the Skopje airport will be signed by the EBRD and the Macedonian Government next week. It has been delayed for more explicit delineation of some of the services.

The deal of EBRD and the Macedonian Government allows a credit of 17.8 million DM to reconstruct the airport in Skopje.

[04] ANNIVERSARY OF THE ILLEGAL TETOVO UNIVERSITY

Last Saturday in Tetovo there was a celebration of the 2nd Anniversary of the illegal University in this town. In the presence of many guests, current Ministers in the Macedonian Government (Estref Aliu), Parliament representatives (Ismet Ramadani, Rahmi Tuda), and representatives of the local self- management units of many Macedonian Communes, the Albanian national anthem was sung by the choir of "Kiril Pejcinovich " school. A greeting speech was given by Minister of Culture Estref Aliu, Mikereme Rusi, President of the Association of Albanian Women in Macedonia, and the President of Tetovo Commune Sajkir Aliti, bringing greetings from Debar and Gostivar.

The last to address the guests was the head of the illegal University Dr. Fadil Suleimani, who stressed that December 17 is "the day of Albanian liberation in Macedonia". He said that within this institution there are six Faculties - Natural and Mathematical Sciences, Law, Economy, Philology, Philosophy, and Arts. The curriculum is attended by 1300 students, and classes given by 150 professors among which some are Doctors of Sciences.

[05] DPM (TETOVO) REVOLT

The Democratic Party of Macedonia (Tetovo) expresses its deep revolt and aversion at the occasion of the celebration of the Anniversary of the so-called "Albanian University" in Tetovo. Will the presence of some state and Commune heads of Albanian nationality, using vehicles of their services of course, not interrupting this anti-state provocation by those who always do it in this country continue to be a kind of a "birthday party" without the responsibility of some Ministries, or should the sovereignty an legitimacy of the Republic of Macedonia be endangered.

It is obviously high time for this question to be solved at a democratic and constructive debate put on the agenda of the highest executive organ of the country, reports DPM- Tetovo.

[06] ALBANIANS ARE WITHDRAWING FROM SYSTEM INSTITUTIONS?

The aggregate of Albanian politicians will exit from the Government and the Parliament unless the Tetovo University be legalized and the use of Albanian language be established in the Parliament.

This news was broadcast last Friday by Albanian radio and TV, not referring to the source of information. They simply explained that such action is announced and accounted for by the political aggregate of Albanian parties.

The Albanian RTV correspondent form Skopje, as reported by MAKFAKS, stressed that in that case the Government and the Parliament would become ethnically clean, i.e. will be made of Macedonians only.

[07] AGAINST CAR IMPORT TAX INCREASE

The import tax on cars should not be raised, but rather the total expenses on new cars purchase should be reduced to realistic 20 to 25%. This is the main conclusion of the session of the Executive Board of motor vehicles & accessories trade firms at the Commerce Chamber of Macedonia.

According to car importers, the possible increase of import taxes will have effects contrary to Government expectations of increasing the income from Customs taxes, and it will threaten the survival of firms in this branch. Foreign vehicle distributors are reacting at the announcement of reducing Customs taxes for import of old vehicles, for this will make the conveyance means even older, and Macedonia will become a graveyard for European old cars.

[08] LAMB EXPORT HAS STARTED

Last Saturday the slaughterhouse "Gorni Polog" from Gostivar sent the first shipment of young lambs. In this December export peak in only a couple of days before Catholic Christmas over 3000 lambs, or about 25 tons of lamb meat will be exported to Italy and Croatia.

Cattle breeders from Gostivar and other districts are not satisfied by the present price of lamb meat, which is 120 denars per kilogram, since slaughterhouse "Gorni Polog" gets 170 denars per kg.

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