MAK-NEWS 23/01/96 (M.I.C.)

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

Macedonian Information Centre Directory

CONTENTS

SKOPJE, JANUARY 23, 1996 (MIC)

[01] GENERAL TRAJCHE KRSTEVSKI - NEW CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF

General Colonel Dragoljub Bocinov handed over the position of Chief of the General Staff of the Macedonian Army at the Macedonian Defence Ministry yesterday, due to retirement.

With a decree from President Kiro Gligorov, General Colonel Trajche Krstevski, to-date Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Macedonian Army has been appointed as his replacement. General Lieutenant Colonel Janakie Manasievski - to date Assistant Chief of General Staff has been appointed as his deputy. Both were previously promoted in rank.

General Trajche Krstevski was born on December 3, 1938 in Titov Veles, Republic of Macedonia. He finished elementary school and high school in his birth town. He graduated from the Military Academy for land forces in Belgrade in 1961. His first army posts in former Yugoslavia were in the army barracks in Sinj and Benkovac, where he served from 1961 to 1970. Due to his excellent results, he was promoted to Captain in 1966, and sent to serve with the UN mission in Egypt.

At the time of the dissolution of Yugoslavia, he was serving in the Republic of Croatia. Due to the well-known events that took place in 1991, he left the federal army and returned to the Republic of Macedonia, joining the Macedonian Army. From the start of 1991, he took an active part in the formation of the military formations of the units of the Macedonian Army. With a decree from the President, he was appointed Deputy Chief of General Staff on April 1, 1992.

[02] LIBERALIZATION OF TRADE WITH CROATIA

The key and essential need of the Macedonian and Croatian economy is to liberalize the regime of cooperation, seeing the two economies are more complimentary than competitive. There are very important perspectives for joint appearances on third markets, as well as the fact that Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski has given an assurance that the competent state organs will verify the agreements and proposals of the commerce chambers on a reciprocal basis, which is in the interest of both economies.

These are the main points underlined at yesterday's talks between the delegations of the Macedonian and Croatian commerce chambers, with the participation of a larger group of businessmen from both countries, as well as the statements that the presidents of the chambers Dushan Petreski and Nadan Vidosevich gave to the press. It was pointed out that five years ago, the stock exchange between the two countries amounted to 1 million DEM, and at present, it is reduced to one eighth of that amount, however, very favorable conditions for renewing or advancing the former level of economic relations are coming into sight.

The formation of an inter-chamber organ was announced at the meeting, which will coordinate and direct the concrete activities of the state organs and the economic subjects, the establishment of a regime of free trade between the two countries, and especially contribution to the improvement of a climate for development of the mutual economic relations is expected from the announced visit of the President of the Republic of Macedonia Kiro Gligorov to Croatia.

[03] CONFERENCE ON MACEDONIAN-GREEK ECONOMIC RELATIONS

A two-day conference on the Macedonian-Greek economic relations is set to start in the Greek capital tomorrow, under the organization of the Institute for international economic relations from Athens.

The Macedonian delegation attending this conference will be comprised of Dr. Verica Hadzivasileva-Markovska from the Agency for Transformation, the professors from the University "Sts. Cyril and Methodius" Mihail Petkovski and Vladimir Kandikian, as well as Tome Nenovski, Deputy Government of the National Bank of Macedonia. The conference in Athens served as a good reason to reiterate Greece's great interest in establishing comprehensive cooperation with the Republic of Macedonia. The Association of Exporters from Northern Greece is particularly enthusiastic about the idea of reviving the economic cooperation with Macedonia. According to the Association, the exchange has increased considerably since the lifting of the economic embargo, however, at present, it is still at the level of smaller business enterprises, that have opened their own shops in Macedonia.

Before the introduction of the embargo in 1993, Macedonia ranked 10th among Greece's biggest trade partners. Greece used to export goods to Macedonia worth 127.5 million ECU.

[04] GLIGOROV CONGRATULATES ARAFAT

The President of the Republic of Macedonia Kiro Gligorov sent a telegram of congratulations to Jaser Arafat, on the occasion of his election as President of the Palestinian national authority. Among the rest, the telegram emphasizes the just struggle of the Palestinian people over the past five decades, as well as Macedonia's willingness to establish and develop good relations and cooperation with the Palestinian national authority.

[05] CONGRATULATIONS TO NEW GREEK PRIME MINISTER

The Prime Minister of the Republic of Macedonia Branko Crvenkovski has sent a telegram to the new Greek Prime Minister Kostas Simitis, congratulating him on his election to this high- ranking and responsible function.

In the telegram, the Macedonian Prime Minister expressed satisfaction with the high level of friendly relations and the start of a fruitful cooperation in a great number of fields of common interest. He emphasized the conviction that these relations will continue to develop and strengthen, for the good of the people of Macedonia and Greece.

A telegram with similar contents was also sent by Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski, to his colleague, the new Greek Foreign Minister Teodoros Pangalos.

[06] VMRO-DPMNE DECLARATION ON KEEPING NAME

"In relation to the upcoming implementation of the so- called Macedonian-Greek Accord and the negotiations on changing our country's constitutional name, the Republic of Macedonia, the VMRO-DPMNE Central Committee adopted a Declaration as its second session on the 20th of this month, on keeping the historical and constitutional name of our country, the Republic of Macedonia," the VMRO-DPMNE Central Committee announced.

Among the rest, the Declaration says: "The century-old and constitutional name of our state is Macedonia, i.e. the Republic of Macedonia. No one, under any circumstances, has the right to negotiate and accept any changes to the name.

The name Republic of Macedonia is directly linked with the national affiliation of the Macedonian people, who are bearers of the statehood, and making any changes to the country's name implies violation of the national sentiments of the majority people, continuation of the genocide, denial of the existence of the people, their language, history and culture.

The request to change the name of our state is an anti- civilizational and anti-historic act, without precedent in the international relations.

VMRO-DPMNE will continue to seek ways of resolving controversial issues with all neighbors by peaceful means, by means of dialogue on equal grounds, and on the basis of mutual respect. This will create conditions for lasting peace in the Balkans, good-neighborliness and long-term cooperation."

At the end of the announcement, it is said that the Declaration will be sent out to all relevant international organizations and institutions, including the Security Council.

[07] NO MEDICAL TREATMENT WITHOUT PAYING FEES

Patients without confirmation of having paid the necessary fees to the Social Insurance Fund, will not be able to receive medical treatment. They will have to pay for the services from their own pocket. According to the data of the Fund's regional unit in Skopje, only 4,000 out of 31,000 legal subjects have paid these fees. Pensioners will claim their right to social protection by having money deducted from their last received pension cheque.

[08] APPLICATION FORMS FOR RE-REGISTRATION OF ENTERPRISES

As the deadline for the re-registration of enterprises is nearing, in accordance with the new law on enterprises, the ques at the Commercial Courts are growing longer and longer.

So far, only one fifth of the 85,000 legal entities registered last year have been re-registered. This measure is expected to eliminate a large number of fictive enterprises.

[09] CONSTRUCTION OF BUSINESS CENTER IN SKOPJE CONTINUES

Construction of the Business Center in down-town Skopje, next to Hotel Grand, is expected to resume these days, after a several-month hold-up.

The basic project has been altered, and now the Center is planned to have two storeys, with a shopping area of 2,500 m2. A parking lot for 150 cars will be built in the basement, as well as 8 storeys for administrative business premises, which will be rented out, either for a limited time or for lasting use.

A heliport will be built on the rooftop, in accordance with the standards agreed between the investors and the Government and Transport Ministry.

Co-investors in this project are the Public Enterprise for the Management of Housing and Business Areas with 55% of the capital, and YUCAN Engineering with 45% of the capital.

The Business Center will have its own information service that will provide them with access to the necessary information from the world market.

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