Epilogh MAK-NEWS 08/02/95 (M.I.L.S.) [*]

Merika akomh nea apo thn pGDM, opws ta eide to MILS:

  • * Synanthsh Antwf-Komra. Synanthsh toy YpPai ths pGDM me ton Bretano Presbh sthn pGDM. O antiproswpos ths Aystralias sto Beligradi zhthse kai synanthqhke me ajiwmatoyxoys toy YpEj ths pGDM.
  • . Antiproswpeia twn MME ths pGDM sthn Slobenia.
  • * Pwlhsh kalampokioy apo thn kybernhsh ths pGDM. [Den leei pros poy, alla qa einai arketa endiaferon na maqoyme ean ejagoyne thn "anqrwpistikh bohqeia" poy pernaei apo thn Qessalonikh.]
  • . Synexisthke shmera h synedriash ths boylhs ths pGDM gia ton nomo gia to YpEs, thn KYP kai tis taytothtes.
  • * Sklhrh kritikh toy NDP kata toy proteinomenoy nomoy gia tis taytothtes.
  • * To NDP enisxyei tis prospaqeies toy gia thn edraiwsh toy albanikoy panepisthmioy sto Tetobo.
  • . H apofash ths Boylgarias na ayjhsei ta telh dieleyshs forthgwn kai lewforeiwn den isxyei gia thn pGDM.
  • * Prowqhsh arxaiologikoy xarth ths Makedonias apo thn "Akadhmia kai to Arxaiologiko Moyseio ths Makedonias", poy kalyptei thn ejelijh ths perioxhs apo toys arxaioys xronoys ews ton ekxristianismo twn slabwn.
  • . Eortasmos ths eqnikhs eorths ths Slobenias sta Skopia.
  • * Endiaferoysa synenteyjh toy antiproedroy toy VMRO-DPMNE sthn "Noba Makentonigia".

    Dhmhtrhs Paneras

    Boston, MA

    MILS NEWS

    Skopje, 8 February, 1995

  • DIPLOMATIC BRIEFS
    - Macedonian Parliament President Stojan Andov yesterday received Victor Comras, Chief of the U.S. Liaison Office in Skopje. They discussed current mutual relations and Macedonia's relations with neighboring countries. Andov pointed to the importance of an increased presence of U.S. institutions to contribute to a greater development of U.S.- Macedonian relations and cooperation. In this context, Andov said, it is necessary to start U.S. economic, cultural and legal programs in Macedonia. - Macedonian Minister of Education Emilija Simoska received Tony Millson British ambassador to Macedonia. - Noel Campbell, Australian charge d' affairs in Belgrade, requested a meeting with officials of the Macedonian Foreign Ministry. He was received by Under-secretary Victor Gaber and assistant Jordan Veselinov. They discussed mutual relations.

  • MACEDONIAN DELEGATION ARRIVES IN SLOVENIA
    Government spokesman Gjuner Ismail, accompanied by a delegation from Macedonian Radio and Television, arrived in Slovenia yesterday. Ismail was received by Slovenia's Foreign Minister Zoran Taler, who was particularly interested in Macedonia's international position and relations with neighbors. The delegation was received by the Director of the Slovenian Government Information Service, to discuss cooperation between the two ministries and exchange of experience in the field of information.

  • GOVERNMENT ACTIVITIES
    At its yesterday's session, the Macedonian government discussed several draft laws on economy, finances and the political system. The Cabinet decided on premiums for milk and on subsidies for part of the interest on agriculture credits. It also decided to sell 35,000 tons of corn reserves and accepted the proposed program for sale of state offices in the first quarter of the year. The government was informed on the cross-border bus traffic with Yugoslavia following its decision to introduce a fee of 200 German Marks for Yugoslav buses entering Macedonia. Upon a request by Serbia to have the taxes mutually abolished, the cabinet decided to put the decision out of effect as long as the Yugoslav side respects the agreement.

  • PARLIAMENT SESSION
    At 10 a.m. today, the Macedonian Parliament will hold its 10th session. The agenda includes debates on draft laws for internal affairs, the intelligence agency, laws on personal identification documentation, birth registration and public gatherings.

  • NDP ATTACKS GOVERNMENT'S IDENTIFICATION POLICY
    Mersel Biljali, coordinator of the NDP parliamentary group, stated his party's reasons for disagreeing with the government's draft laws on personal identification. Also the NDP claims the government is restrictively interpreting article 7 of the constitution which allows for only Macedonian to be used in central government communication. The same article also allows use of the minority languages at a local level. Such an interpretation, the NDP says, surely has no good intentions. The party says all locally based administrative units, whether they are local government offices or locally based central government offices, should respect the bilingual (multilingual) principle. The central offices are not now functioning on a bulingual principle. Several international conventions and documents regarding individual and collective rights oblige Macedonia to such an interpretation of the constitution. Any other interpretation is contrary to these conventions. Parliament vice-president Abdurahman Aliti says the PDP views as negative the government's attitude towards the Albanian language and its constitutional position. The Macedonian government, Aliti said, is changing its policy toward ethnic Albanians, and Albanians will consequently have to change their own policy. The PDP insists on discussing the constitutional status of the Albanian language instead of marginal issues. Unfortunately, he said, no such talks have been initiated.

  • NDP INTENSIFIES ACTIVITIES TO ESTABLISH UNIVERSITY
    Makpress reports the Tetovo branch of the NDP is intensifying its activities aimed at full establishment of the Albanian-language university in Tetovo. NDP secretary Ibraimi said the party will do all it can to legalize the institution within the state educational system. The government urgently needs to establish higher education regulations, he said. Otherwise, the NDP parliamentary group will propose a law on higher education.

  • MACEDONIANS EXEMPT FROM BULGARIAN ROAD TAXES
    The Bulgarian Ministry of Transport's decision to triple entry taxes for foreign vehicles will not affect Macedonian vehicles, as the two countries have an agreement for eliminating mutual entry taxes.

  • ARCHEOLOGICAL MAP OF MACEDONIA PROMOTED
    The Macedonian Academy of Science and Arts yesterday promoted the first volume of "The Archeological Map of Macedonia", prepared by the Academy and the Archeological Museum of Macedonia. It consists of 14 texts, starting in prehistoric times, moving through the classical period, and up to the conversion of Slavs to Christianity. It also tackles issues concerning the creation of a material culture, state institutions, ethnic origin and mutual influence among peoples in the middle Mediterranean and middle Europe. The second volume is now ready for printing.

  • SLOVENIAN DAY OF PRESHERN MARKED IN SKOPJE
    The Slovenian national holiday Day of Preshern will be celebrated by a two-day festival at the Skopje Youth Center. Jozica Puhar, the Slovenian ambassador to Macedonia, opened the event, organized in association with the Youth Center, the Slovenian Association "France Preshern", and the Slovenian embassy. The first day's program included an exhibition entitled "Slovenia in Old Graphics" and a presentation of industrial products. Today, the Slovenian Youth Theater will perform its own plays.

  • MILS SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT: "WE REFUSED TO BE AN ALIBI FOR
    THE ALLIANCE FOR MACEDONIA" (Nova Makedonija, 8 February, 1995) VMRO-DPMNE pompously announced its withdrawal from the second round of last October's election race, explaining it "will not be a part of the dishonest game imposed by the parties of the Alliance for Macedonia." The media interpreted this as betrayal of their voters, who ended up without their own representative at parliament. Yet, three and a half months after the elections VMRO-DPMNE still maintains that the party did the right thing and that the state must suffer the consequences of the party's absence in all spheres of life. To feel the effects of the VMRO absence will take time, but VMRO-DPMNE is willing to sacrifice time for higher purposes. Does this mean the party is now weaker, or has it only changed its tactics? We will have to wait and see. The following interview with Dosta Dimovska, vice- president of VMRO-DPMNE, provides an insight into present VMRO thinking: Question: Was the idea to boycott the elections a mistake, since your party had a realistic chance to win about 10 seats in parliament? Dimovska: The boycott by our party and the rest of the opposition parties was a historical move, a contribution to the democratization of the fatherland. The fact that half a million people, freed from any fear, went out in the streets and took part in the parallel voting as a sign of protest, is a loud and clear "No!" to the government's thwarting of the election at highest state levels. The boycott meant standing up against a parliament structure planned in advance. The police minister and some other government newspapers claimed the number of "extremists" and "nationalists" in the parliament must not be higher than 10 per cent of the total number of members. By deciding to boycott the elections, VMRO-DPMNE and the other opposition parties destroyed the intention of the ruling parties to carry out the second part of the referendum, speaking of "a right to enter into associations with other republics"... an intention which is quite clear, if one follows and analyzes their political steps and contacts. The government intended to keep small the number of opposition representatives in parliament so it could include Macedonia into Yugoslavia and conclude agreements with Greece on changing the name and flag. Question: Yet, despite such a standpoint, VMRO-DPMNE will still take part in local elections. Why is that? Dimovska: Provided that the necessary regulations are adopted and electoral commissions are not allowed to fabricate the local elections, it is quite possible that VMRO-DPMNE will participate in these elections. Question: Rumors are the party leadership is undergoing replacements and purges. Any truth in that? Dimovska: I have never read a single word in your paper a single about the SDSM vice-president retiring from the position and that there are serious inner differences in that party. Yet, when only one member of VMRO-DPMNE leaves the party, you could hardly wait to make it a cover story. There are no quarrels or purges within our party. Had there been, I am sure your paper would have been the first to write about it, if not an entire series of articles. Question: Do you think it is a wise choice to stay out of the state institutions? Dimovska: The parties of the Alliance for Macedonia which prepared the elections stopped at nothing in their struggle for power, drastically violating the citizens' right to freedom of choice, as well as the Law on Electing the President, Law on Electoral Units and Law on Election of Parliamentary Deputies. VMRO-DPMNE refuses to be a decoration in an illegal parliament or to be an alibi for the Alliance for Macedonia in its negotiations and deals with the PDP, all designed to prove to the world that this dictatorship is a democracy. Question: What are your arguments proving that the current government is illegal? Dimovska: No government can be legal if half of the electoral body in the country has no representative in parliament and if that government has been elected through violations of the law, forgeries and criminal acts. VMRO- DPMNE issued a Declaration on the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections and presented it to the domestic and international public. The Declaration states that the election results are a sheer fabrication organized by the government and cannot be a basis for constituting a legal government which is supposed to present the interests of the nation. Therefore, all agreements of fundamental and strategic national interest concluded by this illegal government will not be valid. This view of ours has been twisted by the media and described as aimed against the state. But a communist regime cannot be identified with the state. Question: Your party promised to reveal full documentation to prove the alleged thwarting. Whatever happened with this? Dimovska: The analysis of the manipulation supported by evidence has been submitted to all international organizations engaged in protection of human rights and liberties. During the election, the Law on Electoral Lists was drastically violated: lists were not posted up eight days before the elections, as required by Law. Minister Tushe Goshev publicly stated the total number of voters who participated in the elections. Then the State Electoral Commission came up with different figures, only to present a third figure several hours later. There was a difference of some 10,000 voters in their statements. Besides, over 10 per cent of citizens who voted had not been included in the electoral lists, so that double electoral lists were in the game. Question: Your party is almost completely absent in the post-election period. Have you given up the political struggle or are you awaiting something else? Dimovska: It is ridiculous to claim that a party of the scope and power of VMRO-DPMNE has given up its political struggle. If the government desired an opposition which would serve only as a decoration in or out of parliament, and only to amortize its bargaining with the Albanians in Macedonia or to buy out social stability through continuous production of a fear of war, we will not help its wish come true. This is only a change in the tactics of our political action. As for the government, its wisest step was to move into the building of the old Central Committee of the Communist Party of Macedonia, thus symbolically and politically showing its true identity. Macedonian Television stopped broadcasting parliament sessions, in order to avoid the shame of presenting the work of the essentially one- party parliament. Frchkovski went so far in his repressive measures that he started questioning the autonomy of the Macedonian university. He and certain other members of the government put pressure on and threatened professors at the Pedagogical Academy in Skopje to implement the unconstitutional decision to have courses at the Academy completely in the Albanian language. This will be a gradual establishment of an Albanian-language university in Skopje. The policy of the Alliance for Macedonia more and more obviously leads towards the federalization of Macedonia and turning the country into a new Bosnia. The illegal cabinet of Crvenkovski is taking Macedonia more deeply towards an economic disaster characterized by a drastic decline of production, an absence of investments, an domination of the black market and higher taxes. Privatization is continuing through a massive theft of state capital and the employed are thrown out in the streets without any social protection. Question: What are the party plans fro the future? Dimovska: At the moment, the party is occupied with analyses of the previous activity and its mistakes. We are considering the necessary changes of tactics and preparations for the coming regular party congress, expected to reinvigorate our political platform and structure. At the same time, we will intensify our international activity and contacts. Question: Will not this international activity be taking place at the cost of neglecting the domestic media? Your party seems to be doing all it can to make it hard for the media to contact VMRO-DPMNE. Dimovska: This is so because there is only one truly independent weekly magazine in Macedonia and all other media are government-controlled. No daily newspaper is independent and there is no freedom of the press, a basic condition for the functioning of a democracy. Almost all media either have been or are attacking VMRO-DPMNE and launching misinformation about it, pushing it to the margins of political life, hence the mistrust. Shortly an information darkness will fall upon Macedonia. Question: Finally, let me ask you about your party's relations with the Democratic Party. Your offer for a coalition prior to the elections was not accepted by the Democrats. What is new in this field? Dimovska: It is our view that before the elections the Democratic Party was not organized enough to enter into such a coalition with us. True, we did offer them a coalition and were turned down, which only strengthened the position of Gligorov and the Alliance. I can only add that we have been more closely cooperating after the election.