Epilogh MAK-NEWS 22/02/95 (M.I.L.S.) [*]

Ta nea ths hmeras, opws ta eide to MILS:

  1. * GOVERNMENT REGRETS TETOVO EVENTS BUT STANDS FIRM
  2. * STOEL MEETS ANDOV AND LIMANOVSKI Anaferetai kai stoys Toyrkoys ths pGDM.
  3. . SLOVENIA SUPPORTS MACEDONIA'S SOVEREIGNTY
  4. . DIPLOMATIC BRIEFS
  5. * ALBANIAN OFFICIAL DEMANDS EQUALITY FOR ETHNIC ALBANIANS Sklhres dhlwseis apo ton Albano AnYpEj.
  6. * AKASHI GIVES INTERVIEW WITH PRISHTINA WEEKLY "KOHA" Anhsyxos o Akasi gia thn katastash me thn albanikh meionothta ths pGDM.
  7. * PEDAGOGICAL ACADEMY APPOINTS PROFESSORS IN ALBANIAN
  8. * PDP REQUESTS CONSULTATION FOR A PRODUCTIVE PARLIAMENT Den exoyn apofasisei akomh an qa apoxwrhsei monimws apo thn boylh.
  9. * WRONG POLITICAL STEPS LEAD TO WARS, DZAFERI SAYS Anoixtes pleon oi apeiles apo merida twn Albanwn ths pGDM.
  10. * PARTY REACTIONS AND STATEMENTS
  11. * NEVZAT HALILI TAKEN INTO CUSTODY Nea syllhch Albanoy hgeth sthn pGDM.
  12. * PARLIAMENT POSTPONES SESSIONS
  13. . HEPATITIS IN RESEN
  14. . CULTURAL BRIEFS
  15. . UNPROFOR TO DISTRIBUTE GIFTS TO CHILDREN


MILS NEWS

Skopje, 22 February, 1995

  1. GOVERNMENT REGRETS TETOVO EVENTS BUT STANDS FIRM
    Macedonian Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski yesterday expressed deep regret for the tragic events in Tetovo last week concerning the university in Mala Rechica and Poroy. He said, "It is events like this unfortunate one clearly show all the possible consequences of activities undertaken outside the legal framework and procedure. The government had made its position on the issue clear, warning the initiators of the possible consequences if they proceeded with the opening. Unfortunately, they showed no understanding, continuing to play their role of self- declared messiahs without any feeling of responsibility for their own lives and the lives of others. The Macedonian government remains consistent in fulfilling its constitutional duty of protecting the constitutional and legal establishment in the country. It is our duty to punish all activities violating the Constitution and law and we will do so in future as well. Initiatives may be carried out in a democracy only through its institutions and in accordance with the established procedure. Some of them are accepted, and some are not, but this is the only way. Without this, there is neither democracy nor state. As for the constitutional rights to education in people's native language, the government has stated its position several times, and I will here repeat it once again. The constitution allows education in the mother tongue in elementary and high-schools only if conditions are created for it, meaning only if there are the opportunities to train teachers for such purposes. Otherwise, this right itself would be brought into question. Therefore, just like until now and with even greater intensity, the government will continue with its activities, suggesting at the same time that all other legal institutions also do so, to resolve problems in education." Referring to reactions to the events in Tetovo and the international institutions, Crvenkovski stressed Macedonia's foreign policy principle of good neighborly relations remains consistent, saying "We consider the neighboring countries' interest in the position and rights of minorities in Macedonia as justified. Nevertheless, what we disagree with is that these countries cross the line dividing concern and interference in another state's internal affairs. This is a principle we strongly hold to in our relations with all neighbors and rightfully expect them to do the same." He mentioned the media in Albania has been incorrectly reporting the events in and around Tetovo, causing negative reactions among the Albanian public. "We do not believe this is a way to strengthen mutual trust between two neighboring nations." Recalling that the Greek government's spokesman said the events in Tetovo were "a reminder of the unstable situation in Macedonia," Crvenkovski said time will prove this statement wrong. "Quite the contrary, the ability of Macedonia to deal with such problems is the best proof for its stability. The messages by many European states and international organizations asking our neighboring countries to show respect for Macedonia's constitutional and legal establishment, its territorial integrity and sovereignty, to start cooperation with the authorities in Macedonia and to deal with problems only through state institutions, show direct support for our policy proclaimed."

  2. STOEL MEETS ANDOV AND LIMANOVSKI
    Two days ago, Macedonian Parliament President Stojan Andov received OSCE High Commissioner Max Van der Stoel. They discussed the current political situation and ethnic relations in Macedonia following the incident regarding the university in Tetovo. Andov said the escalation was a result of political and not educational goals, aimed at a wider radicalization of the Albanian question in the region. The political methods used, he said, would lead toward a wider conflict on a national basis. Both Andov and Stoel concluded the rights of minorities must be implemented within the legal framework and in accordance with the constitution and law.

    Stoel later met with Nijazi Limanovski, president of the Association of Ethnologists in Macedonia. Limanovski spoke about the position of the Moslem Macedonians, saying the Democratic Party of Turks is leading an aggressive policy toward Moslem Macedonians and the political parties of Albanians are attempting to assimilate this category of citizen. Education and government institutions and their conformist and opportune policy is to be blamed for the current position of the Moslem Macedonian, he said.

  3. SLOVENIA SUPPORTS MACEDONIA'S SOVEREIGNTY
    Slovenia supports the sovereignty and independence of Macedonia, insisting that problems concerning the illegal university ought to be resolved within the constitutional and legal framework of the state. This was stated by Ignjac Golob, State Secretary of the Slovenian Foreign Ministry, at a meeting with the Macedonian ambassador to Slovenia, Dimitar Mirchev. They also discussed the development of bilateral relations and Mirchev pointed to a need for an urgent solution to the problem of Macedonian workers now on a hunger strike in Slovenia.

  4. DIPLOMATIC BRIEFS
    - Macedonian President Kiro Gligorov yesterday received Arnold Hugentobler, ambassador of the Swiss Confederation to Macedonia, currently visiting Macedonia. They talked about improving bilateral economic relations and cooperation. Hugentobler met separately with Parliament President Andov, Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski, and Ilinka Mitreva, president of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Relations.

    - Macedonian Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski yesterday met with Dennis Schneider, Canadian Charge d' Affaires in Belgrade. They talked about improvement of bilateral relations. Crvenkovski stressed the need of establishing diplomatic ties and opening a Macedonian diplomatic or an liaison office in Canada.

    - Yesterday the governments of Macedonia, Antigua and Barbuda established diplomatic relations and appointed non- resident ambassadors yesterday.

  5. ALBANIAN OFFICIAL DEMANDS EQUALITY FOR ETHNIC ALBANIANS
    "It is one thing to be concerned with Macedonia as a key element of stability in the Balkans, and quite another thing to be resolutely determined to struggle for the rights of ethnic Albanians living there." This was stated yesterday by Arian Starova, Deputy Foreign Minister of Albania, as quoted by A1 Television. If Skopje continues on this course, Starova reportedly said, "we will not accept unfulfilled promises by the Macedonian leadership." He said the events in Tetovo will affect the diplomatic relations between the two countries. Saying he still supports the idea "to have this small Slav-Macedonian state consolidated as an independent and autonomous state", Starova stated that Albanian diplomacy is expecting to see progress in the implementation of the rights of ethnic Albanians in Macedonia and the recognition of them as an essential and equal element in the Macedonian state.

  6. AKASHI GIVES INTERVIEW WITH PRISHTINA WEEKLY "KOHA"
    A1 Television reports that Yasushi Akashi, Special UN Envoy for the former Yugoslavia, gave an interview with the Prishtina weekly Koha and commented on relations between ethnic Albanians and Macedonians in Macedonia. He said the last report on the situation in Macedonia is not good, adding that he hopes the dialogue between the Macedonian ethnic majority and ethnic Albanians will go well. Akashi also hoped the university issue will be resolved by compromise. He said stability in Macedonia may be endangered for two reasons: economic difficulties and ethnic minorities issues, that is the Albanian minority. Akashi offered to mediate in the dialogue, underling that internal affairs ought to remain a responsibility of the International Conference on the Former Yugoslavia.

  7. PEDAGOGICAL ACADEMY APPOINTS PROFESSORS IN ALBANIAN
    The Teachers Council at the Pedagogical Academy in Skopje decided to appoint Dr. Dzeladin Murati as a professor of pedagogy in the Albanian language, Redzep Balaci as a professor of psychology, and Dr. Seifedin Suleimani as a professor of educational sociology.

  8. PDP REQUESTS CONSULTATION FOR A PRODUCTIVE PARLIAMENT
    The PDP parliamentary group yesterday held a session at parliament. Following the meeting, coordinator Ismet Ramadani said they had discussed events in Tetovo, Macedonian Radio reports. The parliamentary group decided on a need of talks with President Gligorov, Parliament President Stojan Andov, and other top officials, to state their view that the PDP must be consulted before proposing new laws to regulate sensitive issues concerning ethnic relations. In this way, Ramadani said, the process of passing new laws will be more productive. The group has still not decided whether to continue its participation in parliament. It will not take part in the continuation of the tenth session, and has yet to decide upon future participation. The final decision is expected today. PDP and NDP representatives yesterday met with Parliament President Andov.

  9. WRONG POLITICAL STEPS LEAD TO WARS, DZAFERI SAYS
    According to Arben Dzaferi, leader of the Tetovo-based PDP faction, the main cause for the current crisis in Macedonia is the desire of one people to dominate over another. This, he said, is being done by the Milosevic regime, and is being carried out through laws in Macedonia. We will not dissociate ourselves from Fadil Suleimani and the idea for a university, Dzaferi said. Our conditions are to have Suleimani released and the university courses restarted. Only then will we discuss matters. At present, the conflict is between the people and the authorities, but it may easily turn into an ethnic conflict. The idea is for an Albanian- language university that is not destabilizing to Macedonia; on the contrary, such a university would only contribute to long-term stability within the country. The government is taking the wrong steps, and wrong steps lead to wars.

  10. PARTY REACTIONS AND STATEMENTS
    Several political parties in Macedonia reacted yesterday concerning the university in Tetovo. - The Democratic Party says this is all a result of the current government's policy and its working behind the back of the nation. The government's secret meetings with informal political groups are disturbing, as this introduces distortion into the political system for which the government must account. The government makes promises easily, acts with a delay instead of in a preventive manner, and always retreats in the face of ultimatums by the political parties of ethnic Albanians. The Democratic Party insists that the government openly tells the public what it has promised the ethnic Albanians.

    - VMRO-DPMNE says the parties of the Alliance for Macedonia and their coalition partner PDP bear the greatest responsibility for the current ethnic tension and any future escalation.

    - VMRO-DP accuses the current government of using the media as a means of promoting the Albanian minority into a partner for resolving the university in Tetovo issue.

    - The Democratic Party of Turks in Macedonia emphasized the danger of radicalization of ethnic relations, demanding that President Gligorov uses his authority to resolve the problem through dialogue and within the institutional framework.

  11. NEVZAT HALILI TAKEN INTO CUSTODY
    Nevzat Halili, leader of the new party of Albanians in Macedonia PDP - Party of National Unity, was taken into custody yesterday, Makpress reports. Halili is a close associate of Fadil Suleimani, the rector of the university in Tetovo, and was directly involved in the events surrounding the university, especially in the village of Poroy.

  12. PARLIAMENT POSTPONES SESSIONS
    The Parliament Information Service announced the postponement of the tenth, eleventh and thirteenth session for next week, due to requests by parliamentary groups.

  13. HEPATITIS IN RESEN
    Health workers in Resen discovered 45 cases of contagious hepatitis in the elementary school "Mite Bogoevski" in Resen. Nineteen of the pupils have been affected since the beginning of January. The epidemic center in Resen declared the situation an epidemic state in elementary school. The schools will continue their work, but under strengthened measures to improve hygiene and communal conditions.

  14. CULTURAL BRIEFS
    The French Cultural Center in Skopje and the Association of Cultural Cooperation between Macedonia and France will organize lectures at the French Cultural Center. Professor Dr. Kiril Temkov of the Faculty of Philosophy of Skopje will give a lecture on "Voltaire and His Epoch of Light", at 6 p.m., today. Tomorrow at 6 p.m. professor Nano Ruzhin will speak about Macedonia and its foreign policy.

  15. UNPROFOR TO DISTRIBUTE GIFTS TO CHILDREN
    UNPROFOR troops will play a delayed Santa Clause tomorrow, Thursday, February 23, when it distributes gifts to nearly 100 students from 20 schools around Skopje. The gifts are from two Danish companies - Lego and Stimorol - and the schools were selected by the Macedonian Ministry of Education. Soldiers from the Second Finnish Company based in Skopje will entertain people with traditional songs from Finland. The event takes place at 13:30 hrs at UNPROFOR Headquarters.