MAK-NEWS 4/10/95 (M.I.L.S.)

From: "M.I.L.S." <mils@ITL.MK>

Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory

CONTENTS

MILS NEWS

Skopje, 4 October, 1995

[01] CONDITION OF PRESIDENT GLIGOROV

-A team of specialist doctors of the Medical Faculty in Skopje yesterday performed a number of delicate operations on President Kiro Gligorov. Surgery was performed on the President's brain stem from which was removed a metal splinter, and further procedures undertaken to restrict internal bleeding. Medical staff have confirmed that Mr. Gligorov sustained a number of injuries on the right side of his face and upper torso. Unofficial sources reveal that the condition of the President over the next few days will be delicate, and further surgery is possible, particularly to his right eye. His current condition, monitored closely during the night and early this morning, is reported as being stable. Moreover, apart from the team of surgeons of the Medical Faculty in Skopje, a number of medical experts have also arrived to tend to the President from France and Greece, in addition to the arrival of sophisticated medical equipment from the US through UNPREDEP. The medical team announced that the surgery has been necessary in order to stem the symptoms of his injures. A further official report received this morning indicates that the President successfully underwent the latest series of operations, and his cardio-circulatory and respiratory functions are stable. Bearing in mind the area of injury and the length of the surgical procedures, all necessary and standard steps have been taken to ensure intensive care.

[02] 20 KG EXPLOSIVE USED

Yesterday at approximately 9. 45. a.m. in the central Skopje artery "Makedonija", adjacent to the Bristol Hotel, an attempt on the life of the Macedonian President Kiro Gligorov was made by persons unknown by the detonation of a car-bomb as the Presidential motorcade was passing. The President sustained head injures, and was conveyed immediately to the City Hospital, and from there to the Emergency Clinical Center at the Medical Faculty in Skopje.

At present, his life is not in danger.

Aleksandar Spirovski, the President's chauffeur, was tragically killed in the attack, while five citizens - passer's-by - were injured, two of them critically.

Immediately following the attempt on the President's life, the Macedonian Internal Affairs Ministry(MIA) took measures to secure all major entry-exit points in the city and peripheral areas of Skopje, while at the same time securing Macedonia'sl borders. MIA has mobilized specialist interior security forces, and together with otherall uniformed and civilian staff.

All persons in the vicinity of the assassination attempt are in the process of being questioned. All office buildings and shops near the scene are being thoroughly searched.

The entire special operative and uniformed staff of MIA is now being marshalled for a comprehensive investigation which will attempt to identify and apprehend the persons responsible for the assassination attempt on the President.

Special MIA units have been detached to ensure security at the Macedonian Parliament and other Government locations, while a general alert has been ordered for all mobile MIA forces.

Following the bombing, the scene was immediately sealed off and an inspection was undertaken by the District Public Prosecutor, an investigative judge of the District Court of Skopje, and specialist staff of the MIA. It was established that a car-bomb had been planted on the street "Macedonia" across from the hotel "Bristol", for detonation when the President's vehicle passed by, which was travelling from the direction of the old Railway station towards his office at the Macedonian Parliament.

Investigators have revealed that a motor vehicle, a "Citroen - ami 8 ", with Kumanovo registration, was parked at the right-side kerbing, adjacent to the pavement, and directly across from the entrance to the "Bristol" Hotel. It was also found that the explosive(according to first estimations, about 20 kg) had been placed in the trunk of the car. A bag containing sand was also found in the car- bomb, whose purpose was to direct the force of the explosion in the direction of the President's car. It is assumed that detonation of the car-bomb was made by a remote-control device. At the time of the detonation, President Gligorov was sitting in the front seat of vehicle, to the immediate right of his chauffeur. Inspection of the scene continues with a view to the identification of further evidence.

Several persons have been identified as suspects who may have been involved in the attempt on the President's life.

Further, other vehicles which appear to have been in the vicinity and behaving suspiciously, for a number of days leading up to the incident, whose registration numbers are known, are also being investigated.

Assistance was sought and subsequently provided by US specialist explosive and anti-terrorist experts, who, together with MIA operatives, will undertake a further detailed investigation on the attempt on the life of the President with a view to finding the perpetrator. Other friendly countries have also been asked to provide intelligence in order to uncover the apparent motives of the perpetrators of this act.

[03] PARLIAMENTARY PRESIDENT ANDOV HOLDS MEDIA CONFERENCE

Following the attempt on the life of the Macedonian President, Parliamentary President Stojan Andov yesterday held a formal media conference, in which he directly addressed the Macedonian public. He said that the assassination attempt was a terrorist act, which aimed to destabilize Macedonia. It was not coincidental that this monstrous act was carried out at the very time when the centuries-old dream of the Macedonian people for their own independent state and its rightful place in the world has been realized, as well as at a time which seemingly has marked the resolution of the crisis in the Balkans. It is significant also that it comes at a time when all Macedonia's neighbours and and indeed the whole world have accepted an independent Macedonia as a reality and a factor for peace in the south of the Balkans. The assassination attempt is a cruel act which is aimed directly at the peaceful existence and altruistic interests of Macedonian citizens. "I would like to inform the public that all necessary measures to ensure order and security are being taken and as such there is no need for concern or fear.

There is no force that can change the course of the independent and peaceful policy of our country, and the perpetrators and organizers of this disgusting act will be identified and brought to justice before the Macedonian Courts" .

[04] URGENT CABINET SESSION

The Macedonian Government yesterday held an emergency session as a consequence of the assassination attempt on President Gligorov. Relevant Ministries were directed to take appropriate steps to ensure their heightened functioning and the establishment of total control and surveillance of the situation. The Government approved the involvement of foreign medical teams, given that several such units had already arrived, and accepted the assistance of several friendly countries who have offered to send their anti- terrorist experts.

[05] PROTEST MEETINGS CANCELLED

Due to the latest turn of events, participants in the "Convention for Macedonia" informed the Macedonian public that they have cancelled the scheduled protest meetings on October 3 in Kichevo, and October 4 in Skopje, and appealed to all citizens to maintan peace, composure and dignity.

[06] PERSONAL MESSAGES

Personal best wishes for a speedy recovery, as well as direct telephone messages of support for the President were sent by the following : President of the Russian Federation Boris Jeltsin, President of the Italian Republic Oscar Luigi Scalfaro, President of the Republic of Albania Sali Berisha, President of the Republic of Greece, Kostas Stephanopoulos, Greek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou, President of Turkey Sulejman Demirel, Turkish Prime Minister Tancu Ciller, Bulgarian President Zelju Zelev, President of the Republic of Slovenia, Milan Kuchan, President of the Republic of Serbia, Slobodan Milosevich, Mediator in the Greek-Macedonian dispute Cyrus Vance, Foreign Minister of Germany Klaus Kinkel, President of the French Senate, Roland Bernard, Secretary-General of the Council of Europe Daniel Tarshes, EU Commissioner Hans van der Broek, UNPREDEP Commandant Juha Engstrom, the Representative of the UN Secretary General in Macedonia Henric Sokalsky, the Italian Ambassador in Skopje Faustino Troni, the British Ambassador in Skopje Tony Millson, the French Ambassador in Skopje Patrick Chrismant, the Chief of Mission of the US.Liaison Office in Skopje Victor Comras, the Chief of the OSCE Mission in Skopje Tore Bogh, the German Ambassador in Skopje Hans-Lotar Steppan, Charge d' Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Skopje Li Shuyuan, the Slovenian Ambassador in Skopje Jozzica Puhar, the Ambassador of the Republic of Romania in Skopje Nikolae Maresh, the Ambassador of the Republic of Albania in Skopje Shaban Murati, the Bulgarian Ambassador in Skopje Angel Dimitrov, and many others.

[07] REACTIONS OF THE PARTIES AND ASSOCIATIONS

- SDSM: a pernicious terrorist act, a crude violation to the peace, stability, independence and democratic development of the Republic of Macedonia.

- Liberal Party: endangering democracy in the country. Broad support is expected from the citizens and the apprehension of those who ordered this act and its perpetrators.

- Socialist party: an act of destabilisation of Macedonia.

- PDP: a terrorist act without precedent, an assassination attempt on the democratic processes in Macedonia and its peaceful European orientation.

- VMRO-DPMNE: severe condemnation of the assassination attempt, an act directed against the state and citizens of Macedonia.

- NDP: a well planned and executed assassination attempt at the very moment when efforts are being made by the Republic of Macedonia to regulate its relations with its neighbors and resolve its internal problems.

- Democratic Party of Turks: severe condemnation of this act and condolences expressed to the family of the deceased chauffeur of the President's car.

- League of Vlachs: strong condemnation of the terrorist act.

- Democratic Party of Serbs and Association of Serbs and Montenegrins living in Macedonia: A barbaric act which demonstrates that forces persistently work to cause total bloodshed in the Balkans.

- MAAK-Conservative Party: severe condemnation and an act of destabilization.

- MAAK: a brutal attack on democratic advancements in Macedonia.

- Labor Party: immeasurable crime without precedent in Macedonian history.

- Republican Party: a wish for a speedy recover of the President.

- National Association of Cultural &Scientific Manifestations of Macedonian-Muslims: the perpetrators are those who are affected by the successful leadership of this country by President Gligorov.

- World Macedonian Congress: appeals to all Macedonians and Macedonian associations all around the world to preserve peace, composure and dignity.

- Association of Egyptians: bitterness and disappointment in respect of the assassination attempt.

- Association of Macedonians from the Aegean region of Macedonia (Bitola): an attack on the independence and peace in this state.

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mils-news 4 October '95