MILS NEWS 20/03/96

From: "M.I.L.S." <mils@MILS.SPIC.ORG.MK>

Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory

CONTENTS

MILS NEWS

Skopje, 20 March 1996

[01] CHRISTOPHER ROBERT HILL - THE FIRST US AMBASSADOR TO MACEDONIA

[02] GERMAN AID FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE RAIL TRACK TO BULGARIA

Macedonian Premiere Branko Crvenkovski informed on the discussions he had with Schpranger regarding the situation in the region, and stressed that their views on the development of the relations with the EU member countries coincide. They had agreed that countries of this region should develop their relations with the EU bilaterally, without any favoring.

German Minister also met with President Kiro Gligorov of Macedonia, and they talked about the bilateral economy cooperation and the possibilities to include FR Germany more directly in the projects in Macedonia.

Minister Schpranger also had talks with the vice Premiere and Economy Minister Bekjir Zutta, Minister of Transport Dimitar Buzlevski and with Development Minister Abdulmenaf Bejetti.

[03] POSITIVE TRENDS IN MACEDONIA'S TRANSITION

Ferhoigen was also received by the Premiere Branko Crvenkovski, who stressed the interceding of Macedonia for the countries in the region to be treated independently in their joining the European associations.

On the meeting the German guest had with the Macedonian Foreign Minister Frchkovski and the President of the Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee, Ilinka Mitreva, the integration processes in the European structures were discussed. In context of that, they stressed the need for the EU to be spread its structure to the Eastern and Central European countries.

Ferhoigen for the Macedonian Radio said he sees Macedonia as a partner of the EU and other European associations, and as a mediator to the solving of the problems in the region.

Regarding his comparison of the higher education of Albanians in Macedonia with the one of the Africans in South Africa during the apartheid, Ferhoigen said it was a comparison unsuitable for a democratic country, such as Macedonia.

[04] NORWEGIAN INVESTMENT IN MACEDONIA

The possibilities for Norwegian investments in the water power system in Macedonia were discussed. Kolegrendl was informed on the minorities issues in the country.

The Norwegian guests also met with the Macedonian Foreign Minister Ljubomir Frchkovski and paid greatest attention to the Macedonia relations with the neighbours, as well as the options for finding a solution for Kosovo.

[05] MACEDONIA CLOSER TO THE EU THAN ALBANIA

The paper 'Coriere De La Sera' also comented that Macedonia was much closer to the agreement on the economy cooperation with the EU than Albania, as the latter should further develop its democracy.

'Il Messagero' daily stressed that 'after Dayton Accord, the significance of the southern Balkan has increased', adding that the importance of Macedonia was crucial.

All Italian papers wrote that Italian Foreign Ministry promised to Macedonian officials that 'Macedonia will, almost certainly, sign the Agreement on Cooperation and Trade with the EU till the end of the presidential mandate of Italy, i.e. till June 1996'.

[06] SHOCK FOR PREMIERE SIMITIS

Meanwhile, many comments were provoked by the statement of FR Yugoslav Foreign Minister Milutinovic for the Greek TV 'Antenna', saying that 'Macedonia does belong to Greece, but Skopje has also the right to that name, as the whole region is called Macedonia'. Greek papers claim that Miloshevic will come to Macedonia tomorrow, when the recognition under the constitutional name will take place. That will, as alleged, make the relations between Athens and Belgrade much colder.

[07] MACEDONIAN ECONOMY REPRESENTATIVE OFFICE IN THESSALONIKI

The Head of the Greek Liaison Office in Skopje Alexandros Mallias stressed that the perspective of the two countries is the mutual gradual incorporation in the EU. 'Greece, as a member of the EU, will give full support to Macedonia in its integration in the EU,' said Mallias. According to him, this would contribute to the stability in the region in general.

[08] UN DELEGATION OF INCB IN MACEDONIA

[09] SYMPOSIUM ON HUMAN RIGHTS

[10] MACEDONIAN STOCK MARKET IN OPERATION BY THE END OF MARCH

The public was informed that two Commissions (one for securities and another for admission of new members in the Stock Market) will run the operation. Trade with securities will be done twice a week, on Tuesdays and on Thursdays. The mediating compensations will be 0.3% of the value of stocks and bonds, and trade compensation will be 0.5%.

The start will be the sale at the so-called second stock market of Tutunska Banka, Balkan Banka and Invest Banka. It was suggested that trade with bonds issued for the rehabilitation of the banking system in Macedonia takes place at the first market. At the third, so-called unofficial market, residual stocks of 'Agroplod' from Resen, at the disposal of the Privatisation Agency, will be offered. There are discussions on placing other stocks and bonds possessed by this Agency and by the one for Rehabilitation of Banks.

[11] YEAR STARTED WITH INCREASED PRODUCTION

Industrial production in January and February 1995 has increased 8.7% compared to the same months last year.

MILS SUPPLEMENT

[12] Macedonians Should Not Be Frightened by The Albanian Requests

('Fokus', 15 March 1996; Interview with Ibrahim Rugova, leader of Albanians in Kosovo)

The solving of the Kosovo issue in accordance with the political will of the people would calm down all the Albanians in the Balkans. That is a very important issue.

Q: Do you think there would have been no Mala Rechica and Albanian university in Macedonia if the university in Kosovo was not closed?

Well, with the creation of the new states and their changed situation, Albanians wanted to have universities there. I think we have to be flexible about it. We will no longer have the old communist universities: one university, one state, one hoja (a Muslim priest)... There will be private and other institutions, maybe better than the public ones.

Not maybe, there will be private universities for sure, as well as special institutions, centres, etc.

Q: The opinion in Macedonia is that the university in Mala Rechica is an imported thing, a substitute for the Kosovo university.

That is a wrong opinion, as the Kosovo university exists and works. We even have better results and greater interest than before. People who want to study come now, not matter what is their perspective. Despite the difficult situation in Kosovo, people freed themselves from the old system and their attitudes have changed. That is the new perspective. I call it 'the new generation of the Republic'. Those are new people knocking on the door. I want them to come to the university in the greatest possible number, as they are pragmatic people, without all the former traditions of the system and the Balkans. Those are people who speak foreign languages and have modern views.

Q: You are aware, however, that a university is understood as an expression of the constitutionality of the people, aren't you?

We have to get rid of that understanding. It will be a contribution of the educated Albanians in future. University in Skopje, Tetovo, Bitola - pluralism, competition, that is the concept. I remember being a student when we established the University in Pristine. It stirred former Yugoslavia very much, as well as the Television Pristine. It were also hard times. But now the situation is new.

Q: Do you think the constitutional status of Albanians will not federalize Macedonia?

That is not a question of federalization. I can see nothing wrong at making the Albanians a constitutional people in Macedonia. And the federalization may be considered as territorial, but Albanians did not want that.

Q: Federalization, constitutional status, which understands the right of self-determination which leads to secession ... Would you agree these are not very pleasant associations in the minds of Macedonians?

There is that all scheme of self-determination, and if one people decides to live with another one in a country, that is a positive thing. Because we will have an integration of the Balkans in future. An independent Kosovo will alleviate the circulation between Macedonia and Kosovo, between Albania and Serbia.

Q: This issue is becoming a hot one lately, since the public requests of Albanians in Macedonia resulted in colder inter- ethnic relations.

But we have to develop the new relations without any fears. The requests and possibilities have to be discussed. Time has to pass for a new attitude to be established. Macedonian party should not be afraid.

Q: And what would you say about the fact that Macedonians, unlikely Albanians, do not have another home country?

I do not accept that. We were the third most numerous people in former Yugoslavia and we were treated as a minority, as a devil. I see this as national solving of the issue. We, Albanians, did not work on gathering all Albanians in one country. We must accept some truths. Our people were separated in 1913, and there are maybe more of us outside than inside Albania. The situation is the same with the Macedonians. And now one can hear opinions that Kosovo will be a second Albanian state. Well it will be a state of the majority people in Kosovo - the Albanians, and of the minority - the Serbs. I do not deny the Serbian interests in Kosovo, we have to get rid of that.

Q: Don't you think you are too optimistic?

No, I am very pragmatic. I work, I keep relations. And to be optimistic is not such a bad thing, is it?

Q: When you talk about the requests of Albanians, do you take into account the suspicion of Macedonians? There is a great number of Macedonians outside the country, as well as the Albanians.

We have to get used to discussing. Albanians were divided, and are divided still. So are the Macedonians, and other people. But, we have to discuss.

Q: Wouldn't it be good if Greece and Bulgaria were in a mood to discuss such issue?

They will be. I want to stress once again that a country such as Macedonia will be stronger with Albanians. We must work on political acclimatization of the people, on their getting used to live together, not only formally. We should be fed up with the ideas we had in former Yugoslavia. That was our biggest mistake!

(end)

mils news 20 March 1996