MILS NEWS 27/05/96

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From: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>

CONTENTS

[01] GHALI RECOMMENDS EXTENSION OF UNPREDEP MANDATE

[02] DEEPENING OF THE ITALIAN-MACEDONIAN RELATIONS

[03] 'TA NEA': U.S. ENCOURAGEMENT OF GLIGOROV NEEDED

[04] DEMACI: 'KOSOVO TO BE GIVEN EQUAL STATUS WITH SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO'

[05] ALBANIAN OPPOSITION WITHDREW FROM THE ELECTIONS

[06] INTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTRY DENIES

[07] LJUBISAV IVANOV-ZINGO NEW PRESIDENT OF THE SOCIALIST PARTY

[08] PDP - STILL CENTRAL PARTY

MILS SUPPLEMENT

[09] 'European Stick And Carrot in The Solving of Albanian Issue'

MILS NEWS

Skopje, 27 May 1996

[01] GHALI RECOMMENDS EXTENSION OF UNPREDEP MANDATE

UN peace forces have arrived in Macedonia in 1993 for the first time, to monitor the borders with Serbia, Kosovo and Albania. Most of the troops are from the USA, with 550 soldiers, followed by 362 Finnish soldiers.

In his 16 pages report (partly reported by 'Vecer' daily), Ghali had stated that peace and stability in Macedonia still depend on the development of the situation in other parts of former Yugoslavia, which is the main reason for the extension of UNPREDEP mandate.

Referring to the internal political situation of Macedonia, Ghali stated that the dispute between the ruling parties about the legality of the government change had not provoked a great crisis, which proved the improvement of the political stability. He also pointed out the way the campaign for collecting signatures for a referendum on early elections was performed as another encouraging example of the improvement of pluralistic democracy.

UN Secretary General also referred to the participation of Albanians in the state institutions, estimating that the governmental policy of an affirmative action and a 'positive discrimination' of the ethnic groups gives results more slowly than expected. 'Although the new government has five ministers and a number of high officials of Albanian nationality, the inter-ethnic tensions are still present. It is a threat to the social structure of the country, its integration and long-term stability,' reads Ghali's report to the UN Security Council.

[02] DEEPENING OF THE ITALIAN-MACEDONIAN RELATIONS

Macedonian media reported the statement of President Skalfaro that he would do all he could for Macedonia to sign the Agreement on Economic and Trade Cooperation with the EU till the end of June, when the presidential mandate of Italy in the Union ends. President Skalfaro pointed out the good course of Macedonia in the inter-ethnic relations in the country, which should not be changed. The bilateral relations were also a subject discussed, and were said to be improving, in context of which Italian President announced a possibility to visit Macedonia soon.

Macedonian representatives and Italian Parliament President Violante exchanged opinions about the parliamentarian cooperation, the possibilities to simplify the visas regulations for the Macedonian citizens, and the efforts to agree on the elimination of the double taxation.

During the talks with Vatican Secretary of State Angello Sodano, the relations between the Holy Chair and Macedonian Orthodox Church were discussed for the first time.

Macedonian delegation emphasized the need to have Vatican as a mediator in the establishing of diplomatic relations with South American Catholic countries. Macedonian representatives also asked for the Macedonian Academy of Arts and Science and the National Library 'Clement of Ohrid' to have access to the Vatican Library, for Macedonian priests to be educated at the Holy Chair, and for the Macedonian language to be present on the Vatican TV and radio programmes. It was also asked the Easter message to be spoken by the Pope in Macedonian language also, which had stopped three years ago due to a Greek pressure. According to Macedonian media, the impression from the talks was that the Head of the Roman-Catholic Church intended to visit Macedonia soon.

Macedonian delegation paid their respects to St. Cyril, at his grave in 'St Clement' basilica, and attended the ceremony in his honor.

Minister of Culture Slobodan Unkovski had several meetings with representatives of the Italian cultural life, while Macedonian painters and musicians introduced themselves to the Italian public.

[03] 'TA NEA': U.S. ENCOURAGEMENT OF GLIGOROV NEEDED

[04] DEMACI: 'KOSOVO TO BE GIVEN EQUAL STATUS WITH SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO'

He added that Kosovo should become a partner of the Yugoslav federation. In his interview for BBC, Demaci said: 'In that way, Serbs in Kosovo would continue to live together with those in other parts of Serbia, and the international community would be satisfied as there would be no changing of borders.' Demaci suggested for Kosovo to be given the same status as that of Serbia and Montenegro, saying that a king of a confederation would be the best solution, by which 'Albanians would be completely free'.

[05] ALBANIAN OPPOSITION WITHDREW FROM THE ELECTIONS

[06] INTERNAL AFFAIRS MINISTRY DENIES

The Ministry announced that eight Macedonian citizens were arrested and interogated on the basis of a foreign citizens information. Their alleged involvement and connections with the assassination attempt were, however, not proved. The existence of some 'Bratislava connection' with the assassination attempt was also denied.

Regarding the information about the woman who drove the car- bomb, who was recognized by six eyewitnesses, and then underwent a plastic surgery, the Ministry announced that the woman had a plastic surgery in February 1995, i.e. several months earlier.

The comments on conflict of departpents within the Ministry were also denied. The announcement read that the way those departments were organized was in accordance with the complexity of the case.

[07] LJUBISAV IVANOV-ZINGO NEW PRESIDENT OF THE SOCIALIST PARTY

Socialist Party delegates, at the Congress yesterday in Skopje, discussed the perspectives for the development of the Republic and the place of the party in it. Ljubisav Ivanov said his party was one of the most progressive political forces in the country and expressed his hope that the next Congress of the party would be held as a governing party. 'Successes in the economy and welfare had been achieved in many European and other countries governed by Socialists, and the future aim of our party should be to support the light industry,' stressed Ivanov. He said the results achieved on an external plan so far were satisfactory, while the situation of the Macedonian economy was disastrous. According to him, the reason was the hasty passing and carrying out of laws, especially 'the Law on Privatization of the current Vice Prime Minister Jane Miljoski.'

[08] PDP - STILL CENTRAL PARTY

Aliti evaluated the proposed Law on Territorial Dividing of Macedonia as one that 'is hiding a bad-intentioned political strategy'. He also said that the right of Albanians to be educated in their mother tongue at all levels must be recognized and would be realized by the legalization of the 'Tetovo University'.

Abduljali Vejseli from Tetovo and Eshtref Ademi from Skopje were elected for new members of the PDP Presidency.

MILS SUPPLEMENT

[09] 'European Stick And Carrot in The Solving of Albanian Issue'

('Dnevnik', 25 May 1996)

Albanian issue in the Balkans is becoming hotter and hotter for Europe. The European diplomats like to say lately that 'the situation in Kosovo is explosive'. It is not naive in Macedonia, either. The present calmness of the relations between ethnic groups does not mean that perspectives had been opened to solve the problem.

The strong connections of Albanians in Macedonia and Kosovo also must not be neglected. Political leaders of Albanians in Macedonia proved that by their recent statements.

Furthermore, the connections of both groups with Albania is evident. And it should be expected that Albania will be more demanding for this issue after the elections.

And where is Europe, except for expressing fear from a new crisis in the region?

After all the experiences, it is obvious that any attempts for a direct participation to solve the problems could be only counterproductive. Choices of the 'deus ex machina' type almost do not exist. At this point somebody remembered the so-called EU regional approach.

History will decide whether it is wise or not. In any case, one of the ides of the Union's policy about this region is to solve the Albanian issue. And the method is a classic one - stick or carrot. Make your choice!

The carrot, in this case, is opening the road to a full integration in Europe. The stick is an uncertain isolation.

The criteria used is the engagement in the solving the internal stability problems, but also the constructive relations with neighbours, as an important element in the solution of the above mentioned problem.

Yugoslavia was directly informed that the solution of the Kosovo issue is an inevitable condition in its exit from the isolation. The eventual becoming closer of this country to the European integration processes will later depend on its readiness to develop constructive relations with its neighbours. What is most confusing and unclear in the situation is the still unexpressed interest of FRY to bite into the offered European carrot. And if it is unwanted, the existence of the stick becomes meaningless.

Regarding Macedonia and Albania, the situation is qualitatively different. Both countries are constantly emphasizing their interest in European integration and had achieved some results in that direction. That is the reason for the regional approach towards these two countries to be milder that towards others in the region. Therefore, greater effects should be expected here.

It is required from Macedonia and Albania to have more constructive attitudes for the solution of the Albanian issue in Macedonia. Such a thing would inevitably bring to a permanent relaxation of the mutual relations, which is the next goal of the regional approach. Also, the final calming of the inter-ethnic relations in Macedonia and the new quality of the bilateral Macedonian-Albanian relations would create an atmosphere which would positively influence Kosovo. The final result would be a new opening of European perspectives and their deepening to a dependence mostly from the economic indexes of each country separately.

'Your President Gligorov is a wise man and I hope he will solve the problems with the Albanian minority in the same way,' said an influential European official, adding that 'when that is done, there will be no obstacle for Macedonia to be treated as one of the future EU member countries.' Our choice on the road to Europe is obviously not wide: the stick or the carrot! We should make our choice, and the history will decide whether the European offer was the most effective variant.

(end)

mils news 27 May, 1996

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