MILS NEWS 13/06/96

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

CONTENTS

[01] PERRY: 'USA SEE MACEDONIA AS A PART OF MARSHAL'S EUROPE'

[02] SOLANA: 'MACEDONIA - NATO RELATIONS POSITIVE'

[03] MACEDONIAN-GREEK TALKS WILL CONTINUE NEXT MONTH

[04] STAND-BY ARRANGEMENT WITH IMF REALIZED AS AGREED

[05] CONGRATULATIONS FOR THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

[06] GLIGOROV: 'I DISAGREE WITH MAKING THE BALKANS A GHETTO'

[07] REFERENDUM INITIATIVE AT CONSTITUTIONAL COURT NEXT MONTH

[08] LAW ON TERRITORIAL DIVIDING DISCUSSED

[09] SEMINARY ON MINORITIES' RIGHTS

[10] RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCE AT MACEDONIA - FRY BORDER

MILS SUPPLEMENT

[11] 'At The First Seat of The Macedonian History' Part II

MILS NEWS

Skopje, 13 June 1996

[01] PERRY: 'USA SEE MACEDONIA AS A PART OF MARSHAL'S EUROPE'

Macedonian President expressed his satisfaction with William Perry attending the opening of the Military Training Centre of Macedonian Army, stating that American- Macedonian military cooperation had a quite promising future.

Mr. Perry addressed Macedonian MPs yesterday, paying the greatest attention to the idea of 'Marshal's Europe' - united Europe in peace, freedom and democracy, inside which USA see Macedonia. 'The way towards it,' Perry stated, 'leads through 'Partnership for Peace' Programme, by which NATO will spread to Eastern and Central European countries, Russia and new independent countries, integrating them into a security structure of Europe as a whole.' He spoke of the end of the Bosnian war, pointing it out as an example of the effectiveness of NATO forces.

He also stressed the importance of the Agreement on the status of NATO forces signed recently, and of the proposal for regional maneuvers within the framework of 'Partnership for Peace', which would enable the forming of a regional unit for immediate reaction.

American Secretary of Defense attended the official opening of the Centre for Education and Training of Military Personnel of the Macedonian Army, named after the American diplomat Joseph Cruzel, who lost his life in Bosnia. It was said at the opening that d-r Cruzel was a great friend of Macedonia, and the one who signed the first memorandum on military cooperation between Macedonia and USA, as well as the main initiator for establishing the 'Partnership for Peace' Initiative.

William Perry ended his visit by meeting Macedonian Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski, and visited the American camp at UNPREDEP.

[02] SOLANA: 'MACEDONIA - NATO RELATIONS POSITIVE'

Frchkovski, expressing readiness of the country to realize the individual programme, stressed that Macedonia was paying a great attention to the activities regarding NATO partnership, as well as to the preparations for full membership in the Alliance.

Javier Solana greeted the steps Macedonia had made in a short period of time within the Council for North Atlantic Cooperation and 'Partnership for Peace' to become closer to NATO. He stated for Macedonian Radio that the relations between Macedonia and NATO had become more dynamic and positive, especially after the individual programme was approved. According to Solana, the goal of the intensive dialogue is to become more familiar with Macedonia and its problems from NATO's point of view. 'It is also important to see what adaptations should be made to improve the relations between all the countries which have signed the 'Partnership for Peace' Programme,' said Solana. He added that Macedonia had so far made very important decisions and that it was a good future-country. 'Efforts of Macedonia to join the European and Euro-Atlantic institutions deserve our help,' said NATO Secretary General.

[03] MACEDONIAN-GREEK TALKS WILL CONTINUE NEXT MONTH

[04] STAND-BY ARRANGEMENT WITH IMF REALIZED AS AGREED

[05] CONGRATULATIONS FOR THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

Gligorov stressed the traditionally good relations between the two countries, expressing his hope that friendly relations and cooperation would develop even more intensively.

Macedonian Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski, on the same occasion, sent his greetings to the Russian Prime Minister, and Foreign Minister of Macedonia Ljubomir Frchkovski to his Russian counterpart Evgenij Primakov.

[06] GLIGOROV: 'I DISAGREE WITH MAKING THE BALKANS A GHETTO'

Regarding the EU request for regional connecting as a condition for the Agreement on Cooperation to be signed, Gligorov said any kind of an apriori stand about the mutual cooperation of the former Yugoslav republics or Balkan countries (now referred to as South-Eastern Europe) was no good. He explained that those attitudes were not cleared enough.

To the reporter's conclusion that Macedonian President is strictly against the idea of putting Macedonia in a new Balkan basket, and that his motto is 'Europeanisation - yes, Balkanisation - no', Gligorov replied: 'We thought that was behind us. Macedonia is for any kind of regional cooperation, and it was not a problem in any other EU Agreement till now. The question is - why now? We want to cooperate with all our neighbours and all countries in the region as much as possible. But we will have to decide ourselves what kind of regional association we will join,' said Kiro Gligorov.

[07] REFERENDUM INITIATIVE AT CONSTITUTIONAL COURT NEXT MONTH

Macedonian television informed that the request would be discussed by Constitutional Court next month.

[08] LAW ON TERRITORIAL DIVIDING DISCUSSED

Abduljali Vesselji said the Law was aiming to a new identity of some towns in west Macedonia and that it was very political. Hisein Ramadani considered that, besides Skopje, other towns could have more municipalities. Atanas Vangelov criticized the Law of being full of faults and in disagreement with the Law on Self-Government. Justice Minister Vlado Popovski said it was absurd to attack the Law without any good arguments.

The discussion is continuing today.

[09] SEMINARY ON MINORITIES' RIGHTS

Asbjorn Aide - Director of Human Rights Centre in Oslo; Emilija Simovska - Director of Macedonian Ethnic Relations Centre; Mirjana Najceska from Macedonian Ethnic Relations Centre; Gjuner Ismail, Ilir Aidini and Seido Jasharov. The participants presented their opinions about: the international documents referring to minorities' rights; civil state; implementation of standards in context of the law system in Macedonia; requests of Albanians in Macedonia; situation of Vlachs in Macedonia; and pressures on Macedonian Moslems.

[10] RADIOACTIVE SUBSTANCE AT MACEDONIA - FRY BORDER

MILS SUPPLEMENT

[11] 'At The First Seat of The Macedonian History' Part II

(Interview with Victor Comras; 'Nova Makedonija', 12 June 1996)

Q: 'Lately, some theories have appeared in foreign papers about some 'Balkan Yalta', i.e. that this region will be divided into spheres of influences and Macedonia would be under the American 'roof'. What is your comment to this?'

'I an not familiar with that. USA are equally treating all the countries in the region in order to develop friendly and productive relations. I do not think that we have initiated nay kind of diving into influence spheres in this or any other region in the world. Such a policy belongs to the past, and American policy concept has changed. '

Q: 'But, the last meeting of NATO in Berlin showed that the interests not only of Russia and the Alliance, but also of USA and the European countries are different, didn't it?'

'The already presented principles were that NATO is always going to be the only one to estimate which countries fulfill the criteria for membership in the Alliance. There are no other facts except for the one that NATO's principle and determination is to participate in the collective security arrangements.'

Q: 'How do you, as an American, estimate the regional approach EU is imposing on Macedonia as a condition for association in it, and how do you personally see Macedonia now - as a Balkan, European or a country of the Third World?'

'I see Macedonia as an European country trying as much as possible to come closer to the West-European principles.

You are working hard on the creation of certain institutions, on the respecting of democracy, human rights, market principles, and you are trying to enlarge the scope of trade with West European countries and to be opened for foreign markets. That is very good and we appreciate it. We also find the relations you are establishing with the EU positive.

Is Macedonia a Balkan country? Yes, because it is in that region and because country's prosperity, economic development and security obviously depend on the situation in it. Macedonia is directly concerned with the events not only inside the country, but also in the neighbouring countries and in the Balkans in general. In that aspect, Macedonia has to deal with Balkan problems, so it is a Balkan country. But, once again, I see Macedonia as a European country.

Q: 'You will soon be inherited by Mr. Christopher Hill, who is estimated as a pro-Albanian politician in some Macedonian circles. Is that true and how will his coming here influence the future American policy regarding Macedonia?'

'Christopher Hill is a very good American diplomat. He has more experience in this region, and he is coming to Macedonia to present the USA and the relations between USA and Macedonia. I can convince you that his recommendations are excellent and that he is going to be an effective member of the diplomatic community. '

Q: 'You have often stressed how proud you were of the success of American soldiers within UNPREDEP forces and their success in preserving the peace and stability in Macedonia. I am sure the majority in Macedonia think the same, but have you ever felt any anti-American attitude here?'

'I have never felt that during these two and a half years, nor has anybody else expressed such a concern. That makes me very proud and happy.'

Q: 'It is obvious that there is a gap between the American-Macedonia cooperation in the fields of defense and of economy. What is the reason for that?'

'In the field of defense, the relation is between the two governments. I have represented the American government, your government has spoken for itself, so we have had an effective dialogue which enabled us to 'move' very quickly. We were fast in the establishing of basis for closer trade connections and investments, but that is still a matter of the two private sectors, and the problem is now the way in which your and our businessmen could reach each others. We can provide conditions and encourage them, but the businessmen themselves should take advantage of the situation. As our sources enlarge, we are more an more concentrated on helping and encouraging the trade. We signed the OPIC Agreement on private foreign investments two months ago, but others still remain to be provided. It is definite, however, that the break through will have to be carried out by Macedonians. My message to them is: You are a very attractive investing 'platform' that can attract American and other foreign investors, but you are not the only one. You have to compete with other countries and other regions. The responsibility of succeeding to 'sell' yourselves in only yours.'

Q: 'In your first interview for 'Nova Makedonija', you complained on the lack of various food here. In one of my latest interviews, to my great surprise, you said you will take sarma as a souvenir from here! Does that mean that you have become a little Macedonian, although you are American?'

'I became much Macedonian, in fact. It was an adaptation process and now I know much more about the Macedonian cuisine. I can tell you we are going to bring some receipts with us, as we will miss Macedonian food.'

Q: 'We, Macedonians, are surprised by the fact that almost all foreign diplomats leave Macedonia with regret. Is that a diplomatic politeness?'

'No, we leave your country leaving many friends here after two years warm hospitality. It is difficult to break up those friendships, although we intend to cherish them when we go back to the States. We have spent two wonderful years here, in a period of great historical importance for you, full of drama, intensity and progress. We have overcome many difficulties ... and now, I am getting on a plane on Friday.'

Q: 'During your stay here, you always used the name FYROM in your official appearances. However, in your speech during Madleine Albright's stay in Skopje, you used the name Macedonia. Was that a need to express your personal attitude?'

'I think that nothing had changed about it. USA had recognized Macedonia under the name of 'FYROM'. I never use it, because it is an acronym, and some people use it as a short form. I do not have an alternative in the official correspondence and I use the official name. But I prefer to use the name 'Macedonia' in informal or direct talks, because that is where I am. 'FYROM' is simply a collection of letters, too long for pronunciation.

According to me, it is not a correct option. It is more useful, more practical and more normal to say 'Republic of Macedonia'.

(end)

mils news 13 June, 1996

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