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MILS NEWS 24/06/96Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>CONTENTS
MILS SUPPLEMENTMILS NEWSSkopje, 24 June 1996[01] MACEDONIA'S POTENTIALS PRESENTED AT 'CRAN MONTANA' FORUM'We used the 'Cran Montana' Forum to present the potentials of our country for foreign investments,' said Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski after his return to Macedonia. As he stated for Macedonian media, the greatest attention was paid to the situation in the legislation, to the economic reforms processes, social policy, and to the investment possibilities which would give the best results. Crvenkovski pointed out that at a number of bilateral meetings many concrete results had been achieved.'Makpress' agency reported that Macedonian delegation had meetings with the Albanian representatives, led by President Sali Berisha, with Iranian delegates, led by their Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Velajati, and with the Slovenian delegation. Crvenkovski and Berisha had agreed Albanian Prime Minister to pay a visit to Macedonia immediately after the new Albanian government is established. According to 'Makpress', during that visit several bilateral agreements should be agreed on and signed. Macedonian Premier expressed the interest of Macedonia in Dures Port, especially in investing in it. Relations between Macedonia and Albania were estimated as positive, but with potentials to be even more improved. In context of that, the importance of the joint maneuvers, which will take place on 13 July in Albania, and in the autumn in Macedonia, within the framework of 'Partnership for Peace' Programme, was especially stressed. [02] NEW PERSPECTIVES FOR MACEDONIAOn the occasion of signing the Agreement on Economic Cooperation and Trade between Macedonia and the EU, Macedonian Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski in a statement for 'Nova Makedonija' daily , said: 'One of strategic aims of the Republic of Macedonia has been the integration in Europe. This Agreement, as well as other activities, such as the successful cooperation with the IMF and the realized Stand-By arrangement, will rise the credibility of Macedonia in the eyes of EU members, and will encourage all countries to cooperate economically with our country and invest in it in near future. I believe that all structures in Macedonia - governmental, economic and financial, are prepared to begin the long integration process in the EU.'Leader of Macedonian negotiating delegation Jane Miljoski said the Agreement, which will start to be realized since January 1, 1997, includes a four years cooperation and a constant increasing of exchange and of quotas of Macedonian duty free import in EU countries. Miljoski found the Agreement especially important for Macedonia that it would win a great market, which had been a constant problem of Macedonian economy after SFRY had dissolved. The political dimension of the Agreement, according to Miljoski, is that Macedonia has established strong ties with the EU and that its determination for the future is located there. To this one, he added another political dimension: Macedonia has obliged to harmonize the regulations of human and minorities' rights with EU members. [03] TALKS ON BIG GREEK INVESTMENTS?Greek paper 'Ependitis' reported about an alleged meeting of five top entrepreneurs and one Bank representative from Greece, and Macedonian President Kiro Gligorov, during which possibilities for Greek investments in Macedonia had been discussed. The meeting had been organized by former Canadian Prime Minister Bryan Malruni. The subjects discussed had been: plans for the beginning of work of 'Ionian Bank' affiliate in Skopje; opening a representative office of the insurance company 'Inter-American'; opening a chain of Greek supermarkets in Macedonia; start the function of 'Delta', 'ALKOM' and 'UNIBROS' companies; and widening the activities of Greek tobacco industry in Macedonia.As 'Nova Makedonija' reported, former Canadian Minister Malruni had especially stressed the need for people of Orthodox religion to cooperate as much as possible. Macedonian party, as alleged, expressed a wish for greater Greek investments in Macedonia, as better and closer economic cooperation would contribute to the solving of bilateral problems. According to 'Nova Makedonija', this meeting had provoked severe reactions in the Greek Foreign Ministry, as it was directly opposite to the recently notified straining of Greek stand towards Skopje (especially in the sphere of investments), due to the firm Macedonian stand about the name. [04] NEW CROSSING AT MACEDONIAN-GREEK BORDERAccording to an EU Porgramme, and with money given by PHARE Programme, another crossing will be opened at Macedonian- Greek border, on the location of Puljevac, municipality of Kavadarci, in August next year. 'Vecer' daily reported that the project would cost about DM19 million, and would be performed by Macedonian firms.Meanwhile, a delegation of the Town Assembly of Gevgelija had paid a return visit to Kukus municipality in Greece and discussed the mutual cooperation improvement. They especially stressed the cooperation in agriculture, border cooperation and realization of projects intended for protection of Doiran Lake and of the Vardar River, which would be financed by PHARE. [05] MACEDONIA - A 'BRIGHT STAR' OF THE BALKANS'Everybody we talked to in Germany said they no longer considered Macedonia a risky area, which is especially encouraging for the German businessmen in the cooperation with Macedonian partners. German support to Macedonia will soon result in several German companies' investments in Macedonian economy,' said Macedonian Parliament President Tito Petkovski, who led a Macedonian delegation to a five days visit to Germany. He added that German official stand about Macedonia could be most properly explained by the description of Bundestag President Rita Zinsmut that 'Macedonia is a bright star of the Balkans'.[06] GLIGOROV WILL ADDRESS THE COUNCIL OF EUROPEFollowing the invitation of Council of Europe President Lenny Fisher, Macedonian President Kiro Gligorov will today address the members of the CoE Parliamentarian Assembly.According to Macedonian Television, Gligorov will present the official views of Macedonia about European integration processes and about the current situation in the region and Macedonia. Macedonian President Gligorov and Foreign Minister Frchkovski, who is escorting him, will have several meetings with CoE officials. A delegation of the Macedonian Parliament also went for Strasbourg yesterday to participate in the regular session of the Parliamentarian Assembly. [07] MACEDONIANS TRAINED IN MARSHAL'S CENTREUSA Marshal's Centre in Germany representatives, led by Vice Director Yorg Cubert and Jack Petri, Dean of Strategic Studies Department, are paying a several days visit to Macedonia. They are examining the possibilities for Macedonia to cooperate with Marshal's Centre in training of different personnel for defense needs.The delegation had already met with Macedonian Defense Minister Blagoj Handziski, with Parliamentarian Defense Commission President Ljupcho Popovski and with Foreign Ministry Under Secretary Ognen Malevski. Defense Ministry officially announced that subjects discussed were Marshal's Centre programmes in which Macedonian representatives had participated, as well as the newly suggested programmes. [08] CULTURAL COOPERATION WITH MONTENEGROMacedonian media reported that, during the two-days visit of Macedonian Minister of Culture Slobodan Unkovski to Montenegro, he discussed the protection of cultural and historical monuments in these two countries with Montenegrin representatives. The greatest attention was paid to the experiences in these fields and on the possibilities to exchange expert teams. Other issues agreed on were: closer cooperation in the re-activating of the National Theatre in Podgorica (which burnt in a fire ten years ago), guest performances, exhibitions and concerts. It was also agreed works of modern Macedonian and Montenegrin authors to be published.[09] MUNITIONS CONFISCATED IN KAVADARCI AND NEGOTINOAfter searching several flats in Kavadarci and Negotino, Macedonian police confiscated 30 pieces of fire arms and about 400 pieces of munition. Three persons, who were illegally trading with arms, were arrested. The investigation has already started.[10] FADIL SULEIMANI: 'PEOPLE WILL PUNISH PDP PARTY'Fadil Suleimani, Rector of 'Tetovo university', at the annual meeting of PDPA Tetovo branch, said that 'today, masques would fall off PDP Party, the only Albanian party that had not supported the university in written, and people will punish it for that'. 'Makpress' reported that Suleimani, besides attacking PDP, mostly talked about 'the discriminatory policy of Slav-Macedonians towards Albanians', and thanked PDPA - NDP coalition for their engagement about 'Tetovo university'.[11] SMALL NON-PARLIAMENTARIAN PARTIES JOINED IN THE MACEDONIAN ALLIANCE?Former candidate for a President and current leader of the newly formed political party Macedonian Alliance George Atanasovski stated recently that he would unite all small non-parliamentarian parties, so that they win a great number of votes at the elections, reads today's issue of 'Dnevnik'.As he said, the Alliance would include both civil and national parties and would be a central one of the political scene in Macedonia. Macedonian Alliance's priority would be to attract foreign capital to Macedonia and to connect Macedonians in Macedonia with those in the Diaspora. Atanasovski reported that four parties had already joined the Alliance, and it now has about 1,600 members, but it should soon have about 12,000. Meanwhile, leaders of Labour Party and MAAK - Conservative Party had stated that did not intend to join the Alliance, but did not excluded a possibility to cooperate with it in case of a mutual interest. MILS SUPPLEMENT[12] 'Dangers from The 'Cold Peace'('Puls', 21 June, 1996)Mr. Trajan Gocevski (Former Macedonian Minister of Defense) presenting his views on the strategic position of the Republic of Macedonia in the last issue of weekly 'Puls', among other things said: 'Our opinion, which is based on analyses made by many military strategists and analyzers, is that the Morava - Vardar valley remains a north - south transversal of an extraordinary geo-strategic importance and capacity for the flow of people and military technique in a certain situation for the region and wider. Therefore, the strategic importance of our country will be estimated according to the evaluation of this transversal globally, including USA - NATO relation vs. Russia - ZND. The specific relations our neighbours have established with our country are also an enigma regarding the establishing of strategic positions and relations in this area. Namely, the Republic of Bulgaria has recognized our country, but not our nation; Greece is not accepting any possibility to recognize a country named Macedonia; Serbia has recognized us without internationally established and accepted border; and Albania is requiring special standards for the Albanian minority in Macedonia, such as making it a constitutional nation. These are all things that make the geo-strategic situation of Macedonia in the Balkans more complex, as it could be de- stabilized by any request of neighbours. The acceptance of Macedonia in the UN under a temporal name (which was supposed to be in force for two months only, but has still not been changed), leads us to a conclusion that the internationally most influential countries, including the USA, are either insufficiently engaged or have different opinions about this issue, which make us suspect in their sincere wishes to overcome this problem, so important for Macedonia. The fact that the European Union also communicates with our country under the name 'FYROM' leads us to a conclusion that this problem can not be overcome within this association, so important for the future relations inside Europe, although the Union is verbally representing the stand that Macedonia has the right to make its own decisions about the name and that noone has the right to impose a name to a country, which the latter does not accept. Visas regime introduced for our country by almost all European countries also shows that Macedonia is being treated in the same way as the countries that were involved in the war or as those that do not accept the civilized norms of communication. The economic embargo which was imposed on our country by a member of NATO and the EU, without any provocation, as well as the fact that the losses Macedonia has suffered from the UN sanctions imposed to its northern neighbour have not been compensated in any way, also make us think that our country is being treated differently. It might be confusing, but that is the reality. Mixed political, economic, military, confessional, religious, ideological and other interests in this area make the strategic position of our country even more complex, especially from the aspect of our interest to join the western military Alliance. All the above listed and other open issues in the aspect of our geo-political and strategic position clearly show the need for an adequate defense and security system to be developed by Macedonia. It should provide a secure and peaceful development of our country in the controversial Balkan area. Defense and security system should be included in the collective systems, that would additionally support ours to protect the peace, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Macedonia. In case the final goal of our policy - joining the NATO - is realized, the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Macedonia would be even more guaranteed. Our opinion is that there is a possibility for an initiative to be made for the Republic of Macedonia to be given a neutral status. It would open great perspectives for the country, as it would additionally guarantee its sovereignty and territorial integrity in the Balkans. Analyses have come out with several dangers that might jeopardize our country's security, such as: a) eventual escalation of the Kosovo problem and the way it would be solved, i.e. choice of means, methods and dynamics; b) defining the border with FRY, its international legalization and the possibility for one of the parties to provoke a conflict; c) attempts to re-define the status of a part of Macedonian territory (i.e. to establish some kind of an autonomy), which would be strategically favourable for a neighbouring country (this is being mentioned by some local political subjects and might irritate the rest of the Balkans countries). (end)mils news 24 June, 1996Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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