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MILS NEWS 26/06/96Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>CONTENTS
MILS SUPPLEMENTMILS NEWSSkopje, 26 June 1996[01] MACEDONIA PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL OF EUROPEMacedonian President Kiro Gligorov in a statement for the press after returning from Strasbourg, said: 'There were two important things this time. The first one was the visit itself to the CoE Parliamentarian Assembly, as it is the oldest European organisation where all conventions and agreements are regulating the most sensitive relations within societies, such as human and minorities' rights, rule of law, etc. The second important thing was that we were able to present our policy, our views about the region and the situation in Macedonia. I think we made a good impression, and we were paid a great attention.We talked to the President of the Assembly Lenny Fisher, to the CoE Secretary General Daniel Tarschys and to many representatives of other countries. The general impression is that Macedonia is not a problem in the CoE. The Council supports our policy regarding human and minorities' rights, as well as the fact that our laws are being always approved by CoE experts and conformed to the European conventions. Macedonia will ratify several important conventions till September this year, which will, by my opinion, determine our place in the Council,' concluded Gligorov. [02] MACEDONIAN DELEGATION AT PAPANDREOU'S FUNERALA number of Macedonian officials yesterday signed at the book of condolences opened at Hellenic Liaison Office in Skopje for the death of former Greek Prime Minister and a leader of PASOK Andreas Papandreou. Today, a Macedonian delegation, led by Vice Prime Minister Jane Miljoski, will attend Papandreou's funeral in Athens.[03] SATISFIED WITH COOPERATION BETWEEN MACEDONIA AND EBRDMacedonian Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski and Director of European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Olivier Decamp, at yesterday's meeting in Skopje, expressed their satisfaction with the cooperation so far and with the support Macedonia was given for large economic projects and banking system reforms. As Macedonian media reported, Mr. Decamp had underlined the possibilities for widening the cooperation, especially after the Macedonia-EU Agreement on Trade and Economic Cooperation was signed. He also said that EBRD was ready to concretely support the investment programmes for many Macedonian enterprises.EBRD delegation, led by Decamp, had talks with Macedonian Finances Minister Taki Fiti, and they concluded that the cooperation to date had given all the results expected in the banking system reform and privatization process. It was agreed that EBRD financial support would be intended for investing activities of small and medium enterprises, for big profitable enterprises and for infrastructure objects, especially for the construction of gas pipe line in Macedonia. [04] COOPERATION DEVELOPED THROUGH 'BRIDGE TO AMERICA'National Guard Commander of the US State of Vermont General Donald Edwards is paying a several days visit to Macedonia, as a part of the cooperation Macedonian Defense Ministry and Army have with the State of Vermont through the 'Bridge to America' Programme. General Edwards had meetings yesterday with Macedonian Defense Minister Blagoj Handziski and with Macedonian Army Vice Chief of Staff General Janakie Manasievski. The high guest held a lecture at the Military Academy on the subject 'Defense Policy Planning and Development'.[05] RELATIONS BETWEEN MACEDONIAN AND US ARMIES DISCUSSEDDefense Ministry of the Republic of Macedonia will host the third annual meeting of American-Macedonian working group in Skopje today and tomorrow. Attention will be paid to the bilateral relations between the armed forces of the two countries, such as maneuvers, training and supply. American delegation is led by Franklin Crammer, Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Issues.The first meeting of this group took place in Skopje in November 1994, and the second in Washington DC in May 1995. [06] SYMPOSIUM ON SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISESMacedonian government, Economic Chamber and Union of Economists have organized a symposium about the small and medium enterprises and their role in the economy, which will begin on 27 June 1996 in Ohrid. The aim will be to pay more attention to this matter, and besides local participants, the meeting will be attended by representatives of the Council of Europe, PHARE, and of neighbouring countries Economic Chambers, if they accept the invitation.[07] ANDOV: 'MACEDONIA IS BEING RULED NON-DEMOCRATICALLY''The Republic of Macedonia is going through a delicate phase, we have difficulties in the understanding with Europe and confidence in our country is weakening,' said the leader of Liberal Party Stojan Andov at a press conference yesterday. He said that there was a political dividing in Macedonia as SDSM did not communicate with its partners.According to Andov, decisions of greatest importance for the future of the country were being made in closed circles and inside cabinets, without a democratic atmosphere, which directly attacks the democratic processes in Macedonia. Macedonian Radio reported that Andov called on SDSM leadership to set measures in their work, to be responsible and decent, as in case the norms of democratically developed states are not respected, negative consequences are inevitable. Stojan Andov said this kind of attitude of SDSM leaders was a reason for losing the already won positions in Europe, for the way negotiations had ended, for losing the 'MK' code for Macedonian goods exported to EU countries and for the economic lethargy of the country. Opinion of Liberals is that Macedonia is being 'ruled non- democratically by the newly formed government, supported by SDSM laboratories', which initiated them to send a letter to Parliament President Tito Petkovski with suggestions how to overcome that situation and with a request to establish clear regulations for the actions of Parliamentarian opposition. Andov also said that the previously announced 'offensive' of Minister Chokrevski against journalists was already taking place. He supported that with the releasing from duty the MRTV General Manager and with the closing of private TV and radio stations, as enough proofs that the governments wants to rule all the media. 'Liberal Party will not give up the interpellation for Minister Chokrevski and will require democratic decision of the Parliament, as we think the communication with the opposition is necessary for the creation of a solid alternative, with which the World would be able to communicate,' stressed Andov. He concluded by saying that it was harmful to identify Macedonia with one political party or a group of people. [08] AIR LINE FOR KUALA LUMPUR POSTPONED FOR THE NEXT YEARIntroduction of a regular air line Skopje - Kuala Lumpur has been postponed for the next year, because Skopje Airport is too small for wide fuselage airplanes.'Dnevnik' reads that this was decided by the inspection of 'Malaysian Airlines' who visited Macedonia last month. 'Palair Macedonian' sated that this postponing would question the arrangements for production and assembling of air conditioners, the lamb meat export to Malaysia, as well as the joint venture in cargo centre at Skopje Airport. [09] MATEJA MATEVSKI - LAUREATE OF BALKAN DAYS OF POETRY'Macedonian poet, interpreter, literary critic and essayist, academician Mateja Matevski will be the laureate of the first Balkan Days of Poetry, which will take place from 4 to 6 July in Istanbul,' Macedonian Writers Association announced yesterday. Matevski will be given the award 'Lilac' for his poetry. During the Days, a round table will be organized about Macedonian modern poetry, and the Anthology of Macedonian Poetry by Suad Engul will be presented.[10] MALENKO WON TWO GOLD MEDALSThree Macedonian representatives participated in the International Swimming Meeting in Fort Voderville, in Florida, among 600 representatives from North and South America. Macedonian Television reported that Aleksandar Malenko had won two first places at 400 m medley race and at 100m dolphin style. He won the second place at 200 m dolphin and reached a new national record. Another national record was won by Aleksandar Miladinovski, who won the fifth place at 200 m breaststroke. The best position won by Chede Filipovski was the third place at 200 m medley.MILS SUPPLEMENT[11] 'DM 90 Million for Public Welfare'('Nova Makedonija', 26 June 1996)Macedonian state is going to change completely the public welfare strategy from the 1 July, 1996. The news introduced with a help from foreign experts differ essentially from the current public welfare, which has been in effect during the last four years. The aim of changes, supported by the so- called welfare credit given to Macedonia last year, is to lead as good welfare policy as possible. Public welfare is going to be given to about 60,000 users each month this year. Besides 2,397 billion denars (about DM 90 million) which will be given from the national budget, there will be possibilities for additional money to be given from other sources. Public protection level, i.e. the minimum amount of money for existence of a family, is now renamed into public welfare, and the sum will be calculated according to the calculated poverty line instead of the number of families. In other words, the calculation will be made according to the number of members of a family, their age and place of residence. Two locations were taken into account: a town and a village. The poverty line, which involves 15 instead of current 5 protection levels, with 30 different amounts of public welfare (15 for the towns and 15 for the villages), refers to the minimum calories needed and the minimum expenses for their obtaining. Calculations show that an adult needs 2,700 calories a day, and a person who lives in a town needs 25,414 denars annually to supply them, while one who lives in a village needs 21,271 denars. The poverty line includes other expenses besides food (rent, heating, electricity, clothes, etc.), for which a person living in a town needs 18,081 denars, and one living in a village - 14, 285 denars. Therefore, the total annual living expenses for towns are 43,495 denars, and 35,556 denars for villages. Basis for public welfare was calculated according to these two sums, and it will be applied to 15 types of families: 1 adult; 1 adult and 1 child; 2 adults; 1 adult and 2 children; 2 adults and 1 child; 3 adults; 1 adult and three children; 2 adults and 2 children; 3 adults and one child; 4 adults; 1 adult and 4 children; 2 adults and 3 children; 3 adults and 2 children; 4 adults and 1 child; 5 adults. The category 'adult' includes those older than 18. It was calculated that an adult in a town needs 3,625 denars a month, and one in a village - 2,964 denars. Due to the financial difficulties of the country, however, single persons will be given a half amount of these sums, i.e. 1,812 denars if they live in a town, and 1,482 denars if they live in a village. It means that the first family member (or a single person) will be a basis for determining the public welfare aid. In case there is another adult in a family, he_she will be given 60% of that sum. The third family member would be given 45% of the basic amount, the fourth - 30 % and the fifth 15%. The first child in a family would be given 40%, the second - 30%, and the third and fourth - 20%. The total amount would be all the sums collected, according to the family in question, but it must not be over 2,75 times higher than the basic one. Public welfare will be given to those families which total monthly income is lower than the aid anticipated for a family. They have kept the rule that if a family does not have any income it will be given the total amount, and if there is an income, money will be added to reach the sum needed for the existence of that family. The documents will be submitted to the Public Welfare Centres, as was the case so far. Those people who would need financial aid for existence occasionally or urgently will be given a once occurring aid. Public welfare will be given to four categories: 1) a family with a person employed (they would have to submit a request each third month); 2) a family with a pensioner (the request is submitted in the month when he_she had retired, and is renewed annually); 3) a family with an unemployed person (request submitted in the month when he_she is evidenced as an unemployed, and is renewed annually); 4) a family with a person who already receives some other kind of financial aid or is unable to work (request renewed annually). Public welfare will not be given to the employed, to those who have left their jobs voluntarily, to those who have rejected an employment offer or offer for pre-qualification, and to those who are not Macedonian citizens. The new criteria introduce possibilities for the user to earn the aid, by being engaged by in seasonal or temporal jobs. That engagements have to follow the public welfare amounts, i.e. have to be calculated with 400 denars a day. In case of a rejection, the family will not have the right to an aid for the following six months. The only ones excepted will be the pensioners and those unable to work. (end)mils news 26 June, 1996Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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