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MILS NEWS 96-09-26Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>CONTENTS
MILS SUPPLEMENTMILS NEWSSkopje, 26 September, 1996[01] AFFIRMATION OF MACEDONIAN INITIATIVES FOR EUROPEANIZATION OF THE BALKANSMacedonian media yesterday reported that Kiro Gligorov, President of the Republic of Macedonia, was the first who addressed the participants of the 51st UN General Assembly in New York. He spoke about the situation in the world and in the Balkans, and reminded of the Macedonian initiatives for improvement and Europeanization of the Balkans and south-eastern Europe. Gligorov once again pointed out the request of Macedonia for a six-months extension of the UNPREDEP mandate, and underlined the candidacy of the Republic of Macedonia for associate membership at the UN Security Council.After his speech, Macedonian President had a meeting with the UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros Ghali, during which they had discussed the extending of the UNPREDEP mandate, the planned visit of Ghali to Macedonia and the political situation in the Balkan region. Macedonian Head of State yesterday also met the US Secretary of State Warren Christopher, with Malkolm Rifkind, the Head of the British Foreign Office and with the Slovenian Prime Minister Janez Drnovshek. According to 'Nova Makedonija' daily, Drnovshek and Gligorov talked about the candidacies of Macedonia and Slovenia for an associate membership in the UN Security Council, and underlined that this competition should not affect the good mutual relations. Meanwhile, Macedonian Radio reported on a meeting that President Gligorov had had with the UN Association in the USA, during which Gligorov had stressed the interest of this Association in affirmation of Macedonia and in the preserving of its independence and peace-making status in the region. [02] AGREEMENTS ON CREDITS FROM THE WORLD BANKMacedonia has signed three agreements with the World Bank in Washington these days, by which a credit for private sector development DM 18 million worth, one for health sector transition about $17 million worth and $8 million worth one for the support of private farmers would be realized. The payment term of the loan for private sector development is 20 years with 5 years grace period, and there is a possibility for this credit line to be increased for another DM 18 million. The credit for health sector transition is in accordance with IDA conditions, i.e. without an interest rate, with 10 years grace period and up to 35 years payment term. The third credit, for private farmers support, is also according to IDA conditions, with 10 years grace period and 35 years payment term. The Agreements were signed by the World Bank Director Kenneth Leigh and by Macedonian Ambassador to the USA Ljubica Achevska.According to 'Nova Makedonija', after the second installment of the FESAK credit was approved recently, Macedonia had began to negotiate the possibility for a new credit for structural adjustment with the World Bank. It should be $45 million worth, and there are notifications that WB Board would discuss it in November, 1996. The day before yesterday, a delegation of the International Bank from Washington arrived to Macedonia to have talks with the Macedonian Fund for Main and Regional Roads on clearing of current mutual financial arrangements and on new credit lines. The eventual new loans would be used for the (re)construction of the roads Veles-Prilep via Babuna mountain, Resen-Ohrid and Skopje-Tetovo. [03] NEW REGULATIONS FOR MACEDONIANS FROM AEGEAN MACEDONIACitizens of the Republic of Macedonia who were born at the Aegean part will be allowed to travel to Greece if they have 'Republic of Greece' stated where their place of birth should be written, 'Makpress' agency reported yesterday. The information said that Macedonian-Greek agreement on passports of citizens who originate from the part of Macedonia which now belongs to Greece, had been applied for a certain period of time already without any problems. However, 'Makpress' reported, citizens with Macedonian passports who are arriving to one of the three Greek airports from other countries do have problems to enter Greece. They are not given a visa and have to return where they had come from.Meanwhile, today's issue of 'Dnevnik' daily reports that the Government of Bosnia-Herzegovina intends to introduce visas for Macedonian citizens. Macedonia has already established visas regime for the citizens of Bosnia- Herzegovina, which means that they have to be allowed to enter the country by the Macedonian Ministry of Internal Affairs. [04] TENDENCIES FOR FREE AND RESPONSIBLE JOURNALISMThe two-days long seminar on mass media regulations, organized by the Secretariat for Information in cooperation with the Council of Europe, ended yesterday in Ohrid. The issues discussed were regulations referring to the press and electronic media, freedom of journalism in democratic societies, etc. Most of the participants underlined that most of Macedonian journalists had had a strong impulse to develop free and responsible journalism.The low standard of living of journalists in the country was also stressed. It was said that Macedonia needed public broadcasting which would be commercialized to a certain level, and that the registration of the great number of radio and TV stations had been done in an elemental way. It was pointed out that the sixth version of Macedonian Law on Broadcasting had been prepared at the moment. Macedonian Television reported yesterday that the regular meeting of the Consortium of Balkan National Televisions, which had been preparing the 'Balkan TV magazine', had taken place yesterday. Representatives of 7 TV houses agreed on the newest show about the experiences in the ecology protection at Balkan countries, and agreed on future activities. The Consortium has prepared a one-hour long TV show each second month during the last two years, in which realization the national TV stations of all Balkan countries have been included. [05] MISSION FOR STABILIZATION OF SITUATION IN THE EPARCHYHead of Macedonian Orthodox Church Archbishop Mihail had estimated his one-month long visit to the American- Canadian Macedonian Orthodox Eparchy as a successful mission for further stabilization of the situation in the Eparchy, local media reported.At the press conference yesterday, Archbishop Mihail paid special attention to the people's gathering in Rochester and underlined the importance of the working regulations of parishes, as well as of the decision to give 3% of the contributions for the Eparchy activities. During his stay in USA and Canada, three new Macedonian orthodox churches were sanctified, and the emigrants had expressed their wish for a constant bishop to be appointed in the Eparchy. Archbishop Mihail stated that there was still no adequate candidate for that position and that certain problems remain to be solved. He also said the emigrants wanted to have more intensive contacts with their fatherland and to be better informed on the situation in Macedonia. Referring to the notifications about passing a Law on Returning the Church Properties, Archbishop Mihail said he was sure that an appropriate Law would be designed, so that Church properties are returned to it, as they had not been taken away from anybody, but were given to the Church as presents. [06] CONSTITUTIONAL COURT TODAY DECIDES ABOUT EARLY ELECTIONSMacedonian Television reported that Macedonian Constitutional Court should have a session today on which the initiative of VMRO-DPMNE and the Democratic Party should be discussed. In fact, the Court should establish the constitutionality of the decision made by the Parliament not to schedule a referendum on early elections, as they concluded that there was no Constitutional basis for it.At its session yesterday, the Constitutional Court decided to start a procedure for establishing the constitutionality of the regulations in the Law on Pensions, which reads that the Pensions Fund is allowed to regulate its work by common acts. It also decided to carry out a procedure regarding the Decision on Changing the Detail Urban Plan for the building in the suburbs of Karposh 3 and 4 in Skopje, and regarding the Decisions of the municipality of Debar and the public enterprise 'Standard'. [07] VMRO-DPMNE AND DP ON THE DISCUSSION IN THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURTIn case the Constitutional Court of Macedonia declares itself incompetent to decide about the initiative for signatures collecting for a referendum on early parliamentarian elections or rejects it, VMRO-DPMNE and the Democratic Party will address that European Convention for Human Rights and Freedom Protection and the European Court. This was said at a press conferences of these two political parties yesterday, held on the occasion of today's discussion in the Constitutional Court. Gjorgji Naumov and Slavko Petrov, lawyers who had initiated the procedure of establishing the constitutionality of Parliament's decision, explained that it is disputable whether the decision of the Parliament is a regulation or a separate act.VMRO-DPMNE and DP representatives expressed their hope that the Constitutional Court would accept the, according to them, indisputable arguments and will start the discussion on the constitutionality of the decision. [08] MACEDONIAN UNITING PARTY DISSATISFIED WITH THE ELECTORAL CAMPAIGN REGULATIONSMacedonian Uniting Party announced yesterday that, due to their dissatisfaction with certain regulations on the electoral campaign, they would submit an initiative to the Constitutional Court to establish the constitutionality of those regulations.The Party leader Branislav Sinadinovski announced yesterday that they had decided to participate in the local elections, since several Party branches had demanded it, and since they needed to examine the rating of their young party. Sinadinovski said that his party would nominate Angel Dzambazovski, President of the Association of Foreign Currencies Savers, for a mayor of the City of Skopje. [09] UNKNOWN ENGRAVINGS FOUND IN VELES REGIONMacedonian Centre of Rock Art announced recently that during a research in the region of Veles they had found engravings in rocks unique in the world, i.e. not known till now. Further on, certain writings had been found similar to those of the Vinica letters. The writings contain marks of almost all stylistic periods, that prove the continuity of the Macedonian language, cultural, artistic and historical heritage.These new evidence support the thesis that there was a significant cultural activity in Macedonia several millennia BC, i.e. that ancestors of Macedonia had had a highly developed alphabet. According to the announcement, this leads Macedonia to the top of the international cultural heritage and is expected therefore the whole territory of Macedonia to be put under protection of UNESCO. MILS SUPPLEMENT[10] Macedonian President Gligorov's Speech in the UN Security Council('Nova Makedonija', 26 September, 1996)... The current international political and security situation is burdened with many crisis, examples of disrespecting the international law, non-controlled armament, violation of the ecological balance and of human rights, spreading of the international terrorism and tensions in the economic and social development. All these matters are facing the UN with the need to reform its system, in order to function more effectively, mostly in the field of determining its global development at the doorstep of the 21st century, of moderating the current differences in the economic-social development and of improving the international peace. The subject that should be given a priority at this session is certainly spreading the Security Council. Regarding the changes in the International Organization structure and increased role of the Council in the last few years, as well as the need from further democratization of the global peace and security process, it becomes obvious that there are conditions for its extension. The Republic of Macedonia is actively involved in the working group that deals with equal participation and increasing of the number of Security Council members. Our opinion is that the suggestion for FR Germany and Japan to become constant members of the Council and for the number of associate members to be increased is a realistic one and should be paid special attention to. The Republic of Macedonia is, therefore, ready to prepare its own proposal in order to overcome any holdups in the resolving of this issue. Led by its desire to constructively participate in and actively contribute to the work of the UN, The Republic of Macedonia has submitted its candidacy for an associate membership of the Security Council for the years of 1998_99. We are convinced that our behaviour during and after the dissolution of former SFRY, the constructive and peace-making policy, the role of a stability factor in the Balkans, the interceding for its Europeanization and the activities within the UN so far are satisfactory warranty for the UN members to support our candidacy. I would like to ensure you that we will fully justify your confidence in us. Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, Since its becoming independent, the Republic of Macedonia was the only country of all former Yugoslav republics that distinguished itself as an example of a country which has developed its identity in the international community and established its foreign policy by respecting its neighbours and other countries and solving all open issues peacefully, with mutual respect, without violating the borders and without interfering in the internal matters of other countries. Led by all these principles, the Republic of Macedonia suggested two Resolutions on Good Neighbourly Relations between Balkan countries at the 48th and 50th General Assemblies, which were co-sponsored by over 30 countries and passed by a consensus. Their aim was taking measures and preventive actions in order to create a stable zone of peace and cooperation in the Balkans till the year of 2000. In accordance with the Resolution, the Republic of Macedonia will host, in January 1997, an international meeting of Balkan countries on a high level, dedicated to the improvement of the regional stability. Following the UN principles, the Republic of Macedonia last year signed an Interim Accord with the Republic of Greece, within the framework of the negotiations under UN patronage. The positive results of this Accord are already evident and we are convinced that there is a good perspective for the friendly relations between the two countries and for overcoming the differences to take place. The level of democratization achieved, the reforms in order of adapting the economy to free market principles, and high level of human rights respecting, all confirm the readiness of the Republic of Macedonia to be fully involved in the international and regional economic and security structures. Nowadays, the Republic of Macedonia is a full member of the Council of Europe and of OSCE, a participant of NATO's 'Partnership for Peace' Programme, and has signed an Agreement on Cooperation with the European Union, with a chance for a full association. The UN Peace Forces within the framework of UNPREDEP Mission to the Republic of Macedonia are the first positive example of a successful realization of preventive diplomacy in the history of the UN. We highly value the role of UNPREDEP in preserving of peace and security of the Republic of Macedonia and of the region, which was the reason that we had asked for the mandate of this Mission to be extended for additional six months, taking into account the current and potential threats to the peace in the region. Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, The region where my country, the Republic of Macedonia, is stated, the Balkans, is one of the most neuralgic European regions. It is currently going through the so-called post- Dayton era, marked with the fragile peace in Bosnia- Herzegovina, with efforts for normalization of relations between countries in the region and with opening of perspectives for development and cooperation in it. In context of that, the Republic of Macedonia, being a peace- loving country with an European orientation, remains faithful to its policy, especially regarding the solving of its economic-social problems in the transitional period and the rights of national minorities, which condition the development of democracy and security both in Macedonia and wider in southern Balkans. The Republic of Macedonia has determined itself to respect the human rights and those of minorities and to apply the international standards for the rights of minorities. This was provided by the determinations stated in the Macedonian Constitution and through concrete regulations in laws. We are convinced that rights of national minorities are the most important and long-term basis for stable peace and cooperation in the ethnically mixed Balkans. That is why we had initiated the idea for a comparative study on the rights of national minorities in the Balkans to be made, which would enable international institutions, such as OSCE, the Council of Europe, and certainly the UN, to work even more effectively. Ladies and gentlemen, Allow me to end this speech by concluding that the vision of the World in the 21st century, as a World of peace, democracy and welfare, obliges all of us and the UN to act consistently. I hope that this year's General Assembly and the decisions made by it would be a step forward towards that. (end)mils news 26 September, 1996Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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