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MILS: News from the FYROM, 96-11-15Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>CONTENTS
MILS SUPPLEMENTMILS NEWSSkopje, 15th November, 1996[01] ORIGINAL AND AUTHENTIC CONSTITUTION AS FOUNDATION FOR NEW DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM IN MACEDONIASunday, 17th November will mark the 5th Anniversary since the passing of the Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia. To this purpose there has been an appropriate festivity at the ceremonial hall of the Macedonian Parliament yesterday, attended by highest state officials - incl. President Gligorov, members of the 1st and 2nd pluralistic parliament, representatives of the diplomatic corps and the OCM , Parliament Chairman Tito Petkovski, etc.The latter emphasized during his address that the adopting of the Constitution on 17th November `91 represented an act of utmost importance on a political and national level - as it set the foundations of a new democratic order within the Republic of Macedonia: `The new Constitution incorporates the national and legal traditions of the Krushevo Republic, the ASNOM provisions, as well as the national and judicial genesis of Macedonia within Former Yugoslavia. It is a contemporary and citizen-orientated document, its values being based on the intensive and creative engagement of the first multi-party parliament, the expert team, the competence of supreme experts and the input provided by citizens and their parties. As a result of this we today have an original and authentic Constitution - fitting the new pluralistic ambient and the democratic and civilization standards of Europe'. Referring to some of the Constitution's basic provisions, e.g. parliamentary democracy complemented by significant presidential functions, the guaranteed rights and liberties of minorities according to European standards, and market economy, Tito Petkovski stressed that: `The passing of the Constitution marked the beginning of intense judicial activity, as over 500 acts of law have been adopted throughout the past five years - which was conducive to the speeding up of transformation procedures within the political and economic system'. Five years after the enactment of the Constitution - as Petkovski claims - represent a rather short time span to assess all issue vital to the functioning of a political system. One thing, however, can be said for sure: the Republic of Macedonia has achieved a high level of implementation of constitutional provisions in practice - which entailed a relative stability in terms of internal policy and a quantum of credibility on an international level. Chairman Petkovski closed his speech by stressing the permanent quality of the Constitution's fundamental concept, whose provisions are to be verified by time and empirical application. Thus its consistent implementation, its democratic form and contents are to provide the framework for our civilization, our future, and for the future establishment of even more humane relations. [02] PRE-ELECTION MORATORIUM HAS STARTED PRIOR TO IMMINENT LOCAL ELECTIONSConcordant to the Law on Local Elections, campaigning has been terminated at midnight yesterday, whereas the pre- election moratorium (which is to last until Sunday, 17th November) has begun. Media report that throughout the past 28 days all political parties and independent candidates have staged around 500 rallies in all municipalities of the country. Thus the representatives of 33 political, 9 coalitions have been introduced to the public, in addition to 32 independent mayor-candidates. These 655 mayor- candidates and 803 lists of counsellor-candidates will yield future policy-makers, after 1 498 653 citizens have cast their vote in 124 election units. During these elections - unlike the previous parliamentary, presidential and local elections - the electorate is comprised of only those voters who are registered, which means there will be no additional records for those who are not in the register, but are proving their identity and citizenship by producing personal papers.Macedonian Radio reports that those doing their National Service will vote on Saturday, 16th November. Macedonian citizens currently residing or living abroad will not be able to cast their vote at the diplomatic missions of Macedonia, as technical conditions could not be provided. What has also been announced is the presence of foreign election observers of the OSCE, the Council of Europe and NDI - Washington. Overall expenses to cover round 1 of the local elections have been estimated within the realm of 78 million denars, i.e. 2.8 million DM. [03] DEBATE ON NATIONAL ECONOMY DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY OF MACEDONIAYesterday the Working Session on designing the `National Development Strategy of Macedonia' project - held under the auspices of the Mac. Academy of Science and Art, the UN Agency for Development Sustenance and the Viennese Institute of Comparative Economic Studies - commenced in Ohrid. During his opening speech MANU (Mac. Academy of Science and Art) Chairman Ksente Bogoev stressed that it is the ultimate goal of this event to compile a paper of strategic significance to Macedonia - through a scientific approach - which will be conducive to the resolving of current economic conditions, and to the transition in to a trend of economic growth and long-term development. To this purpose the academician Bogoev reports the establishment of 22 working groups which have compiled studies which are in general to be divided into such dwelling on macro-economic issues, and such dwelling on particular sectors. Critical debates among these International and domestic experts are to yield an all- inclusive document which outlines basic development trends - but also ways, measures and the dynamics concerning their execution. Those attending the Working Session in Ohrid yesterday have also been addressed by the UN Development Sustenance Agency Chairman, David Smith, and the Head of the Vienna Institute of Comparative Economic Studies, Michael Latzmann.The group analyzing macro-economic issues at the Ohrid meeting is led by Nikola Uzunov, whereas Sectorial issues will be studied by the group chaired by Nikola Kljusev. [04] `ELEPHTEROTYPIA': NAME PREREQUISITE TO STRENGTHENING POLITICAL RELATIONS TOWARDS SKOPJEAthens would like to intensify economic relations towards Skopje in compliance to the Interim Agreement, but it is not willing to strengthen political relations prior to the final resolving of the name-issue concerning Skopje. This - according to the Greek daily `Elephterotypia' - represents part of the reply of Greek authorities with regards to the so-called `Non-paper' submitted to the Greek Foreign Office, i.e. its Secretary-General, by Ljupcho Arsovski, Head of the Macedonian Liaison Office in Athens, quite recently. The paper furthermore denies that Greek PM Costas Simitis had been officially invited to visit its northern neighbour.`Makfax' quotes `Elephterotypia' by claiming that PM Simitis intends to tour Balkan states, incl. visits to Bucharest, Sofia and Belgrade in order to add emphasis to the endeavours of Athens to strengthen cultural and political ties with countries on the peninsula - but that no precise dates had been announced yet. The conservative Athens paper `Catimerini' reports in yesterday's issue that PASSOK MP Stelios Paptemelis addressed the question of possible re-patriation of `Skopje citizens' in Greece to the Greek Foreign Secretary at the Parliament, as the cabinet of PM Simitis appeared prone to concede to this. The paper continues the article by quoting Paptemelis who points out that re-patriation is being requested for people who either themselves - or their parents - had left the country during the Civil War as Greeks, whereas now they wish to return as `Slavs'. The PASSOK MP further states that provided this were the case, things could not get worse for Greece - as it would be the only country known to `import its minority'. [05] FRENCH ARMED FORCES COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF IN MACEDONIAGeneral Jacques Duan, in charge of the French Armed Forces Command, has arrived in Macedonia yesterday, on a two-day official visit. He has already commenced talks with his Mac. counterpart General Trajche Krstevski. MTV reports that the visitor form the republic of France will also be received by Mac. Head of State Kiro Gligorov and Defense Secretary Blagoj Handzhiski.[06] DELEGATION OF THE YUGOSLAV NEW DEMOCRACY PARTY RECEIVED BY KIRO GLIGOROVPresident Gligorov received a delegation of the New Democracy Party from SR Yugoslavia - headed by its Chairman Dushan Mihajlovikj - yesterday. The latter informed President Gligorov on party activities, on current political conditions in Yugoslavia after national elections, etc.Official records also reveal that President Gligorov stressed Macedonia's commitment towards friendship and cooperation with all of its neighbours, and towards the process of opening up and Europeanization in the Balkans. [07] ACCENT ON RECONSTRUCTION OF WATER SUPPLY AND IRRIGATION SYSTEMSYesterday the FAO Conference in Rome has been commenced, and today the Mac. delegation is to be joined by PM Branko Crvenkovski, according to media reports. It has also been said that the Mac. delegation has met representatives of the FAO Investment Dept. - which closely cooperates with the World Bank and other financial institutions. On this occasion Agriculture Minister Nikola Parakeov emphasized the issue regarding reconstructing water supply and irrigation systems, i.e. projects dealing with this subject.Further collaboration in the field of agriculture had been discussed with Parakeov's Italian counterpart , whereas talks between the Italian and Mac. Heads of Veterinary Services dwelled on the `hoof and mouth' disease situation in Macedonia. The Italian side pledged to encourage the EU to lift the import ban on lamb form Macedonia. [08] RIGHT TO STRIKE OF POLICE FORCES TO BE CODIFIED THROUGH COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTA-1 reports that the right to go on strike, guaranteed by constitutional provisions, will be codified through a Collective Agreement between the Police Force Trade Union and the Secretary of the Interior, which is to be signed by 15th January 1997. This had been announced by Union officials at yesterday's press conference.The latter has also been attended by representatives of the Independent Police Trade Union of Hessen (FRG), who used their stay to compare trade union work in both countries. It was observed that one of the main differences was that police officers in Macedonia have the right to go on strike, unlike German policemen. Another contrast - according to German Union official Nierich-Stein - is the right of German law enforcement officers to join political parties, or even become mayors or Prime Ministers. A-1 also revealed that preparations for the ratification of this Collective Agreement have been going on for over a year, which has been attributed to the fact that there have been divergent opinions on such issues as financial rewarding or fining of employees, or the reimbursement of outstanding performances. [09] MACEDONIAN KARATE ATHLETES TO COMPETE UNDER CONSTITUTIONAL NAME FROM NOW ONThe press conference preceding the participation of the Mac. National Karate Team at the World Championships in Sun City, was marked by the announcement made by the Team's management that the dilemma regarding the team's official name under which it would compete internationally in the future, has been resolved. With respect to this the Mac. Radio reports that during the recently held Congress of the World Karate Federation it had been ruled that in the future no member of the Federation would have the right to object to the fact that Macedonian National Team members compete under their constitutional name.MILS SUPPLEMENT[10] `Tax is Collected, Donations are Awaited'(`Vecher' - 14th November 1996)Tax revenues are coming through at the expected rate, though means expected to flow in from other sources barely `drip' into the national cash register. The Ministry of Finance expresses its overall content with the present `blood analysis' which is above all due to the end-of-the-fiscal- year production peak, facilitating the administering of several financial `injections' in order to diminish any `red figure' wrinkles. Realizations of this sort, which have also been outlined during the recent joint (IMF experts and Macedonian representatives) analysis of the macro-economic situation in the country, bear evidence of irrealistic planning and revenues not obtained via taxation - which has also been conducive to the registered low in non-tax revenues within the budget. The predicted dynamics of budget input is being achieved within the tax revenue sector. Thus 83% of the expected total have already been obtained. In terms of structuring the largest portion falls off to VAT (95.5%), followed by revenue tax (90%), says Liljana Doneva (Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Finance), adding that the VAT rate could even yield more than expected by the end of the year. Although the issue on luxury goods tax seemed to be a huge thorn in everybody's side at the beginning of the year - which was only confirmed by the plunge it took in may - October was marked by an upward trend. Based on analyses data this is due to new measures introduced by the Dept. of Public Revenues, i.e. the establishment of tax offices with the largest clients of this category. A low has been registered with regards to non-tax revenues, especially those concerning service charges, where a total of 2.1 million denars had been forecast. The balance sheet, however, ended up to be negative as the main part of this section was comprised of re-export tax. The same has to be said with respect to two more income sources: donations and privatization yields. Doneva revealed that in terms of the former only 100 million had been obtained - compared to the expected 400 million denars. The latter did not yield any profit whatsoever. In this sense, one could now only await the PHARE funds - following the adoption of the indicative programme of ours by the EU - which would immediately be transferred as additional funding for social projects. Expenditure rates are highest with respect to personal income, restitution, transfers and capital expenditures. The annual rate i.e. pace by which the `national account' is being emptied is most obviously to be observed via the `sustaining' of social programmes, and the financial support of laid-off employees. In the past the delay in paying the latter had been eliminated until the month of June. From August onwards already, the gap increased with each month. This entails the covering of the deficit at the Employment Bureau, explains Doneva. Another significant indicator is the annual rate of construction of infrastructure objects, all the more as new yields were allocated to settle old `debts', as was the case with the railway to Bulgaria. The balancing last year was to reduce funding for this project by 800 million denars - which were to be drawn out of budget expenditures procuring the viability of the venture. Budget means were also to be used in improving the network of magistral and regional roads, water supply systems, the `Lisiche' hydro-system... The scheduled reduction of budget expenditure - which should be implemented by next year - will, among other things, entail changes in presenting revenues and expenses. Thus, the new budget physiognomy is to be conducive to - first and foremost - a precise recording of yields and budget beneficiaries. This distinction between budgetary and non-budgetary revenues from state subventions - explicates Doneva - is being introduced in order to rationalize budget expenditures. This actually denotes the quintessence of the `tresor-system' which is expected to be applied starting with 1997, and is to entail a detailed account of budget and internal means (i.e. those subjected to state care) at any time. The first to be integrated into the expenditure-control system are ministries and their bodies, as well as their corresponding organizational units. Integration into the tresor-system and funds intended for the PIO road project, and possibly for local management projects. The ultimate objective of this arrangement with the IMF is to bring about rational, efficient and above all appropriate spending of budget funds. In order to facilitate budget documentation, and its levelling to international standards, it has also been decided to introduce a functional classification of budget beneficiaries which - for example - would make it very easy to see how much had been spent in the education sector, etc. (end)Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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