MILS: News from the FYROM, 96-12-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] GREEK PRESS: CYRUS VANCE LIKELY TO RETURN MANDATE

[02] MINISTER FRCHKOVSKI IN CANADA

[03] PLEDGE FOR BALKAN FREE TRADE ZONE

[04] TRADE BETWEEN B&H AND MACEDONIA VIA THIRD COUNTRIES

[05] BULGARIAN PAPERS WARN OF `SERBIANIZATION' OF MACEDONIA

[06] ROUND 2 VOTING ANNULLED AT 4 MUNICIPALITIES

[07] DP: `SDSM FORGING ELECTION RESULTS BY THEFT AND DECEPTION'

[08] THE `DRISLA' WASTE DUMP DURING LOCAL ELECTION CAMPAIGNING

[09] OCM: DAY OF ST. CLEMENT OF OHRID A NATIONAL HOLIDAY

[10] AWARD CEREMONY OF `ST. CLEMENT OF OHRID' AND `GLIGOR PRLICHEV' AWARD

MILS SUPPLEMENT

[11] `Last Supper at Elen Kamen' (`Delo' - 4th December 1996)

MILS NEWS

Skopje, 09 December, 1996

[01] GREEK PRESS: CYRUS VANCE LIKELY TO RETURN MANDATE

At the same time - according to `Makfax' - Greek media claim that if mediator Vance should register lack of progress during this round as well, and due to UN Secretary elections, he would return the mandate immediately at the beginning of 1997 and instigate a procedure at the Security Council to resolve the matter.

Athens paper `Eskoussia' quotes Greek Foreign Office sources upon reporting that Greece is determined to block all EU funding intended for Macedonia. According to the same sources, Greek Head of Diplomacy Theodoros Pangalos and his Deputy Yorgos Papandreou are retaining the attitude to implement all means at their disposal - incl. the power to veto - to hamper the execution of the financial protocol between the EU and Macedonia.

[02] MINISTER FRCHKOVSKI IN CANADA

As `Nova Makedonija' reports Minister Frchkovski has been received by Nikola Stojanovski, the Head of the Macedonian Religious Community in Toronto, and by other representatives of Macedonian church communities, businessmen of Macedonian origin and representatives of Macedonian Clubs and Associations. Within his visit to Canada Minister Frchkovski has also attended festivities at the church of St. Clement of Ohrid. The subsequent reception was also attended by Government Minister Johnson from Ontario, former mayor of Toronto. According to MTV Minister Frchkovski hosted a cocktail at the Toronto Hall of Sports for representatives of Macedonian Associations in Canada. An official visit to the Canadian Foreign Office by Minister Frchkovski has been scheduled for today.

The latter should focus on possibilities to open a Macedonian Embassy in Ottawa and a Consulate in Toronto - as most of the Macedonian immigrants live there. There are speculations that this idea could be implemented by the end of January next year.

[03] PLEDGE FOR BALKAN FREE TRADE ZONE

`Dnevnik' reports that the Head of the Greek Economy Chamber, Andreas Kiriyadi, has been elected Chairman of the Balkan Economy Chambers - whereas Macedonian Economy Chamber President Dushan Petrevski has been appointed his Deputy. As information reveal that the presidency is served in rotational terms Petrevski should be the Association's new Chairman next year.

Besides this a Macedonian delegation headed by Economy Minister Bekir Zhuta has departed for Singapore yesterday, where it is to attend the first Minister Conference of the WTO. The Conference is to yield outlines on the future liberalization of global trade, compiled by representatives of 125 countries.

[04] TRADE BETWEEN B&H AND MACEDONIA VIA THIRD COUNTRIES

Both delegations assessed that there is a broad basis for collaboration between both economies - incl. industrial cooperation, appearances on third markets, and particularly the implementation of investments, etc. Specific accent was placed on the relevance of an agreement on bilateral cooperation and a Free Tax collaboration - which has (as it was pointed out) been executed only by the Macedonian side so far. During this meeting Chairmen Smajlovikj and Petrevski also signed an Agreement on Inter-Chamber Cooperation.

[05] BULGARIAN PAPERS WARN OF `SERBIANIZATION' OF MACEDONIA

[06] ROUND 2 VOTING ANNULLED AT 4 MUNICIPALITIES

The NEC also informed that complaints on election procedures had been lodged at 32 municipalities - whereas at 43 there had been no objections. Most of these complaints on voting procedure irregularities throughout round 2 (20) had been lodged at the Kisela Voda municipality. Regarding the electorate turn-out during the second round, the NEC announced that in the 79 municipal units the latter amounted to 58.89% - whereas in the city of Skopje it totalled 50.83% of the registered electorate.

It has also been announced that this week voting had been repeated at Makedonski Brod, Orizari, Kratovo, Karbinci and Vratnica due to irregularities in round 1 - and that mayors had been elected now.

At 2 polling stations in Tetovo - as well as in Podaresh and Bogdanci - mayors and counsellors were elected yesterday, whereas only the former had to be chosen at Lipkovo, Vrneshnica, Bistrica and Klechovce. At Vrutok, Lozovo, Krivogashtani, Sopishte and Kamenjane round 1 was repeated, thus the mayors will be known after round 2 on 15th December.

According to official NEC data on municipal units where round 2 of elections has been completed without the need of repetition, the SDSM has obtained 35 mayor slots (i.e. 147 636 votes); the IMRO-DPMNE, DP & MAAK-CP coalition has managed to do the same 22 times (129 813 votes), the PDP has 5 (11 962 votes), the PDPA (12 155) and the SPM (10 547) have 3 each, the PDPA/NDP coalition 2 (with 3 933 votes) and the coalitions between PDP/NDP, SDSM/SPM and the IMRO-DPMNE- DP have succeeded in obtaining one slot respectively - apart from another group of voters. Others with one mayor include the DPS, DPT and the DPPR.

[07] DP: `SDSM FORGING ELECTION RESULTS BY THEFT AND DECEPTION'

Regarding the annulment of elections at polling station 19 of the above named unit, Manasievski pointed out that this was a `textbook example of legal illiteracy and ignorance'.

Voting had been annulled due to the SDSM objection that there were campaign posters exhibited next to the polling station. In connection to this Manasievski stressed that concordant to the Law on Local Elections the party is fined with 10 to 20 average pays for such an offense - not with annulling elections.

The DP spokesperson provided another illustration of `severe vote theft' by citing Rosoman where - as he said - the Election Commission Chairwoman stole the envelope containing the servicemen votes in favour of the coalition. Due to this the DP will press charges against the Election Commission Head. Other places listed by Manasievski as localities where results were forged - following the counting of ARM servicemen votes - are Valandovo and Mesheishta.

[08] THE `DRISLA' WASTE DUMP DURING LOCAL ELECTION CAMPAIGNING

According to Gochevski this bears obvious evidence to the fact that the 2- month long functioning of the `Drisla' facility was not resolve the waste problem confronting Skopje, but merely another political move - integrating this waste dump into local election campaigning.

In the end Gochevski emphasized that his public company would insist on the negotiated complete re-opening of the `Drisla' facility, and the final closure of `Vardadrishte' and its revitalization.

[09] OCM: DAY OF ST. CLEMENT OF OHRID A NATIONAL HOLIDAY

The Head of the OCM announced this request to the media throughout the three-day long festivities marking the day of the patron-saint to the church of the Macedonian people; and repeated it during the ceremonial session at the Faculty of Theology in Skopje, named after this saint. Stating that such distinguished personalities deserved more respect, the Reverend Mihail emphasized that even Macedonia's integrity as a state has been given and fortified by this prominent saint - by St. Clement of Ohrid.

Central festivities to mark this day dedicated to St.

Clement of Ohrid were also held yesterday, at the seat of the Macedonian Archiepiscopality in Skopje, then in Ohrid at the Home of the Holy Apostle of Christ dating back to the Middle Ages, as well as in all other eparchies and parishes of the OCM in Macedonia and abroad in Europe and overseas.

In Skopje the Head of the OCM held the ceremonial mass, the `Holy Golden- Worded Liturgy' at the Congregational Archiepiscopal Church `St. Clement of Ohrid'. This was followed by a festive reception at the seat of the Macedonian Archiepiscopality for representatives of the Macedonian Government, the Diplomatic Corps and representatives of different religious, political, scientific, cultural and educational institutions in the country. Another event taking place at the Congregational Archiepiscopal Church `St. Clement of Ohrid' in Skopje, was the ceremonial concert of the Archiepiscopal Choir bearing the saint's name.

[10] AWARD CEREMONY OF `ST. CLEMENT OF OHRID' AND `GLIGOR PRLICHEV' AWARD

Yesterday the winner of the `Gligor Prlichev' Award Contest (for the best poem of `96) was announced in Ohrid: its recipient is Trajan Petrevski for his poem `Faith in Ohrid'.

MILS SUPPLEMENT

[11] `Last Supper at Elen Kamen'

(`Delo' - 4th December 1996)

As `Delo' has been informed by reliable sources, more than one year ago at the Struga weekend resort area Elen Kamen a larger group of former Republic and Federal Communist officials met in order to compile a strategy for reinstating the old side-lined party structures and renewing old ties to our northern neighbour. How successful this strategy has proven to be - became obvious during local elections.

Local elections in Macedonia ended - favourably for some, satisfactorily for others and painfully the rest.

Predominantly in the spirit of a programmed political party purgatory which is - slowly but surely - outlining the Macedonian political stage. This would actually entail a far more realistic determining of current political factors among the electorate, not merely as an ordinary test preceding imminent parliamentary elections for major political parties - but rather as a diagnosis on the Macedonian civic tissue in terms of future trends regarding the development of society... including all predispositions generated by current socio-economic conditions and the impact of the international factor, i.e. mutual relations between the former and our country, alike.

The least that could be said about the pre-election campaign is - HOT. In addition to the fact that HEAVY-WEIGHT statements were being thrown around. What is being expected now is a period of silence after the purifying political tremors that spread throughout the country. Analyses will show who won and who lost - and how much in each case - as well as what the future has in store for us and what not.

One thing, however, is likely to remain unforgotten: the most significant progress was made by a superficially half- dead party (until recently a mere pendant to the ruling SDSM), mainly due to its new - but for some time quite controversial - leader Ljubisav Ivanov - Singo. This is not only indicated by achieved results (at least up to the moment when this text has been written) , i.e. 7 obtained mayor positions, the quite substantial number of counsellor seats and the respectable amount of gained individual votes, but also by the fierce criticism addressed to very recent allies - particularly on the economic and social situation of the country. However paradoxical it may appear one, as it has been said, of the wealthiest and most powerful people in Macedonia attempted to bring about the revival of (modified) socialist ideas (everybody will be rich, and some even richer) by staging typically populistic events throughout the country, by promising food and work for everybody. His opponents i.e. the SDSM (only!?) were to accuse him of taking advantage of the still present `Yugo-nostalgia', and of `hurrying back into the arms of our northern neighbour'.

Soon after this media are to name him and a few leader of the extreme Mac. left-wing in connection to the plan of Mirjana Markovikj i.e. the Yugoslav Unified Left to expand southwards, following the `fraternizing' with the latter.

This would be paralleled by the reinstatement of the old Yugoslav community... Something that has been hovering over the Republic of Macedonia incessantly, even after 6 years of independence; something that has been increasingly gaining momentum as an endeavour and attempt throughout the past years - so much that it can obviously no longer be ignored.

With all its manifested forms: the emergence of capital, media, entertainment and cultural expansion, etc. - symptoms of which `Delo' has been warning perseveringly for over 3 and a half years. This entails the question: is there - and if yes - how successful is the pro-Serbian (pro- Yugoslav) lobby which is abusing the state of chaos in many domains of life, as well as the deteriorated social condition, the decline in culture and communication within the country, etc. Besides this, which are its main modes of operation?

Could this be - as it is being said - through substantial material and political support form the North?

As early as one year ago `Delo' had already received information indicating the possibility of a meeting of former Yugoslav officials of Macedonia who went `under cover' for a certain time, or lost the importance as a result of Yugoslav disintegration. A finale or a genuine beginning of their activity should have been a larger gathering or a secret meeting at the once residential weekend resort area Elen Kamen near Struga, where party and state `moguls' used to build villas during what has been known as the Socialist or Yugoslav era. This gathering, or if you like meeting was attended by a large number of politicians dating back to the Communist period, some of them well-known to the public, as they succeeded in reaching the very top of the hierarchical pyramid of the former Federation throughout their Yugoslav political career. The purpose of this meeting held in the summer of 1995, according to the sources of `Delo', was: the creating of a strategy to reinstate the old communist nomenclature; to renew ties with the northern neighbour and to strive towards reintegration with the latter. These objectives - in expectancy of substantial support from up north - should be achieved through the strengthening of economic and financial impact, which would be conducive to the return and fortification of the old political nomenclature upon the stage, of the old socialist regime within society - back into the new embrace of the old partner. This strategy of course also covers: greater (printed and electronic) media impact, cultural and entertainment expansion. Its executives have been most carefully chosen based on their suitability: integrated into politics, economy and certain economic associations - as well as some faculties. During this process these political forces directly generated by the old party - or those having remained tied to it and its name in the most orthodox manner - are to maintain `under cover' for at least some time, i.e. until the right moment. The lead has been cast to another party who will be able to join the incumbent one, or even emerge as its opposition at the given time - in order to reassert the already mentioned objectives, of course. This entails the obtaining of lobbying support, by as many political parties and partisan circles (even those most nationalist ones) as possible. One should also bear in mind the `cadre' who is to assume key positions within the country - from the very top ones down to the minor slots (requiring affirmation) - once those aims have been achieved. In terms of affirmation certain private media are to be decisive, as well as - self-evidently - a huge influx of capital.

This is the main script which is to outline the future of Macedonia - and that of its people - to a considerable extent. As source have revealed to our editorial offices, and based on analyses of events occurring throughout the past year (provided one assumes they are not ordinary coincidences), it does appear credible that this plan is functioning and `coming along': through capital placement within the country's economy, the cultural invasion, the `entertainment dazzling' the populus in public venues and numerous private radio and TV stations... and last but not the least (and why not) through the return of some `put-out- to-pasture' cadre of the old communist nomenclature onto the political scene throughout local elections `96. According to our information the latter have been preceded by talks and negotiations at the - at one time - highest spot in Macedonia.

(end)

mils news 09 December 1996

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