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MILS: News from the FYROM, 96-12-18Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>CONTENTS
MILS NEWSSkopje, 18 December, 1996[01] GREEK-MACEDONIAN NEGOTIATIONS POSTPONEDMacedonian and Greek ambassadors Ivan Toshevski and Hristos Zaharakis yesterday did not have the appointed meeting in New York and the media report that the date for a new round of talks will additionally be established.According to A-1 TV the spokesman of the mediator in the talks Saurus Vens stated that the mediator will propose change in the reference with which Macedonia is addressed in the UN of which there have been speculations in the media these days. The Greek media have not reported the postponed round of Greek-Macedonian talks as they usually do, reports the `Makfaks' agency explaining this with the wave of strikes in Greece. However the reason for the Greek media's silence might also be the possible movement upon the question about the name differences. At such a comment pointed the article published in the conservative Athens paper `Katimerini' where the name dispute is assessed as a mistake of the foreign politics which has condemned Greece to senseless exhaustion due to `a proportional second degree issue'. According to `Katimerini’ the solution may already have been found and it cites that it will most probably be one official name for all international uses and that only Greece will call Macedonia by a name dictated to them by their patriotism. Maybe the solution is at hand but now there is search for a formula to decrease the politic price of accepting the resolution which was announced since the beginning of the dispute, concludes `Katimerini'. Regarding the Greek-Macedonian relations the Macedonia media yesterday pointed out the letter from the Greek Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos who sent an invitation to his Macedonian colleague Minister Slobodan Unkovski to participate in the solemn inauguration of Thessaloniki as the European capital of culture in the following 1997. The invitation sent through the Macedonian Liaison Department in Athens cites that the manifestation will be of a Balkans dimension with a possible meeting of the Culture ministers of the Balkans states which will deal with establishing a Balkans culture net. The Greek Minister Venizelos cited in the invitation that in the context of the Temporary Resolution in New York the participation of Macedonia is of great significance both on bilateral and Balkans level. [02] MACEDONIAN-ALBANIAN DIALOGUE IN OSCE ORGANIZATION COMMENCEDIn the `Kontinental' Hotel in Skopje yesterday commenced the two-day round table on the subject `Building up harmonious inter-ethnic relations in Macedonia' the initiator of which is the OSCE commissary for minorities issues Maks Van Der Schtul. The media report that the suggestion for this round table give by MR. Schtul was accepted by the Macedonian Government while the Foreign Affairs Ministry appears as co-organiser. The two-day Macedonian-Albanian dialogue is closed to the public and is divided in three sessions in which introductory speakers will be one Macedonian and one Albanian. The final word at the round table should be given by the commissary Maks Van Der Schtul. Among the participants in the discussion are the ministers Ljubomir Frchkovski, Vlado Popovski, Sofia Todorova, Naser Ziberi and the leaders of the Liberal party Stojan Andov and the PDP Abdurahman Aliti.[03] ETHNOLOGY ASSOCIATION AT THE OSCE ROUND TABLERegarding the round table meeting on the subject `Building up harmonious inter-ethnic relation in Macedonia' yesterday there was a reaction on the part of the Ethnology Association which expressed protest assessing that the round table has been organized incognito. `The round table has been organized under a great pressure and demand on part of the political parties of Albanian nationality in Macedonia and Albania directly which openly stands in service of the Great-Albanian secessionism. The paper `Fljaka e Vlazerimit' reports that in this unusual closed meeting participate chosen Macedonian and Albanians and the itinerary covers issues from the field of Albanian education and the usage of the Albanian language in public life in the country an other serious inter-ethnic issues.We regret that not even one representative form the Macedonian ethnologist was invited yet the ethno-political relations in our country will be discussed dictated by the Albanian political subject.' The protest by the EAM Presidency further cites that with the issues discussed behind closed doors the European political representatives consciously or unconsciously impose partnership on Macedonia which carries a fatal out- come for the Macedonian ethnic region in all living areas in the country with great consequences for the peace in the Balkans and wider. [04] SOFIA `STANDARD' - MACEDONIA IN WAR WINDSTORMAfter the statement given by the former State Secretary Henry Kissinger that Macedonia is endangered by war the Sofia `Standard' reports estimations from foreign diplomats that the situation in Macedonia is quite intense and the US predict a new Balkans war. `Makpres' reports, in the text titled as 'The Albanians in Macedonia create their own state Ilirida' calling upon anonymous politicologists `Standard' emphasizes that the real factor for a conflict in the Balkans are the Albanians in Macedonia and Kosovo. The Albanian population in west Macedonia is very separatist, claims the paper and adds: `They want to separate and join Albania or Kosovo. The Albanian leader do not hide their wishes to create their own federation in Macedonia in which they will get autonomy leading towards creating a state `Ilirida'. ’ Citing this `Standard' assesses that in that case the remaining part of Macedonia will most probably gravitate towards Serbia not towards Bulgaria.`Standard', according to ‘Makpres’ agency, in the same issue published the statement of Marija Chavdarova - expert in the Bulgarian Defense Ministry - who points out that the idea of a 6th war in the Balkans in the 20th century had been begotten in the summer of 93 in the Institute for National Strategic Researches by the University for National Defense of the US. She also pointed out that the US have been dealing with the Balkans war conflicts since 1992 . The complete war screenplay has bee published by Jeffrey Simon - expert and researcher - in the material `Prevention of a 6th war in the Balkans in the 20th century', reports the Sofia paper. According to Simon the current panicking situation in Serbia should light the fuse in Kosovo and Macedonia. `Standard' calling upon anonymous diplomatic sources claims that the Balkans politicians have been exploring the division of Macedonia since 1993. [05] ACCREDITATION OF ISRAELI AMBASSADOR IN MACEDONIAMacedonian Chief of State Kiro Gligorov yesterday received Israeli Ambassador Ran Kuriel in Macedonia and also handed him the accreditation letters. The Macedonian president in the welcoming speech emphasized that the appointing of the first Israeli ambassador in Macedonia presents a continuity of the historically confirmed traditional friendly relations between the Macedonian and Jewish people as well as of the successful development of the relations between the two countries. Presenting the Israeli President's regards the Israeli ambassador expressed the willingness of the Israeli Government to continue the development of the relations between the countries in all areas.The newly appointed Israeli ambassador in Macedonia Ran Kuriel yesterday was received by the vice-president of the Macedonian Parliament, Tito Petkovski, the Premier Branko Crvenkovski and Foreign Affairs Minister Ljubomir Frchkovski. [06] COMPENSATION FROM IRAQI-KUWAIT WAR FOR MACEDONIAN FIRMS NEXT YEARMacedonian Government Vice-president Ljube Trpevski yesterday in Geneva had e meeting with Executive Secretary of the Compensation Commission by the Security Council Carlos Alzamora and they discussed the Macedonian demand for priority in solving the compensation from the Iraqi-Kuwait war for the Macedonian firms. The Macedonian Television reports, Almazora stated that he expects the problem to be solved in the course of next year emphasizing that he will do everything possible in the direction of a positive resolution. Official attitude of the Compensation Commission by the UN Security Council , as it was stated by Alzamora, is the following: the international community and the UN have the obligation to help in the reestablishing the order which had been broken and to compensate the justified demands of the firms and the damaged workers.Regarding the construction company `Pelagonija' from Skopje ( which has the largest demand of compensation) Carlos Alzamora expressed expectation to see this company again in the international waters of construction building where it has always held an excellent and high reputation. [07] THE CONSTRUCTION BUILDER'S STRIKE APPROACHING CULMINATIONThe construction workers of `Mavrovo' have been on strike 10 days already demanding payment of their salaries, and starting from yesterday there are 500 construction workers from `Pelagonija' on strike as well, report the media.More than a thousand revolted construction workers yesterday blocked the entrance to the Urban Planning Ministry where a meeting was to be held between minister Jorgo Shundovski and the managers of the company with the striking Committee of the independent syndicate `Mavrovo'. However the representatives of the independent syndicate did not agree with the attitude of Shundovski to include the `state syndicate' in the negotiations and they left the session. `Dnevnik' reports, since yesterday the building of the railway towards Bulgaria has been stopped and the workers joined the strikers in Skopje. According to the Vise- President of the Independent Syndicate Union Blazze Stojanovski the events will reach culmination in the following 2-3 days with a large protest in front of the Government. [08] MINISTER ZIBERI - NO CHANGES IN THE PENSIONING CONDITIONSRegarding the speculations that are circling in the public these days about the alleged restrictive measures in the Law for pension and invalid insurance the Macedonian Television yesterday asked for a statement from Labor and Social Policy Minister Naser Ziberi. According to Ziberi a false panic is created among the citizens about the alleged reduced rights for pensioning i.e. that there will be a reduction of the pension base or that the age limits for both men and women will be equal.Minister Ziberi gave the information that the law base for pensions will continue to be 80% from the average salary, but it will also be related to the average salary in the non-economy businesses. There will be no changes regarding equalizing the male and female age limits. The changes in the law regard procuring funds for timely payment of the pensions and overcoming the finance deficit in the Pension and Invalid Insurance Fund, stated Minister Ziberi. [09] MORE CHANGES IN TAX SPHEREA-1 TV reports, the Macedonian Government at the session held the day before yesterday established a package of changes referring to the tax sphere. With them the rate of taxation on the income is being reduced from 30% to 15%, and the income which will be used for investing will be totally tax free. With the new changes the double taxation of the dividend will be avoided and the prior 4 rates of sales tax and services tax will be replaced with one rate of 13%. In the future coffee and alcohol taxes will have to be paid it the total sum and taxpayer will be the importer while demands for changes in the tobacco taxes are waiting for better times. With the new tax changes taxation of the demand interest rates will be avoided and in the rest only the real interest rates will be taxed.[10] `PALER MACEDONIAN' DEMANDS JUSTICE THROUGH COURTAs the owner of the air-transport company `Paler Macedonian' Vanja Bitoljanu has informed yesterday this company has pressed charges against the Traffic and Connection Minister Dimitar Buzlevski for abusing his official position and authorization. Charges are pressed against Goran Pavlovski - Manager of the Head Office for Civil Air Transport, Aleksandar Chepeljugin - Manager of the Public Firm for Airport Services `Makedonija- Skopje' and Ilija Iloski - President of the Administrative Committee of the Public Firm all for abuse of their official duties and authorities and for creating monopoly positions and causing disturbance on the market.According to Bituljanu the charges have been pressed due to the fact that the accuser (`Paler Macedonian') wants to give a modest contribution to the respecting of the laws in the state i.e. to the direction of commencing the functioning of the `worn-out phrase law state'. `Paler Macedonian' has been grounded for a long time now due to unpaid demands towards the Public Firm for Airport Services `Makedonija-Skopje'. The workers are being taken by the air company `MAT' and the airplanes are returned to the renter. Vanja Bituljanu - owner of `Paler Macedonian' has pointed out for many times now that his company is unjustly grounded and that the rivals `MAT' and `Avioimpeks' are being unjustly favored by the authorities. [11] LAW FOR PROTECTION AND IMPROVEMENT OF LIVING ENVIRONMENT ADOPTEDThe Macedonian Assembly at yesterday's 55th session has drafted the Law for protection and improvement of the living environment. According to Minister Jorgo Shundovski, this small `eco - constitution' is the first Law of this kind in the country and it regulates the rights and duties in the protection and improvement of the environment. The law predicts establishing: an information system for monitoring the quality of the living environment, inspectorate and Institute for Environment Protection and providing means for inciting preventive measures for protection and a special fund for environment improvement will be established.During the session in the Macedonian General Assembly in front of the Assembly building there was a rally of the ecologists for support of the Law. About 300 ecologists wanted to pressure the members of the Parliament to draft the Law which is the fundamental prerequisite for improving the living environment. in Macedonia. The Parliament members at yesterday's session drafted the Law for tobacco but they did not succeed in drafting the La w for legal procedure due to lack of quorum. In the amendment dispute for this law the demands of the PDP Party were not accepted - they demanded the lawsuit procedure to be carried out in the language of the nationalities unless the client has command of the Macedonian language. [12] GERMAN GOVERNMENT SUPPORT FOR PROTECTION OF OHRID AND PRESPA LAKESThe German Government, through its Agency for Technical Cooperation, approved 600.000 DM. for commencing the project of economic development and protection of the environment in the coastal area of the Ohrid and Prespa Lakes, reported Radio Tirana yesterday. The funds for this project should be approved by the European Organization for Protection of the Human Environment and some other organizations, reports `Makpres'. This help will also include Macedonia and Greece with the aim to gather the citizens to work together on the economic development in these regions and on the protection of the lakes regardless of their nationality.[13] VANDALISM ON SEVERAL CHURCHES IN GOSTIVAR SURROUNDINGSIn the Gostivar village Vrapchishte a few days ago unknown doers entered three churches and damaged them, reports `Vecher' From the church ‘Sveti Atanas’ the vandals stole money and some gifts - embroideries, and they lit fire within the church `Sveti Ilija' thus destroying the woodworks. The entrance doors of the churches were damaged by tools and other objects.(end)mils news 18 December, 1996Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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