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MILS: News from the FYROM, 96-12-20Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>CONTENTS
MILS SUPPLEMENTMILS NEWSSkopje, 20 December, 1996[01] NEXT ROUND OF GREEK-MACEDONIAN NEGOTIATIONS DUE END OF JANUARYFollowing the meeting of Greek Ambassador Christos Zacharakis and his Macedonian counterpart Ivan Toshevski - under the auspices of Cyrus Vance - in New York two days ago, the regular press briefing at the UN HQ merely revealed the date for the subsequent encounter - the end of January next year. Other details on the last round of Greek- Macedonian negotiations on the name-issue have not been announced.Greek media, however, reported yesterday that Macedonian Ambassador Ivan Toshevski - upon answering whether there was enough political will in his country to adopt Constitutional changes regarding an alteration of name - had given an affirmative reply. Ambassador Ivan Toshevski denied this during an interview for A-1 TV, by correcting that he had actually said that `there is political will in our country to arrive at a solution benefiting both sides'. According to Ambassador Toshevski the last round of negotiations went by in a positive atmosphere, though neither side had proposed any references / names. In addition to this Athenian `Eskoussia' (according to `Makfax') reported yesterday that negotiations mediator Cyrus Vance stated that he would not return his mandate to the UN Security Council. [02] FRENCH DEFENSE SECRETARY IN MACEDONIA THIS WEEKThe Secretary of Defense of the Republic of France, Charles Millon, is to arrive on a two-day visit to Macedonia which is - according to `Makpress' - to be marked by the ratification of a bilateral Defense Cooperation Agreement.The paper should also cover staff exchange, particular in terms of training Macedonian military personnel in France. [03] NEWLY-APPOINTED DUTCH AMBASSADOR TO MACEDONIA COMMENCED HIS DUTIES YESTERDAYAs of yesterday H.E.Amb. Henrich Heynen commenced his duties as Ambassador of the Netherlands to Macedonia, by forwarding his accreditation to Macedonian Head of State Kiro Gligorov.While welcoming the Dutch Ambassador, our President emphasized the permanent support rendered by the Netherlands to Macedonia in its striving for international affirmation, and the strengthening of its economy. H.E.Amb. Heynen conveyed the best wishes for the country's prosperity, and that of its people, by HRH. Queen Beatrix. Official records reveal that the Dutch Ambassador stressed his country's intentions to intensify bilateral cooperation. The newly-appointed Dutch Ambassador to Macedonia has also been received by Parliamentary Chairman Tito Petkovski and PM Branko Crvenkovski. [04] EVEN THE NEW BULGARIAN VICE-PRESIDENT HAS A `GOOD RELATION' WITH THE MACEDONIAN AMBASSADORThe first activity of the newly-elected Bulgarian Vice- President Todor Karaldzhiev was to meet the Ambassador of the Republic of Macedonia to Bulgaria, Gjorgji Spasov, as the Macedonian Radio reports. Within this context the latter aired Karaldzhiev's statement on the informative character of this meeting, as it dwelled on the latest Bulgarian initiatives to overcome the so-called language-issue. It was revealed that Karaldzhiev gave a `Zhelju Zheljev style' statement that Ambassador Spasov did not require the services of an interpreter, as `he understood everything'.[05] NEW TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM LINKING UP BULGARIA AND MACEDONIA OPERATINGThe international digital telecommunications system (signal transmission via optical fibers), connecting Bulgaria and Macedonia, has commenced operations after the opening ceremony held in Kriva Palanka and Kjustendil yesterday.This communication system represents a component of the Trans-Albanian Communication Line Project, providing a link- up of Italy, Albania, Bulgaria, Turkey and Macedonia - as well as integration into other international communication systems. The opening ceremonies in both cities were attended by Macedonian Transport and Communications Secretary Dimitar Buzleski and the Chairman of the Bulgarian Telecommunications and Postal Services Committee Ljubomir Kolarov. According to representatives of both countries, Bulgaria and Macedonia are the first states in the region to complete this telecommunications hook-up, which actually is a segment of the setting up of the East-West corridor. As it has been presented the overall length of this Trans-Balkan line from Istanbul to Bari amounts to 1 600 km, whereas 435 km span across Macedonian territory. The total capacity of the line amounts to 3 780 telephone channels. The Ohrid - Tirana section is still under construction, whereas the link-up between Bulgaria and Turkey is to be completed within a few weeks' time. This is paralleled by contacts between Greece and SR Yugoslavia to the already mentioned purpose. This should be conducive to a qualitatively new mode in communicating between the countries of this region and Europe, stated both sides after the ceremony staged to mark this occasion. [06] BODIES OF CAPITAL AND SHORT-TERM STOCK EXCHANGE ESTABLISHEDThe Council of the Capital and Short-Term Stock Exchange held its inaugural session yesterday, during which Sashko Manakovski has been elected the Charge D'Affairs Chairman of the Exchange - upon having obtained the blessing of the NBM Governour previously. Other bodies of the exchange have been established as well, such as those of the future shareholding society which is to be headed by `Makedonska Stedilnica' official Marjan Bojadzhiev... 10 banks and 7 savings institutions have emerged as founders of the Exchange, whereas the Executive Board is comprised of 11 members including one NBM representative, 2 financial experts and 8 founder representatives. The Capital and Short-Term Stock Exchange is due to begin operations after New Year's Eve holiday season, with an initial capital of 85 000 DM. Preparations for this have spanned over a longer period of time - as it had been stressed during yesterday's session - and they have been supported by the NBM, the Macedonian Government i.e. by Minister Vlado Naumovski, as well as by interested banks and savings houses. In addition to this it was revealed that the Capital and Short-Term Stock Exchange has been functioning unofficially so far, due to the aid of the Economy Chamber of Skopje.[07] `PHARE' COMMENCES ‘LIEN’ PROGRAMME IN MACEDONIAYesterday the `Lien' Programme - as one of the PHARE programmes - was presented in Skopje. Its main objective is to support economic and social reforms in transitional countries. According to Macedonian Radio coverage this presentation of the `Lien' Programme, about to cover Macedonia as well, was organised by the Aid Coordination Unit within the Macedonian Government. The Head of the PHARE Implementation Office, Maurizio Locatelli emphasized upon presenting the PHARE Programme, that throughout the past years 85 million ECU in funding in shape of medical aid or industrial raw materials for Macedonia. With regards to the `Lien' Programme Locatelli stressed that this programme has the task to connect European NGOs, with the main objective to aid people in need, people somehow marginalized by society. The Programme particularly targets women who are unemployed due to health or social reasons, in addition to other social groups such as unemployed generally speaking, individuals with developmental difficulties, children without parents, homeless people, HIV- positive persons and others requiring assistance. Funding via the `Lien' Programme - as Locatelli stated - will be allocated according to strictly codified criteria and terms.[08] CONSTRUCTION WORKERS PICKETING MACEDONIAN GOVERNMENTMore than 500 construction workers of the `Mavrovo', `Ilinden', ‘Tehnika’ and ‘Pelagonija’ contractors have been demonstrating in front of the Macedonian Government premises for the past two days - demanding the payment of income not received so far, as well as denar and hard currency reimbursements of projects constructed abroad. `Mavrovo' employees have been picketing their company HQ for 8 days prior to this. They have been advised by General Director Goshev to return to their work as the October pay has been forwarded. The `Mavrovians' however consider this solution insufficient, thus that their demands will be submitted to PM Branko Crvenkovski personally today.Miners of the `Sasa' Mining Enterprises in Makedonska Kamenica commenced their strike in front of the company's HQ, demanding a rise in pay by 50%, a change of the Director and the Management as well as the improvement of working conditions. The Director of `Sasa' stated that the first demand cannot be met as the `treasury' is empty. Concordant to previous announcements, a march of the Federation of Independent Trade Unions is scheduled for today in Skopje, in order to pressure the Government into resolving accumulated economic and social problems. The march's final destination is the Government / Parliament Building, and participants will include the Trade Unions of Taxi-Drivers and Independent Truckers. [09] CHAIRMAN OF SKOPJE CITY COUNCIL NOT YET DETERMINEDThe Inaugural Session of the Skopje City Council has been scheduled for today, and as media report the election of a chairperson remains highly unpredictable due to the equal representation of forces within the Council. A-1 TV obtained unofficial data based on which the IMRO-DPMNE & DP coalition has been strengthened by three LP counsellors who are most likely to propose incumbent Jovan Kekenovski as their candidate. Off the record this coalition has succeeded in procuring 12 votes in their favour, but a reliable source claims that they are short of one vote to secure the election. Therefore A-1 TV states that the PDPA vote is most likely to be decisive.Besides this media report the setting up of several municipal councils throughout the country. In Ohrid the Council is chaired by Lambe Arnaudov (IMRO-DPMNE), in Resen by Toni Mitrevski (SDSM), at Vevchani by Tihomir Murdzheski (IMRO-DPMNE), in Kochani by Todor Pashovski (SDSM), in Makedonski Brod by Vlado Stojkovski ( SDSM), in Radovish by Vlatko Gavrilov (SDSM), in Krushevo by Arostas Stojchevski (SDSM)... [10] JUDGES RESPOND TO OPPOSITION ALLEGATIONSWith respect to objections aired on the work of judges involved in Election Commissions and therefore the conducting of local elections by political parties, the Executive Board of the Macedonian Judges' Association has released the following statement which - among other things - claims that: `In order to maintain the dignity of our profession, we consider these assaults insinuations brought forward to discredit judges and subsequently the judicial system, n order to improve one's own rating’.The statement furthermore confirms the statutory and objective approach of judges, compliant to the Constitutions and other acts of law - devoid of the subjugation of any sort of pressure, ideologies and policies for the sake of one purpose only: the ensuring that the Republic of Macedonia operates and survives as a legal state. [11] ALBANIAN STUDENTS OF PEDAGOGICAL FACULTY DEMANDING RESIGNATION OF DEAN AND SECRETARYAs it is known the Albanian students of the Pedagogical Faculty of Skopje have been boycotting lectures for several months, demanding entire instruction in Albanian which is not the case presently. Even the Macedonian Government has recently addressed their demands, evaluating them as justified - whereas the Dean of the Faculty adheres to his viewpoint to abide by legal provisions and the Constitution.MTV reports that Albanian students have augmented their list of demands by requesting the resignation of both the Faculty's Dean and the Secretary. According to faculty authorities the entire issue should be settled with the enactment of the new law, currently still being debated. The Dean claims that a certain part of Albanian students have re-commenced their studies, and some of them have even entered the Students' Body at the Pedagogical Faculty. [12] SCIENTIFIC GATHERING DEDICATED TO CINC MIHAJLO APOSTOLSKIOn the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of Mihajlo Apostolski's (Commander- in-Chief of the National Liberation Forces of Macedonia during WW 2) birth, the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts (MANU) and the Institute of National History staged a two-day scientific gathering on `The HQ of the Macedonian Liberation War and POM from 1941 - 1945'. The event opening was attended by President Kiro Gligorov and other high-ranking government officials, eminent public personalities, etc. The opening declaration itself was delivered by MANU Chairman Ksente Bogoev. This was entailed by the analysis of the National Liberation War in Macedonia from several differing perspectives.MILS SUPPLEMENT[13] `Who Nurtures Evil Presentiments Regarding Macedonia?'(`Nova Makedonija' - 19th December 1996)Henry Kissinger does not believe a new Balkan war is about to erupt, but the Sofia paper `Standard' remains nevertheless `worried' about the fate of Macedonia. The current situation in the country does not provide a foundation for the resuscitation of such dark prophesies... is the opinion of the MOD. It has not occurred for the first time, throughout these five years of independence, that Macedonia has been prophesied a cataclysmic fate... It appears that these days this has once again become the favourite pastime of certain Bulgarian papers, headed by `Standard' which engages in this most assertively. Using the recent interview given by former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger for the Zagreb paper `Globus', the Sofia paper has spent days in speculating on different scenarios depicting the eruption of a new Balkan war over Macedonia, instigated by separatist tendencies of the Albanian population, drawing in Bulgaria, Turkey, Greece and Albania. The outcome of this conflict is to be the genesis of an Albanian state on the territory of Macedonia, whereas the remnant of the latter will incline itself towards Serbia rather than `towards Bulgaria' which ‘cannot entail any guarantee that Sofia and Athens will remain quiet without having their share of the cake'. In order to not leave this matter supported on Kissinger's theses alone, the paper resorts to quoting a larger number of both domestic and foreign - named and anonymous - diplomats and experts for which, with but a few exceptions, the war over the new division of Macedonia is just about to commence. Such tremendous concern on Macedonia's fate would even be touching had its foundation - the statements given by Kissinger - not been distorted into their antonyms. What has Kissinger actually said throughout his interview for `Globus'? From a total of 20 questions constituting this interview merely the last two referred to Macedonia directly. Both of them are given subsequently, with their replies: What will happen should war break out in Macedonia? `Such a conflict would most probably involve Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria and Albania.' Do you consider this possible conflict more threatening than the Bosnian one? `This conflict would indeed be far more dangerous. It would represent a typically tragic Balkan war. I therefore think that the United States of America are required to do everything they can to prevent the eruption of such a conflict. I do not believe that this war will break out. Should the situation, however, deteriorate and a crisis emerge, the United States would show its power. We have a very particular interest in preserving the East wing of NATO from disintegrating.' All this indicates quite clearly that - first and foremost - the statements of the US diplomat on Macedonia have practically been extorted by journalists' queries, and that - secondly - Kissinger personally does `not believe this war will break out. According to this the imminent Balkan war over the division of Macedonia is not being predicted - as Sofia `Standard' claims - by Kissinger but by the Bulgarian press. Why? What sort of interest could anyone in neighbouring Bulgaria - country immersed into political, economic and ethic bankruptcy - have in the disappearance of Macedonia amidst the turmoils of a new - even bloodier - Balkan war than the Bosnian one... a war which would inevitably involve Bulgaria? A high-ranking MOD official, when asked to comment upon the coverage by the Bulgarian press, reminded of the fact that this is not the first instance of media predicting `death and damnation' for Macedonia whereas these predictions have never come true so far. The current situation in Macedonia, according to this official, provides no ground whatsoever to renew such prophesies: `The Republic of Macedonia has secured equal ranking within the international community, it is successfully completing transformation procedures within the political and economic system, it has made a giant step forwards in terms of democratizing society, it has considerably fortified its security position through a constructive internal and foreign policy - policy of international tolerance and conflict resolution through state institutions; as well as by the subsequent construction of a defense system and the permanent increasing of the ARM combat readiness by integration and active participation within the `PFP' Programme and by the exceptionally fruitful bilateral cooperation concerning the subject of defense with NATO and EU member-states.' All this, our source continues, does not apply to some neighbouring countries as - for example - Bulgaria. `It is not the first time that a neighbouring country experiencing tremendous interior unrest, attempts to divert the attention of its citizens outwards, towards a foreign threat to their internal peace and stability, away form the threat within. All such attempts only postpone the resolving of internal problems which could explode and transcend into sources endangering peace and stability within the entire region', reveals this source. If this phenomenon refers to Bulgaria only, an explication of this kind would be sufficient. Augmenting the latter with a fact beyond the dignity of an MOD state official, but not beyond that of a journalist: the latest rekindling of dreams on a new division of Macedonia might also serve as an efficient ethic `aqua vitae' to the Bulgarian Armed Forces in terms of a national notion. There are, nevertheless, strong indicators to the suspicion that this is not only being done in the `interest' of Bulgaria’s preparation of the terrain for the `sixth Balkan conflict of the century'. The mere fact that Bulgarian press has devoured the `War in Macedonia' issue, using and distorting Kissinger’s statements (i.e. those of a foreign diplomat) throughout the process - in addition to the three-year-old prophecies of yet another foreigner, Zbygnjew Bzhezhinsky, on the very same subject and the forecasts of several other anonymous foreign diplomats denotes the possible new war as not a `Balkan' conflict but a ‘war on Balkan territory’ in advance. As had been the case with the Bosnian war, according to analyses. The existence of `third', non-Balkan interest in yet another `Balkan' conflict can indeed not be obscured even by `Standard'. The notion of a sixth Balkan war in the 20th century, states this paper upon quoting a Bulgarian MOD expert by the name of a certain Maria Chavdarova, has been fathered forth as early as 1993 in the USA; whereas two years later during an international conference in Sofia it had been explained in detail by an American scientific research worker through his speech on `Preventing the Sixth Balkan War in the 20th Century'. Interesting, and on the existence of a third i.e. external `stake' rather indicative, is the comment of this expert that the USA has been studying the armed conflicts in the Balkans as early as 1992. `They impose the will and zeal of a super-power based on their interests. The objective is clear: a cold, cruel and most efficient completion of extracting out advantages of the Cold War, in order to fill in voids within the Balkan region created by Russia', says Chavdarova. According to her the US have two means at their disposal to achieve this interest of theirs: genuine weapons and the media. `Papers, satellites and the entire universe revolve around American interests', are her words - and she rounds up wisely by using another person's thought that `in a war of media, the first casualty is truth'. What remains to be said, in this sense, on the media war almost continuously waged against Macedonia, not only by `Standard' but other Bulgarian papers as well? Whose interests do they `cater for'? Certainly not those of Bulgaria; a country undergoing such deep political, economic and ethic crises. It is certainly not to benefit of the heating up of yet another - a mental crisis, i.e. the (self- ) deception of its own populus that others in the neighbourhood are doing even worse; or the notion that stirring up trouble abroad will remedy domestic ones... (end)mils news 20 December 1996Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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