MILS: News from the FYROM, 97-01-28

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

CONTENTS

[01] A-1 TV: `EU AID FOR MACEDONIA BLOCKED BY GREECE AND GREAT BRITAIN'

[02] VECHER: `BALKAN EUROPEANISATION FORUM TO BE HELD'

[03] NATIONAL COORDINATOR FOR `SECI' IMPLEMENTATION APPOINTED

[04] MINISTER FRCHKOVSKI: `SOFIA AND SKOPJE ALREADY SIGNED PAPER IN MACEDONIAN'

[05] STATEMENT OF GREEK MP: `GREECE HAS ABANDONED SKOPJE ISSUE'

[06] MINISTER FRCHKOVSKI IN CROATIA TODAY

[07] SUPREME COURT RULED IN FAVOUR OF PENSIONERS

[08] MACEDONIAN BANK FOR INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC COOPERATION TO BE ESTABLISHED SOON

[09] PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION NO VIEW ON PEDAGOGICAL FACULTY

[10] BISHOP PETAR ASKED TO EXPLAIN CONDITIONS IN AUSTRALIAN-NEW ZEALAND EPARCHY

[11] PAY HIGHEST IN FINANCE-TECHNICAL SERVICES SECTOR

MILS SUPPLEMENT

[12] `Are We Becoming the Ragged Joker of the American Advance Eastwards?!' (`Fokus' - 24th January 1997)

MILS NEWS

Skopje, 28 January, 1997

[01] A-1 TV: `EU AID FOR MACEDONIA BLOCKED BY GREECE AND GREAT BRITAIN'

British resistance - according to diplomatic sources in Brussels quoted by A-1 TV - is based on the view that aid for Macedonia should be irretrievable funds, and not in shape of a credit the country could not pay back anyway.

The EU, however, is not capable of procuring such means for Macedonia according to Great Britain.

Though the informal discussion of European finance ministers yesterday has not yielded any results, it has been decided that the European Commission is nevertheless to compile its own views on this matter for the next ministerial meeting, scheduled for 17th February. Based on A-1 TV coverage the EU Commission thinks that the ambitious development programme of Macedonia is worth endorsing, in coordination with other international financial institutions. Thus it is expected to find this view integrated into the contents of the Commission's recommendation to the Ministerial Council. The macro- economic aid for Macedonia was also to represent the EU contribution to the Donor's Conference for Macedonia - which should be held towards the close of next month. It has been said that the overall success of this Conference would largely depend on these funds - as the USA, Japan and Switzerland have already cancelled their presence from this international initiative, which is of key significance to the further development of Macedonia.

[02] VECHER: `BALKAN EUROPEANISATION FORUM TO BE HELD'

Another issue is avoiding thematic overlapping with similar discussions to be held at the Balkan Conference, scheduled for June in Athens.

The Balkan Europeanisation Forum should be attended by representatives of the Balkan countries, high-ranking EU officials and the former UN Secretary- General Butros-Ghali in order to discuss how to facilitate the Europeanisation of the Balkan peninsula and diminish the `fifth wheel of Europe' treatment.

[03] NATIONAL COORDINATOR FOR `SECI' IMPLEMENTATION APPOINTED

The first working session of initiative members is scheduled for the 29th and 30th January in Geneva - stated Macedonian Foreign Secretary Ljubomir Frchkovski. It is to be attended by Development Minister Abdulmenaf Bedzheti.

[04] MINISTER FRCHKOVSKI: `SOFIA AND SKOPJE ALREADY SIGNED PAPER IN MACEDONIAN'

The Sofia paper is quoting Bulgarian diplomatic circles upon reporting that Sofia had proposed several options to overcome the language-issue affecting the signing of bilateral agreements - but it is reported that Skopje categorically insisted that they be signed in Macedonian.

[05] STATEMENT OF GREEK MP: `GREECE HAS ABANDONED SKOPJE ISSUE'

[06] MINISTER FRCHKOVSKI IN CROATIA TODAY

He is to discuss issues of bilateral cooperation, conditions in the region and regional collaboration initiatives with his Croatian counterpart Mate Granich.

Both ministers are also expected to analyse several bilateral agreements, and to sign the Consular Convention.

In addition to this, Frchkovski should furthermore be received by Croatian President Franjo Tugjman, PM Zlatko Matesha and the House of Representatives Chairman in Zagreb.

[07] SUPREME COURT RULED IN FAVOUR OF PENSIONERS

In concordance to the most recent ruling of the Supreme Court, pensioners are to be paid retirement support including the withheld 8% - i.e. they are to be upscaled to those forwarded throughout the second half of `94, for the period on January '95 onwards.

According to calculations compiled by the Pensioner's Association - which have been broadcast / printed by several media yesterday - this ruling is to entail the payment of app. 3.5 billion denars (130 million DM), and not 10 billion denars (400 million DM) as it has been speculated in public.

The legal grounds for this binding decision passed by the Supreme Court yesterday, are to be publicised subsequently.

[08] MACEDONIAN BANK FOR INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC COOPERATION TO BE ESTABLISHED SOON

In compliance to macro-economic policy and endeavour to boost agriculture, to create more favourable conditions to stabilise and increase milk production (as it is a strategic and deficit product) - the Government has decided to pay a premium of 3 denars per liter of cow and goat milk to farmers throughout the first four months of this year.

Yesterday the Government has also agreed on the Lottery and Recreational Games Law, on the draft-bill on Macedonian Railways and on the proposal to pass a law on religious communities and groups.

[09] PARLIAMENTARY COMMISSION NO VIEW ON PEDAGOGICAL FACULTY

During the almost three-and-a-half hour long debate Education Minister Sofia Todorova stressed that the enactment of the law embodies a realistic necessity; that it was not contrary to the Constitution, that it was concordant to the policy of establishing inter-ethnic tolerance. Representatives of the University Senate have requested the postponing of its enactment, and the addressing of the issue through the Law on Tertiary Education. DPM leader Tomislav Stojanovski said that the only good thing about this act of law was that `all things were out in the open now' - at the same time warning that `the Constitution should not become a supermarket'.

PDPA/NDP parliamentary faction coordinator Rami Tuda that the thus created law is not complete and not able to solve what it is supposed to solve. Sefejdin Haruni furthermore stressed that the institutionalisation of the `Tetovo University' is of key priority to introduce progress into the higher education of Albanians.

[10] BISHOP PETAR ASKED TO EXPLAIN CONDITIONS IN AUSTRALIAN-NEW ZEALAND EPARCHY

The Reverend Mihail has stressed that the Sacred Archiepiscopal Synod of the OCM concluded that the unity of the church has to be preserved, and that the branching off of one segment (the Australia - New Zealand Eparchy) had to be prevented. The OCM Head further stated that no divisions into `Vardarians' (`Vardarci') and `Aegeans' (`Egejci') should be allowed to exist among the Macedonian immigration - as they are all one people. It is the basic mission of the OCM to promote unity, and in the name of this unity current conflicts should be resolved. Thus the Sacred Synod is inviting all stakeholders to sit down and discuss all issues. As regards the church representative in charge, Bishop Petar, the Metropolitan of Australia and Administrator of the Bitola Eparchy, The Reverend Cyril stated that the Synod had not decided to suspend him as several media had reported, but rather to ask him to submit a report on conditions in the Australia - New Zealand Eparchy, in order to facilitate the solving of difficulties. Bishop Petar has also been asked to suspend all legal measures he had initiated with respect to certain religious communities in Australia. The press conference continued with the reading of the statement sent from Australia by Bishop Petar, in which he advocated the defusing of current conditions and - among other things - the ceasing of speculating within Macedonian media. Ergo members of the Synod and the OCM Head should restrain themselves from giving statements and comments on the situation in the Australia - New Zealand Eparchy, adding that a report would be compiled as soon as already commenced activities in the Eparchy were brought to a close. This Report on conditions in Australia should be submitted to the OCM Synod after 21st February, following the blessing of the `Sv. Dimitri Solunski' Church in Wollongong, Australia.

[11] PAY HIGHEST IN FINANCE-TECHNICAL SERVICES SECTOR

Based on data released by the National Institute of Statistics for the month November `96, pay has not been received by 23.8% of the country's labour force, of which 30.6% fall off to the economic sector and 3.4% to the non- economic sector.

MILS SUPPLEMENT

[12] `Are We Becoming the Ragged Joker of the American Advance Eastwards?!'

(`Fokus' - 24th January 1997)

...Our Government, with its views aired by the incumbent Foreign Secretary, seems to have adopted the US variant (unlike the European one) `in a jiffy'! Without making a single objection, or any sort of concrete statement / explication for the public either - on what this proposal is exactly comprised of, so that the populus could form an opinion on it as well. This is being contrasted by the fact that such weak information policy is most likely conducive to the fact that the opposition is also backing the US proposal (officially known as SECI - South-East European Cooperation Initiative), though with slight reservedness. Thus the Minister who promised `transparency' i.e. openness in his work upon assuming his duties, decided to obscure the true features of the US proposal with regards to his own people. In this case, however, one should exhibit understanding for such an approach as this proposal of a Balkan initiative is of strategic, fatal importance all countries involved. Ergo several of them are not dwelling on its contents too much in public either, for both internal and external political reasons.

President Gligorov has yet failed to publicly and concretely comment on this initiative, and many have objected that in his New Year's speech to the Parliament he never even mentioned it - which was assessed as quite indicative as foreign policy falls above all within his domain. Slovenia for instance, which awaits the imminent integration into the EU, has rejected the initiative straight-away. As did Croatia with the comment that this variant was `even worse' than the European one. Hungary entertained some doubts, but eventually signed the statement of support to the initiative.

European media have staged a lengthy and elaborate discussion on the US initiative - often quite openly objecting that the US is `meddling' with European business. Thus, for example, one of the objections dwells on the fact that the USA intend to establish a union of 12 states with 150 million inhabitants which then be placed in their control and provide a market for them - in addition to NATO membership. This would deal out a severe blow to the concept of a joint European forces component - independent from NATO...

Then, another thing being interpreted into US intentions is the extraction of Turkey out of the Near East oriental setting, and its promotion into the leader of a purely European alliance of states. The next charge against the US deals with their threatening the EU by distancing Greece; then their attempt to provide access to the Black Sea and move up to Russian borders as close as possible through Moldova and Romania without consulting either Russia or the EU... their creating of an artificial, hybrid union which is to share one currency in the future, one common market and also joint military structures which are to bridge the gap to NATO. This would entail the forming of a strong force component at EU borders, under US control...

To cut a long story short: the US is being accused of sticking its fingers into Euro - pies, and that the European concept was being boycotted by them through several countries (incl. Macedonia) - which is being followed by its promotion and imposing of a separate alternative. One of the key opponents to US `meddling' with European affairs in the Balkans is one of the strongest European nations: Germany. One should, however, also mention French resistance.

Yet facts appear to be favouring the US. Ten years ago, particularly in connection to events concerning the armed conflict in Ex-Yugoslavia, they succeeded in setting up their own people who would promote and implement US interests. In this context Turkey certainly appears to be the main cast for the Balkan Union (American style) projects, closely followed by Greece and - Macedonia!

As there are US military deployments in Macedonia, a strong acceptance of US culture, way of thinking and set of values is being registered. This is augmented by the exchange of staff, information and experience... on both a national and individual level. Due to its insignificant defence, economic and diplomatic potential within the region it is certainly not recommendable for Macedonia to `sell rice to the Chinese' in terms of large- scale, global strategic plans - as for example this US integration proposal embodies. Because of (not only) these reasons Macedonia needs to adhere to its orientation towards close (perhaps even as close as possible) ties to the US - even if doing so might impair relations with Europe at the moment. The theory of equi-distance towards neighbouring states or the super powers is nothing but an empty phrase anyway, as equi-distance may only be implemented by those possessing the power and the instrument to keep others - at a distance.

In addition to this, the upsetting of relations with European countries, by submitting to `good vibrations' towards the US only could be dangerous from a strategic perspective. Particularly if one bears in mind the fact that the incumbent governments of several neighbouring states have a clearly European orientation! Thus Macedonia should now exhibit a maximum amount of ratio, i.e. the Macedonian diplomacy should transcend beyond itself and find options to establish positive relations with Europe - at the same time maintaining the position of a supporter and promoter of US views in this part of the Balkans.

Should Macedonia succeed in carrying out this juggling act, it may remain a tiny country but become a `big fish' in promoting US policy and culture in this part of the Balkans and Europe. Should such intentions be supported by the US via economic assistance - there's the proverbial carrot! And as we are to be wed to the neighbouring Balkan countries anyway, such economic growth achieved with the help of the US might make for a very impressive dowry within the otherwise poor Balkan Union.

(end)

mils news 28 January 1997

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