MILS: News from the FYROM, 97-01-31

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

CONTENTS

[01] FURTHERING RELATIONS THROUGH CULTURAL COOPERATION

[02] DOMAINS OF ACTIVITY AND PROJECTS WITHIN `SECI' INITIATIVE OUTLINED

[03] `ESAF' ARRANGEMENT MOST LIKELY DUE END OF NEXT MONTH

[04] TRANSPORTATION COOPERATION PROTOCOL BETWEEN SR YUGOSLAVIA AND MACEDONIA

[05] US STATE DEPT.: `HUMAN RIGHTS IN MACEDONIA MAINLY RESPECTED'

[06] `PF' BILL ON LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION ADOPTED

[07] INDEPENDENT: `MILOSHEVIKJ HEATING UP ATMOSPHERE ON KOSOVO'

[08] DNEVNIK: `SERB PRIESTS DENIED PASSAGE AT MACEDONIAN BORDER'

MILS SUPPLEMENT

[09] `The People Vs. the State' (`Nova Makedonija' - 30th January, 1997)

MILS NEWS

Skopje, 31 January, 1997

[01] FURTHERING RELATIONS THROUGH CULTURAL COOPERATION

As the Macedonian Radio reports Minister Unkovski proposed the intensification of cooperation and cultural exchange (via international cultural manifestations) - upon familiarizing his Greek counterpart with cultural matters in Macedonia. Within this context he suggested several cultural activities with which Macedonia could additionally be integrated into the `Cultural Throne of Europe' manifestation, which is to last until the close of 1997. This would indeed embody a positively accepted step.

The Greek Minister of Culture Venizelos stressed among other things that in addition to bilateral cultural cooperation, there is the initiative and realistic possibility to further inter-Balkan collaboration by establishing a Balkan Culture Network which would operate through a joint Secretariat.

During his stay in Thessalonica Minister Unkovski has also given an interview for `Esskousia', in which he replied (to the question whether relations between Athens and Skopje can be normalised - without resolving the name- issue) that `it was an issue of adapting towards reality' and that it would be `difficult to coerce either side into changing the Constitution'. Another question also was if he considered that the name Macedonia belonged `historically' to his country. To this Unkovski replied that this had been the name of his country for as long as he could remember, and that at the age of 49 he would not give up this name. He further stressed that `Macedonia' is not exclusively reserved for his country, from a geographical perspective.

[02] DOMAINS OF ACTIVITY AND PROJECTS WITHIN `SECI' INITIATIVE OUTLINED

[03] `ESAF' ARRANGEMENT MOST LIKELY DUE END OF NEXT MONTH

[04] TRANSPORTATION COOPERATION PROTOCOL BETWEEN SR YUGOSLAVIA AND MACEDONIA

The Transportation Ministry delegations of both countries have also signed a protocol on the previously agreed upon a collaboration regime for this year in Belgrade. Talks have also included concrete figures on permits for transit passage (50 000 for this year), bilateral traffic (13 000) and transportation to/from third countries (1 000 - Macedonia had asked for 5 000). It has been agreed to reduce pay toll in order to attract European transporters. As of 1st June this year, transportation permits are to be issued on an economic - not a reciprocal basis as it has been the case up to now.

[05] US STATE DEPT.: `HUMAN RIGHTS IN MACEDONIA MAINLY RESPECTED'

`Minorities in Macedonia - incl. ethnic Albanians, Turks and Serbs - have aired different accusations as regards violation of human rights and discrimination. Macedonians are occupying a disproportional number of positions in state institutions, while the Government has promised an increase of minority representatives. This however is progressing rather slowly, with exception to military recruitment. The Government has in principle accepted several requests submitted by ethnic Albanians - at the same time claiming that restricted resources are slowing down their implementation. Thus ethnic Albanians have demanded access to higher education in Albanian, larger representation in the public sector and the media.

Following violent demonstrations in 1995, it has been silently permitted to let the illegal Albanian-language university in Tetovo to work, while its Rector and four other activists have been arrested in July in connection to the incident (one casualty at demonstrations).

Minorities have political parties, representing their interests. They nevertheless object that political structures oppose them. Human Rights groups and ethnic associations do meet foreign representatives on a common basis, without Government interference. A Human Rights Forum exists and operates freely. The Government is receiving independent international monitoring missions, but rejects however their admission into Human Rights mandates on Former Yugoslavia.

Ethnic tension and bias among the population is apparent, though only a few incidents occurred throughout the year.

The prevailing component in the political opposition camp is far more nationalistic in terms of orientation - compared to the incumbent coalition - countering even measured steps to meet minority needs...' states the Report of the US State Dept.

With respect to freedom of speech and freedom of the press it has been said that Albanian and Turkish papers are distributed throughout the entire country and subsidised by the Government. Most of the papers and periodicals are nationally-owned and pro-governmental. Thus opposition parties claim that Government control and manipulation of the media obstructs them from free media coverage. State media are covering opposition press conferences and most of the time activities of larger opposition parties is portrayed authentically. Yet these media are on the side of the Government, and the largest newspaper publisher - possessing the only modern printing facility in the country - is owned by the state.

In spite of the fact that only the OCM is being mentioned in the Constitution - it does not enjoy an official status. Affiliates of other denominations have accused the Government of favouring the OCM.

There have not been any larger confrontations in Macedonia throughout the year... informs the US State Dept. Human Rights Report. The same applies to political assassinations, and the investigation on the Gligorov assassination attempt continues. There are no data on the disappearance of people for political motives either.

[06] `PF' BILL ON LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION ADOPTED

The final version of this law codifies that instruction providing training to educational workers at a pre-school and elementary level (general studies) may also be provided in minority languages - with exception of the subjects `Macedonian Language and Rhetoric' and `History'.

Provisions further state that this option is feasible provided there is a sufficient number of qualified personnel and at least 20 admitted students of the same ethnic affiliation. Should staff be lacking, it may be hired form already existing tertiary education institutions - or persons possessing the required level of academic skills (Ph.D., MA/MSc) of scientific research institutions may be employed until the issue is resolved.

The draft-bill had been opposed by members of the PDP / PDPA / NDP faction, as it embodied a `political game of the Government' which is attempting to completely ignore the request for the speedy enactment of the Law on Tertiary Education, i.e. the creation of a legal basis for the institutionalisation of the `Tetovo University'.

SDSM and SPM MPs supported the law and voted in favour of it. Socialists pointed out that Albanian resistance was based on the fact that this act of law did not legalise the university in Tetovo.

Upon airing the LP perspective, Ace Kocevski, denoted the state of affairs linked to the PF a political issue, while the Government was maneuvering and employing tactics via passing the law, in order to draw away public attention from difficult economic conditions in the country. Thus Liberal abstained from casting their votes.

Faik Abdi (PCER) justified his abstention with the argument that this was not only an Albanian issue, but also one affecting the Romany population as they have no access to education in their mother tongue at all.

After the debate MPs were addressed by Education Minister Sofija Todorova who stated that she had her fair share of unusual and incomprehensible explications - particularly out of the Albanian camp upon this subject. Todorova further stressed that the Law on Tertiary Education would not entail the legalization of the `Tetovo University'.

This was countered by the arguments aired by MPs Mevljam Tairi and Sali Ramadani that nobody - not even the Government - could prevent the `Tetovo University' from working.

[07] INDEPENDENT: `MILOSHEVIKJ HEATING UP ATMOSPHERE ON KOSOVO'

[08] DNEVNIK: `SERB PRIESTS DENIED PASSAGE AT MACEDONIAN BORDER'

According to Nebojsha Tomovich - Chairman of the Association of Serbs and Montenegrins in Macedonia - Macedonian police had been asked to permit the entrance of those Serb priests on the Day of St. Sava into Macedonia, by the office of the Reverend Pahomie, Bishop of Vranje.

No reply to this request had been received, however.

Tomovich further informed that Macedonian traffic patrol officers had confiscated a parcel of 80 children's books for pupils of grade 1 to 5, purchased at Vranje. Those books have not been returned on 27th January as promised (once the receipt for their purchase had been produced), with the justification that the case was still being considered.

MILS SUPPLEMENT

[09] `The People Vs. the State'

(`Nova Makedonija' - 30th January, 1997)

In spite of the fact that the state has lost the battle at the Supreme Court, there has been one winner: democracy.

The ruling is to be a costly one, and the exact terms of its practical implementation remain a mystery for now...

Pensioner Risto Muratovski from Skopje took out a sheet of paper, wrote a complaint against the state and embarked upon his Odyssey through the judiciary instances - right up to the Supreme Court. The epilogue is known: he demanded justice and won. The Supreme Court of Macedonia sustained his claim and decided that pensioners should be given what had been illegally withheld from them. Thus the Court indicated that the state does not possess the Constitutional right to violate the right to retirement and impairment insurance, but rather the obligation to contribute to their implementation and standardisation.

This is only being supported by provisions within the Law on Retirement and Impairment Insurance, according to which the basic retirement pension rate is of a permanent and irrevocable character, a right obtained on grounds of the accruement of years spent in employment.

This Supreme Court ruling does not only entail material restitution for pensioners... and though the state may have lost this battle - it has gained something else: democracy. Mr. Risto Muratovski - the archetypal case representing thousands of pensioners and hundreds of suits with the same contents backed by the Macedonian Pensioners' Association - has emerged victorious in his quest against the state. The Court's ruling in his favour has started to return people's trust into the legal system, it has `purified the brow' (Mac. idiom: `to bring honour to...') of the judiciary - it has reinstated it firmly upon the once rocking throne and regained its dignity by proving its independence with this deed. It has resorted to legal arguments in response to a legal, economic and political question - which is the only acceptable and logical approach, when bearing in mind who is handling this issue.

It has not been easy for the Supreme Court to pass such a sentence. This is being indicated by the fact that the case had been shelved for almost an entire year, or by the fact that procedures included a public debate (quite uncommon for any case handled by this ultimate legal instance) and three general sessions of this Court - before the sentence was eventually passed... and literally nobody expected this kind of sentence, when bearing in mind the financial consequences (in favour of the pensioners) entailed by it. The Supreme Court Chairman Dimitrie Dimishkovski stated that certain politicians had indicated these possible consequences - but these conversations had not even closely resembled any form of coercion, according to him. Regardless of all this, the Court ruling has left both the Retirement and Impairment Fund and the Government equally shocked... at least the latter may be concluded based upon the statements issued by some ministers once they had been notified during the Government session yesterday. They were convinced that the Supreme Court would bear in mind the economic condition of the country, probably as until recently this way of thinking was quite realistic: the courts would rule with regards to the political situation.

The Supreme Court ruling will indeed come costly for the country. If calculations compiled by the Retirement Pension and Impairment Insurance Fund prove to be accurate - additional means to be paid will total app. 400 million DM (one fourth of this year's National Budget of an overall 1.6 billion DM). These are the means necessary to cover the period in which sector structures were transformed to meet Constitutional provisions. These expenditures have been generated while the case was being chucked from one court to another. And once again - if Fund calculations prove to be accurate this total of dues / pensions is to increase by app. 450 million denars per month. According to the arithmetics done by the pensioners themselves this sum is three times as large for the period over which they have taken the Fund to the qadi.

The next move is left to the Government. Confronted with a serious problem, it remains a mystery as to when and how this issue is to be addressed.

It is absolutely clear that current financial sources cannot cover this deficit. Thus new resources are needed, and this usually means new loads of tax or further emissions of money - which again burdens `average Joe' in the long run.

Should taxes in the economic sector be raised, where there are not paid regularly and completely anyway, it will represent another burden to a production which has been divided by ten and is ergo non-competitive anyway.

Threatening the living standards by introducing new taxes which cannot be covered only once again - in the most painful way - illustrate the correlation between the Fund and the labour force in general. The more the latter generates, the more the former will benefit.

Emitting money and nurturing inflation is an even worse variant. Should the Government choose this option, this would mean that the means forwarded to pensioners by the end of this year would suffer devaluation due to a rise of the inflation rate. Thus their living standards would not improve but rather stagnate, i.e. remain at the current level.

Ergo the Government needs to find other mechanisms, particularly in terms of obtaining tax. It needs to ensure that it receives its dues, that there are no possibilities to evade tax payment. Based on abounding data it has become known that tremendous sums of money are drained off into the safes of individuals, rather than being channelled into the National Budget. By eliminating these difficulties, however, the Fund would still not be `out of the red'. This would merely embody a temporary measure during the transformative period of the Fund, and the Government's role in procuring funds would certainly not be a permanent one.

Put between a rock (the ruling of the highest judiciary instance in the country - an imperative for every government) and a hard place (the chances of implementing this ruling), it will have to map the path granting: justice to the pensioners, the upholding of the Supreme Court ruling, Government authority maintained and the commitment towards preserving the `rule of law' unblemished. To this purpose the introduction of new taxes affecting those who are always paying the bill should not be encouraged.

(end)

mils news 31 January 1997

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