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MILS: News from the FYROM, 97-02-04Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>CONTENTS
MILS SUPPLEMENTMILS NEWSSkopje, 04 February, 1997[01] FRENCH EUROPEAN ISSUES MINISTER IN MACEDONIAThe European Issues Minister of the Republic of France, Michel Barnier, has begun his two-day official visit to Macedonia yesterday. Today he is to be received by his host Vice-President Jane Miljoski, as well as by Macedonian Head of State Kiro Gligorov and PM Branko Crvenkovski. Media report that talks are likely to focus on relations between the EU and Macedonia, the support of France as regards the signing of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement with the EU, the imminent Donors' Conference in Brussels and the assistance France could render in this context for the obtaining of macro-economic assistance.Other topics are to include the process of good neighbourliness and stability in Southeast Europe, relations between NATO and Macedonia (French endorsement to ensure the participation of Macedonia at the Madrid Summit), bilateral relations - i.e. the opening of a Macedonian Honorary Consulate in Lyon, as well as the initiative by Presidents Jacques Chiraques and Kiro Gligorov to present Macedonian culture in France in 1997. [02] DUTCH DEVELOPMENT AND COOPERATION MINISTER DUE TODAYThe Development and Cooperation Minister of the Netherlands Jan Pronk is to arrive in Macedonia today.Media report that he is to meet his Macedonian counterpart Bekir Zhuta, President Kiro Gligorov and PM Branko Crvenkovski and discuss what sort of support the Netherlands could render to facilitate the signing of the Cooperation Agreement with the EU and the obtaining of aid at the Donors' Conference in Brussels. Other issues of discussion include bilateral economic relations and possibilities of opening a Dutch Diplomatic mission in Macedonia. [03] TODAY AND TOMORROW IN SKOPJE: REGIONAL MEETING OF `G-24' TRANSPORT WORKING GROUPToday and tomorrow the regional meeting of the `G-24' Transport Working Group, which is of a preparatory character to the pan-European Transport Conference in Helsinki. The Skopje meeting - according to the Macedonian Radio - is to focus on the outlining of several routes incl. the North - South corridor (Budapest - Athens via Skopje) and the East - West corridor, for which the Macedonian side has proposed an extension to Italy (West) and Novorussijsk (East).[04] MAKPRESS: `PANGALLOS STATEMENT DIVIDED PASSOK'The proposal aired by the Greek Head of Diplomacy Theodoros Pangallos in front of the Parliament to resolve the Skopje issue by accepting a compromise as regards the name, as well as the evaluation that the signing of the Interim Agreement in New York was a mistake dividing the top circles of PASSOK - according to `Makpress'. The latter also reveals that Defence Secretary Akis Tsochatsopoulos had distanced himself from the statements made by Pangallos on the inefficiency and difficult implementation of the New York Interim Agreement. He demanded that the party leadership discussed this issue.The same attitude of reluctance towards Pangallos' views has been exhibited by Culture Minister Evangelos Venizelos, who stressed that the Agreement forces Skopje to consider the name it previously discarded and that the issue of hostile propaganda, symbols and the Constitution had been addressed. A response has also been obtained by former minister and current PASSOK MP Stelios Papatemelis who labelled the policy of Pangallos as one of capitulation. [05] AGREEMENT WITH ITALY ON REGULAR AIR TRAFFICYesterday an agreement on regular air traffic between the Republic of Italy and Macedonia has been signed, which is codifying the entire air traffic section and - it has been registered - facilitating access to third countries as well to Macedonian passengers. The Agreement signed by the Italian Ambassador to Macedonia H.E.Amb. Faustino Troni and Macedonian Transportation Minister Dimitar Buzleski outlines, among other things, the introducing of two flights a week from Skopje to Rome, with the possibility to connect the flight to Milan. According to Italian Ambassador Troni the signing of this Agreement should increase traffic frequency between both countries, and be conducive to the adopting of the imminent deal on travelling between Macedonia and Italy.[06] ROAD FROM SOFIA TOWARDS MACEDONIAN BORDER BLOCKEDDue to the strike of public transport employees, who have joined the opposition in their demand for early elections, traffic has been virtually paralyzed in Bulgaria. Between Bulgaria and Macedonia it had even come to a complete halt, Macedonian media reported. This blockade near the village of Konjevo (on the route from Kjustendil to Sofia) - as `Makfax' informs - could last over the next few days.Another barricade has been erected on the road from Sofia to Blagoevgrad... thus vehicles entering the country from Macedonia can only get to Sofia on by-ways. [07] KUWAIT DEBT TOWARDS PARIS CLUB OF CREDITORS REPROGRAMMEDA-1 TV reports that Macedonia has reprogrammed its debt towards Kuwait within the Paris Club of Creditors, which amounted to 19 million dollars in loans and 12.5 million dollars in interests. A delegation of the Macedonian Ministry of Finance and the NBM has reached a consensus with Kuwaiti authorities during last week's negotiations to reprogramme the loaned funds over 15 years - with a grace period of 6 years and a libor interest rate plus an additional 0.5%. The interest rates on the old debt are to be repaid within four years, as of 31st July 1998.[08] AGREEMENT BETWEEN `KNAUF' AND `RADIKA' (DEBAR) SIGNEDAustrian-based (Weisenbach) `Knauf' GEC and the joint shareholding company `Radika' from Debar have signed an agreement yesterday - outlining bilateral relations based on issued shares in order to procure additional investments into `Radika'. Such a model of privatisation of `Radika' - which according to estimates has reserves in gypsum to last over the next three centuries - regulates international investments worth app. 5 million DM, which would give the international partner the controlling majority of 51.6% in shares. The main assets of this firm will therefore total around 13 million DM, of which 6 million DM are already in employee ownership (in shape of shares) and 1.65 million have been put at the disposal of the Privatization Agency.[09] `AUDI' REPRESENTATIVES RECEIVED BY PM CRVENKOVSKIMacedonian PM Branko Crvenkovski has received a delegation of the renowned German car manufacturer `AUDI'. Both sides have expressed their content by negotiations concerning the implementation of the `AUDI - Makedonija' - in particular by the `AUDI' Board. PM Crvenkovski used the opportunity to underline the strong interest of Macedonia in implementing this project - not only due to the emerging of opportunities for the involvement of Macedonian production facilities and labour - but also since it embodies a positive reference for the attracting of other renowned foreign investors.In addition to this A-1 TV informed that the deal between `AUDI' and Skopje- based `ASIBA-MG' entails the assembly of the `A-3' of the German partner model in Macedonia. This should commence as of the end of April, i.e. the beginning of May this year. [10] `PELAGONIJA' EXECUTIVE BOARD SUSPENDED - DECISIONS OF STRIKE BOARD DECLARED NON-BINDINGThe Executive Board of the `Pelagonija' construction contractor, headed by Director Ivan Dichev, have been suspended by the Strike Board comprised of company employees recently. During their press conference yesterday it has been emphasised that the majority of employees supported the former management - as well as that the strike of part of the employees is not statutory.In this context it was also stressed that the Strike Board had neglected to notify the Executive Board of its intended protests five days in advance - as it is required. The meeting of shareholders had also not been held in concordance to the existing Law on Business Transformation, as only 120 of the overall of 7 000 shareholders had attended the meeting. Due to this the decisions of the Strike Board have been denoted as legally non-binding at the press conference. The former management has also stated that during the strike staged by part of the employees, General Director Dichev has closed a deal with an Albanian firm worth app. 400 million dollars while two other substantial deals seem probable (one on building 20 000 flats in Spain and another with Greek partners interested in investing in Macedonia). They furthermore claim that the company is very soon to be registered at court (documents have been submitted in November `96), once the assessment of the Appellate Court and the Legislative-Legal Commission have been obtained on whether it will be possible to divide the company into several shareholding companies. [11] PROPOSED RATIFICATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS CONVENTIONDuring yesterday's session the Macedonian Government has discussed the ratification of several international agreements - which seem to have become prerequisite to the admission of Macedonia into the Council of Europe. To this purpose the Government has accepted the proposal to ratify the Convention on the Protection of Human Rights and Basic Freedoms, with all ancillary protocols and the draft-bill.This accepted document has been signed in Rome back in 1950 and embodies the basic document of the Council of Europe, i.e. the first multilateral instrument for the protection of civic and political rights and liberties - as the principal determined aim is the ensuring of their collective implementation. By initiating the ratification of this act of law by the Parliament - according to Government data - Macedonia is meeting all required criteria. The implementation of the Convention in one year after its ratification marks the entrance of the Republic of Macedonia into a new age as regards the structure of its judiciary in relation to the European Tribunal and in terms of the protection of human rights and freedoms. It has been stated that this entails the strict adhering to provisions codified within the Convention and to judiciary procedures by authorities (administration and judiciary above all) in the Republic of Macedonia with respect to the protection of human rights. As regards the protection of national minorities, the Government has accepted the enactment of legal provisions ratifying the Framework Convention on Protecting National Minorities. Such an act of law embodies another fundamental instrument of the Council of Europe for the protection of minority rights, a domain in which the Republic of Macedonia has standards and a practical implementation level on a higher plain among other Council of Europe members. On yesterday's session the Macedonian Government has also outlined the draft-bill on construction, whose main objective is to provide a legal framework regulating relations in the construction sector in terms of building investment objects, concordant to existing business practice in developed West-European countries. Official data reveals that this facilitates the constructing of objects on a concessional basis and through international investments. The draft-bill determines the legal background on participation in construction ventures, necessary implementation documentation, construction permits, technical aspects to the object, usage licenses, destruction of objects, inspections and penal measures. The basic principles on which this law is founded are the increasing of confidentiality as regards investments, the protection of people, property and the environment, the activating of market mechanisms and entrepreneurship, the regulating of relations among all stakeholders. [12] OFF THE RECORD: COUNSELLORS OF TETOVO ELECTED, MAYOR ELECTION RACE CONTINUESFollowing the fifth `take' of local elections at polling stations No. 60 and No. 2 at Tetovo - unofficial data of the Municipal Election Commission reveals that four mayor candidates have remained in round 2 of the race, while the city counsellors have already been determined. The mayor elections are reported to be headed by Alaydin Demiri (PDPA) with a total of 7 906 votes in his favour, followed by PDP candidate Abdujadi Vejseli (1 795 votes less), DPM nominees Tomislav Stojanovski (5 509) and NDP's Liman Kurtishi (3 595).Off the record data reveals that the Council of Tetovo will be comprised of eight PDPA members, five PDP representatives, four DPM activists and two each of the IMRO-DPMNE / DP / MAAK-CP, the SDSM - and one representative of the NDP and the Republican Party for National Unity. As MTV reports the repeated staging of elections two days ago had not been deficient of a series of irregularities. Thus 209 surplus voting slips have been found at polling station No. 60 for mayor elections. Another 120 slips with the already encircled name of the PDP Abdujadin Vejseli. Thus charges against PDP's Abdiraham Arifi have been brought on and are being investigated by the Tetovo Police Dept. Illegal practice had also been registered by OSCE representatives in Macedonia - according to the Chief-of- Mission Christian Faber-Rod who stayed in Tetovo right up to the counting of votes. According to the Macedonian Radio one person had been stabbed in front of polling station No. 60 (located in a school building) by an unidentified individual. [13] POLICE INVESTIGATING `UNPREDEP' HELICOPTER CRASHAs `Vecher' reports it has been revealed yesterday that the investigation into the `UNPREDEP' helicopter crash (into Lake Mavrovo) - which caused the death of three `UNPREDEP' peacekeepers (Major Risto Vuori, Captain Tapani Kumala, Officer Kaisa Maria Arvola) and their civilian pilot - is to be led by the Macedonian Ministry of the Interior. Up to now there are no official data on the cause of this tragic accident, except that the aircraft had crashed into the 110 KV distance electricity line, after which it burst into pieces and fell into the lake.In the meantime President Kiro Gligorov has expressed his condolences to Finnish Head of State Marti Ahtisari, to the UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and to the `UNPREDEP' Chief-of-Mission Henryk Sokalski. Telegrams with similar contents have also been sent by Mayor Risto Penov. A memorial ceremony and the awarding of military medals posthumously has taken place this morning. MILS SUPPLEMENT[14] `Bank to Support Export'(`Nova Makedonija' - 3rd February, 1997)The new bank, to be known by the name `MABMES', is to be orientated towards the support of export (as are other institutions throughout the world), the implementation of foreign investments and the guaranteeing / insuring of export ventures. Besides the state, other banks and legal entities may function as founders as well... Following the example of other countries throughout the world - particularly of those with a well-developed market economy - Macedonia has also gone about establishing a specialized bank which is to support export ventures and finance the international breakthrough of domestic firms. The initiative to implement the project of a Macedonian bank for international economic cooperation has been adopted by the Government during its session two days ago, based on the evaluation that it is to be conducive to the attracting of foreign capital and to the speeding up of economic growth. The bank by the acronym `MABMES' will be backed by the state and its capital, which does not mean that the door will remain closed to other founders. The necessity for such an institution has been realised as early as 1991, and underlined within a research study compiled by L. Trpeski while he was a reader at the Faculty of Economy, in cooperation with the Macedonian Academy of Science and Art and the Government of that time. This study focused on the economic system of the Republic of Macedonia as an independent country. One of the prerequisites for the banking system indicated by the author of the study, was the establishment of a so-called export-import Bank i.e. a bank which would aid export ventures, the implementation of investments abroad and the guaranteeing / insuring of export ventures... states the `MABMES' initiator and Deputy-PM Ljube Trpeski. It has been intended to prepare all necessary documents and funding for the establishment of such a bank throughout this year - thus that it will be operational immediately i.e. as soon as possible - most likely towards the beginning of next year. Along with the transferring of the payment flow to business banks (as it had been intended as of 1st January 1998), practically all components of the study will be implemented. There is a bank of this kind in almost every country of the world, and they most often represent national or para- national institutions where the state is the main shareholder or capital supplier. As a small country in which the key share of the GNP is traded abroad, we are orientated towards export as one of the basic criteria for the normal functioning of economy. Due to this we need a strong stable bank with above all relatively accessible funding to support export - particularly the export of capital goods and companies that conduct investment ventures abroad... says Deputy-PM Trpeski. He furthermore reveals that there are many instances of our companies losing at international biddings in spite of being best as regards cost efficiency - merely because of unfavourable funding / loan conditions. Competitors are most often backed by banks on the international market. We have a strong construction sector which has to seek employment abroad in order to use existing capacities to a maximum. Similar to this, there are several businesses exporting substantial equipment - which requires the endorsement of a strong bank, says Trpeski upon explicating the main motives for the initiating of establishing `MABMES'. The Government has adopted this initiative - parallel to authorising Trpeski to assemble a team which would prepare the prerequisite documentation. The bank will practically represent a segment of Macedonia's banking system, subject to the supervision and control of the NBM which is also to issue the working permit. Therefore - though no precise arrangements have been made yet - it has become quite obvious that the minimum starting capital will not be under 21 million DM, which is concordant to the provisions of the Law on Banks and Savings Institutions in order to obtain a permit to enter transactions on an international level. It has nevertheless been intended to transcend this limit in order to ensure that this bank is one of the stronger in the country. Apart from the state, other potential `MABMES' co-founders include business banks, companies and other legal entities. The Macedonian Bank for International Economic Cooperation i.e. `MABMES' (`Makedonska Banka za Megjunarodna Ekonomska Sorabotka') will practically be the Macedonian equivalent to `Hermes' in Germany, `Ceaufache' in France, `Exim' in the US (and other countries) i.e. to what `Jubmes' used to represent in the Yugoslav Federation. Depending on the country, in some cases agencies are formed which are prevailingly linked to the national budget and the government - whereas in some cases the state emerges as the main proprietor of the bank. An initiator embodies the second option, though other alternatives may appear feasible based on the findings of the established team. As long as the objective is achieved, everything is acceptable... says Trpeski. In practice this means that if a Macedonian business conducts investments abroad or engages in export ventures, `MABMES' may be of help in several ways: by - for instance - preparing the export goods, by financing the export itself, by offering warranties as this surfaced as one of the key handicaps and needs of domestic firms while cooperating with international partners. This concept, however, has not been received too enthusiastically by Macedonian business banks since its very infancy. This - according to Trpeski - is to be attributed to the fear of competition and of losing part of their work. Trpeski nevertheless sees the matter from the state's perspective, upon claiming that there is enough work for every bank. (end)mils news 04 February 1997Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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