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MILS: News from the FYROM, 97-04-08Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>CONTENTS
MILS SUPPLEMENTMILS NEWSSkopje, 08 April, 1997[01] THE CENTRE - A SYMBOL OF EUROPEAN PRESENCE IN MACEDONIAThe Council of Europe Secretary-General Daniel Tarchise has opened the `Council of Europe Information Centre' at the Faculty of Law in Skopje yesterday. During the opening ceremony Tarchise stressed that this was the 12th Centre of the oldest European parliamentary institution, and that it embodies the symbol of European presence in Macedonia as well as a useful instrument for the promoting of European notions and values of democracy, the respecting of human rights human dignity and tolerance in all social spheres. Tarchise further underlined the fact that the Centre abounded in a huge quantity of data on the functioning of the Council of Europe, which are to be available to all Macedonian nationals.In the opinion of Macedonian Foreign Secretary Ljubomir Frchkovski the Centre will represent one more option to acquaint the public in general and experts with the modes of protecting human rights, with the practice of the European Human Rights Court and the possibility to familiarise themselves with the procedure known as the so- called `individual petition'. The Council of Europe Secretary-General Daniel Tarchise also delivered a lecture on the functioning of the Council at the Faculty of Law yesterday. This was followed by meetings with President Gligorov, PM Branko Crvenkovski, Parliamentary Chairman Tito Petkovski and Foreign Secretary Ljubomir Frchkovski. MTV reports that Tarchise emphasised the significance of Macedonia within the region as a country establishing firm ties with all neighbours - in this sense indicating the contribution in terms of upholding inter-ethnic relations. Further talks concentrated on regional conditions and on the role of the international community in establishing peace and order in the Republic of Albania - as well as on supporting the legitimacy of its Government. According to Tarchise it is extremely important that Macedonia is a signatory of the Human Rights Convention. He also expressed his regrets about university and secondary school student demonstrations in Skopje - while adding that the Council of Europe endorsed the PF-Bill. `The Law on Tertiary Education making provisions for instruction in minority languages could also be applied to private higher education institutions recognised by the Government', stated Tarchise for the press. [02] GOVERNMENT SESSION: `SUPPORT OF ALBANIAN GOVERNMENT ENDEAVOURS'During yesterday's session of the Macedonian Government, the latter analysed the current conditions in neighbouring Albania - as well as the view of the UN Security Council outlined in the adopted resolution on Albania. In this context the Government expressed its full support of the endeavours conducted by the Republic of Albania to consolidate and normalise conditions in the country.Bearing in mind the efforts of the international community, the Macedonian Government expressed its readiness to put all transport routes in Macedonia and the airport of Ohrid at the disposal of the international community as links facilitating the transport of relief (humanitarian aid or multinational troops) into neighbouring Albania. In order to alleviate the shortage of certain products of vital importance to Albanian markets, the Government decided to participate in the allocating of humanitarian aid on a national level - instead of leaving efforts on a local level. [03] RADIO TIRANA: `ESCALATION OF DISCONTENT AMONG ALBANIAN IN MACEDONIA'`The revolt of Albanians against the Macedonian system (repressive to this ethnicity) is constantly on the rise and indicative of an escalation that may obtain unpredictable proportions and inflict unfathomable damage on the country', claims the correspondent of Radio Tirana in Macedonia according to `Makfax'.In a commentary on the political parties of Albanians in Macedonia, Radio Tirana concluded that in order to prevent such an escalation a joint approach by Albanians would be more than necessary. For now this merely remains a wish, not backed by political will, as Albanian political parties had not yet reached a consensus as regards a unified platform to address the essential issues of the Albanian ethnicity in Macedonia. Although the key points in the agendas of the two largest political parties representing Albanians in Macedonia (the PDP and the PDPA) are identical, their methods are diametrically opposite. This entails the gradual loss of the electorate's trust by the PDP, Radio Tirana concludes in its commentary. [04] LITERATURNAYA GAZETA: `EURO-DAYTON NEEDED DUE TO ALBANIAN FACTOR IN THE BALKANS'Most recent events in Albania and the so-called `Albanian factor' in the Balkans forces the international community to think about staging a `European Dayton' negotiation session, writes Moscovian weekly `Literaturnaya Gazeta'.Upon warning that events in Albania may cause a genuine catastrophe, the paper informs that Albanians in Macedonia are increasingly turning towards their historic fatherland, whereas openly separatist tendencies have been existing on Kosovo for ages. The `Albanian Triangle' (Albania, West Macedonia and Kosovo) has formed the Achilles' heel of the Balkans, posing a new challenge to Europe and warning that the time for `Euro-Dayton' has come - this weekly suggests. `Makfax' reports that the three-day negotiation session between Serbia and Albania on the status of Kosovo has begun in New York yesterday, under the auspices of the US- based NGO `Ethnic Relations Project'. The Serbian side is represented by members of the `Zaedno' (`United') coalition, while the governing coalition had cancelled its attendance in the very last moment. Kosovo Albanians are being represented by functionaries of the Democratic League of Kosovo and the parliamentary faction of Adem Demakji. `Vecher' is quoting diplomatic sources (within the Macedonian Foreign Office) upon reporting that a Macedonian-Albanian summit (on a PM or Foreign Secretary level) has been scheduled towards the middle of this month. The meeting will most probably take place in Ohrid. Except for bilateral issues, talks are also to focus on the question whether the Republic of Macedonia will deploy troops for the multinational forces to be sent to Albania. [05] GREEK PARTICIPATION IN `RESCUER `97' CONFIRMEDYesterday Macedonian Defence Secretary Blagoj Handzhiski had a meeting with the Head of the Greek Liaison Office, H.E. Alexandros Mallias. Talks focused on the first multinational military exercise to be held in Macedonia towards the middle of May: `Rescuer `97'. This event is part of the activities outlined within the `Partnership for Peace' Programme. Official sources reveal that a high- ranking Greek military delegation is to attend the final conference on this exercise. This will create conditions prerequisite to the participation of a Greek Armed Forces unit in this exercise.[06] `SDSM' DELEGATION MEETS GREEK POLITICAL LEADERSAn SDSM delegation headed by Ilinka Mitreva and Ljubomir Popovski has been received by a number of Greek Government officials during a Balkan conference in Thessalonica, organised by the Association of European Socio- Democrats and Socialists. The Macedonian Radio reports that the Macedonian delegation was thus received by PM Costas Simitis, Defence Secretary Akis Tsochatsopoulos, State Secretary Yanos Krandiotis, as well as by the Greek Chairman of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Commission Carolos Papoullias. It was stated that there is a favourable climate as regards bilateral relations, as well as that the unresolved name-issue should not pose an impediment to the all-inclusive development of relations.[07] DISAVOWAL OF ANNOUNCEMENTS ON SPEEDY SOLUTION OF NAME- ISSUEIn an interview for Athenian paper `Ta Nea', the Greek Deputy Foreign Secretary Yorgos Papandreou denied that Greece and Macedonia were close to reaching a consensus at the name-negotiations in New York. In his opinion, recently there has been the impression (incl. the announcing of PM Simitis visiting Skopje) that Greece has come close to doing so - but except for an improvement in the overall climate - created by the visit of Foreign Secretary Pangallos - no progress has been achieved.Upon replying to the question of a Greek journalist whether it was true that the US State Dept. claimed that the British had secretly proposed the name `Republic of Macedonia - Skopje', spokesperson Nicholas Burns said that such a sensitive issue should not be subject to private discussion. The entailing comment by the Greek journalist that the US could propose the reference `Republic of Skopje - Macedonia', was answered by burns with the statement that the US supported all UN endeavours (and those of other organisations) in this respect - underlining the presence of their esteemed colleague Ambassador Hill in Skopje. [08] `ROYAUME' INITIATIVE MEETING TODAYToday the `Royaume' Initiative meeting on good neighbourliness and stability in SE European countries is to commence in Skopje. The conference is to be attended by 26 SE and West European countries, as well as by representatives of the EU, OSCE, the UN Economic Commission for Europe and a high-ranking official from Bosnia & Hercegovina.[09] PM CRVENKOVSKI IN GERMANYMacedonian PM Branko Crvenkovski is to commence his official visit to the Federal Republic of Germany tomorrow. Thus he is to meet several German politicians in Bonn and Berlin, such as Chancellor Helmut Kohl, Foreign Secretary Klaus Kinkel and Finance Minister Theo Waigel.[10] FRCHKOVSKI VISITS PARIS AND BRUSSELSAs of today the Macedonian Foreign Secretary Ljubomir Frchkovski starts his official visit to France. During the latter he will not only meet his French counterpart Herve De Charet, but also Parliamentary Chairman Phillippe Segain, the First Secretary of the French Foreign Office Claude Martin and the European Affairs Minister Michel Barnier. Macedonian media report that talks are to revolve around the Balkan situation, particularly following the most recent events in Albania.Following this stay in France, Frchkovski is to visit the NATO HQ in Brussels on 10th this month, where he is to attend the third session of individual intensified discussions between NATO and the Republic of Macedonia. In this context it has been said that Minister Frchkovski would once again repeat the request for Macedonia's admission into NATO as a fully-fledged member. [11] GOVERNMENT DISTANCING ITSELF FROM ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN `VECHER' AND `DNEVNIK'During yesterday's Government session it has been concluded that this institution, the PM and several Ministers have unfoundedly been involved in the reports published in `Vecher' and `Dnevnik' these days. The Government further distanced itself from all speculations and concocted stories depicted in these reports, confirming once again its principle of non-interference with editorial policy or journalistic observations on several issues affecting the community. Both papers had gone about publishing articles containing mutual accusations of lobbying for particular ministers and SDSM leaders, of existing thanks to Government support, i.e. that of the police, the Soros Foundation and others.[12] BATTLE AGAINST ORGANISED CRIME GAINING MOMENTUMThese days media coverage has been dominated by several banking scandals, and cases of manipulation, most often conducted by high-ranking officials. This is being garnished by speculations on how huge the sum of embezzled money in each case is. The detecting and surfacing of such a huge number of incorrect practice, resulting in the plundering of state property or the population itself, is frequently raising the issue of countering organised crime (recently also announced by PM Crvenkovski in front of the Parliament). The burning issues in this respect are the banking scandals and the manipulations linked to medicine supplies - though other incidents upset the public as well.Thus the Ministry of the Interior revealed the arrest of Ohrid-based `Trudbenik' Director-General (and former mayor) Dimitar Zarchev this weekend. He is being charged with fraud, forging ID documents, corruption and crimes codified in the Law on Hard Currency Transactions. All this had generated the total of 340 000 DM in illegally obtained profit. *Kumanovo is being uprooted by the `Zhitomel' scandal. This bakery had received state subsidies for wheat, while it had been storing and using barley. This inflicted a 50 000 DM damage on the National Budget. Thus the Investigative Judge has launched an investigation against one of the `Zhitomel' managers (Zhivota Milosavljevikj) and against sales dept. clerk Zoran Cvetkovski. Both are being suspected of forging documents and abusing their auhtorisation. `Vecher' reports that another gravitating `felony' has been committed in `Zhitomel': 27 tons of flour have disappeared. This matter is also being investigated by the police. *Employees of the `International Trade Bank' (former `Jugobanka') state that the bankruptcy manager appointed for this financial institution has fleeced them by app. 500 000 DM in withheld pay. The fate of these funds, whose existence has been confirmed, remains unknown. The executive claims that they have been used to cover the negative balance of employee bank accounts, i.e. that employees had been compensated via this approach. The determining of factual conditions is in progress. Meantime, employees are demonstrating in front of the bank's premises. *Recently an investigation has been launched against the former Dean of the Faculty of Economy in Prilep, Gligor Popovski. He is being accused of having embezzled around 60 000 DM from this educational institution by granting loans to businesses and individuals (which were never returned), by selling oil belonging to the faculty, by admitting students and pocketing the `admission fee', etc. *More and more media keep reporting that huge sums of money have been (mis)spent by the nationally-owned facility for airport services `Macedonia' on procuring equipment, vehicles, furniture, etc. The company of course denies this, but information on purchasing furniture from Spain worth 45 000 DM have been confirmed. For now police has not initiated a formal investigation against any employee of this firm. [13] DECREASED LEVEL OF SAFETY AT WORK LAST YEARAccording to information publicised by `Vecher' these days, there have been ten incidents caused by insufficient safety at work in Macedonia last year. These entailed the severe injuring or death of those involved. Four of these accidents occurred in industrial production and two in each of the following sectors: agriculture, construction, transportation and communications. Corresponding inspection services in Macedonia have issued 162 decisions suspending the operating of businesses on these grounds.The paper denotes this as an increase by 40% in comparison to last year. In terms of economic sectors, the largest number of deficiencies has been registered within the construction sector, electric installations, machinery or due to the presence of health-damaging substances and gases. MILS SUPPLEMENT[14] `Fear of Name Recognition'(`Nova Makedonija' - 7th April 1997)Yesterday our Athens correspondent Trajko Mirchevski reported that the more frequent contacts and speedy progression of Greek-Macedonian relations (particularly over he past few weeks) has raised a number of questions in Athens. So far these questions have not been answered. Their main query revolves around a possible `backstage agreement' between both sides on the only unresolved issue regarding the name of our country. Thus everything occurring on a bilateral level is immediately put in perspective to negotiations in New York by Greek media. This includes the announcement by Foreign Secretary Theodoros Pangallos that the name-issue is to be resolved by the beginning of this summer. A huge amount of relevance - form both a bilateral and a regional perspective - is also being attributed to the multi- national military exercise `Rescuer `97', which is to be staged on Krivolak between 12th and 16th May. This is the first `Partnership for Peace' Programme event to be held on the territory of the Republic of Macedonia. Its importance is only augmented by the participation of Greek troops. While ignoring this establishing of even military cooperation on a bilateral level, several Athenian printed media, such as the weekly `Eskipno Chrima', report that this automatically raises the question what mode of partnership would be found - if it should be found - without the `de facto' recognition of the name `Macedonia' by Greece. The contentious aspect seems to be that the exercise is to be attended by eight nations (Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Macedonia, Romania, Slovenia, Turkey and the USA). In such conditions Macedonia is not likely to settle for the FYROM reference, especially not in a time when exercises are being held on its territory. Greece, in this case, is even less in the position than usual to do something about it - as all remaining participants in these exercises are bound to settle for the name `Macedonia'. This is the very reason why Greece is no longer accepting the reference `Skopje' as an equivalent for Macedonia. Otherwise its decision to participate in these exercises would be incorrect, as this would (indirectly but essentially) embody the recognition of the country's Constitutional name. The paper continues by stressing that - regardless of the (non-)existence of such a `backstage agreement' - one should bear in mind the decision brought on by all political leaders incl. President Constandinos Karamanlis, to which all subsequent governments claim they adhere at least formally. This is also the case with incumbent Government. Such an approach clearly ignores the frequent observations of Greek Foreign Secretary Pangallos that all decisions and solutions should be passed with respect to the time and factual conditions. These are now considerably differing from those prevailing during the first meeting with President Karamanlis nearly five years ago. Merely by deploying Greek troops to attend the exercises - the paper claims - it would be more than implied that many things have changed behind the scene, without the public being made aware of it. Even the time slot when `Rescuer `97' is to be held in Macedonia, somehow appears to coincide with the announced final act to the play called `the name-issue mystery'. Therefore probably Pangallos' optimism that negotiations in New York are to be completed by this summer. This sudden renaissance of Greek-Macedonian relations is further reflected in the many bilateral meetings, permanently organised in recent times - including the one between Ambassadors Zacharakis and Toshevski in New York last week. This speculation of a `behind the scene' consensus is only confirmed through the expedient scheduling of another meeting of both officials next week. In this context it has also been registered that neither side has either confirmed or discarded most recent speculations as regards the name. These days the numerous contacts established and maintained in various domains, focus on improving technical equipedness at border crossings and on border signs. In this sense the `Royaume' Initiative meeting on 10th April is to be followed by bilateral talks on handling illegal refugees and arms trafficking. it is being reported that the Greek Government had information confirming the smuggling of Kalashnjikovs into their country from Albania via Macedonia. In connection to this it has been revealed that a large amount of weapons have already been sold on the Island of Crete. This accounts for the unreserved readiness of both sides to cooperate in all sectors. Such a development of events, it is being rumoured in Greece, is to include the expedient resolving of the `Name- Odyssey'. (end)mils news 08 April 1997Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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