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MILS: News from the FYROM, 97-04-14Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>CONTENTS
MILS SUPPLEMENTMILS NEWSSkopje, 14 April 1997[01] IMF CREDITED 80 MILLION DOLLARS FOR MACEDONIAThe Board of the International Monetary Fund last Friday credited for Macedonia 80 million dollars as a support of the reform program in the next 3 years. The credited ESAF- arrangement is terminated with a 15 years payment, grace period of 4 years and a 0,5 interest per year. `Nova Makedonija' reports, the largest part of the means will be used to strengthen the foreign currency reserve and it will support the pay balance, while part of the means will be used for paying off the credits that had been approved with commercial interest rates.According to the Spokesperson for the Macedonian Government, Ljube Trpevski, the decision of the IMF Board will reestablish the trust and reputation of the Republic Macedonia, especially after the written columns regarding the `TAT' affair in several financial magazines, and it will also reestablish the trust in the domestic banks which have also been shocked by the largest so far financial scandal in Macedonia. Trpeski stated for `Nova Makedonija' that the decision made by the IMF will open the way towards approval of another financial arrangement of the World Bank, known under the name - SAL- Arrangement which is expected to gain green light on 5th May. [02] JOHN COREBLOUM - THE USA WILL SUPPORT PROLONGATION OF UNPREDEP MANDATEThe situation in the region, particularly in Albania, as well the common points of action in which Macedonia and the USA will participate had been the main subjects discussed by the US Assistant State Secretary for European and Canadian issues, John Coreblum, the Macedonian President Kiro Gligorov, Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski and the Foreign Affairs Minister, Ljubomir Frchkovski.After the two days visit of Macedonia, Corebloum , as it is reported by `Nova Makedonija', has strongly supported the prolongation of the UNPREDEP mandate, adding that the USA will continue to keep the mission in Macedonia. According to Corebloum, stability, prosperity and sovereignty of the states in this region are understood by the USA as the greatest contribution for Europe at the present moment, and that it is one of the reasons why they are so much involved into the processes for stabilization of BIH and that is why they have suggested an initiative for South-east Europe (SECI) having the goal to integrate the states of the region. Assessing the situation in Albania as difficult and complicated, Corebloum has stated that at the present moment he sees no danger in the crisis expansion towards Macedonia and the wider region, reports `Nova Makedonija'. Regarding the other `heated' issue in the region - Kosovo, Corebloum assessed that it may cause instability and that's why the USA consider it as a serious issue. The Macedonian Chief of Diplomacy, Ljubomir Frchkovski, informing on the talks with Corebloum pointed out that an accent has been placed on the readiness of Macedonia to give support to the international forces in Albania within the frames of the `ALBA' operation, to the humanitarian help from Macedonia to this country as well as the possible repercussions of the crisis in the remaining parts of the region. [03] SUPPORT FOR THE DIALOGUE POLICY OF THE MACEDONIAN GOVERNMENTWith the meeting and the talks with the Foreign Affairs Minister, Klaus Kinkel, Macedonian PM, Branko Crvenkovski, has ended his 3 days visit to Germany which has been estimated by the Macedonian media as a successful one, In the talks with the German Minister, as well as at the prior meetings with the German politicians in Berlin and Bonn, dominated issues regarding the situation in the Balkans, especially in Albania and Cosovo, the Macedonian view on these, the bilateral collaboration between Macedonia and Germany, as well as the Macedonian efforts towards approaching the Euro-Atlantic structures. After the talks Prime Minister Crvenkovski and Minister Kinkel have signed an agreement on financial support between Germany and Macedonia worth 30 million DM most of which will cover the expenses for building the railway from Kumanovo towards the Bulgarian border.`Vecher' reports, the German Minister in the talks has underlined the readiness of the German Government to support the process of the Macedonian closer approach to the EU and regarding the NATO expanding he hailed the Macedonian participation in the `Partnership for peace' program, stressing the NATO will intensify its co- operation with the states which will not enter the first round of the Alliance. According to the announcement given by the German Ministry for Foreign Affairs Kinkel has pointed out to PM Crvenkovski that the German Government is concerned regarding the recent attacks of the radical parties and groups on the Macedonian Government . Representatives from the German Government have clearly stressed the attitude of giving support to the Macedonian Government in its dialogue policy which it conducts with all political factors. The German Minister in the talks underlined that his Government pays great attention to the German- Macedonian collaboration and its further development. [04] THE STOCK MARKET IN 3,3 MILLION DENARS LOSSThe Macedonian stock market for long term valuable papers has terminated 1996 with a negative balance and a loss of 3,3 million denars, which will be covered with the performances in 1997, it has been underlined at the recent session of the Stock Market Assembly. On this occasion it has been informed that the Stock Market in 1996 has realized a total income of 35 million denars with 500 transactions of 15 valuable papers. `Vecher' reports that at the meeting most of the participants pointed out the necessity of a more aggressive advertising appearance of the Stock Market members.[05] MANAGEMENT GROUP FORMEDLast Friday in the Economy Chamber of Skopje a constitutive session was held of the Group for management- consulting, at which a rule book and the six- member Administrative Committee have been adopted. Ljubomir Trajkovski - director of the firm `Trajkovski i Partneri konsalting' - has been chosen president. In the working part of the session Patrik Hala, General director of the Macedonian Business Center, has made an address and held a lecture on consulting, the goals and perspectives of consulting in Macedonia.[06] `TAT' AFFAIR - THE MANAGER OF THE PAY CIRCULATION WILL BE RELEASEDThe Basic Court in Bitola last Friday accepted the demand of Julijana Atanasova, former manager of the Institute for pay circulation in Bitola, to be released from the temporary arrest after she had given 350.000 DM as bail in a form of real estate. Atanasova, as the media report, was arrested on 3rd March due to her involvement in the `TAT' affair under the charges of document forging and misuse of her official duty. The court proceedings against her are scheduled for 21 April. The court in Bitola has not yet decided on the demand of the temporary arrested mayor of Bitola, Siljan Micevski and his wife to defend themselves.Today the two committees of savings clients have announced a new meeting with the republic administrators regarding the bill on returning the savings deposits. At the press conference held last Friday by the clients of the bankrupted savings bank `ALFA-S' again it was announced that unless the compensation proceedings are accelerated they will continue with protests in front of the Government which at the moment are at a state of rest. According to the savings clients of `ALFA -S', the situation with their deposits does not look `so pink' as it has been presented by Governor Stanoevski, i.e. they do not believe that the means invested in objects owned by the savings bank are collectible. According to `Dnevnik', the Association of the savings clients of the bankrupted bank `Makedonija reklam' last Friday have also demanded reception at the vice-president of the Macedonian Government, Ljube Trpevski, in order to remind him that besides the clients from `TAT' there are other embezzled clients. From the Justice Ministry it has been demanded to accelerate the process of extradition of the owner of `Makedonija reklam', Zoran Blazzevski, from Slovenia. [07] `THE GREEK ZORBA' FOR MACEDONIAN-GREEK DEVELOPMENT OF COLLABORATION AND FRIENDSHIPLast Saturday in the Macedonian National Theatre in Skopje the concert `The Greek Zorba' was held covering 200 performers, members of the choir and orchestra of the MNT, and the solo performers from Greece, Grigorius Cistudis and Sofia Mihailidu and the conductor - composer - Mikis Teodorakis. The performance of the concert in MNT was seen by an audience of thousands and the rest of the Macedonian public saw it on TV. Among the audience was president Kiro Gligorov, Culture Minister - Slobodan Unkovski, and a Greek delegation of 200 guests and representatives of almost all Greek political parties, parliament members, university professors, artists and businessmen all which have come organized from Athens to Skopje.This event has been organized by the Civil Committee for Macedonian -Greek dialogue and collaboration, on whose invitation in Skopje came the famous Mikis Teodorakis. According to statements given by the president of the Civil Committee for Macedonian- Greek dialogue and understanding, Meto Jovanovski, and the composer Teodorakis, the performance of `The Greek Zorba' in Skopje should present a symbol of friendship and collaboration between the Macedonian and the Greek peoples, i.e. a step further in resolving the mutual misunderstandings and problems. On the occasion of the concert these days a letter has been publicly published of 17 professors and assistants from the Music Academy in Skopje who protest against the coming of the Greek composer Mikis Teodorakis and the performance of his work `The Greek Zorba' assessing that this work is outside the frames of classical music and presents a commercial work. `Dnevnik' reports that parts of the letter have been published in almost all Greek papers and caused great criticism. Thus, `Eskusija' remarks that this is the first time that musical professors put limits on the globalization of music. [08] CRITICISM ON THE BILL ON BROADCASTING`The Traffic and Connection Ministry has again offered a bad bill which is no better than the first version', stressed many discussants at the tribune `How to create a better broadcasting' which was held last Friday and was organized by the Macedonian Media Paper.`Dnevnik' reports, regarding the formation of a Broadcasting Council it has been assessed that this presents an `original Macedonian invention' which is redundant. With the bill it is predicted that a Council should be constituted on ethnic basis, and that its activity should depend on the financial means which should be approved by the Government and that it should not be a regulative body, instead it should only give opinions and suggestions. Many discussants have stressed that it is a mistake not to have the Bill on Broadcasting along with the Bill on the Macedonian Radio and television, because again certain issues will remain unclear and the whole legal regulative will remain incomplete. According to representatives from the Association of the local stations, the status of the public local radio stations should be regulated by the Bill on the MRTV, assessing that there might be negative consequences if they should be regulated by local authorities. [09] NEW NAME AND CIVIL ATTRIBUTESThe Democrat Union of the Albanians - Liberal Party commences with a new name - Democrat Union of the Albanians, it was decided at the election Assembly of the party held last Friday in Skopje. As president of the party again was chosen Dzeli Idrizi.According to the statement of Hisein Ramadani in `Vecher', the Union presents something more than a party, especially in the association of the Albanian democrats, and it is characterized more with civil rather that national attributes. The session has established the future pledges of the party: to define and institutionalize Macedonia as a multicultural and multiethnic state, the Albanians -as another population of Macedonia - to gain the status of constitutive subjects in the state, the Albanians to be proportionally present in all state and public bodies, the lectures to be performed in the mother tongue in all educational institutions, to legalize the `Tetovo university', to regulate with a bill the usage of the national symbols and flags, the electoral system to be proportional.... [10] COALITION FOR STRENGTHENING THE POLITICAL CENTRE`Dnevnik' reports that the Democrat Party of Macedonia, MAAK -Macedonian Peoples Party and VMRO-MNDS will sign today an agreement on colliding. The goal of this new coalition is, according to members of DPM, strengthening of the political centre. At the session of the Main Committee of DPM it has been demanded from Prime Minister Crvenkovski to successfully resolve the problems regarding crime in the state which bring confusion in the functioning of the executive government.[11] LP AND DP - PRIME MINISTER CRVENKOVSKI SHOULD KEPT HIS PROMISEUnderlining that they are glad for the invitation on collaboration regarding the new election system, the Liberal and Democrat Party these days have been `reminding' the Prime Minister Crvenkovski on his promise to start negotiations with the parliamentary and non- parliamentary opposition on the contents of the electoral legislature and on the date when the pre-term elections will take place. In the letter addressed to Justice Minister, Vlado Popovski, it is cited that part of LP and DP would like the Prime Minister to keep his promise because at this moment that shall be the best reply for overcoming the crisis in our state. LP and DP also assess that the first step in this context may be made within the frames of the initiative, i.e. the letter of the Justice Ministry addressing the parties regarding suggestions on the electoral legislative regulation. Both parties underline that they regard necessary a meeting and talks in order to arrange the crucial steps in determining the ways of collaboration, dynamics, terms on law preparation and election conducting as well as determining the subjects who should organize and conduct the above mentioned. `We believe that there is no impediment to start such a way of collaboration, especially due to the public obligation taken on part of PM Crvenkovski', it is cited in the letter to Minister Vlado Popovski send by LP and DP.MILS SUPPLEMENT[12] `New Election Laws Simmering - A Parliament With 140 Members and a Combined Election Model'(`Dnevnik' - 11th April 1997)The New Member of Parliament Election Act is most likely take advantage of the Constitutional option to increase the number of representatives from 120 to 140. Most of these would be chosen concordant to the majority principle - and a smaller number based on the correlation system. This, our Justice Dept. reveal, is to be one of the quintessential novelties within the act of law which is to outline the `rules for the election rat race'. The draft of this act will be compiled after scanning the views, opinions and proposals of political parties to which Justice Secretary Vlado Popovski forwarded a written request demanding their input on the subject. The feedback would then be studied by a special commission, which would subsequently compile a concrete agenda for panels with these political parties. The Justice Dept. however already has its own `notions' for certain legislative issues. We further found out that these initial concepts of the Justice Dept. make provisions for the increasing of the Parliament to the maximum number of representatives allowed by the Constitution: 140. They would be chosen based on a combined election system within which the majority principle would nevertheless prevail. Thus most the of the parliamentary representatives would be elected based on this principle, while a smaller segment would be appointed according to the correlation criterion. The exact details still need to be determined, however, as it remains unspecified which methods and techniques of both models will be implemented - and how they are to be combined. Our sources claim that these are merely some of the initial opinions in this sector. Legal experts are already speculating on two possible variants as regards the number of MPs to be chosen according to each principle. The first option (which has been considered by Government circles over a longer period of time) would favour the electing of 120 MPs concordant to the majority principle while 20 would be appointed based on the correlation criterion. With the second variant this proportion would be 100 to 40, respectively. Discussions led on all levels so far, as to which election model would be most appropriate for our country, resulted in that almost all political parties and experts have favoured a combined model. Their views on which model is to prevail however (the majority or the correlation based one) remain different. Based on the assessments compiled by some analysts, the SDSM and IMRO-DPMNE would favour the predominance of the former principle, while the LP, the DP and the Albanian parties would prefer the latter. Experts consider this issue to be one of the most frequently debated and contested ones, throughout the preparing and the enactment of this law. By the end of June the Justice Dept. should also have compiled the draft versions on election polls and election units (codifying their number, their bounds, and the outlining of the territory they cover). It remains to be seen whether the number of election polls will change from 2 631, the quantity registered during local elections. It was further said that these concepts had not been determined in great detail, as the input of all political parties is being excepted. One of the basic criteria in determining election polls will be that the number of voter covered by one poll should not extend 2 000. The law on election units is to define the number and size of election units. This has become more than necessary after the recently-conducted new territorial division. The Justice Dept. has stated that an increase in territorial units is most likely to be conducive to an increase in the number of election units, though it should not transcend the number of municipalities. Another possibility is the grouping of several smaller municipalities into one election units, our sources claim. In order to compile these laws the Department of Justice is about to establish separate working groups, which are to be comprised of this Ministry's experts, as well as by experts of the Ministries: of the Interior; of Civil Engineering, Urbanism and Environmental Protection and of the National Institute of Statistics and the National Geodetic HQ. At the same time the experience of other countries in this domain is being analysed. (end)mils news 14 April 1997Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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