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MILS: News from the FYROM, 97-04-22Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>CONTENTS
MILS SUPPLEMENTMILS NEWSSkopje, 22 April, 1997[01] `TAT' TRIAL ADJOURNEDThe beginning of the trial of `TAT' owner and director Sonja Nikolovska - scheduled for yesterday - has been postponed for an undetermined period of time, upon request of the defence. The Macedonian Radio also reports the adjourning of the main hearing against Julijana Atanasovska, former director of the Payment Flow Institute in Bitola, as well as against her employees Sofka Jonchevska and Jonche Bocevski. All of them, like Nikolovska, are being charged with forgery and the abuse of professional authority. The delay is practically a result of the requests submitted by the defence counsellours of Nikolovska and Atanasovska who state that the same evidence is being used in both cases, so that investigations should be completed prior to staging one single trial for both. Thus the DA's Office accepted the request and agreed to await the completion of investigations. The defence counsellour of Nikolovska informed the media yesterday that the NBM refused to let a `TAT' official attend investigations as it was feared that certain data might simply disappear. They further said that Nikolovska had never received the NBM report containing the findings of the investigation, due to which they have already lodged a written objection. The defence also claims to be in possession of records confirming the payment of 30 million DM prior to the `crashing' of the bank, though there is no data on how many contracts had been terminated prematurely.[02] DNEVNIK: VELES MUNICIPAL COURT ONE OF THE FINANCIAL SCANDAL `VICTIMS'`Dnevnik' reports that Skopje-based `Stocks and Bonds' owes about 1.6 million DM to app. 100 clients who invested into this company. The Public Revenue Inspection has also discovered that the above mentioned firm has avoided to pay around 500 000 DM in tax so far. What nevertheless appears to be most interesting about this financial scandal - in the opinion of LP parliamentary representative Ace Kocevski - is that the list of investors includes the Veles Municipal Court. `Dnevnik' claims to have documents which bear evidence to the fact that around 8 000 had been invested by this institution, with the initial monthly interest rate of 8.5%.Signatories of this contract were Ilindenko Strovjanov, the Director of `Stocks and Bonds' and the Chairman of the Veles Municipal Court Blagoj Nechov. `Dnevnik' says that deceived clients who had invested in this company `are already undertaking activities to ensure the disbursement of their funds' while accusations are being made that the company represented a Governmental enterprise. In support of this it is being stressed that one of the Director's closest associates is Vasil Nikolovski - a Governmental prot‚g‚ and currently the Director of Veles-based `Lozar'. These days the already mentioned Macedonian daily also focuses on another `wee pyramid investment scheme': this one resulting in the embezzling of app. 1.7 million DM from clients of the Skopje-based `Invest' bank from the capital of the country and from Kavadarci, Veles and other cities. Clients state that soon after its establishment the savings house had undergone the miraculous metamorphosis into a facility providing hotel and gastronomic services, tourist arrangements and games of fortune - while the bank owner kept promising to cover debts with the profit he was to generate through the opening of casinos. At present the owner of the `Invest' bank Mihajlo Buklevski is in prison and the permanently increasing number of deceived bank clients is demanding a set of appropriate measures to entail disbursement in this and all similar cases. [03] `TAT' INVESTIGATION FINDINGS TO BE DISCUSSED AT SPECIAL GOVERNMENT SESSION TOMORROWDuring yesterday's session the Macedonian Government decided to hold a separate session tomorrow (23rd April) to study the findings of the `TAT' investigation, conducted by the NBM. Official records further reveal that other thematic focuses are to include possibilities for client restitution in this case and others where illegal business practice had incurred financial damage.According to the Chairperson of the National Bank Clients' Association Mende Mladenovski, PM Crvenkovski had announced during their meeting that options as regards the settling of bank debts are to be aired by Thursday, after the Government session. [04] REFERENDUM AND CIVIC INITIATIVES DRAFT-BILL ADOPTEDAt the Government session this Monday, this institution also adopted the draft-bill on referendums and civic initiatives. Based on the contents of certain sections within the Constitution, this bill makes provisions for two types of referendums - the compulsory and the optional one. These are to provide the public's input on Constitutional changes, the enactment of laws and other acts within the jurisdiction of the Parliament. The draft- bill further outlines which issues are not to be settled via a referendum, such as the compiling of the Budget and its final balance sheet, the determining of taxes, the National Reserves, elections, appointments, etc.[05] COUNCIL OF EUROPE DISTANCES ITSELF FROM GREEK-MACEDONIAN ISSUEThe Council of Europe has distanced itself from the Greek- Macedonian issue and intends to leave its solution to both involved sides... said Leni Fisher, the Chairperson of the Council's Assembly, yesterday. Ms. Fisher further stated that it would remain questionable (based on experience obtained so far) whether the Council of Europe could facilitate the resolving of this issue at all. `Nova Makedonija' reports that Ms. Fisher entertained a similar view with respect to the FYROM reference. This statement had been part of a press conference in Strasbourg, following a statement made by Greek President Constantin Stephanopoulos mainly delving into the relations of his country with its neighbouring states. MTV reports that President Stephanopoulos denoted relations with Macedonia as promising - in spite of Macedonia's reluctance to concretely discuss the name-issue.At this press conference the Greek President also responded to the question as to how long Greece intended to implemented laws dating back to the time of dictatorship (according to which the right to return to Greece is denied to those of non-Greek ethnic origin having left the country at that time) which represent an anachronism within international law. Stephanopoulos stated that Greece is resolved to modify these provisions, which had initially been taken over from other countries. This would however require expert analyses, as it is rather a scholarly than a political issue. [06] BULGARIAN PRESS ON `FAILURE' OF MACEDONIANS IN THE PIRIN AREAYesterday the two most popular Bulgarian papers `24 Chasa' (`24 Hours') and `Standard' briefly covered `the failure of Macedonians in the Pirin region to visit the tomb of Jane Sandanski at the Rozhden monastery, to mark the 42nd anniversary of his death. `Makfax' reports that `24 Chasa' informed about how a group of the `Macedonists' hoisted a flag with the Star of Vergina at the Lozenica village (near Melnik) - but then fled after police intervened.`Standard' again reports that the Macedonian Ambassador to Bulgaria H.E.Amb. Gjorgji Spasov had laid down a wreath at the grave of Sandanski, bearing the inscription `To Jane Our Leader From the Macedonian People'. [07] ON THE PROBLEMS OF MACEDONIANS IN BULGARIA AND GREECEYesterday the Association of Macedonians from the Aegean Region, based in Bitola, expressed its revolt with police interventions in Bulgaria barring the access of `OMO Ilinden' representatives to the grave of Jane Sandanski.The Association also raises the question against whom the tomb of Sandanski is being defended by the Bulgarian Government - personified by Public Prosecutor Tatarchev - as Bulgaria does not recognize Bulgarians in Macedonia anyway. The Association claims that the blockade had certainly not been aimed at Bulgarians, but rather at those considering and calling themselves Macedonians. This Association has further announced its intention to pay a visit to the First Secretary of the US Embassy in Skopje Robert Sorensen on Friday. On this occasion the diplomatic representative is to be acquainted with the programme objectives of the Association of Macedonians from the Aegean Region - with a detailed focus on the problems confronting Macedonians originating from the Aegean area, upon their entering of the Greek Republic. It was also - once again - stressed that the Association would not accept a passport not containing the place of birth (in Greece) of its holder; and that the membership demanded to be given the possibility to return to Greece as ethnic Macedonians, with all human rights and the right to their property. [08] INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION INCREASED BY 4.3% IN FIRST QUARTERBased on the most recent report by the National Statistic Office, industrial production in Macedonia has been marked by a rise of 4.3% over the first quarter of this year.This is being attributed to an increase in the production of consumer goods, which constitutes app. 40% of overall industrial production. Other data indicate that production has gone up in 15 of 32 surveyed industrial branches - in comparison to the first quarter of 1996. The highest growth rate has been registered with electricity production, heavy metallurgy, equipment production, the chemical, food processing and tobacco industry. These branches represent 44.5% of overall industrial production. [09] GENERAL PROTEST AT `ZHENA-BOREC' PARK IN SKOPJE DUE TODAYThe Coordination Board of the Independent Trade Union Organisation of the Unemployed, Redundant and Laid-Off Workers of Macedonia have announced the staging of a general protest of its membership at the `Zhena-borec' park in Skopje, at 10 o' clock this morning. `Dnevnik' reports that Coordination Board Chairman Atanas Lefterov stated (during a press conference in front of tent where Union members have been on a hunger strike for the last 37 days) that the hunger strike was being suspended and regular protests introduced instead. In the opinion of Lefterov these demonstrations aim at exerting democratic pressure on President Gligorov to fulfill posed demands.To this purpose they attempt to unite the 220 000 unemployed, 200 000 pensioners , independent farmers and others during mass protest actions. The above mentioned requests of this Independent Trade Union Organisation include the disbursement of 80% of the average income in the state until re- employment or retirement, the examining of privatization procedures generating laid-off and redundant personnel, active involvement in social protection legislation, etc. [10] BRUCELLOSIS SPREADING ON MOUNT SHARABased on information released by the Institute of Veterinary Medicine in Skopje, these days 41 goats had to be slaughtered - due to their being contaminated with brucellosis - at the village of Gjermo (Tetovo). The Macedonian Radio reports that at this village the disease had already obtained alarming proportions, so that even a considerable portion of the population had been befallen by this virus (eight of the residents have been admitted to hospital at Tetovo). The Institute of Veterinary Medicine has launched an extensive offensive to counter the spreading of brucellosis.[11] ONE MORE `GO-AHEAD' FOR RADIO-BROADCASTING BILLYesterday the Radio-Broadcasting Bill obtained the approval of the Parliamentary Finance and Budgeting Commission. Particular attention was being paid to provisions outlining the procuring of funds via introducing a radio-broadcasting fee.Upon justifying the draft-bill, Transportation and Communications Minister Dimitar Buzleski stressed that this act of law was conducive to the development of democracy and pluralism in the country, that it had obtained the blessing of international experts and that it was to introduce order and responsibility in the country's broadcasting system. The radio-broadcasting fee - in the opinion of Minister Buzleski - is codified within the Public Taxation Act, as an additional budgetary source. The new draft-bill lowers the fee from 4 to 3% of the past three average net incomes on a national level - and integrates it into the electricity bill. According to Buzleski this is an approach quite common in other countries, and it is to contribute to the financing of radio- broadcasting in Macedonia. Most of the Commission members think that the bill offers contemporary codification and solid solutions, though it should be more precise in terms of defining the position of local radio-stations. The draft-bill is to be subjected to parliamentary discussion, at the 66th session tomorrow, together with the bills on public utilities services, on the Institution Attorney-General and on the amendments and complements to the Defence Act. [12] BILINGUAL MUNICIPAL SESSIONS AT KUMANOVOConcordant to the Procedures on the functioning of the Kumanovo Municipal Council adopted yesterday, this institution is to grant the use of Macedonian and Cyrillic script and Albanian and Latin script for official purposes. The right to use Albanian on the local government level is based on corresponding legal provisions (should the percentage of an ethnicity exceed 20% in a municipality). In the case of Kumanovo - based on the most recent census - the Albanian ethnicity constitutes 24.87% of the population. An additional decision by the Municipal Council of Kumanovo is to determine the precise method of implementation (incl. all technical aspects).MILS SUPPLEMENT[13] `Confirmation of Profitability and Efficiency'(`Vecher' - 18th April 1997)The ownership turmoil to which Macedonian economy has been subjected over the past few years, has started to leave visible traces. Generally speaking, the take-over of corporate governance by dominant owners inevitably uprooted the machinery of internal restructuring and downsizing. This is being complemented by increasing work efficiency and fighting the battle of survival on the economic scene and the market. Once again, overall impressions on the financial results of the country's economy last year - presented by the Payment Flow Institute - already reflect the differences characterizing the private sector, visible due to its increased contribution within all economic sectors . In the attempt to create a comparative basis, the Institute has been monitoring the financial achievements in private and privatized businesses over the past year. Thus a total of 747 transformed companies, employing 109 367 workers, became a subject of study. Most of these companies fall off to the industrial and mining sector (244), to trade (238) and civil engineering (82). In comparison to 1995, the Institute has registered the tendency of downsizing, and the gradual eliminating of the over-employment phenomenon - imposed by the necessity to lower basic production costs. An interesting occurrence registered by the Institute is the fact that in comparison to last year the financial profit of privatized businesses has taken a plunge. But with respect to the overall economy they were still on a higher level. These businesses have generated a little more over one-third, i.e. 34.8% of overall economic revenues. One half of this percentage falls off to industry and mining. The year 1996 ended favourably for 394 transformed companies with 64 699 employees (a mere 22% of the country's work force) - by generating 2.25 billion denars, roughly 50% of overall economic revenues. This slightly more optimistic picture is being complemented by the fact that losses generated by these businesses equal only one-fifth of overall economic losses. If all economic laws are monitored, this increased contribution to overall economic revenues - in contrast to the total profit - and the number of employees undoubtedly confirms that in some cases of transformed companies the objective of increased efficiency has already been achieved. The private sector is also advancing considerably. The number of such companies submitting final balance sheets has increased by 2 456 last year, to the total of 32 695. At the same time this sector has also been characterized by an employment boom (by 27.6%). Though private entrepreneurship remains dominant in the trade sector, the Institute has registered positive trends in production as well. The progression of financial results in such companies has clearly been affected by the constant rise in the number of legal entities. It is, however, also a fact that this sector has been marked by a considerably higher contribution to the overall economy - in comparison to the number of employees and invested capital. Thus a total of 113.8 billion denars (35.5%) of overall economic revenues have been generated by private companies. This reflects an intensive increase, and a percentage of 29.1% of the GDP. A rise has also been noticed with respect to losses, although the valid percentage there totals 16.5%. The summarizing of all this data with respect to privatized and private businesses indicates that they `de facto' dominate the economic scene in terms of profitability. This has to be attributed to increased cost-efficiency, in comparison to other companies. `Unpaid Household Employee' The labour force market is one of the domains of Macedonian reality subject to particularly dynamic changes. The fast transformation of regulations affecting this market have entailed a considerable amount of restructuring of the work force. Analyses of the latter (a survey conducted last year by the State Statistic Office) reveal substantial changes in the (un-)employment policy, marked by the continuous increase of self-employment and the role of the private sector in creating new jobs. One of the major changes, nevertheless, remains the huge rise in unemployment. Conducted research reveals that the activity coefficient (portion of the labour force falling off to inhabitants over the age of 15) amounts to 55.05%; the employment (within the same segment of the population) coefficient to 37.63% and the unemployment coefficient (portion of employed within labour force) to 31.65%. The highest activity coefficient of 81.11% has been observed within the age group between 35 to 39 years; the highest employment coefficient of 67. 45% within the age group between 40 to 44 years and the highest unemployment coefficient of 69.35% within the age group between 15 and 24 years. Based on data obtained April `96, the country's work force was being comprised of 780 419 employees. Of these - according to economic activity - 533 441 are employed and 246 978 are out of a job. This means that the share of employed workers within the overall labour force totals 68. 35%, while those unemployed constitute 31.65%. The high percentage of the people capable of work but outside the labour force indicates how strongly felt transitional change is felt by this part of the population. Within the latter up to 79.7% are either without an education, unskilled, semi-skilled, skilled or highly skilled workers. What is however particularly interesting, is the fact that this survey provides the first detailed insight into the economic status of employees. Analysts of market structure changes and the labour market are also registering the significance of the results generated by the share of 11.24% self-employed and by the 7.03% of unpaid household workers. In concrete numbers this would mean that of the total 553 441 employees in this country 420 441 do possess the economic status of an employee, 15 529 function as employers and 59 988 are working as `free-lance' personnel and 37 482 as `unpaid household employees'. (end)mils news 22 April 1997Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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