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MILS: News from the FYROM, 97-05-30Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>CONTENTS
MILS SUPPLEMENTMILS NEWSSkopje, 30 May, 1997[01] SIX MORE MONTHS FOR `UNPREDEP'This Wednesday the UN Security Council decided to extend the mandate of `UNPREDEP' for another six months.This is being based on estimates regarding the situation in the region, particularly in Albania, while the motion had been endorsed by Secretary- General Kofi Annan and the Macedonian Government. [02] PRESIDENT GLIGOROV AT 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF `MARSHAL PLAN' IN THE HAGUEUpon invitation of Dutch PM Wim Kock, the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Kiro Gligorov, has arrived in the Hague to attend the marking of the 50th Anniversary of the Marshal Plan (outlining the rendering of US assistance to Europe in the aftermath of WW 2), in the company of about 50 head of states, prime ministers and diplomats from the OSCE member-states.During his stay in the Netherlands President Gligorov also opened the Macedonian Embassy in this country. On this occasion - MTV reports - Gligorov stressed that without a standardization of criteria between Eastern and Western Europe no stability, peace and progress could be expected on the oldest continent. Besides this the Macedonian Head of State has also been received by HM Queen Beatrix. Afterwards he met his Slovenian counterpart Milan Kuchan, and had informal talks with Bulgarian President Petar Stoyanov, Turkish President Suleyman Demirel and Albanian PM Bashkim Fino. In addition to this President Gligorov is also reported to have met with European Commission Chairman Jacques Santerre and Dutch Foreign Secretary Hans Van Mierlo (EU presidency representative). [03] PARLIAMENT TO VOTE ON NEW GOVERNMENT TODAYAs scheduled, the Macedonian Parliament is to debate the Prime Minister's proposed new government, consisting of 11 SDSM ministers, 5 of the PDP and three of the SPM. This amounts to a total of 15 ministers with and 4 without a portfolio. Of these eight are `new entries' and concordant to the Constitution, the Parliament is to either accept or discard the nominees, due to the fact that the PM is altering more than one third of the current Government team. Thus the Parliament is voting on the entire Government, with the provision that at least 61 votes in favour are needed to approve its new line-up. Should this not be the case, the mandate of determining a new Government will be assigned to somebody else.[04] LDP: `OLD/NEW GOVERNMENT - A PRODUCT OF INTERNAL SDSM SHOW-DOWNS'`The old/new Government of PM Crvenkovski is merely a product of a series of show-downs within the SDSM, the first act of a who's-to-blame soap opera leading the country to the verge of general chaos', stated LDP leader Petar Goshev during a press conference yesterday. In his opinion the LDP has no confidence in PM Crvenkovski's most recent attempt to form a Government, since two months ago he received the vote of confidence on the very Government is side-lining at the moment. It was further stressed that seven months ago Crvenkovski was battling the SPM leader for his pro-Yugoslav policy, while they are `the happiest of coalition partners' right now. `Literally until yesterday PM Crvenkovski was claiming that his Government was committed to a reform course, with several ministers representing the most radiant examples of such a commitment. These very ministries are no longer being mentioned in the proposal for the new Government.Instead of this they are being substituted by nominees who have never moved an inch to advance reforms in the country', stated Petar Goshev yesterday. Due to all this the LDP entertains the view that the Prime Minister is only tailoring the Government in order to obscure his own liability as regards the failure of reform implementation. It is not possible that all the teams he had so far were bad, but that he was a good coach... claimed Petar Goshev, while adding that this measure is a smoke screen to hide all other scandals and cases of corruption in Macedonia which may otherwise be unveiled and threaten his personal integrity. In the end Goshev said that at the moment the only solution to this was the resignation of the PM and the forming of an administrative government which would prepare and then eventually conduct early parliamentary elections during this coming autumn. [05] CLIENTS AWAIT MEETING WITH THE PRIME MINISTERMedia report that following the incidents occurring at Bitola two days ago (when `TAT' clients threw stones at several buildings in the city), the situation appeared to have calmed down yesterday. During a press conference the Chairmen of the National Bank Clients' Association and of the Bank Clients' Board, Mende Mladenovski and Ilija Nevenovski respectively, expressed their regrets with respect to such a development of events - occurring after their departure for Skopje. In this context both leaders mentioned that such conduct has never obtained the approval of both the Association and the Board. The motive for it, however, is to be sought in the accrued discontent among the population. There have also been several warnings that an escalation of this kind may occur. While appealing to authorities for the finding of a way to resolve all issues entailed by the `TAT' banking scandal one more time. Mladenovski and Nevenovski announced that both bodies would abstain from any activity till Friday, when they are to meet the PM. It was further stressed that the newly-created Clients' Board may only propose the staging of protests, without actually holding them and letting them escalate to unfathomable dimensions.[06] 12 ARRESTS DURING UNREST AT BITOLAAfter yesterday's protests at Bitola, attended by app. 1 000 citizens which eventually resorted to destructive action (hurling stones at the Municipality building, the Mayor's house, etc.) resulting in the injuring of one policeman and the breaking of several windows. With an appropriate and timely intervention, police managed to put an end to any further outbursts of violence of smaller factions of the assembled masses, who had gone about smashing in the windows of the Nikolovski house, the `TAT' and `TAM' premises, the `Pelister' HQ, the SDSM premises and the residence of MP Jakim Kanovski. Police sources also report the arrest of 12 people of which seven are facing misdemeanor charges (4 of the latter are not even `TAT' clients...). Six of the apprehended dozen have been sentenced to imprisonment.[07] CONSTITUTIONAL COURT: `TWO DAYS TO REMOVE FLAGS AT GOSTIVAR'The Macedonian Radio reports that yesterday the Constitutional Court of Macedonia publicized that the Municipal Council of Gostivar had two more days to notify the local court of the temporary order to remove the flags in front of the Municipality building. It is common knowledge that the Gostivar Municipal Council has forwarded a letter to the Constitutional Court requesting the reviewing and suspending of the ruling till the enactment of a corresponding bill. The Constitutional Court denoted such a reply as insufficient, thus extending a two-day deadline. After its expiring, the Court is to seek assistance from the Government in the implementation of its ruling.[08] MILAN NETKOV THE NEW CHAIRMAN OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURTAs of this Wednesday Milan Netkov has been appointed Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Macedonia - Macedonian media report. This appointment to this office is based on the regular rotation mode, after a mandate of three years and it does not include the right to re- election.[09] COMPLEMENTING POLICE REPORT ON PUBLIC TENDERSThe DA's Office of Skopje has requested the complementing of the Report compiled by the HQ of Crime Investigations within the Ministry of the Interior, with regards to the tender supplies system implemented by this Ministry. The Macedonian Radio reports that written documents, containing the price per item and the terms of payment, have been demanded with respect to the purchasing of 12 APCs . In addition to this, more data is required on all findings outlined in this report - referring to the purchasing of paintings, sculptures, furniture and carpets for the Ministry's guest house; as well as to the procuring of passenger vehicles, horses, official ID documents and their cooperation with the Skopje-based `Institute for the Advancement of Economy'.[10] `STOPANSKA BANKA' CHANGING OWNERSA-1 TV is quoting Government sources upon announcing the visit of the Austrian `Giro Kredit' bank next week. Its representatives are coming to Skopje to wrap up negotiations concerning the purchase of `Stopanska Banka' shares. The same sources reveal that the entire procedure has already been outlined. Thus `Stopanska Banka' is to change owners (the `Giro Kredit' bank and the `International Finance Corporation' i.e. an alliance between the WB and the EBRD) for the nominal value of 45 million DM. In order to obtain the controlling majority of 51% in shares, a total of 22 to 24 million dollars will have to be forwarded by the international partners. A-1 TV further reveals that this ownership change will not entail the issuing of new shares; it is rather to be achieved by purchasing of shares from present shareholders such as `Elektrostopanstvo', `Jugohrom', etc. The entire transaction - it is reported - should be completed within the next two months.[11] `SAL' CREDIT PREREQUISITE: `LIBERALIZATION OF INTERNATIONAL TRADE REGIME'This Wednesday was marked by the arrival of WB Delegation leader Hassan Feyzal to Macedonia, in order to finalize the approval of the `SAL' credit, worth app. 45 million dollars. Concordant to the already outlined agreement between Macedonia and the WB prior to the implementation of this loan, the Macedonian Government committed itself to the meeting of certain standards, especially with respect to international trade. A-1 TV reveals that this includes the lowering of the percentage of predetermined export limits from 16 to 4% of all Macedonian imports.This mean that quotas would only subsist with respect to products of strategic importance. The most relevant item covered by this treaty would be the complete liberalization of oil import and export, and the second priority issue would be the equalling of the price of wheat and tobacco to global standards. [12] GERMAN BANK FOR ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT DUE SOONH.E. Amb. Klaus Schramayer informed the press during his stay at Shtip yesterday, that his country intended to open a bank for economic advancement in this city soon. This banking house is to focus on crediting above all small and efficient enterprises. `Nova Makedonija' is also quoting Ambassador Schramayer upon reporting that an agreement between `AUDI' and the Macedonian Government on the increased cooperation with Macedonian firms and suppliers (which would create new jobs), is to be signed on 11th June.[13] NEW ROUND OF NEGOTIATIONS ON `SAMSUNG' INVESTMENTS INTO `FENIMAK'Yesterday the Korean `Samsung' group entered the second round of negotiations with the Macedonian Government, as regards the possible investing of capital into Kavadarci based `Fenimak' (iron and nickel production facilities).The Macedonian Radio reminded of the fact that the first agreement (expressing the intention to compile a feasibility study in order to determine the possibility of investments) has been signed by both sides three months ago. Meantime considerable interest in purchasing `Fenimak' shares has been exhibited by the German industrial giant `Krupp', during the Crvenkovski visit to Bonn. In this context - and bearing in mind the intensity of contacts - it is expected to receive a clear message by the Korean firm as regards its commitment to invest into `Fenimak'. [14] ONE FOURTH OF MACEDONIAN LABOUR FORCE HAS NOT RECEIVED PAY FORMARCH `97This year a total of 14.5% of Macedonia's labour force has not received any pay for the month of March - based on data released by the National Statistics office yesterday. The average income for this month amounted to 9 041 denars in the economic sector, which means that it has been decreased in comparison to the average pay for February `97 by 0.7%. In addition to this, this figure is higher than the average pay in the non- economic sector by 0.5%.[15] GENERAL STRIKE OF MEDICAL WORKERS ANNOUNCEDThe Trade Union Organisation of Medical Workers urgently requested the determining of the minimum income in this sector, and a meeting with the new Health Minister, while warning that otherwise a general strike would be held.Upon assessing the conditions in the health sector as alarming, Trade Union representatives revealed that the Constitutional Court has nullified several provisions outlined within the Collective Agreement for this branch, thus making the implementation of this treaty impossible. The Trade Union considers the enactment of a new Collective Agreement (by the new Minister who is to assume his duties soon) more than necessary, as it will regulate the minimum-pay issue and provide a standard categorization of income in the entire health sector. It has also been stressed that pay in the health sector is being forwarded with a one-month delay already. The Health Insurance Fund attributed this state of affairs to the irregular influx of means into the Fund. [16] PROTESTS DUE TO ARREST OF MAYOR RADINOVSKI ARE ESCALATING AT VEVCHANIThe arrested Mayor of Vevchani, Vasil Radinovski, has been on a hunger strike at the prison of Ohrid for over a week. Meantime, the everyday gatherings of citizens in front of the court at Struga seem to continue - `Dnevnik' reports, while adding that the citizens of Vevchani also appear to have resorted to a coordinated protest action at 16 30 h each Wednesday, in order to contend the `kidnapping' of their Mayor by `making a mess at utility facilities'... Besides this, the Vevchani Municipal Council decided to proclaim Parliamentary Chairman Tito Petkovski as `persona non grata' as he had been a direct accomplice in the campaign against Vevchani. `Dnevnik' further reports that a poster appeared at Struga yesterday, which showed `Jablanica' Director Blagoja Dejkovski (blamed for the arrest of Mayor Radinovski by the residents of Vevchani) in a familiar format - that of a `wanted' criminal. `Vecher' informs that those gathered in front of the Struga courthouse yesterday were addressed by IMRO-DPMNE leader Ljupcho Georgievski who denoted Radinovski a classic political prisoner, as Vevchani is virtually the only recently-created municipality headed by an opposition mayor, where things ran smoothly since day one.Georgievski called this a vendetta carried out by the Government for not winning the elections at Vevchani. [17] ONE MORE JOURNALIST ATTACKED`Makpress' reports that two days ago another case where a journalist has been harassed occurred at Ohrid. This time the victim is a journalist of `Nova Makedonija' - Dimitar Pejchinovski from Skopje - who received several blows to his face and upper body by Cvetko Matlievski. The latter has some sort of track record with the police for violent behaviour. The offender has not been apprehended so far, while `Nova Makedonija' attributes this incident to the fact that Pejchinovski has covered gang violence at Ohrid in the past.MILS SUPPLEMENT[18] `Two Passports - One Uniform?'(`Vecher' - 28th May 1997)These days the justices of the Constitutional Court have been concerned with yet another issue: the possibility to exclude persons with dual nationality from doing their national service. The quintessential question to be answered here is whether such provisions would not discriminate those obliged to serve in the Macedonian Armed Forces. During its last session the Constitutional Court has not made any precise statement as regards this matter, but rather opted to hold a preparatory session to clarify certain dilemmas. This will then yield a final court ruling. The findings of one of the Justices - appointed as a Rapporteur on this matter - indicate that such provisions within the Law on Defence would not be contrary to the Constitution. It is considered the right of the legislator to determine the forms and modes in which the Defence of the Republic is to be executed. To this purpose he is also in charge of determining the subjects which are to participate in its implementation, and of codifying specific rights and duties of every component. In this sense such a legal solution merely outlines that the national service is not compulsory to those possessing another nationality besides the Macedonian one, should this individual chose not to serve. Therefore it is being considered the law merely introduces a categorization of subjects obliged to engage in the country's defence, without creating inequality, however. There are nevertheless many questions left unanswered, which will have to be addressed in order to arrive at a final court ruling. One example of this would be the following issue: which nationality would be considered principal? Will optional national service be an alternative for those who were born with Macedonian citizenship, and then acquired another one throughout their life? This would indicate that Macedonian citizenship would enjoy priority status (with all the obligations it entails), in comparison to any other nationality. This again raises the question whether these citizens / permanent residents of the Republic of Macedonia should not be subject to adhering to the laws of the country they live in - rather than being treated as nationals of another country (where they would be required serve in the Armed Forces). One more dilemma would revolve around whether these citizens `could be trusted' as they may reveal confidential data they may have access to during their national service. There are also several general questions: would all this violate the Constitutional concept concordant to which national service is an obligation of each citizen? Would joining the reserve or civil defence entail the settling of this due, as active service in the ARM is the vital component of our defence concept? (end)mils news 30 May 1997Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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