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MILS: News from the FYROM, 97-06-10Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>CONTENTS
MILS SUPPLEMENTMILS NEWSSkopje, 10 June, 1997[01] DECLARATION ON FURTHERING CHINESE-MACEDONIAN RELATIONSMacedonian Head of state Kiro Gligorov started his visit to China yesterday. The President's stay in China, which is to last several days, has started with his being received by President Xhian Che-Ming. MTV reports that talks had yielded a joint declaration in which mutual content with bilateral cooperation had been expressed - as well as the wish for their furthering.Media coverage from Beijing confirm that the Macedonian side had stated that there was a China to which Taiwan belonged quite naturally; a country that not only plays a positive role in Asia but in the whole world. The Chinese President is reported to denoted the peaceful domestic and foreign policy of Macedonia very highly, while expressing support to Macedonia's endeavour to become a part of European integration procedures - and its candidacy for temporary UN Security Council membership. In Beijing representatives of both states signed several treaties of particular relevance to bilateral relations yesterday; such as the Agreement on Investment Protection, the Agreement on Evading Double Taxation as well as treaties on the implementation of economic and cultural cooperation. Besides this the visit of President Gligorov and a Macedonian Delegation generated considerable media publicity (e.g. among leading papers as `Xhenemin Xhibao' and `China Daily'). Today President Gligorov is to meet journalists of China's two major TV broadcasting corporations and the reporters of two news agencies. In addition to this the Macedonian Delegation is to visit the Shang-Si province. [02] FOREIGN SECRETARY HANDZHISKI: `CONCRETE STEPS TOWARDS REGIONAL STABILITY'The Foreign Secretaries of seven Balkan states - including Macedonia - have commenced debates on relations to their neighbouring states and on cooperation among SE countries. This Meeting is also being attended by high- ranking officials from the EU, the Russian Federation, the US and many other countries and international organisations. The opening speech of the host, Greek Head of Diplomacy Theodoros Pangalos was followed by an address of Macedonian Foreign Secretary Blagoj Handzhiski. On this occasion the latter laid out the basic components of Macedonia's foreign policy, especially with respect to its Euro-Atlantic orientation. While welcoming numerous initiatives and the exhibited goodwill to contribute to the overcoming of various issues for the sake of good neighbourliness, the establishing of trust, stability and safety in the region - Foreign Secretary Handzhiski stressed the necessity for many concrete steps to create conditions conducive to the implementation of the Thessaloniki Declaration, a document which is to be adopted towards the close of this Ministerial Meeting.The Macedonian Radio reveals that the Head of the Macedonian Diplomacy has also been received by Greek Foreign Secretary Theodoros Pangalos. Both statesmen had assessed that the name-issue should be no hindrance to the development of relations of good neghbourliness. In this context Pangalos underlined the interest of Greek businessmen in investing into Macedonia's banking system, into the construction of the motorway section between Tetovo and Skopje or the link between Gevgelija and Demir Kapija. This Monday Handzhiski has also met his Bulgarian counterpart Nadezhda Mihaylova. Talks indicated that both sides are in favour of a speedy addressing of the language- issue, whose resolving would facilitate the ratification of 22 bilateral treaties. Another bilateral meeting involved Russian Under-Foreign Secretary Nikolay Aphanasievski, with conditions in Albania, Bosnia & Herzegovina and Kosovo emerging as the main thematic focus. [03] LDP: `THESSALONIKI MEETING - THE BEGINNING OF BALKAN EUROPEANIZATION'The LDP is hopes that the genuine Europeanization process in the Balkans has been commenced by the Ministerial Meeting at Thessaloniki, bringing together the Foreign Secretaries of seven Balkan countries. The region is still being governed by dark forces, as is the case with, for example, the Eastern neighbour of Macedonia which glorifies the most painful period of Macedonian history - or the OCS (Orthodox Church of Serbia) which has once again proclaimed Macedonia an administrative zone. Due to this - stressed LDP leader Petar Goshev at a press conference yesterday - the Thessaloniki Meeting is to yield numerous projects conducive to the increasing of political stability and safety in the region; projects which are to attract international investments into the region and increase the openness of borders and their relativization.[04] MACEDONIA TO ATTEND `PFP' EXERCISE AT THE USAs of today until 4th July the military exercise `Cooperative Nugget `97' is to be held at Fort Paul, Louisiana. Apart from troops of the host- country and NATO member-states Belgium, Canada and Turkey - the exercise is also to be attended by `PFP' Programme member-states, including Macedonia. Our country is to deploy an infantry platoon of professional troops, as well as representatives to attend the staff officers' programme and the information centre activities.The Macedonian Radio reveals that it is the objective of this exercise to increase cooperation among NATO and `PFP' member-states through the conducting of combined military and humanitarian operations. [05] `NBM' MEMBER OF INTERNATIONAL CLEARING BANK OF BASELThis Monday the NBM became the 44th member of the International Clearing Bank of Basel. NBM sources reveal that this represented a huge recognition to Macedonia's general and economic policy implemented by Macedonia since obtaining its independence. By being admitted to the International Clearing Bank, the NBM increased the rating of the overall financial system in the country - at the same time encouraging cooperation among business banks and the influx of foreign capital into Macedonia. The newly-granted membership in this institution - along with the Central Banks of Slovenia and Croatia - is to facilitate the division of gold and hard currency reserves of the former Yugoslav Federation deposited at this bank and estimated to amount to app. 550 million dollars, sources reveal. According to MTV there is a total of 182 central banks which are members of the IMF - whereas merely one fourth of this number is covered by the International Clearing Bank of Basel. This adds even more weight to Macedonia's membership.[06] NEW INITIATIVES TO ATTRACT INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENTSAmong other things, yesterday's Government session also focused on the package of new measures affecting the privatization process, which are expected to attract new international investments over a short period of time. In this context the general terms of selling business premises of the City Shopping Centre have been determined; the Ministry of Transport and Communications has been entrusted with the compiling of a detailed strategy on the privatization of telecommunications in Macedonia - and a study needs to be completed on how to initiate procedures to obtain concessions by international investors for the construction of the motorway sections from Gradsko to Gevgelija and from Skopje to Tetovo. At the same time the Government adopted the Programme on the Privatization of State Capital of Enterprises from June to December 1997. This document had been proposed by the Ministry of Finance, the Agency for the Transformation of National Capital and the Bank Sanation Agency. Session records reveal that the draft-bill proposing the entering of the `SAL' Arrangement had also been adopted by the Government. This 44.4 million dollar loan granted to Macedonia by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development is termed with a five-year-grace period and 20 years to repay it. Another loan of this institution (worth 30 million dollars) - for which another draft-bill has been proposed - is to be returned over 35, with a 10-year grace period and no interest rates. Concordant to outlined legal provisions these funds are to be used to conduct structural reforms in the domains of macro-economic governance, trade policy, agricultural policy and privatization. In order to overcome problems created through domestic debts in the business sector and internal payment flow - the Government passed a decision declaring the clearing of all dues compulsory, known as the `Multilateral Compensation Resolution'. The Government further concluded yesterday, on grounds of the previously passed decision to close duty-free shops, that Budget revenues from tobacco tax have increased by 50% and that cigarette smuggling has been virtually neutralized. To this purpose the Government passed new guidelines on supply regimes for duty-free shops, which will practically terminate all possible options to sell this kind of (usually highly-taxed) goods without paying obligatory tax. It has also been agreed yesterday to postpone the debating of the legal provisions outlining the use of flags, the anthem and the seal of the Republic of Macedonia - as well as those on the use of minority flags - for today.[07] PROPOSAL TO WITHDRAW PARLIAMENTARY MANDATE OF ARBEN DZHAFERISUBMITTED TO PARLIAMENTThe Parliamentary Commission on Mandate, Immunity and Professional Issues has adopted the proposal of DPM Member of Parliament Tomislav Stojanovski to withdraw the Parliamentary mandate of PDPA leader Arben Dzhaferi. A-1 TV reports that the proposal is to be forwarded to the Parliament which is to reach a final verdict during its next session on Thursday. This motion is being justified by the fact that Arben Dzhaferi has failed to attend any Parliamentary session for more than two years, while receiving pay for being a Member of the Macedonian Parliament. This represents a violation of the law and the Constitution. According to the Commission this absence due to political motivation - as Dzhaferi denoted it in his written response - may not be considered unjustified or as a basis to withdraw the mandate. The Commission justifies the ratification of this proposal by the fact that two years of boycotting Parliamentary sessions have deprived the electorate of Election Unit No. 73 of Tetovo of their basic right to have their interests represented in this legislative body. The session of this Commission has not been attended by Arben Dzhaferi, though members of the Commission had been assured of his being invited both via a written invitation and a telephone call.[08] `TAT' BANK CLIENTS' COUNCIL: `REFERENDUM TO DETERMINE MODE OFCLIENT RESTITUTION'Representatives of the `TAT' bank clients from Bitola have announced the staging of a referendum to address the restitution of their savings. This proposal has been the result of numerous meetings with the Government which have failed to yield any concrete outcomes - it has been stated during yesterday's press conference. During this referendum citizens are to cast their vote on the options proposed so far: the refunding of 500 DM per month over half a year followed by complete restitution; the refunding of savings without accrued interests and the restitution approach similar to that employed in case of `frozen hard currency assets' i.e. through bonds maturing over a period of ten years. The referendum would start immediately after the meeting scheduled at Bitola on Thursday, via collecting signatures among the public. Clients representatives announced that criminal charges are soon to be pressed against NBM Supervisor Gazmen Kadriu on grounds of a series of violations committed while investigating the `TAT' bank. The Chairmen of the Clients' Association and the Clients' Council, Mende Mladenovski and Ilija Nevenovski respectively, have distanced themselves from any activity conducted by the Clients' Council. Both representatives demanded the dissolving of this body - initially established to coordinate the work of the Council and the Association - denoting it as prone to political campaigning.[09] STRIKE OF JUDICIARY ADMINISTRATION COMMENCES TODAYMTV reports that around 1 200 employees of the judiciary administration and specialized services have announced the commencing of a strike today due to their low income (from 3 000 to 6 000 denars) and unfavourable working conditions.Representatives of the Strike Board have also pointed out that negotiations with the Government had led nowhere so far, which is why they opted for this measure to ensure the fulfillment of their requests. During the strike employees will be at their place of work, refusing to service clients however. Except for urgent cases all legal procedures and court dates are to be postponed - and new cases will not be accepted either. The court personnel supports this strike as there have been implications that they may join the strike... The same has been he case with certain state institutions. [10] `BIG STAR' PRODUCTS TO BE MANUFACTURED AT BOGDANCI SOONThe `Larissa' textile company based at the Greek city of the same name and the municipality of Bogdanci have signed a contract outlining the construction of a textile company in Macedonia - the Macedonian Radio reports. This facility is to employ 230 workers which - it is being stated - would have a considerable impact on the municipality where unemployment is one of the largest problems. The new factory is to produce items of the original `Big Star' and `Star' collections for the markets of Western Europe. Part of the products will also be available in Macedonia.MILS SUPPLEMENT[11] `Commitment to Quality Elections and Economic Development'(`Nova Makedonija' - 9th June 1997)In an interview given for the Macedonian Radio, the PM stated that election laws will not be proposed by the Government and enacted by Parliament, but that they will be the result of inter-partisan negotiations. Speculations that pensions are to be reduced are part of a certain political battle... It is incorrect by `TAT' clients to demand the refunding of interest rates. PM Branko Crvenkovski has recently given a lengthy interview for the radio-broadcast `Spektar' in which he delved into several current political and economic issues in the country. Concerning the preparation of legal provisions on the upcoming parliamentary elections PM Crvenkovski said among other things that this issue would not be handled by the Parliament adopting the Government proposal, i.e. by using an approach where the ruling coalition and the Parliament majority would have the final say. `As the elections in question are to determine the composition of the Parliament', said Crvenkovski, `we consider it necessary and inevitable to involve all political parties upon deciding what election model and what legal framework are to be implemented. This inevitably entails consultation and dialogue in order to make sure that none of those entering the electoral race questions the legitimacy of the upcoming parliamentary elections. They will be required to air their views on which election model appears most suitable for the Republic of Macedonia.' PM Crvenkovski also responded to recent rumours on the reduction of retirement pensions and the `freezing' of pay rates in the public administration sector. He stated that neither topic had ever been discussed during a Government session. In the opinion of Crvenkovski this is part of some sort of political offensive to influence public opinion. `As far as pay in the public administration sector is concerned, this issue has already been regulated . There is a Personal Income Act, which has been passed quite recently, and this act of law is to outline all categories of pay in the future.' In connection to the `TAT' banking scandal the Prime Minister stated that the Government remained committed to the following course: in spite of the fact that there is no legal obligation forcing the state to refund any of the savings as there is no law guaranteeing the safety of savings deposits at savings houses in this country - particularly if those are not members of the Insurance Fund - the Government is nevertheless determined to become involved in addressing this large-scale issue. This is to be achieved by budgetary intervention i.e. the granting of credits for the direct restitution of clients. The view that accrued interest rates should be refunded, too, hardly withstands any rational argument. `In my opinion it should be remembered that those funds contributed by the Government or the state are the funds of two million citizens gathered on various grounds. Thus it is correct to request the restitution of the deposits but that which has not been entered into the balance cannot be refunded', emphasised Branko Crvenkovski. In connection to the `Gostivar case' (the issue generated by the use of flags) PM Crvenkovski said that the rulings of the Constitutional Court were final and executive - which means that everybody upholding the legal state does not have an option to debate and discuss should the upholding of the rule of law be of principal priority. As regards today's Government session Crvenkovski stated that today the main stress would be placed on compiling a draft-bill on the use of the national flag of the Republic of Macedonia, and on the use of minority flags. This proposal will bear in mind the ruling of the Constitutional Court. While once again delving into economic and social issues, as well as into the objective chances to resuscitate economic activities, to generate new funds and increase social security among the population... Branko Crvenkovski once again stressed, among other things, that there always were possibilities as prerequisites which had not been fulfilled earlier on, had been met now. In this context he mentioned the EU Cooperation Agreement, the trade liberalization treaties with FR Yugoslavia, Slovenia and Croatia, etc. while similar arrangements are to be made with neighbouring Bulgaria. This created the opportunity for our products to emerge on far more larger markets than our own. `We consider the negotiations led during the visit of the Croatian PM as particularly important, and I am to visit Belgrade soon in order to discuss an issue of particular interest to us: the normalization of relations between Belgrade and Zagreb, the resuming of railway and motorway connections as these are the shortest routes to Central and West Europe. This is to cut down transportation costs, which have been a burden to our business sector, quite considerably. Another serious domestic issue raised by the PM was the huge amount of domestic debts. In this context he spoke of several measures which are to improve conditions, particularly in such cases where the state is involved. In terms of job creation PM Crvenkovski concluded that financial means are needed to achieve this objective, which is a factor hampering our endeavours. Thus the latter are concentrated on increasing international investments. `Upon analyzing the strategies employed by other SE countries which have achieved far better results in this respect, we have managed to see that the major share of international capital is based on concessions and on investments into the elementary structure or public sector. As we have enacted the Concessions Act quite recently (meantime necessary provisions had been integrated into other bills), we have been given the framework to announce international tenders and grant concessions in certain spheres. In terms of our road network there is already direct interest to build a link with Greece and the section from Tetovo to Skopje on grounds of a concession. The same is the case with the construction of the Chebren dam. As these, however, are large-scale investments - probably among the biggest projects to be implemented in Macedonia in the near future - we have decided to proceed according to international tenders. In order to encourage more international enterprises to enter this venture, and ultimately reduce possibilities of speculation and manipulation, we need to secure transparency in politics', stated PM Branko Crvenkovski. It has been known for some time now that international capital is to be injected in the telecommunications sector. Crvenkovski said that the Government is to go about selecting the main advisor as soon as possible... `In this respect I expect the relatively expedient emerging of international capital. The latter should also be of considerable proportions as this is the public sector. The funds will then be re- distributed and re-allocated to the economic sector directly - or to specific branches where we think that considerable results may be achieved within a short period of time. `It takes operability to complete these undertakings. This - I should say - will provide a new fresh financial injection from outside. Something more than necessary to strengthen and improve industrial production and the GNP on a large scale - and to create new jobs', stated PM Branko Crvenkovski among other things in his interview for `Spektar' a broadcast of the Macedonian National Radio. (end)mils news 10 June 1997Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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