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MILS: News from the FYROM, 97-07-23Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>CONTENTS
MILS SUPPLEMENTMILS NEWSSkopje, 23 July, 1997[01] AMERICAN SUPPORT FOR MACEDONIA EXPRESSED ONCE MOREThis state is a vary important source of regional stability which will be continually supported by the USA, stated the American ambassador from the UN, Bill Richardson during his day-long visit to Macedonia yesterday. After the talks with the president of the Republic of Macedonian, Kiro Gligorov, PM Branko Crvenkovski and Foreign Secretary, Blagoj Handziski, ambassador Richardson stated that these talks in Skopje present a sequel and furthering of the dialogue which had commenced during Gligorov's visit to Washington on 17 June.Assessing that in Europe a deep and positive change is taking place that has recently begun in Madrid and Brussels, Richardson underlined that Macedonia is part of that process particularly with its activities for integration with the west economic and security institutions. The USA wish success to the economic and democratic prosperity of Macedonia which will thus support the prosperity in the whole region, stressed ambassador Richardson. According to Minister Handziski during the visit they exchanged opinions regarding collaboration between the two states within the frameworks of the collective defense systems, regarding the Madrid declaration, the UN reforms, the prolongation of the UNPREDEP mandate, the transformation and enlargement of the Alliance, as well as the aspirations of the Macedonian Republic to become member of the NATO. On the Macedonian part once more the pledge to fulfill the minimum criteria for membership in the Alliance in the second wave of enlargement 1999 year was reaffirmed. According to Minister Handziski the American side in the talks gave firm support to the Macedonian foreign and domestic politics, i.e. to the endeavors for democracy in the state, the law governing, the market economy and Macedonia's contribution in peace and stability maintenance in the region. [02] PETROL RETAIL PRICE REMAINS UNCHANGED, TAXES ARE DEDUCEDThe retail price of the oil derivatives will not be increased, but on its account the taxes will be deduced, and the residue will be accounted in the refinery price, this was decided upon at yesterday's session of the Government. According to the spokesman of the Government, Zoran Ivanov, although the oil is under a direct strike of the recent denar devaluation its retail price will not be increased, and the taxes will be deduced for 2 denars per liter super petrol so that the existing refinery price of 10,78 denars will be increased. The purpose of this decision made by the government cabinet, according to spokesman Ivanov is to hinder the speculative character of the price increase for certain products that have no objective reasons to become more expensive.As it has been concluded at the session, in this direction it may happen the Government to intervene in certain products which on the basis of monopoly dictate the market price. According to Ivanov, this will particularly refer to producers who are trying to use the psychological pressure of the denar devaluation to increase the prices of their products. [03] FINAL PHASE OF MACEDONIAN BANKS REHABILITATIONThe Macedonian Government has concluded the negotiations with the foreign creditors for regulating the obligations towards the Paris and Zurich Club of Trustees and now negotiations on loans granted from 30 March 1992 are underway. A-1 TV reports, by completing this process the process of rehabilitation of the banks in Macedonian goes through its final phase. In this context the government has suggested a bill according to which bank obligations on the grounds of credits will be paid by the Macedonian Republic and the payment of the demands from the final users will be conducted through the Agency for banks rehabilitation. For those credit users (`Feni' from Kavadarci, and the watering system `Strezzevo') who find themselves in difficult financial situation the interest rate will be deduced and will be included into a grace period to pay off the credits for 6 years.According to A-1 Television, the negotiations on purchasing stock deposit in the Skopje `Stopanska banka' from the Austrian Giro-Credit Bank are in the final phase and it is a matter of days when this deal will be signed. During last week's visit to Skopje delegates from the Austrian Bank arranged the final details of the deal which was also approved by the International Finance Corporation and the European Bank being stock holders in the `Stopanska banka'. The Macedonian Government on its latest session announced changes in the contents of the Bill on banks rehabilitation and now a new possibility is open: of early purchase of the `Stopanska banka' bonds on part of the state and thus create conditions for increasing the price of the `Stopanska banka' before selling the stock deposits. The Government also determined the height of the state guarantee for particular investments of the `Stopanska banka' which are not go beyond the limit of 35 million ECU. [04] EUROPEAN BANK INTERESTED IN PRIVATIZATION OF MACEDONIAN TELECOMMUNICATIONSThe European Bank on renewal and development will most probably be the first stock holder in the privatization of the `Macedonian Communications', reports `Nova Makedonija'. At the latest session of the Government the original offer from this international finance institution was examined and in Friday the Minister for Traffic and Connections, Abdulmenaf Bedzeti, is to leave for London so as to have the details established regarding EBRD participation in the Macedonian `TELEKOM'. In May this year EBRD sent an offer to the Macedonian Government that its deposit in `TELEKOM' should be the granted credit of 42,5 million dollars for development of Macedonian telecommunications.In the latest talks with EBRD representatives an investment of new finance means have been offered, i.e. a deposit of 5 - 7% in the `TELEKOM' capital. The `TELEKOM' capital is estimated to be approximately 700 to 800 million dollars and out of this amount the Government plans to make private about 30%, i.e. 200 million dollars. The privatization of the Macedonian telecommunications, as it is planned, will be done through a public tender of international character. [05] IN JANUARY- MAY PERIOD - DEFICIT OF 201 MILLION DOLLARSThe volume of foreign - trade exchange in May this year in Macedonia according to data from the Statistics Institute amounted up to 266 million dollars and was larger than the one from the previous month for 16,6%. In May 111 million worth of goods were imported from our state (18% more that the previous month), and a worth of 154 million were imported. (increase of 15, 6% in relation to the previous month). In the January - May period this year the total import- export transactions of the Macedonian businessmen were the worth of 1,1 billion dollars which according to the statistics presents an increase for 4,5% in comparison to the same period last year. `Nova Makedonija' reports, in this period 470 million dollars have been realized out of export which in comparison to last year is an increase for 2,6%, while the import amounted to 672 dollars and presents an increase of 5,9%.According to estimations from the Statistics Institute in the January-May period the import was covered by the export with 70%, i.e. a deficit of 201 million dollars has been noticed.[06] ROBBED CLIENTS ANNOUNCE INTERNATIONALIZATION OF THE PROBLEMThe Association of clients of the bankrupted savings banks `TAT', `ALFA-S' and `Lavci' has commenced these days an action to internationalize the problem regarding the clients' restitution. Yesterday delegates from this Association were received by the OSCE representative in Macedonia, Helen Santiago Fing, and severe criticism was directed towards the Government because it makes no efforts to resolve the problem and to stop the organized crime in the state.The Macedonian Television reports that the representatives of the Association have announced numerous meetings with foreign missions in the state with the purpose to pressurize the Macedonian Government into justly restitution of the robbed clients. The `Makpres' agency informs, the Association announces that the clients delegates will go to Paris where they will hand to the first people of the IMF the criminal file of the `TAT' owner, Sonja Nikolovska, so as to acquaint them with the problems resulting from the biggest finance scandal in Macedonia. The Clients' Association also directed a letter to President Kiro Gligorov demanding from him to take a stand for a just restitution of the clients and reject the government proposal on restitution. The Association informed that tomorrow in 20:30 h. in Bitola a massive demonstration will take place and will inform on the latest activities. The `TAT' client's Council announced further pressurizing of the Government through demonstrations on the town square in Bitola. The Council assesses that the clients' association has no legitimacy and does not protect the clients' interests, but is in team with the current government. [07] EU COMMUNIQUE REGARDING FLAGS EVENTSYesterday a meeting was held on the topic of Gostivar and Tetovo events of the Macedonian Foreign Secretary, Blagoj Handziski and the British Minister in Macedonia, Mark Dickinson who represented the attitude of the European Union. As it was underlined yesterday by the Government spokesman, Zoran Ivanov, Minister Handziski was handed over a communiqu‚ consisting of 10 items, and the Ministry had been asked not to announce anything in the public until the PDP and the DPA presidents are acquainted with the communiqu‚. A-1 TV quoting sources of the European Commission in Brussels yesterday reported that the EU in the communiqu‚ gives support to the Macedonian Government, upholding the Bill on use of minority flags.This Bill according the EU is a result of the compromise regarding minority interests. By this the Macedonian Government and the political parties of the Albanians in Macedonia are called to adhere the Constitution, the laws and legal state. The Union once more calls on continuation of the dialogue mediated by the OSCE and the High Commissar for national minorities, Max Van Der Stoel. Citing indications that authorizations have been violated by the police during their intervention, the Union, so as to clarify this information, in the communiqu‚ to the Macedonian government demands a detailed report of the events in Gostivar. According to the Government spokesman, Zoran Ivanov, for today a Government session is scheduled and it is to have only one item on the agenda - the information of the Interior Ministry regarding the Gostivar and Tetovo events, but this tine it will be completed with explanations based on the notes of the Albanian ministers. After this the 5 Albanian ministers from the Government ( who last Monday left the session dissatisfied with the original information of the IM) will decide on the future participation in the Government. [08] DPA DEMANDS HELP FROM EU ON COMPLETING ALBANIAN-MACEDONIAN DIALOGUEThe President of the Democratic Party of the Albanians, Arben Dzaferi, yesterday demanded help from the EU on completing the Albanian-Macedonian dialogue. At the meeting with Dzaferi had with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs in Luxembourg with the secretary of the political department, Dzaferi, according to radio Tirana demanded from Luxembourg and the EU to pressurize the Macedonian Government. The Leader of the DPA underlined that the situation in Macedonia may become more complicated and grow into an armed conflict. In relation of the Gostivar and Tetovo events Dzaferi estimated that they happened as a result of the `neo-colonial politics of Serbia and Macedonia towards the Albanians in the regions of the former Yugoslavia.' According to Dzaferi, immediately after the events in Gostivar and Tetovo and in `the other Albanian towns in Macedonia', the Belgrade regime started by the arrests in Sandzak all which leads to a conclusion that nothing is accidental. `Dnevnik' reports, Radio Tirana announced that a representative of the Foreign Ministry in Luxembourg promised that the EU will take measures for overcoming the crisis and that the Albanian demands will be delivered to the Luxembourg Government and the EU Ministry Council.[09] FLAGS REMOVED IN LAST THREE MUNICIPALITIESIn the last 3 municipalities in Macedonia , Oslomej, Zajas and Tearce yesterday were removed the flags of the Albanian nationality which had been illegally placed , reports the Macedonian Television. The flags in front of the buildings of the townships were removed by unknown doers early in the morning, and there is no official attitude regarding this from the township councils. According to information from the MTV the situation in the three municipalities is peaceful and there are no indications for possible incidents of violation of the public peace and order.[10] LDP - PM CRVENKOVSKI INCAPABLE TO DEAL WITH THE `OCTOPUS'Four months have passed since PM Branko Crvenkovski has announced a hunt for the `octopus' and battle against organized crime but there are no actual results, stated the spokesman of the Liberal Democratic party, Jovan Manasievski at yesterday's press conference. Assessing that Crvenkovski's announcement presents only a bluff, Manasievski underlined that in this period serious proofs that structures very close to the Prime Minister have been involved in crime and corruption were revealed in the public, yet nothing has been undertaken to reveal those structures. The LDP considers that the PM is neither capable to ask for political responsibility of the people in his party involved in the `TAT' finance scandal nor is he able to publicly cut himself off of these people.Spokesman Manasievski in this context as an example point out the mayor of Bitola ,Siljan Micevski. At yesterday's press conference Manasievski announced that the LDP will demand from the Constitutional Court re-examination of the Government decision that citizens should pay tax when entering or exiting the state. Manasievski called anti-reforming the latest government measures regarding the salaries, the selling of the City Trade centre in Skopje and the latest decision according to which the citizens are obliged to pay taxes for entering and leaving the state, and also underlined that all this is a part of the strategy of the SDSM to fill the funds for the following election campaign. MILS SUPPLEMENT[11] `Either Denationalization or no Credits from the World Bank'(`Dnevnik', 21 July, 1997)The Macedonian Government will not be able to draw the next credit installment from the SAL-arrangement as well as other credit lines with the World Bank unless it suggests the Assembly adoption of the Bill on denationalization. According to the president of the Association for Denationalization, Vasiliki Vikentievikj, this was announced by the chief of the World Bank Mission in Macedonia, Elen Goldstein, at their meeting on the 1st July. World bank officials say that the meeting with Vikentievikj the attitude of the chief of the Mission, Goldstein, was clear and definite: `the bill is one of the prerequisites for drawing the second installment from the SAL-arrangement'. From the Association for denationalization they say that after this last meeting with the chief of the World Bank Mission , Elen Goldstein, they are prepared to wait for the government promises to adopt the Bill before the drawing of the next installment of the SAL-arrangement. If the Bill is not passed by that time the association announces taking steps for a more detailed presentation before the international finance institutions, the WB and the IMF. In the World bank they say that at the last meeting with the president of the Association for Denationalization, Vasiliki Vikentievikj, it has been concluded that the passing of a Bill on denationalization presents a firm prerequisite on drawing the second installment of the SAL-arrangement, which should be conducted by 31 March 1998. The Macedonian Government has delayed for several times in front of the WB the Bill on denationalization which presented a prerequisite for gaining the installments of the credit arrangements with this international finance institution. This project was delayed by the Government before withdrawing the second installment of the FESAC- arrangement. Last year it arranged with the World bank the denationalization in Macedonian to be the condition for drawing the first installment amounting up to 39 million dollars from the SAL-arrangement out of the total sum of 60 million dollars. This did not come about so the denationalization was postponed once more but this time it was set as a prerequisite for withdrawal of the second installment which should happen by the end of March 1998. According to information from the daily `Dnevnik', the Government has already a version of the drift-Bill on denationalization, and as we find out, a special government commission is working on its preparation. In the meantime, the ministers from the parliamentary pulpit have been posing one question to the Finance Minister, Taki Fiti, : When will the Assembly be presented with this Bill on denationalization so as to examine it. The latest minister's answer was that `the Bill will enter an assembly procedure in May'. On the other hand, the Government with its macro-economic policy for 1997 has planned to prepare the Bill on denationalization in the first half of this year which means that all promised time terms are running out this month. In the mean time, in March and April last year the Government conducted a poll in which the former owners of nationalized property were supposed to sign up their demands on these grounds. After the conducted poll government sources announced that the denationalization would cost the state approximately 1,5 million dollars and this was strongly opposed by representatives of the Denationalization Association. In the Association they say that the sum had been `blown up' and that it presents an attempt of certain influential circles in the Government to present the denationalization as an `expensive and dangerous step for the state' so as to postpone it for a longer period of time. According some people well aquatinted with this case, the state for the `denationalization' project should set aside only some hundreds of million dollars. (end)mils news 23 July, 1997Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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