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MILS: News from the FYROM, 97-08-18Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>CONTENTS
MILS NEWSSkopje, 18 August, 1997[01] `OVERLORD' THE ALBANIAN WAY.German paper `Die Welt' published a report by its Balkan correspondent Karl Gustav Stroehm on 17th August according to which `the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is once again facing the threat of destabilization, a threat originating from its immediate surrounding.' Stroehm further depicts that `night after night hundreds of Albanians are crossing the border, and as the west of the country is inhabitated by Albanians with Macedonian citizenship their accommodation and settlement is guaranteed. There are more than 30 000 Albanian illegal immigrants throughout the region covering the cities Tetovo, Gostivar and Debar alone. Each day the Macedonian Ministry of the Interior discovers hundreds of them and sends them back across the border into their home-country. It resembles the lot of good old Syzyphus. One law enforcement employee compared it to hunting down flies with a fishing-rod. Many of those extradited cross the border again, several hundreds of meters further on.'Stroehm dwells on their being armed and the potential this creates for the erupting of violence, while resorting to the incident near Drenak where fire was opened on Macedonian border patrol troops to enable a group of Albanians to cross the border. `These illegal immigrants may be divided into two groups', the journalist claims, `those who are trying to earn a living in the country or any other state in the west to ensure the survival of their families in Albania. These are most often young people who are willing to take on any kind of work - whereas the 2nd category consists of arms dealers, cigarette smugglers and drug dealers. These are the ones willing to use force. Conditions of this sort only worsen the tensed situation regarding the Albanian minority in Macedonia as many Macedonians fear being overrun by the wave of Albanian refugees!. Other difficulties arise at the northern border of the country where large numbers of Romanians arrive from Serbia on their way to Greece. The Macedonian-Bulgarian border is frequented by young females from the Ukraine who are making a living in Macedonia's night clubs by exercising `the oldest trade in the world.'.Macedonia endeavours to at least control its borders better, as it is impossible to halt the inflow of illegal immigrants entirely.' concludes Stroehm. NB.: Concordant to MOD data a total of 106 incidents have been registered along the Macedonian-Albanian border between 1st January and 10th August. Of these 60 involved the use of force/weapons by the Albanian side. [02] MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING - PART DEUXAccording to Macedonian weekly `Puls' we undoubtedly have to agree with the proponents of the Employment Relations Act: the fuss caused in connection to them is indeed to much. In a time when a person (should that person be fortunate enough to work for a still functioning business) has to slave away for pay that is being withheld for months, a pay that even when forwarded timely barely meets the existential minimum - in a time when most couples settle for one child or no offspring at all since it is not feasible for them to procure their descendants a `civilized childhood' - in a time when `the end at the light of the tunnel' appears more than difficult to reach and finally in a time when even PAID PRESENCE is a rare phenomenon IT REALLY IS `MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING' TO BE SOBBING OVER THE DECREASE OF PAID LEAVES OF ABSENCE !!![03] THE `PRO-EUROPEAN' ACT OF LAW...on customs duties turned out to be a genuine enigma i.e. its most recent term for discussion by the Gvt. had to be postponed - believe it or not - due to its `pro-European orientation.' The latter, in the opinion of the Gvt. body concerned with the legal sustainability of dept. acts, was too studded with `incomprehensive' international terms for specific professional concepts. Thus the proponent has been ordered to leave to pro-European heights and `touch down' onto the harsh reality of Macedonian conditions. Besides this, numerous objections were addressed to the overly liberal authorizations granted to the Head of the Customs Services HQ and all subsequent higher structures right up to the Gvt.. Thus this act - a prerequisite to the EU admission of Macedonia - had to be reviewed. Our comment: nice try, you linguistic David Copperfields. The Gvt. hopefully has all its dictionaries and encyclopedias at hand, as the discussion of this act has been scheduled for today's session. For data on any possible linguistic arguments, we will have to await the next press release on today's Gvt. session.[04] NEW RANKS, NEW CADENCE, NEW MEMBERS.The Day of the Macedonian Armed Forces, 18th August, and the 5th Anniversary since its establishment is to be celebrated at `Ilinden' barracks today. Political and military figureheads, as well as representatives of the Diplomatic Corps in Macedonia and other dignitaries are to be addressed by the Macedonian Head of State and CINC Kiro Gligorov. Guests will also attend a parade of 11 echelons of all ARM branches using a new cadence. Other novelties (presented to the media by Lazar `Santa' Kitanovski) incl. the introduction of the rank Brig.-Gen. into the ARM as well as the announced intent to admit women into military educational facilities as of the next academic year. Training courses for female NCOs are also on the agenda for the future of the ARM. The monthly weekend `off' is another change which, according to Defence Secretary Kitanovski, will hopefully underline the civic character of the Armed Forces. Festivities will also be marked by the promotion of candidates into Lt.s and the pledge of the July class of conscripts.[05] EMPLOYMENT IS TO BOLDLY GO WHERE...Employment Agencies have never gone before in Macedonia, in order to bring their function closer to the level of their counterparts in developed economies. Thus it will no longer be a legal prerequisite to advertise vacancies, which puts an end to something which had become a farce anyway, since most vacancy notes were placed after the post had been filled. These measures will, however, be conducive to greater expediency, as employers will - for example - be required to simply register a contract signed with an employee at the Employment Agency.Another option would be the advertising of a vacancy at the latter free of charge, or in the press (should requirements be more specific) at their own expense. New legal provisions also allow the engagement of private employment agencies. One more alternative would be the manning of the vacancy by the Employment Agency with staff listed in their register - also a novelty in Macedonia, according to Agency Director Nikolina Cvetkovska - which is to entered into a PC network soon. Regulations will further make room for a 3-year exemption of paying personal income tax for newly-employed who have been registered for more than a year. Provisions for the public sector, state sector and local-gvt. sector are to remain unaltered for now, however, i.e. only advertised vacancy notes are acceptable. Employment Agencies will therefore obtain a new function: teach unemployed how to find work. To this purpose `work clubs' are being formed throughout the country. In these people will be taught how to present themselves, how to compile their CV and impose their qualities. Old tasks will also be retained, such as the obligation to conduct re- education, provide health care insurance in case of temporary unemployment and the forwarding of unemployment benefits. The latter will be available over a time span of 18 months: at the rate of 50% of one's average income over the last year of employment for the first 12 months, and at the rate of 40% for those using UBs for more than a year. These temporal restrictions will not apply to unemployed with over 25 accrued yrs. of employment who are to receive benefits until their retirement age. [06] `EBRD' NEGOTIATORS TO ARRIVEIn about 10 days a team of EBRD officials are to visit Macedonia to discuss preliminary procedures for the privatization of Macedonian `Telecom.' The nationally-owned enterprise is to be transformed into a public corporation, in concordance to the Commercial Associations Act, thus enabling the company to issue stocks for the market.Based on the views expressed by Transportation and Communications Minister Abdulmenaf Bedzheti this represents a legal option, as the Gvt. would function as the sole shareholder of this corporation. The 2nd condition requires the Gvt. to form an inter-sectoral body in shape of a governing committee which is to supervise the privatization process. This body is to be comprised of representatives from the Ministry of Transportation and Communications and from other stakeholders within the Gvt. (esp. the Ministry of Finance). The EBRD also considers it advisable to establish an independent regulatory structure (outside the Gvt.) which would codify the telecommunications sector. tariff policy, price rates, business practices codes, etc. These are the 3 key terms listed by the EBRD. The Macedonian Gvt. plans to conduct the privatization process in two stages: within the 1st the participation of the EBRD should be secured by the end of 1997, via the purchase of 5 -7% in stocks (40 - 50 million $). During stage two, in 1998, the two shareholders of `Telecom' (the EBRD and the Gvt.) should complete the procedure by offering packages of 30 - 35% in stocks. The strategic partner of `Telecom' is to be determined via a public international tender. The remaining share package (of 60%) will hit the exchange, while the objective of all shareholders will be to achieve the max. price per line. Based upon the number of users and an estimated fixed price per line, the overall value of the corporation has been assessed to app. 900 million $. Of these, 35% (300 - 350 million $) are to go under the hammer, while the first privatization package amounts to 50 million $. The EBRD is at the same time compiling its own estimate and its funds are to be used to increase the market value of `Telecom' prior to choosing the strategic partner. To this purpose the EBRD has already conducted a revision of reports for FY `96, but as at that time telecommunications were still a part of postal services balances will have to be split. The final findings should be due by 30th June 1997. Bedzheti states that this is `the right move' as `market research has revealed an extraordinary favourable rating of our telecommunications.' Therefore also the tremendous interest from `France Telecom', `Deutsche Telecom', ITNG, OTE (Greece), etc. `Whatever the choice may be - it will be governed by figures as currently the global price per user varies between 1 200 and 1 500 US $', Bedzheti states. [07] TELECOMMUNICATIONS: OPTIC FIBER LINKS WITH GREECE SOONThe Macedonian Radio revealed that the process of establishing optic fiber links between Greece and Macedonia is coming to its close. The Head of the Gevgelija Telecommunications Dept. expects the link-up to occur any day. A similar project is also underway via Bitola.[08] MONEY, MONEY, MONEY.....keeps pouring into the starved funds for retirement and disabilities pensions, health care and unemployment. Concordant to data issued by the Payment Flow Institute a total of 583.6 million denars has been forwarded between 1st and 7th August. This accounts for a daily average of 116.7 million denars - an increase in comparison to July's 111 million denars. At the same time companies have parted with 196.7 million denars in personal income tax, thus generating the daily average of 39.3 million denars. Experts expect this pace to pick up even more towards the end of the month (25th August), i.e. towards the close of the deadline of the `70% upon payment in cash' alternative. Initial indicators explicate that since the effectuation of new legal provisions (on 17th July) the sum of 2.6 billion i.e. 3.2 billion denars (counting those of August as well) or 100 million DM have found their way into the social funds. Thus overall revenues as of 1st January till the 1st week of August amount to 16.3 billion denars, incl. forwarded personal income tax.[09] OVER 100 000 BUSINESSES REGISTEREDSo far (up to 30th June) the Register of Organisation Units maintained by the National Statistics Office contains 100 619 businesses. Of these 90.3% have been registered concordant to the Enterprises Act, 1.7% fall off to Commercial Associations and then again 73.5% of these have one person registered. The remainder is comprised of other categories. In 96.3% of all cases domestic capital has been the foundation to establish an enterprise. Only 2.4% represent joint ventures while international capital had a role in 1.3% of all cases.In terms of ownership, the private sector is leading with 88.2%, followed by national (8.8%), joint ventures (1.5%) and cooperatives (1.4%). State ownership emerges with a percentage of 0.1%. Most of these businesses (55.8%) are engaged in trade, while the runner-up slot is occupied by industry and mining (9%), followed by financial and business services (5.4%). The Payment Flow Institute reveals that 62.3% of all businesses are holders of giro-accounts, but of these only 98.1% are active. The Privatization Agency disclosed that the transformation of nationally-owned enterprises had been completed in 1 012 cases, but of these only an insignificant number (313) has been registered so far. [10] `TAT' BANKING SCANDAL: CLAIMS TRICKLING INOf a total of app. 10 000 restitution claims only 2 000 have been lodged so far, in spite of the option to pay the 600- denar court fee later on and public appeals by Elementary Court Chairman Aleksandar Prchevski and the Clients' Associations. The latter have increased the intensity of submitting claims towards the end of last week it appears and the Clients' Associations, in their endeavour to prevent somebody's profiting from inappropriately filled in claims, has opened three information points throughout Bitola. Clients and other creditors of the `TAT' bank also may send their documents to the Liquidation Court (Elementary Court - Bitola) via mail.[11] SATISFACTORY HARVEST - PURCHASE SLOWIt is being estimated that this year's harvest, esp. with regards to wheat, will amount to around 320 000 t, which is 40 000 t more than has been expected initially after all hardship incurred by the weather (heat in June). Last year the harvest of app. 112 000 hectares (compared to this year's 120 425) amounted to less, but then again in 1995 the 1997 harvest falls short by about 62 000 t. `This year it occurred that in some regions of the `Ovche Pole' there was nothing to reap but straw, and at `Pelagonija' even up to 8 t per hectare were the average in the past', states Ministry Advisor Vera Demirova. `This year's average totalled app. 2 580 kg per hectare compared to 2 200 kg in 1996. Had the weather been better we may have reached up to 3 200 kg per hectare.It is being speculated that app. 150 000 t are to be purchased (so fare 110 000 have been offered and accepted). Of these around 80 000 t have been produced within the state sector, while the smallest portion has been provided by individual farmers though their production capacity is larger. Mills are paying for purchased crop rightaway, and state buyers within 2 to 3 months. If one bears in mind that the commercial needs of flour and bread total from 300 to 305 000 t, the question is: where does one get another 150 000 t ? The answer to this, in the opinion of National Stock Reserves Director (within the Ministry of Agriculture) Tomislav Filipovski is to be seen in the purchase of 35 000 additional tons. So far the offer has been less than satisfactory, in spite of the fact that funds have been procured. Thus only 16 000 t have been bought so far. Maybe farmers are hoping for more favourable terms, as it is the case in Serbia. The Gvt. however considers that bread prices are not be raised and once domestic crops are processed, imports will have to make sure that no lack of either bread or flour is felt in the country. [12] THE NATIONAL STRATEGY ON THE LONG-TERM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA: THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR - PART 11..By restructuring dairy facilities it will become possible to accept and process all offered amounts of milk. Processing methods should entail introduction of new high quality product ranges and corresponding packaging to meet the requirements of domestic and international markets. Part of the facilitates within the meat processing sector has to be restructured for the production of different produce, as resource may not be obtained. Restructuring further appears to be necessary in the case of export oriented businesses, in order to master the production of new produce intended for the market.In order to achieve the rational utilization of poultry farms, investing into state-of-the-art facilities and multipurpose livestock pounds is prerequisite. By the 2002 the restructuring and upgrading of beverage production facilities should entail production stabilization characterized by the prevailing of high quality. Wine production, particularly when export oriented, should be achieved via creating exquisite wines and their bottling into containers of contemporary design. Upgrading and reconstructing tobacco processing facilities should concentrate on maintaining production, on enlarging the range of products corresponding to demands of the local and particularly the international markets. Development in this industrial branch is directed towards establishing international cooperation in terms of technical equipment, technology and marketing. The Development of Small and Medium Size Businesses... In terms of quantity, variety, diversity and efficiency small and medium size businesses have become a key element in the fortification of national economy and development. These businesses will develop in all aspect where production organisation of the market requires compact, highly productive organisation structures which quickly adapt to market needs. This particularly applies suppliers of parts and half finished products catering for major enterprises on a cooperative basis during the completion of small series and product lines meeting specific requirements. The privatization and restructuring process in large enterprises will be achieved by advancing labour structuring conducive to the efficient utilization of production factors. Such standards will entail the forming of small profitable businesses where the structuring of the production process should require this. This is to be complemented by contractor relations among large and small businesses in order to obtain an ideal structure of activities. Small and medium size businesses are to emerge and operate in all branches of the industrial sector, and in some sector they will function as the main agents in expediting development. It is being estimated that the more intense development of small and medium size business will be implemented in electro industry. Global Trends in Sustaining Production Putting a halt to the downward trend in terms of production, and the revival and expediting of its growth is to be supported by system solution and economic policy measures. Throughout stage one until 2002, production in the industrial sector is to be further sustained by: completing the process of ownership transformation; the advancing of organisation and governance; encouraging subcontractor enterprises to increase their network with small and medium size businesses upon promoting joint ventures in the fields of production, marketing, product placement and export; the introducing of new varieties of high quality products concordat to market demands; the adaptation of the educational process and training of personnel in compliance and governance; the promoting of opportunities and capacities of domestic production in several countries and regions throughout the world; securing international capital via granting concessions; the furthering of trade and cooperation with EU member states and other economic associations in the world; allocating international loans to provide support to facilitates which are to generate hard currency funds to return annuities. UNIDO - United Nations Industrial Development Organization: Post-Conflict Reconstruction Strategies, June 1995. System solutions and economic policy measures are being analyzed more elaborately in other segments of this study. (to be continued...)mils news 18 August, 1997Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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