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MILS: News from the FYROM, 97-08-19
From: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>
CONTENTS
[01] `KILLING ME SOFTLY' - THE LATEST `UNPREDEP' REPORT BY KOFI ANNAN
[02] DAY OF THE ARMED FORCES: WHAT GLORY.
[03] `BULGARIANS' REFUSE AID
[04] HONORARY CONSUL OF AUSTRALIA TO BE APPOINTED SOON.
[05] GVT. SESSION: NO LI NGUISTIC DIFFICULTIES.
[06] PARLIAMENTARY RECESS
[07] `DPA' TO SIGN COOPERATION TREATY WITH `PDP'
[08] ON THE ROAD AGAIN.
[09] OSMANI AT COURT SOON
[10] `HEPTANON' ARRIVED
[11] FINES FOR VIOLATIONS EXPRESSED IN YU-DINARS
[12] INTERVENTION VIA IMPORT
[13] INUSTRIAL PRODUCT PRICES UP IN JULY
[14] `OLD MAC DONALD.' FACING HARD TIMES
MILS NEWS
Skopje, 19 August, 1997
[01] `KILLING ME SOFTLY' - THE LATEST `UNPREDEP' REPORT BY KOFI ANNAN
While Foreign Secretary Blagoj Handzhiski considers `any alteration of the
UNPREDEP mandate, i.e. the proposed reduction of the forces component and a
strengthening of the civilian structures unacceptable' - and some state
officials feel they got a rough deal by having the inter-ethnic situation
illustrated by events at Gostivar only - the public is left to its own
devices i.e. to a silent wondering at all recent occurrences. If one delves
into the report and the customary attitude exhibited by our Gvt., the
following conclusions impose themselves: our political leadership is as
proud as ever for `preserving the peace' in the past, but international
forces have been necessary to do so and the Report by the UN
Secretary-General somehow conveys the impression that at present interior
threats seem to endanger stability far more than any regional turmoil.
Next question: to what extent will a future altered mandate of `UN-
whatever' delve into the internal policy of the country? According to
IMRO-DPMNE leader Ljupcho Georgievski this has already been the case, as
the deployment has been one of the `borrowed feathers' to the Gvt. cap. LDP
leader Stojan Andov gives a similar account of the impact UNPREDEP has had
on the country's economic and diplomatic rating, as the presence of such
forces always triggers of the `political instability' alert with
international investors - and maybe Macedonia felt most suitable for
temporary membership within the UN Security Council due to the fact that it
was being secured by UN troops.
These impressions are being seconded by the EU Demarche on events in
Gostivar and the Report on Human Rights in Macedonia by E. Rehn - in spite
of the fact that both documents do have their shortcomings. The DPA
considers the Report encouraging and agrees with other opposition parties
in at least one aspect: the Gvt. has used up all brownie points with the
international community. Therefore the well-deserved but yet gift-wrapped
slap to our face, indicating that we are no longer capable to keep the
peace in our own home. Have we ever been.?
[02] DAY OF THE ARMED FORCES: WHAT GLORY.
..and joy to hear that `this day is of tremendous importance to all of us
dedicated to the establishing of Armed Forces, as well as to those who
alertly and conscientiously guard the borders of the Republic of
Macedonia', from Defence Secretary Lazo Kitanovski, and then to hear/see
President Gligorov give one of his heart-warming speeches on civic
democracies, cooperation, peace, etc. As ardent readers of Arthur Clarke
there was only one thing to make one marvel: if Slovenia needs 150 million
$ a year to transform its forces into a structure compatible with NATO
forces (according to Ljubljana-based `Vecher' journalist Petar Janchich),
how did we manage to achieve NATO inter- operability? Then, in a story for
`War Report' E. Fraenkel (`Search for Common Ground' - MK) mentions that
even non- member states like Albania and Lithuania participate in SFOR and
we are being given an ode on our peacekeeping capacities. But maybe
President Gligorov does not read this publication. Whatever, the case may
be, the Armed Forces need all the well-wishing they can get - as so many
things in our country: they've got a long way to go.
[03] `BULGARIANS' REFUSE AID
This IS NOT another Greek credit being refused by Sofia, but a shipment of
Humanitarian Aid being sent back by the `Bulgarian brethren' - as President
Stoyanov addressed them - from Mala Prespa and Golo Brdo in Albania. To add
insult to injury, the justification employed was that those for whom this
Aid had been intended declared themselves to be Macedonians (in an
accompanying letter by the Association of Macedonians in Albania `Prespa'),
using the Macedonian language in their own schools - and not Bulgarians. So
much for gratitude in these present times.
[04] HONORARY CONSUL OF AUSTRALIA TO BE APPOINTED SOON.
`Makfax' reports that the Australian Gvt. will soon appoint an Honorary
Consul for Macedonia (prime candidate: `Motiva' CEO and Chairman of the
Australian-Macedonian Society Zoran Kostovski) and a new Ambassador to
Belgrade who will also cover Macedonia.
[05] GVT. SESSION: NO LI NGUISTIC DIFFICULTIES.
..obscured or postponed the discussion of the draft-bill on customs duties
yesterday. Thus the Cabinet (headed by PM Crvenkovski) determined the
provisions which set down the rights and obligations of this service, as
well as its `modus operandi' and its structure. In addition to this the
Gvt. also analyzed the Report on the National Coordinators' Meeting of
`Phare' member-states (held in Brussels towards the end of July),
particularly data on the Seminar of developing fiscal systems in CEE
countries which is due to take place in Skopje on 4th and 5th September,
upon proposal of the Multi-Country Coordination Unit based in
Bratislava. The Gvt. also approved several draft-versions of ratifications
of international treaties and conventions; received a briefing on the
progression of this year's harvest and data on current price rates on
certain products and services. In addition to this the Gvt. decided to
grant a concession for public telecommunications services and determined
the value of fees to be paid for the obtaining of a radio-broadcasting
frequency.
[06] PARLIAMENTARY RECESS
After their annual vacation (yes, MPs are taking one too), the Members of
the Macedonian Parliament are to resume the 74th Session on 27th
August. The Session is to focus on the voting on the draft-bills on energy
resources management, utility services, forestry and on the Ministry of
Interior Report on events at Gostivar and Tetovo. Thus the 75th Session, on
3rd September, is most likely to deal with the interpellation of this
Department's Head, Tomislav Chokrevski, as well as with the amendments and
alterations to the Retirement and Disabilities Pension Act and the nominees
for the post of an Elementary Court judge.
[07] `DPA' TO SIGN COOPERATION TREATY WITH `PDP'
The DPA is currently compiling a document outlining coordinated political
activity with the PDP - and the leaders of both parties (Arben Dzhaferi and
Abduraham Aliti respectively) are soon expected to sign this paper -
according to `Makfax', while quoting DPA sources. PDP HQ have not given any
official confirmation, due to their staff being on leave. DPA
Vice-President Iliyaz Halimi though had advocated such a consolidation at
their party meeting at Struga last Saturday as `divided in two groups'
Albanians in Macedonia `would never be able to present the gravity of the
problems they are being confronted with.' At the same time he also denoted
this the most favourable moment to enter a Macedonian- Albanian dialogue
supported by the international factor.
[08] ON THE ROAD AGAIN.
After Krushevo, the next stop of the `TAT' bank clients is the Swimming
Marathon at Ohrid this weekend. A group of clients is departing for Ohrid
on Saturday, 23rd August, to do some public-awareness raising on their
situation and get a glimpse of President Gligorov, the patron of this
competition. As on the previous occasion, the deceived clients discard
rumours on being incited to this measure by any political party, while
making hardship their true cause.
[09] OSMANI AT COURT SOON
Yesterday the Chairman of the Gostivar Elementary Court, Risto
Angjelkovski, revealed that on 1st September, at 10 00 h Judge Elena Kemeri
is to commence presiding over the trial of Mayor Rufi Osmani and Municipal
Council Chairman Refik Dauti. The Mayor is being charged with violations of
Articles 319 (inciting national, racial and religious hatred, discord and
intolerance) and 377 (neglect to execute a court ruling) of the Penal Code
of the Republic of Macedonia, while Chairman Dauti is being held liable
with regards to Article 377 only. Osmani had been imprisoned for 30 days
following events at Gostivar and Tetovo, and on 8th August this term was
extended for another 60 days - whereas Dauti was released as all grounds
which conditioned his imprisonment were no longer binding.
[10] `HEPTANON' ARRIVED
The Drug Rehabilitation Center at Kisela Voda received a new shipment of
the substitute drug `Heptanon' (Methadone) yesterday. This supply will meet
the needs of 150-160 addicts, while a new shipment of 45 000 dosages from
Croatia (`Pliva' - Zagreb) is expected to arrive on Thursday. The latter
should suffice to maintain therapy over 2 and a half months - according to
the Head of the Health Insurance Fund's Central Storage Facility, Vladimir
Sarafilovski (MA), who added that in the future supplies will be
established in a way to avoid any shortages.
[11] FINES FOR VIOLATIONS EXPRESSED IN YU-DINARS
`The prescription of medicines is to be monitored closely in private
chemists' stores as well, but for these profit is more important', states
the National Health and Sanitary Inspectorate. Tort charges are being
initiated against offenders, but until the effectuation of the new
Pharmaceuticals Distribution Act, violations are to be handled according to
the law of 1986 in which fines are not in correlation with income rates
(varying from 1 to 50 thousand), and expressed in Yugoslav denars. `All
private chemists' (70 alone are registered at the `Centar' municipality)
have been notified as early as last year that they need to display a
notification visibly, in order to clarify that medicine may not be obtained
without prescriptions. Hardly any store has complied to his so far, and
even state stores have adopted the practice to issue medicine without
prescription, if they are not procured by the Fund', says Inspector Lidija
Danevska. The Fund is thus expected to introduce a categorization system
which is to determine which medicine is free of charge and where it may be
obtained.
[12] INTERVENTION VIA IMPORT
These days one of the burning issues has been the Gvt. / Ministry of
Economy proposal to import sugar and meat to keep the level of consumer
prices down. Insiders wonder how the Gvt. intends to reduce the payment
flow deficit - when it is directly confronted with a possible rise in
consumer prices which again conditions a decline in living standards and
may cause social problems? In such cases the logical measure would be to
encourage import in order to retain existing price rates. This however
opposes the Gvt.'s initial commitment to lower the country's payment flow
deficit. `In an economic environment as the Macedonian one, which
permanently depends on import for even the most basic food products - the
Gvt. endeavour to reduce the payment flow deficit via currency devaluation
must lead to difficulties.
In addition to this the wish to influence living standards without import.
Somewhere the chain had to give in', states one US expert. `What is
therefore required is the skill to juggle to soften the harsh short-term
effects of the denar-devaluation' claims Olivera Cvetanovska of the
Ministry of Economy.
[13] INUSTRIAL PRODUCT PRICES UP IN JULY
In comparison to June 1997, the prices of industrial products have been
increased by 0.3% this July. Thus production means have become more costly
by 3.5%, and reproduction materials by 0.5% - while consumer goods have
gone down by 0.3%. An increase of cost indexes has also been registered in
case of 10 different branches: by 4.3% within the production of electric
appliances and machinery, by 2.8% within the machine production sector, by
2.7% within metal processing, by 2.5% within transportation means
production, by 1.8% in the case of timber processing, by 1.2% in terms food
production, etc. A decrease of costs (between 0.1 and 6.6%) has been
registered this month in the case of nine branches - while in 11 instances
expenditures remain at the same level. Compared to the same indicators for
1996, prices of industrial products and production are up by 1.8%, while
the difference with respect to December 1996 Amounts to 0.9%. Expenditures
in the same fields from January to July 1997 - and the same time span last
year - are up by 1.4%.
[14] `OLD MAC DONALD.' FACING HARD TIMES
Compared to 1996, the overall value of sold agricultural produce generated
by cooperatives and businesses in the first half of this year - according
to the National Statistics Office - totals 1 612 million denars, i.e. 12.2%
less. In terms of structure, the largest share falls off to alcohol
(39.3%), poultry and eggs (20%) and livestock breeding (16.5%). As far as
purchase rates are concerned, statistic data confirms that from January -
May 1997 products worth 743 million denars have been purchased from the
private sector, i.e. 43.6% less that during the same time span last
year. The major share of this sum (320 million denars) falls off to
industrial cultures. This is still 58.6% less than last year.
mils news 19 August, 1997
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