Epilogh MAK-NEWS 16/03/95 (M.I.L.S.) [**] Ta nea ths hmeras, opws ta eide to MILS: [01] * CRVENKOVSKI ASKS FOR CHANGES IN UNPROFOR MANDATE [02] ** CRVENKOVSKI AND VANCE TALKS [Kai synanthsh Zaxarakh - Bans amesws meta thn synanthsh Tserbenkofski - Bans.] [03] ** GREEK MEDIA REPORTS OF 'DOUBLE NAME' FOR MACEDONIA [Proteine "diplh onomasia" o Tserbenkofski, symfwna me thn "Kaqhmerinh".] [04] * GLIGOROV-JOHNSON TALKS [05] . MACEDONIAN CONSTRUCTION DELEGATION IN RUSSIA [06] * BRITISH AMBASSADOR VISITS TETOVO [07] ** BERISHA SUGGESTS BALKAN MINISTERS' CONFERENCE [Kai apodoxh ths ideas apo ton k. Papoylia.] [08] . PARLIAMENTARY BRIEFS [09] * THACI SUBMITS DEMANDS TO STOJAN ANDOV [10] * SULEIMANI, FEIZI AND SHABANI TO REMAIN IN PRISON [11] . CONSTITUTIONAL COURT TO DECIDE ON ELECTRICITY PRICE RISE [12] . PTT BUYS TELEPHONE BOOTH SYSTEM [Katopin symfwnias me kanadikes kai toyrkikes etaireies.] [13] . RED CROSS CELEBRATES 50TH ANNIVERSARY [14] * MILS SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT: STATE MACEDONIAN LANGUAGE ORDER ANGERS COMMUNITY (The Age, 14 February 1995) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ M I L S N E W S Skopje, 16 March 1995 [01] CRVENKOVSKI ASKS FOR CHANGES IN UNPROFOR MANDATE Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski has asked UN Secretary General Boutros-Ghali and UN Security Council President Li Jaoxing to change the mandate of UNPROFOR for Macedonia. Reports in the Macedonian media say Crvenkovski stressed a need for separate military, logistics and administrative structures for UN forces in Macedonia which should be led by a special envoy of the Secretary General and the commanding officer of the UN forces. Crvenkovski pointed to the essential difference between the mandates of UNPROFOR troops in Macedonia and those in Bosnia-Herzegovina and Croatia. Changes are needed, he said, because of the positive preventive role of UNPROFOR in Macedonia and the country's neighborly and peaceful foreign policy. [02] CRVENKOVSKI AND VANCE TALKS In New York two days ago Macedonian Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski met with UN mediator Cyrus Vance and the U.S. President Bill Clinton's Special Envoy, Matthew Nemitz. The meeting was to find ways to renew the talks between Greece and Macedonia presently stalled over obstacles such the Greek embargo on Macedonia. No details of the talks were given, but observers say they tried to reach an agreement on essential points. A1 Television says Vance talked with Christos Zaharakis, the Greek UN representative, immediately following his talks with Crvenkovski. Crvenkovski told reporters the Macedonian side expressed a readiness to continue negotiations, fully appreciating Vance's mediating efforts. Talks are continuing, he said. Zaharakis said "negotiations are a good way to being renewed, provided the necessary conditions are created." He did not say what the conditions are. A1 Television cites New York sources as saying Vance has indicated his intention to give up his mediating efforts if the talks remain on hold. The same sources say the U.S. is showing a great interest in overcoming differences between Greece and Macedonia. [03] GREEK MEDIA REPORTS OF 'DOUBLE NAME' FOR MACEDONIA The New York correspondent for the Greek paper Kathimerini says the Macedonian Foreign Minister Crvenkovski has told Vance that the Macedonian government is ready to accept the "double name" principle. This means the name Macedonia would be used within the country and internationally, while Greece would refer to Macedonia by another name. A1 Television says the Greek foreign ministry accepted the news with a positive attitude, although still refusing to recognize Macedonia under a name containing the word "Macedonia" or any derivatives from it. High-ranking officials in Greece say a climate now exists for a compromise. The U.S. special envoy Matthew Nemitz issued similar statements, but suggesting a triple name - one for internal use by Macedonia, another for international use, and a third to be used by Greece. This suggestion, however, was refused by the Macedonian side. Citing American sources, Kathimerini says no spectacular results are to be expected from the latest talks in New York. Crvenkovski refuted the news on his alleged acceptance of a double name for Macedonia, describing the news as sheer speculation. The name issue, Crvenkovski said, was not even touched upon during the talks with Vance. [04] GLIGOROV-JOHNSON TALKS Macedonian President Gligorov yesterday received U.S. ambassador Ralph Johnson, coordinator of the U.S. program for aid to Eastern and Central European countries. They discussed the latest suggestions for helping Macedonia solve its economic problems and embark on social reforms. Gligorov underlined the importance of the revitalization of road links in the region. Johnson said the current reforms in Macedonia were positive. [05] MACEDONIAN CONSTRUCTION DELEGATION IN RUSSIA In Moscow yesterday, a delegation of the Macedonian Ministry of Urban Planning, Construction and Environmental Protection, discussed the possibilities of an intensified presence of Macedonian construction firms in the Russian Federation. The delegation is led by Minister Jorgo Shundovski. [06] BRITISH AMBASSADOR VISITS TETOVO Tony Millson, the British ambassador to Macedonia, yesterday paid an official visit to Tetovo. He met with Drakche Kuzmanovski, vice-president of the township committee, and Ljubisha Dimitrievski, chairman of the township executive committee. Millson was informed of numerous examples of violations of the constitution and law by ethnic Albanians, who are settling in Tetovo in large numbers, creating pressures on Macedonians living there. As a result, the ethnic structure of the population in the region is rapidly changing. Ethnic Albanian newcomers, they said, have illegally constructed nearly 8,000 houses in and around Tetovo. Kuzmanovski said such future talks ought to be held in the presence of Albanian representatives. Millson said the visit was very successful, announcing he will submit a report the parties he met in Tetovo and to the British Foreign Office. He told Nova Makedonija, "The messages I got during my earlier visit and this present visit are the same - despite ethnic problems in the region, all the people in Tetovo wish to live together." [07] BERISHA SUGGESTS BALKAN MINISTERS' CONFERENCE Albanian President Sali Berisha has suggested a Balkan foreign ministers conference. Speaking to the Greek Foreign Minister Carolos Papoulias during their recent meeting in Tirana, Berisha said, "It is time to organize a conference of foreign ministers of all Balkan countries. This will contribute to strengthening mutual trust in the region." Berisha told Papoulias he had discussed this with Bulgarian President Zhelju Zhelev, who has also talked about such a meeting with the Turkish president Suleiman Demirel. To encourage such a meeting and make it more successful, Berisha reportedly said that the foreign ministers of Albania and Greece must become more involved. Papoulias supported the idea. [08] PARLIAMENTARY BRIEFS At its yesterday's 15th session, the Macedonian Parliament passed the proposed changes to the Pension and Invalid Security Law. MP's also ratified agreements between Macedonia, Croatia and Turkey, as well as several changes in laws in education and health. Parliament supported the 1995 program for construction, maintenance and reconstruction of the country's major and regional highway network. [09] THACI SUBMITS DEMANDS TO STOJAN ANDOV The Thaci-led PDP group and NDP will continue to spurn parliamentary participation over language demands in the Assembly. A1 Television reports that in Tetovo yesterday the Thaci faction said it had submitted to Parliament President Stojan Andov a written demand concerning the complexity in ethnic relations in the country. The party said the fact that parliament deputy Sali Ramadani was denied a right to address parliament in his native language was an example of ethnic hatred. According to the faction, the Macedonian police brutally intervened in the functioning of the university in Mala Rechica. Andov is asked to provide conditions for use of the Albanian language in parliament, to hold responsible those who ordered the police brutality, to release imprisoned ethnic Albanians, and to help start a dialogue for creating conditions for work of the university in Tetovo. Until all these demands are met, the Thaci-led group will remain out of parliament. So far the demand has been signed by five independent ethnic Albanian deputies, but all other parties of Albanians are expected to support the demand. The NDP held a session two days ago to discuss the written demand and supported it in principle. The party president, on behalf of NDP parliament deputies, said the party will from time to time participate in parliament, specially during debates on laws regulating ethnic relations in Macedonia. They will also be testing the government's readiness to accept fully suggestions by ethnic Albanian MP's. If NDP parliament members see a readiness by government, they will return to parliament. The party said the lack of unity among parties of Albanians for boycotting parliament is harmful for Albanians in Macedonia. [10] SULEIMANI, FEIZI AND SHABANI TO REMAIN IN PRISON The Tetovo Criminal District Court yesterday decided to prolong the 30-day imprisonment of Dr. Fadil Suleimani, Milaim Feizi and Kemal Shabani, in jail for their part in disturbances at the Tetovo university last month. They were due for release on 18 March but the investigation team requested them for to remain in jail. Suleimani and Feizi are accused of inciting resistance. Kemal Shabani is also accused of participation in crowd disturbances, preventing police officers from exercising their duty, and the illegal possession of weapons. [11] CONSTITUTIONAL COURT TO DECIDE ON ELECTRICITY PRICE RISE The Macedonian Constitutional Court yesterday began investigating four decisions by the government and public electricity company to increase the price of electricity. One of the disputable issues is whether the classification of consumers into different consumer groups does not violate the constitutional principle of equality of all citizens. The court will also consider whether the latest increase does not grant the electricity company a privileged status, thus enabling it to act as a monopoly. A decision is expected in two months. At its regular session yesterday, the court turned down the initiative for evaluation of the opinion of the Ministry of Justice regarding the use of languages, submitted to the Tetovo township committee. The court decided the initiative has no legal basis and obliges no institution to take action. [12] PTT BUYS TELEPHONE BOOTH SYSTEM Skopje is to get card-operated public telephone booths by this summer. Two days ago, PTT Makedonija signed an agreement to buy a public telephone booth system from the Canadian telecommunications firm Northern Telecom. The Turkish telecommunications company, Nektash, will be the authorized distributor. [13] RED CROSS CELEBRATES 50TH ANNIVERSARY Thus year's Blood Donors' Day, March 17, coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Macedonian Red Cross. The main ceremony will take place in Bitola, tomorrow, under the patronage of President Gligorov. [14] MILS SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT: STATE MACEDONIAN LANGUAGE [ORDER ANGERS COMMUNITY [(The Age, 14 February 1995) By Russel Skelton, The Premier of Victoria, Mr. Kennet, has taken the apparently unprecedented step of officially renaming the Macedonian language in the State of Victoria. The decision has infuriated Melbourne's Macedonian community and drawn criticism from linguistic experts and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Evans. Mr. Kennet has directed that all government agencies now refer to the language spoken by people from the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) as "Macedonian (Slavonic)". The directive has been issued to all government departments and officers, including state school principals. The president of the Macedonian Council, Mr. Mile Terziovski, said yesterday the decision, which he claimed had been made for political reasons, would be challenged before the Equal Opportunity Board. "The council is extremely disappointed, we strongly opposed this decision, we are the only group in world which has been discriminated against in this way. Which other group has to put up with suffix qualifying the language," he said. The decision apparently follows pressure from sections of the Greek community and the Greek government strongly opposed to FYROM's claims of a separate cultural and linguistic identity on the grounds they overlap with the Greek heritage. At present the language is internationally recognized as Macedonian, without qualification. The head of linguistics at Monash University, Professor Michael Clyne, said the move was disturbing and nonsensical. In a letter to the Macedonian Teachers' Association, he said: "It is not the prerogative of an Australian state premier to change the name of a language from the name designated by linguists and international bodies." The redesignation of Macedonian as has been required by the premier is, to my knowledge, without parallel in any other immigration country and certainly negates some of the basic understandings of our great multicultural nation." Christopher Candlin, professor of linguistics at Macquarie University, backed this assessment in a letter to the association, adding: "In my view the term Macedonian (Slavonic) is a political designation which has no basis as a linguistic description." The premier and his parliamentary secretary, Mr. Phil Honeywood, have dismissed objections, saying the decision was taken to preserve "harmony and peace" between Greeks and Macedonians in Victoria. The state government has appeared to give different reasons for the decision. Last year, Mr. Honeywood told the Macedonian Community Council that the decision had been necessary to keep Victorian policy on the issue consistent with federal policy. In a letter dated 22 November, Mr. Honeywood said the move was necessary because the state government wanted to be consistent with the federal government's decision to call people from FYROM Slav Macedonians. But when the Macedonian council pointed out that the federal policy contained no references to language, Mr. Honeywood said the decision was still necessary to preserve harmony. Late yesterday a spokeswoman for the premier gave a further explanation. She said the decision had also been prompted by an academic row at La Trobe University and the naming of a Macedonian studies course. She said the decision was regarded as one way to solve the dispute. The Foreign Minister, Senator Evans, has also attacked Mr. Kennet's decision and disassociated the federal government from it. (end) mils-news 16 March '95 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------