MAK-MEWS 05/04/95 (M.I.L.S.)

From: "Demetrios E. Paneras" <dep@bu.edu>

CONTENTS

  • [01] MACEDONIAN PRIME MINISTER INTERVIEWED BY LE MOND

  • [02] THERE WILL BE NO TALKS ON APRIL 6

  • [03] OWEN AGAINST SECESSION ASPIRATIONS

  • [04] BALKANS SHOULD BE INTEGRATED INTO EUROPE, KUCAN SAYS

  • [05] NORWAY APPOINTS AMBASSADOR TO MACEDONIA

  • [06] GREAT BRITAIN INTERESTED IN STABLE MACEDONIA

  • [07] GOVERNMENT BRIEFS

  • [08] NO NIGHT FLIGHTS TO SKOPJE

  • [09] MEDICINE FAIR IN SKOPJE

  • [10] CULTURE

  • [11] MILS SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT: MACEDONIAN ARMY TO BE REORGANIZED (Nova Makedonija, 5 April 1995)

    •

    M I L S N E W S

    Skopje, 5 April 1995

    [01] MACEDONIAN PRIME MINISTER INTERVIEWED BY LE MOND

    "The Macedonian economy is greatly affected by the Greek illegal embargo; losses have amounted to $500 million thus far. Macedonia is trying to strengthen its international status, but Greece intends to prevent this using its position in the EU and good relations with the U.S.," said Macedonian Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski in an interview with Paris Le Mond. He pointed out that Macedonia is always ready to sit at the negotiating table, despite the fact that it is difficult to hold talks while the embargo is in effect. "What is to become of Macedonia's sovereignty, if we allow them to make us change our name and national symbols? This would be contrary to all international principles," Crvenkovski said. Speaking about the danger of a Serbian hegemony, the Prime Minister said that the fact that Serbia refuses to recognize Macedonia clearly speaks for itself. "The official explanation of Belgrade is that they are doing this because of their friendly relations with Greece, but no doubt there are reasons more serious than this," he explained. He added that Belgrade and Athens coordinate their policies and that it is a dream of Miloshevic to see a confederation between Greece and Serbia, thus wiping out the Macedonian state from the world map. Asked about problems with ethnic groups, Crvenkovski said it is of key importance to resolve the differences, pointing out that Macedonia is a rare example of coexistence, as it has representatives of various ethnic groups in both the parliament and government. Yet, he said, demands of certain ethnic groups in Macedonia go beyond the framework of the Macedonian Constitution. He underlined that the attempts to establish an Albanian-language university in Tetovo, in his opinion, are in fact attempts to increase the tension and draw a division line between the two nations. This, he said, was a political action and if Macedonia allows ethnic groups to be educated in their native language outside of the country's educational system, this would mean creating ghetto's. Albania and Kosovo have undertaken actions which are typical examples of interfering in the internal affairs of another sovereign state, Crvenkovski concluded.

    [02] THERE WILL BE NO TALKS ON APRIL 6

    No direct Greek-Macedonian talks are to take place on April 6 in New York and the new date is uncertain at the present moment, the U.S. special emissary Matthew Nimitz said in an interview with Radio Skopje. Meantime, several media in Greece interpret the interview of Crvenkovski for Le Mond as a sign of Macedonia's readiness to retreat and enter negotiations even with the embargo in effect. Elefterothipia writes that Skopje has not yet answered officially to Cyrus Vance's invitation, but it is very indicative that the Prime Minister chose to accept the invitation in a peaceful manner, as reported in an interview with the French newspaper. The ex-foreign minister of Greece Teodoros Pangalos, however, stated the dispute with Macedonia ought to be resolved by a compromise. He suggested the name "Republic of Macedonia (Skopje)".

    [03] OWEN AGAINST SECESSION ASPIRATIONS

    In an interview with the Kosovo weekly Koha, Lord Owen, co- president of the International Conference on the Former Yugoslavia, stated the international community will not recognize states established by secession of Kraina Serbs from Croatia, Kosovo from Serbia or ethnic Albanians from Macedonia. Asked about possibilities of using the model "Knin-Zagreb" in Kosovo, he said it is difficult to make such parallels. He said there is a problem with the use of native languages by ethnic groups in the education in Macedonia, but that this should be resolved within the system.

    [04] BALKANS SHOULD BE INTEGRATED INTO EUROPE, KUCAN SAYS

    The conflict in the Balkans can only be resolved if the states which emerged after the disintegration of Yugoslavia are integrated into Europe, said Slovenian President Milan Kucan in an interview with the weekly Mladina. "This means that Europe ought to open opportunities and perspectives for these states and their citizens, instead of trying to keep the war at a local level or to create so-called sanitary buffer-states as it is doing now. At the same time, all these new states ought to meet all the requirements regarding democratization, political pluralism, basic human rights and market economy, practiced in Western Europe. No state can be exempt in this respect. The second important element is the question of legal succession of the former Yugoslavia. The principle of equality has to be respected in this matter as well, both in terms of obligations and rights of the newly created states. Trends in the international community tend to recognize only Serbia and Montenegro as the sole successors of the former Yugoslavia. Should this happen, this will be a big mistake of the international community, just as certain ideas for reintegration of the new states into a new Yugoslavia. As far as Slovenia is concerned, neither the first nor the second trend are acceptable," Kucan concluded.

    [05] NORWAY APPOINTS AMBASSADOR TO MACEDONIA

    Macedonian President Kiro Gligorov yesterday received John Garder, the newly appointed ambassador of Norway to Macedonia, who presented his credentials. In his address, Gligorov pointed out that this act is a confirmation of the friendly relations between the two countries. He also stressed Macedonia's interest in seeing wider and deeper cooperation with Norway. Gligorov mentioned the importance and successful mission of UNPREDEP forces in Macedonia, which include a Norwegian contingent as well. Garder was also received by Parliament President Stojan Andov and Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski. The Norwegian ambassador will be exercising his duties from the main office in Oslo.

    [06] GREAT BRITAIN INTERESTED IN STABLE MACEDONIA

    Upon returning from an official visit to the British Foreign Office, PDP President Abdurahman Haliti told reporters the Government of Britain supports Macedonia's policy and is interested in seeing Macedonia stable and independent. Secretary of state Hogg explicitly stated that his country would like to see stable ethnic relations in Macedonia, Haliti said.

    [07] GOVERNMENT BRIEFS

    At a meeting last Monday, the Macedonian Government expanded the list of agricultural products with protected prices. The list now includes sunflower and sugar beet, which will be sold with a premium of 15 per cent of the market price. The cabinet also discussed the draft-law on public enterprises, expected to regulate the establishment, organization and procedures of these companies. They adopted a program for changes and additions in the space and urban plans in the country, for the purpose of which a 40 million Denars fund has been set aside from the budget.

    [08] NO NIGHT FLIGHTS TO SKOPJE

    Due to an inoperative electrical system, the Skopje airport has not been able to receive planes after dark for several days. All flights are redirected to Ohrid. The installation is to be repaired in the next couple of days.

    [09] MEDICINE FAIR IN SKOPJE

    Yesterday, the 16th Fair of Medicine and Dental and Pharmaceutics Equipment was open in Skopje. Products are displayed by over 100 companies from Macedonia, Germany, U.S., Holland, Austria, Italy and Slovenia.

    [10] CULTURE

    In organization of the French Cultural Center in Skopje and the Skopje Museum of Modern Art, a video projection will be given at the Museum on Thursday, April 6, at 8 p.m. The video is titled Andre Kertesz, Budapest, Paris, New York.

    [11] MILS SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT: MACEDONIAN ARMY TO BE REORGANIZED

    (Nova Makedonija, 5 April 1995)

    For some period now, experts have been discussing models and ways of reorganizing and modernizing the army in Macedonia, in accordance with trends in the world. The most important issue seems to be whether to turn the army into an army of professional soldiers. In this context, the Ministry of Defense is currently considering the possibility of turning certain branches into units consisting of professional soldiers only, within the framework of Macedonia's capability. The Defense Act itself contains such a provision to engage soldiers on contracts. This initiative to include professional soldiers in the Macedonian army must not be confused with the already established practice of employing army officers, as their profession is of a different nature. In fact, the very term professional army means armed troops consisted of soldiers and officers working for wages and under a professional contract. The service usually lasts up to 25 years. There are quite a few advantages to a professional army over an army consisting of soldiers gathered by obligation. The first would be the motivation of professional soldiers; they are naturally more interested in fulfilling their obligations than the soldier - "amateur", as their wages depend on how well they perform their duties. The next significant factor is the training itself; professionally engaged soldiers will be better trained than the non-professional, for the simple reason that non- professional soldiers serve only a limited period. The fact that professional soldiers are employed on a basis of previous tests and that only the best are chosen is also an advantage over the mobilized soldier, since the main worry of the latter is to see his army days pass as quickly as possible. Military discipline is easily maintained with professional soldiers, unlike with non-professional ones. Experience show that professional soldiers more rarely violate the rules, since they would be thus risking their job. The models of completely professional armies show that this form also has some disadvantages. First of all, the costs are high, since high motivation of soldiers can be reached only by high wages. This automatically increases maintainence expenses and presents a burden to the budget, which for a small state like Macedonia is an almost unsolvable problem. Besides, the professional model by definition has a small number of reserves and it would be difficult to replace casualties in a case of an armed conflict. It seems that a so-called "combined" model is most suitable for Macedonia. This would mean engaging professional soldiers to maintain and use the expensive military equipment and to employ in certain army units. Although in restricted numbers for the time being, professional soldiers have already been included in some border units of the Macedonian army. For a small and underdeveloped country like Macedonia, mobilized soldiers are also a very important segment. The ministry, however, would have to find the ideal ratio between professional and non-professional troops, to create a small, but organized, trained and efficient army.

    (end)

    mils-news 5 April '95

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