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MILS NEWS 29/03/96From: "M.I.L.S." <mils@MILS.SPIC.ORG.MK>Macedonian Information Liaison Service DirectoryCONTENTS[01] CLARIFYING OF STANDS IN BRUSSELS[02] FIRST MACEDONIAN STOCK EXCHANGE OPENED[03] EBRD - SHAREHOLDER OF KOMERCIJALNA BANKA[04] VISA FOR ITALY FROM APRIL 4[05] MATURE DEMOCRATIC MOVES IN MACEDONIA[06] JAFFERI - INTERNAL SELF-DETERMINATION OF ALBANIANS[07] ELISABETH REHN - POSITIVE POSITION OF THE MINORITIES IN MACEDONIA[08] LAW ON COLLECTING SIGNATURES PASSED[09] 162 000 SIGNATURES SUBMITTED IN THE MACEDONIAN PARLIAMENT[10] MACEDONIAN PRODUCTION EXPECTED TO LIVEN UP THIS YEAR[11] NEW CUSTOMS TARIFF BOOK PRESENTED[12] MACEDONIAN BOOKS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN GREECEMILS NEWSSkopje, 29 March 1996[01] CLARIFYING OF STANDS IN BRUSSELSTalks on defining the Agreement on Cooperation and Trade between Macedonian and the EU started yesterday in Brussels.'Makpress' agency reported that Head of the Macedonian delegation, vice Premier Miljoski, presented the stand of Macedonia, that the country needs the 'evolution clause' to result in a future association with the EU, like the one that the other central and eastern European countries have. It was also presented that the Agreement should not be conditioned by cooperation of Macedonia with the countries in the region, i.e. that the regional approach principle should be abandoned. The position of the European Commission is that Macedonian 'evolution clause' can not include a promise for a associated membership, but there is a possibility for deepening of the relations, not necessarily named as associated membership. Regarding the regional approach, it was explained that the Union sees the development of the relations with Macedonia in a concrete engagement of the country in the cooperation with the countries in the region, without any tendencies for it to be re-integrated in some kind of a new Yugoslavia. Macedonian relations with the Union will, likewise, not be conditioned by the situation in the other countries in the region. Vice Premier Miljoski also met with the European Commissioner Hans van der Broek yesterday afternoon. In his statement for the press, Miljoski positively viewed the opening of the discussions, and stressed that the misunderstandings had been clarified and that the stands of both countries are being given a new dimension. Meanwhile, on the occasion of the European Parliaments Conference begining yesterday in Paris, Senator Robert Badinter, former President of the Arbitrage Commission on ex-Yugoslavia, stated he was for a European integration and against regional arranging of Europe. [02] FIRST MACEDONIAN STOCK EXCHANGE OPENEDThe first Macedonian Stock Exchange officially started its work yesterday, in the presence of the highest Macedonian officials, diplomats, entrepreneurs and founders of the Stock Exchange. It was officially opened by President Kiro Gligorov, who said: 'One of the most important organisations of the capital turnover, of the private initiative support, of the ownership and of all those values we want to 'import' as permanent components of our lives, is begging its work today.Premier Crvenkovski said the successful start of the Stock Exchange work will greatly influence the mobilisation of the home saving and its productive directing, but will also condition the attracting of the foreign capital. 'We can expect the Stock Exchange will be enriched by the further development of the reforms, and the other way round - that the Stock Exchange will play an important role in the transition, especially in the privatisation,' stressed Crvenkovski. The opening of the Macedonian Stock Exchange was supported both technically and financially by the British government. The UK Ambassador to Macedonia Tony Millson said this was the greatest project of the 'Know-How' Fund in the Balkans. Yesterday, 8 securities were sold, and 25 transactions of around 600 000 denars were made. The Stock Exchange will operate twice a week from now on - on Tuesdays and Thursdays. [03] EBRD - SHAREHOLDER OF KOMERCIJALNA BANKAThe European Bank for Restructuring and Development will participate in the permanent capital of Komercijalna Banka with DM 4 million by buying shares from the bank. The contract on this was signed three days ago in London. This makes the EBRD the second greatest shareholder of Komercijalna Banka.Another contract was signed in London simultaneously, on a convertible credit of DM 11 million for the private enterprises. The European Bank will also participate with DM 15 million in a form of conforming the warranties of Macedonian letters of credit. [04] VISA FOR ITALY FROM APRIL 4Macedonian citizens will be able to go to Italy only with a visa issued by the Italian Embassy in Skopje from April 4, 1996. This was announced yesterday by the Macedonian Foreign Ministry.[05] MATURE DEMOCRATIC MOVES IN MACEDONIAMacedonia is the only country in the region where the democracy is strengthening and manifested in ways typical for countries with much longer tradition. This was said, according to A-1 Television, by the Chiefs of the diplomatic missions in the Balkan region on their meeting in London last week. The happenings connected with the reconstruction of the Macedonian government were said to be mature democratic moves, and the returning of Macedonian President Gligorov to his function was stressed as being of a greatest importance both for the country and the whole region.The Albanian political factor was also paid attention to on this occasion, as well as to its behaviour during the reconstruction of the government. According to the information, positive and constructive elements amongst the Albanian political subjects were noticed. It was also said that they are expected to show greater cooperation, due to the latest development of the situation in the closest neighbourhood of Macedonia. [06] JAFFERI - INTERNAL SELF-DETERMINATION OF ALBANIANSToday's daily 'Dnevnik' reads that, at the meeting with the OSCE High Commissioner, Max van der Stoel, the representatives of PDPA said the rights of Albanians in Macedonia are not fully respected. They expressed their full support to the 'Tetovo university', and raised the question of the right to internal self-determination. According to Arben Jafferi, this term understands creating of environment for self-development and institutionalization of the Albanians in all spheres of the social life, without changing of the country borders.Meanwhile, the OSCE Mission in Macedonia denied the information of Macedonian daily 'Nova Makedonija' that Max van der Stoel initiated organizing a round table of the Balkan countries ministers on the situation of the national minorities in the participating countries. [07] ELISABETH REHN - POSITIVE POSITION OF THE MINORITIES IN MACEDONIA'Position of the minorities, especially of the Albanians, in Macedonia is positive,' said Elisabeth Rehn, the Special Rapporteur to the UN Secretary General, Boutros Ghali, at the Conference on the Balkan issues, held recently in Great Britain. According to A-1 Television, Ms. Rehn's report read that there were some problems with the Albanian minority in Macedonia, regarding their education and employment in the state administration services. The established quotas for enrolling the universities and the increase of the Albanian employees in the Macedonian Internal Affairs Ministry were stated as positive examples.The Macedonian delegation emphasised that, when the position of the minorities was discussed, their obligations are often forgotten, and that it is improper to compare the position of the minorities in the developing countries with the one in the highly developed countries. Elisabeth Rehn agreed with that remarks and openly stated that her comparison of the Albanian minority in Macedonia with the situation in Sweden had been a mistake. As it has already been announced, Ms. Rehn promoted the initiative of President Gligorov for making a comparative analysis of the rights of minorities in the Balkan countries, and paid special attention to the need for introducing the ombudsman institution in Macedonia. [08] LAW ON COLLECTING SIGNATURES PASSEDMacedonian Parliament passed the Law on Collecting Signatures for Referendum and Changing of the Constitution, at its session yesterday.'The procedure on collecting signatures for scheduling a referendum, more precisely the issues which were not included in the Constitution and in the previous Law on Referendum, is now being defined by the new Law,' said Minister of Justice Vlado Popovski. The issue discussed most at the session was the amendment proposed by the Liberals - the new Law not to refer to the civil initiatives already going on, which was refused. 53 deputies voted for the Law, while 17 deputies of the Liberal Party and PDPA voted against it. [09] 162 000 SIGNATURES SUBMITTED IN THE MACEDONIAN PARLIAMENT162 000 signatures of citizens who had supported the initiative of VMRO - DPMNE and DP for scheduling a referendum on early elections were submitted in the Macedonian Parliament yesterday. Leader of VMRO - DPMNE, Ljupcho Gjorgjievski and of DP, Petar Goshev, on a joint press conference they held yesterday, informed the press that 162 000 signatures had been collected in only 4 days, and that the action will continue so that its legitimacy is strengthened. They said an obstruction from the government was expected, but the current regulations are in the favour of the citizens. All acts passed from yesterday on were said to be inapplicable to this initiative, and a retroactive validity of laws is something unknown to the democratic countries.The new Law was estimated as an act which suspends the civil initiative. Goshev and Gjorgjievski said that only the Parliament can decide on the legality of the initiative, and not the government. The only thing which has to follow is that the Parliament schedules a referendum within 60 days, as the Constitution reads, was said. The two leaders said in case the government showed no respect for the Constitution and the current regulations, the third copies of the forms signed would be sent to the Council of Europe. Petar Goshev stated that the realisation of this civil initiative was an introduction to early parliamentary elections, which will take place at the same time with the local elections this autumn. According to him, that could be prevented only by a total obstruction of the civil rights, by increasing the totalitarian methods of ruling and by further severe suspensions of the legal system. [10] MACEDONIAN PRODUCTION EXPECTED TO LIVEN UP THIS YEAR'The growth of the production in the first two months of 1996 for 8.7% in comparison with the same two months last year, shows that the overcoming of the negative trends in Macedonian industry has began.' This was said by the Macedonian Premier Branko Crvenkovski at the meeting with the Macedonian Chamber of Commerce members, the day before yesterday. He stated that the government was ready to analyze each economy branch and region separately, in cooperation with the Chamber and the enterprises, so that the problems are located and solved, and the economy activities are enlivened.Premier Crvenkovski stressed that credit lines of over DM 60 million will enter in Macedonia this year, intended for the small and medium enterprises. On the other hand, the domestic funds of 2 billion and 700 million denars will be marketed for the big enterprises, said Crvenkovski. President of the Chamber of Commerce Dushan Petrevski emphasized that financial consolidation of the economy is most important, and it should be done by obtaining working capital to restart the production. The Chamber members suggested that: the export crediting should be fixed; the public expenses should be reduced; the contracts should be made in cooperation with the EU; efforts should be made to reduce the unfair competition; the gross salary category should be introduced; the privatisation should continue with a slower tempo; the old debts should be de-nominated, on the basis of the interest rates; the voting strategy should be defined, etc. [11] NEW CUSTOMS TARIFF BOOK PRESENTEDThe new customs tariff rates will be from 0 to 30%, and up to 60% only for the food and agricultural products, as the prelevements will be included, was said on the promomotion of the new Customs Tariff Book of Macedonia, few days ago.Macedonian Finance Minister Taki Fiti informed that this new Tariff Book was in compliance with the international conventions and the EU nomenclature, and has both developing and protective role. The new Customs Tariff Book has 5 111 tariff numbers and the rates fixed will be as following: raw and reproduction materials - 5-8%; raw and reproduction materials produced in the country in sufficient quantities - 8-13%; products of a higher finalisation level - 12-15%; equipment not produced in the country - 5-8%; equipment produced in the country - 13-20%; consumer goods - 15-30%; agricultural and food products - 20-60%; new vehicles - 21 -26%; old vehicles - 28%. It is planned that the new regulations will begin to be applied at the end of June 1996. EU also insists on its soon adoption, as it is a part of the negotiations package for the Agreement on Cooperation and Trade with Macedonia. [12] MACEDONIAN BOOKS ARE NOT ALLOWED IN GREECEYesterday, Trajan Pasois, a Greek citizen of Macedonian descent, was kept at the Greek-Macedonian border crossing Medjitlia, because of carrying books in Macedonian language he bought in the Republic of Macedonia, reported Macedonian media today.Pasois said he insists from the Greek authorities to have his books returned to him, adding that the act is a violation of the basic human rights, particularly the freedom of information and flow of any printed materials across the borders. He refuses to enter Greece without the books, and said he will go under hunger strike at the border crossing. Pasois alerted the major Greek and International Human Rights Organizations, asking from them to put an end to the Greek violations of the basic human rights to its citizens. (end)mils news 29 March '96 |
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