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MILS: News from the FYROM, 97-01-29Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>CONTENTS
MILS SUPPLEMENTMILS NEWSSkopje, 29 January, 1997[01] CONSULAR CONVENTION WITH CROATIA SIGNEDThe signed Consular Convention represents another bilateral agreement between Croatia and Macedonia. What remains to be regulated now are relations in other domains of mutual interest, such as legal provisions on real estate, the free trade-zone project - as they embody key issues to the further intensification of cooperation.These agreements should be signed during the subsequent visit of his Croatian host Mate Granich to Macedonia. According to the Macedonian Radio this has been emphasized by the Macedonian Head of Diplomacy Ljubomir Frchkovski following talks in Zagreb with the above mentioned Croatian statesman, President Franjo Tugjman, PM Zlatko Matesha and Croatian Parliamentary Chairman Vlatko Pavletich. Upon stressing that there are no unresolved issues between both countries, Minister Frchkovski informed that talks focused on bilateral cooperation and regional issues. Shared opinions underlined that reform and democratization procedures in both countries are a key element to stabilization in states undergoing transition. Other issues of discussion in Zagreb were the SECI, CEFTA and other initiatives affecting Central and South-East Europe. In this context the expressed Croatian view assessed this sort of pressuring into regional cooperation as unproductive - as an individual EU agreement is the objective of Croatia... Macedonian Radio reports. While summing up his visit to Zagreb Frchkovski stressed that it had been agreed to render mutual assistance within international organisations, as well as that Mate Granich is to visit Macedonia, besides President Tugjman and PM Zlatko Matesha this year. [02] BRITISH AMBASSADOR REPUDIATES CLAIM THAT HIS COUNTRY BLOCKS `EU' FUNDING FOR MACEDONIAConcerning the information that Greece and Great Britain vetoed the possible EU aid for Macedonia in Brussels two days ago, during the unofficial ministerial meeting - broadcast by several Macedonian media, the British Ambassador to Macedonia H.E.Amb. Tony Milson gave a statement for MTV denying such data. The British Ambassador stressed that it could by no means said that Great Britain is objecting to the rendering of macro- economic assistance to Macedonia. Within this context he expressed his surprise and disappointment by the coverage of certain media, while emphasizing that Great Britain - as always - is endorsing the initiative to help Macedonia, but in an efficient way i.e. via grants which have already been issued to Albania and several other countries. It is the view of Great Britain and other EU member-states, that the best approach to aid Macedonia should be determined - according to MTV coverage of the statement given by H.E.Amb. Tony Milson.[03] FIRST SESSION OF `SECI' AGENDA-COMMITTEE IN GENEVA THESE TWO DAYSThe first session of the `SECI' (US `South East Europe Economic Cooperation Initiative') Agenda-Committee is to be held in Geneva today and tomorrow. The Macedonian delegation to attend this event is to be headed by Development Minister Abdulmenaf Bedzheti. MTV reports that the main objective of the Geneva session is to outline the scope and implementation modalities of this Committee, as a complementary structure to the UN European Economic Mission. The Committee is also to present a list with projects covering the transportation, investment, energy, economy and ecology sector.[04] SOFIA MEETING ON EAST-WEST CORRIDOR ACTIVITIESThe meeting of the Coordinative Group for the Development of the South Balkans is to commence in Sofia today. It is to be attended by delegations of Bulgaria, Albania, Macedonia and representatives of the US Trade and Development Agency. Discussions will concentrate on activities concerning the implementation of agreements on major infrastructure projects of the East-West corridor.[05] MINISTER UNKOVSKI TO ATTEND PROCLAMATION OF THESSALONICA FOR `EUROPEAN SEAT OF CULTURE' TODAYUpon invitation of the Greek Minister of Culture Evangelos Venizelos, his Macedonian counterpart Slobodan Unkovski is to depart for Thessalonica today, where he is to attend the ceremony organised on occasion of commencing the manifestation `European Seat of Culture - Thessalonica 1997'.[06] TRANSFORMATION OF `MACEDONIAN RAILWAYS'During yesterday's session the Macedonian Government adopted the proposal for the enactment of the `Macedonian Railways' as it would regulate relations within this segment of the transportation sector, and within the nationally-owned enterprise as well. `Macedonian Railways' are covering 699 km of rail and a huge number of facilities and installations. The law codifies the transition of this nationally-owned company into one under the direct jurisdiction of the state, i.e. the Government itself would operate as the founder. Funding would be procured within the National Budget, loans and internal means. Domestic and foreign investments are also being taken into consideration. What remains undefined in the draft-bill so far - according to MTV - are debtor/creditor relations affecting this company, i.e. the covering of losses generated so far.[07] `MACEDONIAN NATIONAL LOTTERY' TO BE PRIVATIZEDConcordant to the new concept of the Macedonian Government regarding the regulating of lotteries and gambling, the `Macedonian National Lottery' will have to be privatized.This has been decided at the Government session two days ago. Thus the monopoly status of this firm has been definitely annulled. The new law will nevertheless codify such an exclusive ranking to the `Macedonian National Lottery' as regards the organising of `Lotto' and the `Instant Lottery' pools - as only one license is to be issued by the Government for them. In concordance to the new act of law pools may only be organised by commercial entities with a basic capital of at least 5 million DM, whereas a minimum of 500 000 DM are prerequisite to open up a casino. [08] BROKERING WITHOUT CONSENT OF STOCK TRADING ASSOCIATIONS DUE SOONA-1 TV reports that the Law on Trade Associations is soon to provide possibilities for stock transactions without obtaining the consent of trading associations, as Article 209 is to be suspended. Thus the latter will no longer apply to all legally privatised companies, i.e. the employees of the same will be in the position to sell their stocks at the Skopje Stock Exchange. These novelties - adopted during the last Government session - creates possibilities for newly-established firms to implement Article 290, without listing their bonds at the Stock Exchange however - and without being able to issue new stocks on their own. These are only part of the proposed alterations to the Law on Trade Associations which have passed governmental procedures and are to be submitted to parliamentary voting.[09] TWO COMMISSIONS IN FAVOUR, ONE ABSTAINING FROM VOTING ON PEDAGOGICAL FACULTY LAWThe Legal-legislation Parliamentary Commission has supported the draft-bill on the languages of instruction at the Pedagogical Faculty of Skopje yesterday, with 6 votes in favour - and 4 abstentions. This act of law has also been backed by the Political Systems Commission with 4 votes in favour, 2 abstentions and 1 vote against.The members of the Inter-ethnic Relations Commission were plagued by diametrically opposing views concerning the PF draft-bill. To Albanian MPs the latter is not acceptable as it offers partial solutions for an issue of high priority to the country. SDSM representatives have evaluated that a gradual codification of this subject- matter is prerequisite. Voting resulted in 4 in favour, 4 against and only 2 abstentions. Ergo this act of law is being submitted to further processing without the support of the Inter-ethnic Relations Commission. Parliamentary debates on the draft-bill are scheduled for the 58th Session, to be held today. [10] 1946 CONSTITUTION EXAMPLE FOR 1991 CONSTITUTION`The first Constitution of Macedonia - passed in 1946 as a constitutional document - is of great significance to the constituting of the Republic of Macedonia, and a good example for the compilation of its Constitution in 1991', stated the Chairman of the Macedonian Constitutional Law Association, Svetomir Sharikj, at a Symposium on `50 Years Since the Enactment of the Constitution of the People's Republic of Macedonia, and 5 Years Since the Enactment of the Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia in 1991', held at the Macedonian Parliament yesterday. According to Dr. Shkarikj the Constitution of the People's Republic of Macedonia embodies the only act of law passed by a constitutive - and not a regular - session. As such it is directly linked to the emerging of Macedonia as an independent state, through the articles guaranteeing the right to self- determination to the Macedonian people. Any act against the sovereignty, equality and national liberty of the Macedonian people had been labelled as anti- constitutional within this act of law - according to Dr. Sharikj during yesterday's Symposium.[11] REPEATED ELECTIONS `PART FIVE' AT TETOVO ON SUNDAYOn Sunday, 2nd February, local elections are to be held for their fifth time, in order to determine the identity of the mayor and municipal counsellors at polling stations No. 2 and No. 60 at Tetovo. The four attempts to do so up to now had gone sour due to unrest / irregularities instigated by a number of citizens - such as physical violence, the destruction of balloting boxes, etc. This entailed the filing of charges against app. 50 citizens at the Municipal Court of Tetovo.Besides this, the Deputy of the Tetovo Municipal Election Commission Slagjana Ilievska and Commission members Kocho Samojilovski and Aleksandar Grigorchuk have resigned from their offices so far. [12] NEW NAME OF THE PARTY: LIBERAL-DEMOCRATICMedia report that the announced unification of the Liberal and Democratic Party is almost `a done deal'. `Dnevnik' informed that newly-unified party will most likely be promoted by the name `Liberal-Democratic Party'. At the moment the practical aspects of the merging are being negotiated, i.e. talks on the municipal party structure level are in progress.[13] NUMBER OF BLOOD-DONORS ON THE RISEAccording to the National Transfusiology Institute the number of blood- donors is increasing throughout the country. Thus last year 52 026 people have proven their humanity, which is more by 6.34% in comparison to 1995's total of 48 923. The charts of `the best blood-donating cities' are being headed by Bitola (4 200), followed by Shtip (3 319), Strumica (3 035), Prilep (2 879) and Veles (2 865). Other traditionally successful collections have been staged at Vinica, Krushevo, Negotino, Kratovo, Sveti Nikole, Kochani, Delchevo and Radovish.MILS SUPPLEMENT[14] `Avalanche Rumbling Towards Socialists'(`Vecher' - 28th January 1997)Initial pot-shots between the two coalition partners constituting the Macedonian Government - the SDSM and the SP - which surfaced during the local elections campaign, i.e. the approach of SP leader Ljubisav Ivanov, have resulted in the creation of an avalanche throughout the past weeks which will most likely `make a clean sweep' in terms of relations between both coalition partners, but in terms of cleaning up the SP ranks, too. The SDSM letter addressed to the SP - requesting the `clarification of several dilemmas and the precise definition of programmatic principles for further sustaining of the coalition up to parliamentary elections in 1998' - has entailed a reply by the SP HQ, signed by party leader Ljubisav Ivanov. This response contains counter-accusations, and the emphasized fact that the SDSM is to blame for the created discord within the coalition - as the SPM is being confronted with `deja vu' manipulations. It appears that this reply is the very reason for the first open and official discussion of events and notional internal party differences - even by a part of the Socialists' leadership (above all: Party Secretary Mirko Tripunovski, Vice-President Blagoja Filipovski and Ministers Ljube Trpevski and Vlado Naumovski). Upon evaluating the statements given yesterday, it becomes quite apparent that the hatchet has most certainly been `unearthed'; that the SPM HQ reply has been crooned together without consulting party structures - which has entailed conceptual differences within the party, dichotomies requiring purgation as soon as possible. The actual necessity to clarify relations between coalition partners has been imposed by the local elections campaign during which - it is being stressed - the SDSM has swerved away from (previously agreed upon) programme resolutions in many respects. The Socialists were requested to explain themselves in terms of the following issues: the position of the SPM with regards to overall social reforms, particularly the macro-economic policy of the Government, with regards to restructuring processes within the economic and social spheres; domestic currency stability and inflation, the establishment of tolerant inter-ethnic relations. In addition to this there is the demand for clear and practical programme positions in terms of foreign policy, above all the supporting of the equi-distance policy and pro-European orientation. The SPM reply states that both parties are basically compatible as regards key economic and political issues. Both are in favour of a sovereign and independent Macedonia, in favour of privatization and a multi-party system. It has, however, been stressed that divergent opinions have also emerged with respect to the implementation of these priority issues. At one point the SPM is dwelling on the `gray-zone' economy, on cutting down budget and public spending, on a flexible and creative monetary policy, a flexible currency course, the expansion of the market towards neighbouring countries. `There are no differences with respect to foreign policy... that has been stated quite clearly. There are divergent modes of implementation exhibited by individuals who are often following their own agenda. These dichotomies become substantial with respect to economic policy, the way out of these critical conditions, negative phenomena. Differences also focus on discrete development modes of democracy (the legal system does not work as it is too orientated towards one party), on the evolutional pace of reforms in all domains (as progress is slow some of them, and non- existent in others)', the SPM claims. It is as if this sort of response has caused tempestuous reactions within the very party leadership of the SPM. `I am not delving into the contents of this letter. I do nevertheless disagree with the employed procedure as the SDSM letter had been addressed to the SPM President personally. It has not been the subject of open party debates. This is something `deja vu', it is not a winning horse, and last year a similar approach had been tried out on the Liberals. As far as the text itself is concerned, it is merely indicative of the ideological discord within the SPM, which had surfaced during the election campaign. It is also due to the fact that the party had adopted a programme at its first congress, which had been altered at the second and finalized at the extra-ordinary congress. This programme is being violated - it is said - violated by certain people, not the entire party. We have been confronted with this problem over a longer period of time, i.e. with the ignoring of elected party structures. What is most important, though, is that the SDSM address should have been discussed by party structures', said SPM Vice- President Blagoja Filipovski. Besides this, Filipovski stated, `the statutory option to instigate a meeting of party structures in order to devise a strategy for imminent action by the SPM would be exercised. It should not be forgotten that we are part of the Government coalition - and so far no official SPM initiative addressed to the Government has been discarded. These days we are being confronted with the unification of parties in order to gain in bulk. I shall continue to advocate the fortification of the left centre, and in this context this personal apostrophe (by party leader Ivanov) does not seem to facilitate things.' According to the statement of SPM leader Mirko Tripunovski `as the forwarded SDSM letter is an official paper - one should supply an official response. And such an official reply should be given by SPM structures. We will initiate a discussion within the Executive and the National Councils, and the date will be conditioned by negotiations achieved with members, Government Ministers and the President.' As far as the supposed delayed arrival of the forwarded letter, addressed - as we have found out - to the SPM Secretary who has been absent over the holiday season Tripunovski stressed that this should not embody an objective impediment to party debates, i.e. to an official reply - if this were the desired objective. The Deputy PM of Macedonia Ljube Trpevski, who is also a member of the SPM said that `it was high time that at least the party's Executive Council assembled to discuss matters and formulate an opinion regarding the SDSM letter'. `I disagree with many of the expressed things, particularly in terms of economic policy, budget policy, currency course and I see all criticism addressed to the Government as criticism addressed to me. The latter, however, is not sustainable. The course of the national currency, for instance, is flexible and any further devaluation would require a greater emission of funds, inflation and the emptying of the budget. Or the decrease of budget expenditures by 50% would mean the termination of the health sector, law enforcement, the armed forces... All this has never been discussed by SPM structures. We have suggested to the party president that it would be more honest to leave the Government and then criticize it, rather than being in the Government and then criticizing it...' explained Deputy PM and SPM Executive Board member Ljube Trpevski. Even the Socialist Minister without portfolio Vlado Naumovski does not agree with the objections listed in the Ivanov letter. `All endeavours by the Government and the Socialist ministers are designed to improve conditions in Macedonia through a joint effort and dialogue with the coalition partner. In connection to the programme for the election campaign I have not been consulted at all, and neither were the structures of the SPM', emphasizes Naumovski. `It has become necessary now to clarify things within the party, and to enter discussions with the coalition with a definite perspective', says Minister Vlado Naumovski. Prior to the crystallization of relations between the coalition partners SDSM and SPM, matters will obviously have to be settled within the SPM. As Jovan Lazarov - one of the Ivanov supporters - has told us they `have no intention of doing anything. They represent a faction. There have been problems and there always will be. I think, however, that we will find the strength to overcome them. As far as our coalition partner is concerned - we are to be taken seriously and we will adhere to what we have agreed on. What will happen in the future remains uncertain... it will depend on the SDSM.' In addition to this, according to the words of SDSM Secretary Ljupcho Paunovski, at the moment the Social- Democrats are preoccupied with parliamentary debates, and the show-down with the coalition partner is to follow is to follow the latter. Regardless of everything, one of the options officially making the round in parliamentary circles is that a division of SPM ranks and the settling of relations with the coalition partner are to go hand in hand. (end)mils news 29 January 1997Macedonian Information Liaison Service Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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