
=========================================================

          SKOPJE, OCTOBER 25, (MIC)



          LARGE INTEREST IN MACEDONIA

          Parliamentary Speaker  Stojan Andov  had  two  informal

meetings in  New York  with the  President  of  the  U.S.A.  Bill

Clinton.

          At the  reception organized  in the New York library in

the honor  of all  heads of  state and government, Clinton had an

unusually long  discussion with Stojan Andov, inquiring about the

health condition  of the  President of the Republic of Macedonian

Kiro Gligorov,  and offering  help. In  the  discussion,  Clinton

reiterated the  interest  of  the  U.S.A.  in  the  stability  of

Macedonia.

          Two days  ago, Andov  also met with Hans Van Den Broek,

Commissioner of  the European  Union. The  European  Commissioner

informed the Speaker of Parliament that he had received a mandate

from the  Union to  start negotiations  with Macedonia  over  its

association with  the European Union. The meeting also dealt with

the  pending   establishment  of   diplomatic  relations  between

Macedonia and the Union.

          Stojan Andov  also met  with the  presidents of Albania

and Croatia, Sali Berisha and Franjo Tudjman. It was concluded in

the talks  with the  Albanian President  that it  is necessary to

legally regulate  the mutual  relations as  soon as possible. The

signing of  inter-state agreements  has been postponed until now,

because Albania has recognized Macedonia under its temporary name

- FYROM. The signing of the Declaration on the East-West corridor

was  the  first  document  to  be  signed  by  Albania  with  the

constitutional name  of our state. This is even more important in

light of  the fact that it has the signature of the head of state

Berisha on it.

          The talks  with Croatian President Franjo Tudjman dealt

with the  restoration  of  the  economic  cooperation,  which  is

suffering because of the war.

          Andov also  had a  meeting with  the president  of  the

International Red  Cross, Cornelio  Samaruga, who  announced that

the International  Conference of  the Red  Cross will receive the

Red Cross of Macedonia as a full member in December.

          The formal  session of the UN General Assembly finished

late last  night. The  participants in this session were supposed

to adopt a closing declaration.



          FIVE PROTOCOLS  FOR  NORMALIZATION  OF  RELATIONS  WITH

GREECE

          The delegation of the Macedonian Foreign Ministry which

took part  in the negotiations with the Greek side in Athens last

week, announced  at yesterday's  news conference  in Skopje  that

five protocols  had been  concluded. The  head of  the delegation

Ljupcho Arsovski  stated that the protocols deal with the opening

of liaisons  offices, customs regulations, green cards, visas and

transport and connections.

          The liaisons offices will be opened in coordination, in

the capital cities, with the agreed characteristics, title of the

heads of  missions, privileges  and immunity,  in accordance with

the Vienna Convention.

          The liaisons  office in  Athens, provided  it is  in  a

private house,  will have  a board  placed on  the fence with the

coat of arms and flag of the Republic of Macedonia, while a board

with the  name Republic  of Macedonia will be placed in the front

part of  the entrance door. The Greek side has the right to place

a sign  with the temporary name FYROM some distance away from the

gate of  the fence. In the lower part, it will be stated that the

board was placed there by a third party.

          One of  the more  significant things  to come  from the

Athens meeting  is the resolution of the question with the "green

cards," since  the recognition  of this document, which is issued

by  the   Macedonian  National  Bureau  of  Insurance  opens  the

possibility for  the same  document to  be recognized  by all  EU

members soon.

          It  was  said  that  the  normal  cargo  transportation

between the  two countries  is expected  to start  soon.  Namely,

60,000 tones  of crude  oil have  already been  unloaded  in  the

Salonika port,  which were  supplied by  the Skopje  Refinery, as

well as  6,000 tones of zinc. The Macedonian engines have already

crossed the  border, which means that the transportation of these

raw materials will soon start.

          To the  question regarding  the refusal  of  Greece  to

issue visas to citizens born in the Aegean part of Macedonia, the

journalists got  the reply  that the practical problems will soon

be the topic of new discussions. As to the question whether these

citizens were even mentioned in the negotiations, the journalists

were told that it did not matter where who was born, but, for the

Macedonian delegation,  all the  people with Macedonian passports

are citizens of the Republic of Macedonia.

          To the  question whether  they had any information that

the tourist  agencies were  already  thinking  of  not  accepting

citizens born in Aegean Macedonia in busses travelling to Greece,

since they  could not  risk having  their busses turned back, the

response was  that they  had no such information. The journalists

received a  similar reply to the question regarding the fact that

upon entering  Greece, Macedonian  citizens are  forced to  write

FYROM instead  of Republic  of Macedonia  in the  forms they  are

given to  fill in. According to Jovan Cicakovski, chief of sector

in the  Interior Ministry,  this ministry  does not have any such

information. He added that it has been agreed that the Macedonian

citizens can  write the Republic of Macedonia, however, the Greek

side has  the right to write FYROM over that, and that no one has

the right to force the citizens of Macedonia to write FYROM.



          CHARGES AGAINST GREECE DROPPED

          The European Commission has dropped the charges against

Greece over  its economic embargo against Macedonia, now that the

two countries  have improved their mutual relations, the European

Court of Justice announced yesterday.

          The Court  spokesman stated  that the  lifting  of  the

embargo eliminates  the  justification  of  the  charges  of  the

Commission.





==============================================================

MILS NEWS

Skopje, 26 October 1995



MACEDONIA INTERIOR MINISTER RESIGNS

Macedonian Minister of Internal Affairs, Ljubomir

Frckovski, said on today's press conference that he has

informed the Prime Minister, Branko Crvenkovski, of his

wish to resign. He explained that Macedonian Police was

not following the normal security procedure and did not

have any prior information leading to the assassination

attempt.

He stressed that the attempt was organized by a

multinational business-financial company in a neighboring

country, whose expert entered Macedonia on 28 of

September, 1995 and prepared the bomb. He also mentioned

that same Macedonian citizens might have been involved.

It remains unclear whether the Prime Minister will accept

his resignation at this stage of the investigation.



THE CORRIDOR EAST-WEST IS A SUBJECT OF GREEK COMPLAINTS

The Greek Government commented on the agreement on the

East-West corridor. As A1 TV reports, high officials in

the Greek government attempted to minimize the accord

signed in New York. The Greek President Konstantinos

Stefanopoulos said  Greece should speed up the

construction of the parallel highway on the Greek soil-

Via Egnatia. The Spokesman, Telemakos Kitiris, stated

that the accord does not have any political nor financial

support in the European Union.

A1 TV reminds that at the Pan-European Conference held in

Greece last year the aforementioned project had been

included in the European strategy for the next 20 years.



THE LAW ON POLITICAL PARTIES-CONSTITUTIONAL

The Constitutional Court of Macedonia announced that the

Law on political parties is in order of the Constitution

and it does not limit the freedom of political

associations. The Law has been challenged because it says

that parties need at least 500 members in order to be

registered. The Court  refuses to change the law saying

that the proposed number does not limit political

associations but it is a part of the registration

procedure.



"DISCRIMINATION AGAINST ALBANIANS CONTINUES"

The party magazine of the Republican Party of Albania

reports about a meeting between the leader of NDP, Iljaz

Halimi, and the leader of the Albanian republican Party,

Sabri Godo, in Tirana.

According to the magazine, the leaders talked about the

position of Albanians in Macedonia. Sabri Godo has stated

that Macedonia does not fulfill the 'minimal rights of

the minorities'. He argued for better coordination

between the Albanian political parties and readjusting

the policy toward Macedonia. Halimi stated that the

position of the Albanians according to the Constitution

of 1991 is unenviable and they are treated as a minority

with no right to be a Constitutional people.





=========================================================

          SKOPJE, OCTOBER 27, 1995 (MIC)



          INTER-STATE TRANSPORTATION REGULATED

          The goods  exchange and  TRANSPORTATION between  Skopje

and Athens is carried out normally since Wednesday, from a formal

aspect as  well, the  conservative newspaper "Katimerini" claimed

yesterday, Makpress reports.

          The Greek  Finance Ministry, as it is stated, delivered

all the  necessary documents and instructions for transit, import

and  export   of  goods  from  Macedonia  and  the  treatment  of

passengers,  to   the  Customs   Administration  in  Salonika  on

Wednesday.  The   seal  which  is  used  for  this  purpose  says

"recognized by Greece as FYROM."

          The reloading  of 6,000  tones of  zinc concentrate for

the Veles  smeltery should  have also  been done yesterday in the

Salonika port.  Macedonian wagon-cistern also arrived in Salonika

on  Wednesday,   to  take   over  the   blocked   petrol,   while

representatives  of  the  "Skopje"  Refinery  have  already  made

contact with the oil company "Jet Oil" to renew the old deals.

          Prime Minister  Andreas  Papandreou,  Foreign  Minister

Karolos Papoulias  and the Ambassador to the UN Hristos Zaharikis

came to  an agreement at their Wednesday meeting in Athens on the

"tactics of  the Greek  Government in  the course of the dialogue

Athens-Skopje." News  about this  meeting was published yesterday

by  the   central  Greek   newspapers,  together   with   various

assumptions and  speculations about the "compromise name" and the

lasting period of the "dialogue."



          LAW ON LOCAL SELF-MANAGEMENT ADOPTED

          The Macedonian  Parliament adopted  the  Law  on  local

self-management yesterday.  83 MPs  from SDAM, LP and SPM were in

favour of the law, two MPs - Tomislav Stojanovski (DPM) and Hisen

Ramadani (independent)  abstained from  voting, and  eight -  six

from PDP  and two  independent MPs  (Mersel Biljali and Abduljadi

Vejseli)  were   against.  Directly   before  the   voting,   the

representatives of  PDPA and  NDP indignantly  walked out  of the

parliamentary hall,  because, as  Sali Ramadani  explained, their

dissatisfaction with  the text of the law and the attitude of the

Government and the other MPs toward their demands.

          Following the  voting, the vice-president of Parliament

Tito Petkovski  noted: "The  adoption of this Law rounds off five

years of  hard work of this government, as well as those from the

previous mandate.  It rounds  off the  political  system  of  the

Republic of Macedonia and creates the possibility to proceed with

the second local elections in the Republic of Macedonia."

          Before  the   voting,  the   coordinator  of   the  PDP

parliamentary group  Ismet Ramadani explained that his associates

will not be giving their "yes" vote because "the Law does not met

our expectations." Despite the obvious step forward that has been

made by  the Government,  nonetheless,  they  feel  that  certain

important questions  regarding  the  authorizations  and  use  of

languages, have not been accepted.

          Upon leaving  the parliamentary  hall, on behalf of the

"party of  five" from  PDPA and  NDP, Sali Ramadani called on his

"copatriots, i.e.  (PDP MPs)  not only  not to  vote in favour of

this Law,  but to  walk out  of the  hall together  with them, to

withdraw their  ministers and  other officials,  and to break off

the fictional  coalition." Ismet  Ramadani (PDP) had only this to

say: "I'm not accepting any lectures about my party from immature

boys in politics."



          VLADO POPOVSKI: "WE'VE TAKEN CARE OF A VERY COMPLICATED

MATTER"

          "I feel,  in a  way, satisfied,  since I've  finished a

very good  and complicated  matter in one of the most complex and

delicate laws,  which also regulates a very sensitive matter. The

parliamentary debate  has shown  that this  is  a  very  delicate

matter, where  the interests  of the  local communities  and  the

state, and the interethnic relations in the Republic of Macedonia

are balanced out. I feel we have set a standard way, or to put it

differently, a  moderate norm  that can present the basis for the

development of  the local self-management, for democratization of

the state authority, a certain delegation of the authority of the

local self-management  and for  the  future  development  of  the

interethnic relations."

          When asked to comment the fact that one more systematic

law has  been adopted without the votes of the representatives of

the Albanians, minister Popovski said:

          "Ask them.  But, in  any event,  it's a  fact that  the

representatives of  the Albanians  in Macedonia  took an  active,

consistent and  constructive part  in this  Law, as  well as  all

systematic laws  for which they did not vote from the start (from

the first  phases of  the draft-texts)  up to  the act  of voting

itself. Only  they can  explain their  absence from  the  act  of

voting. I can assume that it is connected with certain political,

to put  it in  such a  way, a  political marketing  account. But,

that's only my assumption. Maybe it's not correct."



          MACEDONIAN GOVERNMENT: STABILIZATION IN SET PARAMETERS

          At yesterday's  session, which  was  presided  over  by

Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski, the Government of the Republic

of  Macedonia   reviewed  and   accepted  the  Analysis  for  the

realization of  the  macroeconomic  policy  of  the  Republic  of

Macedonia  in   1995.  The   successful  implementation   of  the

macroeconomic policy,  as the Government assessed, is a result of

the  global  plan  which  is  satisfactory  and  within  the  set

framework. The  established process  of economic stabilization is

maintained within  the set  parameters, and  the achievements  in

certain regions  are even  better than expected. The intensity of

the price  increases has  dropped considerably,  the stability of

the rate  of the  denar is  maintained, and  an increase  in  the

foreign currency reserves has been realized.

          However, the  anticipated results  in the  real  sector

have not  been realized,  despite  the  somewhat  more  favorable

external conditions  and the  reduced inflation.  This applies in

particular to  the industrial  production, which,  instead of the

expected increase  of 0.7%, is still in the zone of high negative

rates, which  is chiefly  the result  of the lost markets for the

sale of basic raw material products.

          In adopting  the Analysis  for the  realization of  the

macroeconomic policy  in 1995, the Government also determined the

main directions  which will  serve as a basis for the preparation

of the development policy in 1996.

          At yesterday's  session, the Government also determined

the Proposal  for amendments and supplements to the budget of the

Republic of Macedonia for 1995.

          The  general   assessment   is   that   the   financial

stabilization which  started even  before last year, and has been

maintained  within   the  determined   Program   for   1995,   is

considerably better in some fields than expected. However, as the

Government concluded,  the development  of events  in the first 8

months are  a reason  to carry  out a  revision of the determined

Program for 1995, which also implies an adaptation of the nominal

framework which  was imposed  from the considerably lower rate of

inflation of  8% up  to the  end of  the  year,  instead  of  the

projected 18%.

          Thus, according  to the  Proposal  for  amendments  and

supplements to  the Budget  of the Republic of Macedonia for this

year, instead  of the  planned 51 billion and 100 million denars,

it is  determined at  43.833.568.461  denars,  which  presents  a

difference of 7 billion and 367 thousand denars.



          160 DEM TO ENTER GREECE BY CAR

          From yesterday morning, the Greek border authorities on

the  Macedonian-Greek   border  points  started  charging  border

insurance for  motor vehicles.  160  DEM  are  charged  for  cars

(25,000 drachmas),  and  500  DEM  (80,000  drachmas)  for  cargo

vehicles. The  Macedonian border  authorities have not been given

an explanation for this measure.

          Otherwise,  in   accordance  with   the  Protocol   for

international insurance  and green  cards, from  Wednesday, Greek

citizens  are  not  charged  border  insurance  for  their  motor

vehicles.



          LAW ON ENTERPRISES SUPPLEMENTED

          The Commission  on economy of the Macedonian Parliament

gave a  green light  to the adoption of the Law on supplements to

the Law  on enterprises.  The need  to adopt  the supplements was

explained by  the Minister  of Finance Jane Miljovski, who noted,

among the  rest, that  some 80,000  enterprises are registered in

the country  at the moment, of which 45,000 have not reported any

employees, which  is making  the job  of the  competent organs to

control their  work very  difficult. For  these  reasons,  it  is

proposed for  the enterprises to have at least one more employee,

beside the director or representative of the company.

          (end)





=================================================================



          SKOPJE, OCTOBER 30, 1995 (MIC)



          NEIGHBORS   WITHOUT    COMMENT   ON    ORGANIZERS    OF

ASSASSINATION

          The assertion  of Interior  Minister Ljubomir Frckovski

that  the   assassination  attempt   on  President  Gligorov  was

organized by  a "multinational,  financial-economic group  from a

neighboring country,"  did not come across official comments, nor

comments in  the press  in Athens,  Belgrade, Sofia  and  Tirana,

Makpress reports.

          In Sofia,  the newspaper  "24 Hours"  says in a heading

"Skopje  accusing   neighbors."  The   newspaper  of  the  ruling

Socialists "Duma,"  calling  upon  radio  BBC,  writes  that  the

Russian mafia and the KGB are involved in the assassination.

          In Greece,  "Katimerini" says on the cover page "Skopje

involving  the  neighbors,"  while  "Elefterotipia"  writes  that

"Frckovski described Bulgaria, but only didn't mention its name."

          In Serbia,  all the newspapers published the news about

Frckovski's  resignation   and  the   results  of   the   to-date

investigation, while  "Nasa Borba"  was  the  only  newspaper  to

report this  matter on  the first  page, with  the assertion that

"the  assassination   was  organized  by  a  corporation  from  a

neighboring state."

          Newspapers in  Albania are  conveying the  reports from

the news conference without any comments.



          REACTIONS IN MACEDONIA

          Following  minister   Frckovski's  news  conference  in

Macedonia, the  first to  speak up  was the  party IMRO-DP, whose

president Vladimir Golubovski tabled a couple of questions to the

Government. If  the Government stands behind minister Frckovski's

statement, then  we would  like  to  ask  if  that  multinational

company had  made any  capital investments in Macedonia, how many

and which  economic subjects  cooperated with it, and which party

did the people who took part in this economic group belong to.

          In relation to this matter, the newspaper "Vecer" wrote

in the  editorial of  its Saturday  issue: "Therefore,  it is not

said for  no reason that even if the man who made the evil device

is found  out, and  brought to  justice, the analysis of the true

motives of  those who  inspired the  terrorist attack on Gligorov

will remain  in the  sphere of  speculations and assumptions, but

even such  an outcome  is better than none at all, since then the

question of  responsibility here  at home  (which was  opened  by

Frckovski not  only as a moral act, but also with the undoubtedly

brave assessment  as to  his  objective  responsibility)  can  be

expanded.

          If the  Government has taken the results of the to-date

investigation seriously,  that question  will have  to be  raised

regardless of  the outcome  of the  investigation. It's  a public

secret that  many of  our  newly-formed  businessmen  are  highly

involved in  transactions with  dubious partners, and some, maybe

even with the infamous group. It's also a public secret that many

of them also have serious political influence, sponsoring parties

or corrupting  individuals  in  the  administration.  When  Prime

Minister Crvenkovski  announced the action to stamp out crime and

corruption, the public expected results for which there might not

have been realistic justification.

          Now, that the mobsters responded spectacularly and with

action, which  the whole public experienced very painfully, there

are no  more dilemmas  - the  prime minister  gave his  word,  he

promised results  and he is expected to fulfill what he promised.

If what  Frckovski announced is true, it turns out that the devil

has taken away the joke.

          And, not  only because  of the  cross  puzzle  that  is

intimidating. Hardly  a day goes by without hearing a story about

some mobster  who had  come to  the country,  after crossing  the

border as if its not a border, walking through the streets of the

town and  personally  liberating  Skopje,  having  fun  with  his

"business" partners  and their  "business escorts"  in the Skopje

bars, beating  up his  debtors in  the middle  of a bar, and then

returning back to his country, as if nothing had happened.

          People are  asking: will  there ever  be an end to this

chaos? A little while longer, the time of the "ordinary" man will

come, who  is not  a businessman,  who doesn't  owe anything, nor

anyone owes  anything to  him, who doesn't care much for gambling

or chasing  after "business" ladies, to simply be afraid to go to

a bar  and walk  down the  street. People expect that to stop one

day, even  at the cost of some newly-formed businessmen and their

corrupted friends  from the  Government,  to  have  their  golden

springs dry  out, and to lose their "business" partners with whom

they exchange  both debts and fists, and sometimes something even

more dangerous.  Only not  to forget in the end. Only a couple of

minutes after  the assassination  attempt on  Gligorov, a  larger

group of  children from  some  Skopje  kindergarten  crossed  the

street "Makedonija."  They have  only their lucky starts to thank

for being  alive  and  healthy  today.  Today  luck,  what  about

tomorrow?



          SULEJMANI DEMANDING APOLOGY FROM GOVERNMENT

          The self-proclaimed president of the illegal university

in Tetovo  Fadil Sulejmani  said at  the news  conference held in

Tetovo on Friday: "Although the retrogressive forces in Macedonia

tried to obstruct the wish of the people for education, thanks to

precisely that  support from  the people and the determination of

the  students   and  professors,  the  University  in  Tetovo  is

continuing its work."

          The president  of the  illegal university informed that

the University  has six  faculties, 1,259  students,  17  lecture

halls, three  laboratories, a  library,  administrative  offices,

etc. According to Sulejmani, the university is working as part of

the educational  system in  Macedonia, which  he argues  with the

fact that  it is  founded by  the Albanian political subjects and

three municipal  assemblies, which  also function  in Macedonia's

state system.

          "Lately, it  is  becoming  clear  that  the  Macedonian

Government has  started developing  a  moderate  policy  for  the

realization of the cultural rights of its citizens, regardless of

nation, race  and religion. This is making us optimistic that the

Government will  change its  old bolshevist policy toward us, the

Albanians, and  that it  will not  discriminate  us  as  before,"

Sulejmani said, who couldn't answer a journalists' question as to

where this impression comes from that the Government has taken on

a more moderate attitude toward the activities of the University.

          According  to   Sulejmani,  the   activities   of   the

University  and  its  -------  personally  are  not  against  the

Government and therefore it should publicly apologize for closing

it down, and appropriately compensate for lost time.



          "MARSHALL PLAN" FOR MACEDONIA

          "The proposal of the German Prime Minister Klaus Kinkel

for the  'Marshall plan'  for Macedonia  does not  apply to  this

country alone,  but in  general, to  building up the countries of

former Yugoslavia.  It will  not be  a separate  institution, but

realization of  the help  through the existing instruments of the

European Union.  In addition,  that will not be help from Germany

alone, and  only  as  part  of  the  bilateral  German-Macedonian

relations," the  acting German  ambassador  to  the  Republic  of

Macedonia Paul Ditrich told Makpress.

          "Macedonia is  an especially  important partner  to us.

Chiefly because of its peace-loving policy in the region. It will

have a  reflection not  only on  a  political,  but  also  on  an

economic plan.  So far,  the help  was mainly technical, but from

now on, it will also be realized through concrete financial help.

Germany  will   make  strong  efforts  to  expand  the  bilateral

cooperation and to strengthen the relations with the EU."

          "In the period ahead," Ditrich says, "the economic help

will pertain  to the railway line toward Bulgaria, the irrigation

systems and  the hydro-dams  Turkey,  Ilovica  and  Mantovo,  the

ecological measures  for the Dojran and Prespa Lake, the projects

of the  food industry,  primarily in  the field of control of the

food  products,   support  of   the  Macedonian   companies   for

participation  in  the  international  fairs,  the  promotion  of

Macedonian exports, mainly textiles and wine.

          Last year,  Germany allocated  Macedonia technical help

to the  amount of  six million  marks, and  a credit  of  fifteen

million marks.  So far,  the overall  German help  for  Macedonia

amounts to 48 million DEM," Ditrich said.

          "This year,  that help  is much  greater,  and  with  a

tendency to  keep increasing in the coming years. Our efforts, as

a country  with the highest percentage of participation in the EU

contributions, 28%  will be  used to incorporate Macedonia in the

European programs,  like the  PHARE program,  which  should  also

happen in a couple of weeks," Paul Ditrich said.



          CHANGEABLE ATTITUDE OF GREEK BORDER ORGANS

          The Greek  border officials at the crossings Evzoni and

Dojrani, on  the Greek-Macedonian  border, started  accepting the

green  cards  for  the  insurance  of  Macedonian  vehicles  from

yesterday afternoon.  This means  that the payment of 160 DEM for

cars and 500 DEM for trucks is no longer valid.

          Unlike before,  visas are issued much faster, which has

enabled some  ten Macedonian  vehicles to  enter Greece.  In  the

railway traffic,  Macedonians travelling  with the express trains

for Salonika and Athens are still required to show 400 DEM at the

border. If  not, they  are  sent  back,  which  is  exactly  what

happened to some people from Kavadarci two days ago. The dynamics

of the  transportation of crude oil from the Salonika port is not

going as planned. Instead of the planned four compositions in one

day, the  transport is carried out with two compositions per day,

which are  brought to  the railway  station in Gevgelija by Greek

engines, which  then return  back  to  Greece  with  empty  wagon

cisterns.



=====================================================

MILS NEWS

Skopje, 31 October 1995



MACEDONIA WILL SOON BE INCLUDED IN THE PHARE PROGRAM

The German Minister of Foreign Affairs, Claus Kinkel,

announced for the press yesterday that the EU is satisfied

of the situation in Macedonia and will soon establish

diplomatic relations and start bilateral talks with the

Macedonian Government. Also, Macedonia will soon be

admitted in the PHARE program in the framework of the

financial aid to all the states of former Yugoslavia. The

realization of the adopted program should be financed by

the PHARE program and the budget of the Union.

As A1 TV reports, the Italian suggestion on regional

cooperation has been accepted. Italy also suggested that

the region of Bosnia, Kosovo, Albania, Macedonia and part

of Bulgaria should be financed through a member country.

Italian officials, cited by A1 TV, also mentioned that

Italy has a plan of cooperation with the aforementioned

region through construction of railways as well as trade

and economic cooperation.

However, Macedonian radio reports that the financial aid

for Macedonia will be realized in two phases. The first

phase will be the admittance in the PHARE program, and the

second phase will consider realization of stabilization

projects through the group of  '24 developed countries'.

The whole project on reconstruction of the former Yugoslav

republics will be carried out by the IMF and the World

Bank.



GREEK BORDER AUTHORITIES TEMPT THE PATIENCE OF THE

MACEDONIAN CITIZENS

At the border crossing Bogorodica-Evzoni 40 automobiles

and 50 transport vehicles were not allowed to enter

Greece, Macedonian Radio reports. Greek authorities have

not put into effect the agreed protocol on vehicle

insurance which is patiently carried out by Macedonian

authorities.

The Macedonian Red Cross delegation was not allowed to

enter Greece as its secretary, Ivan Narasanov, was born in

Salonica. The delegation sent a letter to the Greek Red

Cross expressing its disappointment and suggested a

meeting between the two organizations in Skopje.

Macedonian radio reports that representatives from Greek

and Macedonian railway started talks on railway schedules

and some financial issues. It is expected that the railway

traffic will intensify.



NO OFFERS ON THE NAME ISSUE, PAPOULIAS SAYS

The Greek Minister of Foreign affairs stated yesterday in

Yanina that the talks on the name issue are preliminary

and there are no offers about the name. According to him,

Cyrus Vance has been told about the positions of the two

parts and added that the second phase will be

characterized by long and hard negotiations. As 'Makfaks'

reports, the Greek daily 'Elephterotypia' says that

Macedonian government will try to delay the negotiations.

It refers to the statement of the Macedonian Parliament

President Andov given at the press conference. Namely, he

stated that the absence of President Gligorov will delay

any talks on the name problem

'Makpres' reports about an initiative of the Greek Defense

Minister, Gerassimos Arsenis who proposed formation of a

Balkan Council. The Council will establish cooperation in

many fields, such as human rights, communication, the

coordination of infrastructure, etc. The members of the

Council will be Greece, Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, and

the countries of former Yugoslavia.

Arsenis said that this initiative could develop and be

extended to security matters "which is already taking

place within the frameworks of the Partnership for Peace

and bilateral defense agreements" which Greece has signed

with Bulgaria, Albania and Romania.

He also believes that it was only "logical" that all the

channels of EU aid to the Balkan countries should pass

through Greece.



GOSHEV: US SEES MACEDONIA AS AN IMPORTANT FACTOR

The President of the Democratic Party, Petar Goshev, after

the four-week visit to U.S.A. said at a press conference

yesterday that informed people in the U.S. consider

Macedonia as an important factor in the region. As he

said, his visit was a result of the invitation of the

American Administration. He had talks with representatives

of the IMF, 'Eksim Bank', the Federal Commission on

elections, the Organization for Human Rights of California

and other non- government organizations. The issues at the

meetings were mostly about the economic situation in

Macedonia, the development of democracy as well as

international political relations. He added that his visit

to U.S. was aimed to present the Macedonian interests, and

that he did not present only the Democratic Party.



MILS SUPPLEMENT: THE LOCAL MANAGEMENT

HAS EUROPEAN STANDARDS

(Nova Makedonija, 28 October 1995) Part II

The main problem during the last four years was the

inefficiency of the local communities. The new Law

introduces "self or local management" which expresses

autonomous solution in dealing with certain questions. One

of the news in the Law is the adoption of a city

architect. The architect should be one of the best from

the field, he/she should work on urban planning,

architecture projects as well as renovation of city

districts. The mandate of the city architect will last 4

years. During the discussion on the amendments there were

some suggestions that there was no need of such an

architect having in mind that it will not guarantee the

protection of architecture. However, the amendment for

city architecture remains in the Law.

Concerning the language use due to the percentage of the

nationalities, after many disputed views it remained

unchanged. When nationalities (minorities) number 50% of

the total population in the community they have a right of

using of their native language in the local institutions.

The same applies to communities with at least 20% which is

considered as a significant number. So, practically this

means public use of the languages of the minorities where

they are in a certain percentage. The regulation on the

significant number (20%) will provide two-language use in

the institution, the names of the inhabited places, etc.

The only thing is that the regulation has to be adopted at

the local management in order to come to force. The

solution will depend on political parties at the time

being.

Such solutions were not acceptable for the Albanian

deputies so they voted against the Law.

The government did not accept criticism from Albanians on

the percentage. Namely, the percentage of the significant

number (20%) has been coordinated through certain social,

cultural and other aspects since there is no regulation in

other countries about the percentage. This solution will

bring two-language use in Gostivar, Tetovo, Debar,

Kichevo, Krushevo, Kumanovo, and Struga, as well as some

Skopje communities where nationalities number more than

20%- Gazi Baba, Karposh, Chair and Center.

The Minister of justice, Vlado Popovski, stated that a

huge work has been completed which will eventually lead to

a higher level of development of the local communities.

According to the Minister, this model of local management

is not perfect nor it is finished and eternal. in other

words there is a space for changes, but only when the Law

will be realized practically.

(end)

mils news 31 October '95





=======================================================

          SKOPJE, NOVEMBER 1, 1995 (MIC)



          EU TO OPEN AN EMBASSY IN MACEDONIA

          The European  Union will  probably open  an embassy  in

Macedonia next  month. This  was stated  yesterday by Doris Pack,

who  is   leading  the  six-member  delegation  of  the  European

Parliament for  Southeast Europe,  which is  in Macedonia  at the

invitation of Parliamentary Speaker Stojan Andov.

          In the  statement for  the press,  Pack said  that  the

delegation she  is leading  is  taking  a  number  of  steps  for

providing concrete help to Macedonia.

          "I'm very  pleased to  be here  at this moment, in this

new  situation   between  this  country  and  its  neighbor.  The

resolution of  these problems  can start off a new era of solving

the questions  between this  country and  the EU. As you now, the

PHARE program  and the  agreement on  cooperation can start being

realized now. It is of great help that we are here precisely now,

in order  to submit  a report  to our  Commission on interethinic

relations in  Brussels after  we return. I was in Macedonia three

years ago,  as  well,  and  I  can  say  that  many  things  have

improved," said Doris Pack.

          In Macedonia,  the delegation met with the coordinators

of the  parliamentary groups  in the Macedonian Parliament, while

at the  meeting with  the members  of the  Commission on  foreign

politics, it  was said  that Macedonia's  association with the EU

was one of the next steps and goals of the Macedonian Government.

          The guests  expressed a  large interest  in Macedonia's

overall  relations   with  Albania   and  Bulgaria,  whereby  the

president of  the Commission,  Ilinka Mitreva informed the guests

that the  relations with  Albania are  correct, whereas Bulgaria,

despite having  recognized  Macedonia  under  its  constitutional

name, seems  to be showing that, in effect, it does not recognize

the Macedonian nation and language.

          Yesterday, the  delegation of  the European  Parliament

had a  meeting with  the members  of the Council for inter-ethnic

relations   of    the   Macedonian    Parliament,   talks    with

representatives  of   some  NGOs,  with  the  management  of  the

Macedonian Radio  Television, the  editors  of  the  programs  in

Albanian, Turkish, Rhoman, Vlach and Serbian language, as well as

Radmila Kiprijanova,  the president of the University "Sts. Cyril

and Methodius."

          The  guests   from  the  European  Parliament  will  be

received by Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski today, the Minister

of Economy Risto Ivanov, Interior Minister Ljubomir Frckovski and

Foreign Minister  Stevo Crvenkovski. Their schedule also includes

meetings with  representatives of  the Commerce  Chamber and  the

Federation of Unions of Macedonia, the president of the Executive

Committee and  the representatives  of the parties represented in

the Tetovo Municipal Assembly.



          MACEDONIA IN PHARE PROGRAM

          Makpress reports  from Brussels  that the  Republic  of

Macedonia  was   officially   included   in   the   program   for

reconstruction and development PHARE, on Monday.

          Western European  foreign ministers  gave their consent

two days  ago to include Macedonia in the European PHARE program,

designated  for   countries  from  Central  and  Eastern  Europe.

European  diplomats  reached  the  conclusion  that  the  Interim

Accord, signed in New York between Macedonia and Greece, is being

implemented, which eliminates all obstacles to this long-expected

inclusion.

          The last  stage  is  still  outstanding  -  a  positive

opinion of  the European  Parliament. According  to  Doris  Pack,

member of the European Parliament and president of the Commission

on relations with countries from Southeast Europe, "new obstacles

must not stand in Macedonia's way to joining the PHARE program."

          On Monday,  the Ministers'  Council asked  the European

Commission to  examine all  paths and  ways of  developing closer

ties between  the European Union and Macedonia. This will signify

the  last,   formal  step,   which  will   officially  start  off

Macedonia's integration into Europe.



          BULGARIAN  FIRM   "MULTIGROUP"   BEHIND   ASSASSINATION

ATTEMPT ON GLIGOROV

          In  the   article  for  the  newspaper  "Thessaloniki,"

conveyed in  the Sofia  daily "24  Hours," the  head of the Greek

information agency  from Thessaloniki  accuses Bulgaria  and  the

Sofia firm "Multigroup" of being connected with the assassination

attempt on the Macedonian President Kiro Gligorov.

          In his  text, Spiros Kuzinopoulos quotes the Macedonian

Interior  Minister   Ljubomir  Frckovski,   who   said   that   a

multinational group  based in  one of  the neighboring  countries

took part in organizing the assassination.

          "24 Hours"  writes that  the Macedonian press published

the news,  even at  the start  of  the  investigation,  that  the

explosive used  in the assassination was brought into the country

from Bulgaria.

          "I believe  that 'Multigroup'  is  an  economic  group,

founded in  Bulgaria, and that it has connections with the mafia.

I believe  it got  rich by  trading  illegally  with  Serbia  and

Macedonia, violating  the embargo  against FR  Yugoslavia in  the

process."

          According to  Kuzinopoulos, "Multigroup"  was  directly

connected with  the former  KGB  and  the  Russian  interests  in

Bulgaria.  In   the   conclusion,   Kuzinopoulos   explains   his

allegations with  the thesis about the plans of Sofia for a Great

Bulgaria.

          In its reaction to these allegations, the management of

the firm  "Multigroup" assesses  the text  as a provocation "at a

time when  the peace  processes in the Balkans are taking place."

According to the chief secretary of "Multigroup," Bojko Graganov,

"the group  will take  measures in  relation to  the spreading of

such incorrect information that threatens the reputation and good

name of  'Multigroup'," the Sofia daily "24 Hours" writes in it's

issue today.



        AROUND 40  PERCENT OF  THE  APPLICANTS  DO  NOT  LIVE  IN

MACEDONIA

        The Government of the Republic of Macedonia was presented

a long  agenda with numerous proposals from the field of economy,

finance, political  system, and  foreign affairs  activities at a

session two days ago.

        The  session   was  chaired   by  Prime  Minister  Branko

Crvenkovski and  the  first  discussions  on  the  Draft  Law  on

Privatization  of   enterprises  and   state  owned   capital  in

collectives dealing with farms were held with the aim of creating

an efficient  production in  the agricultural field.  In order to

achieve the  desired goal, these enterprises and collectives will

have to  be organized  and work in such a way as to contribute to

achieving high quality that is required by the market, through an

optimum combination of all the investments in the production.

        Taking into the account the significance of this project,

and on  the basis  of all  exposed remarks that were derived from

the discussions,  the government will develop the foundations for

the completion  of the law and it also decided to pass the law to

government's working bodies for revision.

        The government  reviewed and  accepted the  Report on the

hitherto regulated  citizenship status  and the  results  of  the

poll, which  was organized by the Ministry of the Interior during

the month  of September  and that  was performed  on the basis of

casual selection  of 1,788  persons out  of 121,006  citizens who

have not  yet regulated  their citizenship  status.   Among these

persons, Albanians,  Turks, Romanies,  Serbs, Bulgarians, Vlachs,

and other  nationalities living in the Republic of Macedonia were

encompassed beside Macedonians.

        According to  the Report,  the results of the poll showed

that out  of the  citizens  who  have  not  yet  regulated  their

citizenship status,  39.6 percent  live outside  the Republic  of

Macedonia, 2.32  do  not  reside  at  indicated  addresses,  13.9

percent had  in the  meantime regulated  their citizenship status

but have  not yet  been registered, while 10.2 percent had stated

that they are awaiting for results.

        According to  the assessments  that  were  given  in  the

Report, the  results of  the poll  are an  expression of the real

image, because  at this  moment the  Ministry of  the Interior is

working on  12,000 submitted  applications, which  coincides with

the 10.2 percent from the poll.





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