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

          SKOPJE, NOVEMBER 24, 1995 (MIC)



          PRESIDENT GLIGOROV RECEIVES WILLIAM PERRY

          The U.S.  Defence Secretary  William Perry, who visited

Macedonia as  part of  his European  tour  and  took  part  in  a

Thanksgiving dinner with the U.S. soldiers serving with UNPREDEP,

was welcomed with highest honors at the Skopje airport yesterday.

          Secretary  Perry   was  accompanied   by  the   defence

ministers of  Denmark, Norway,  Sweden  and  Finland.  The  high-

ranking  delegation   was  welcomed  at  the  Skopje  airport  by

Macedonian Defence Minister Blagoy Handziski and the Chief of the

General Staff  of the  Macedonian Army  General Colonel Dragoljub

Bocinov.

          Immediately after  their arrival,  the playing  of  the

national anthems  and the  salutation of the honorary guards, the

high-ranking guests  set out  to visit  the observation points on

the Macedonian  border with  helicopters, whereby  each  minister

visited his soldiers serving with UNPREDEP.

          Secretary Perry met with President Kiro Gligorov, which

presents Gligorov's  first meeting  with a foreign diplomat since

the assassination  attempt  on  October  3,  this  year.  In  the

meeting, which  was  also  attended  by  Foreign  Minister  Stevo

Crvenkovski and  Defence Minister Blagoy Handziski, the officials

exchanged opinions  on the current situation in Macedonia and the

region, and  the strengthening of the cooperation between the two

countries. President Gligorov applauded the successful outcome of

the negotiations  in Dayton,  which  came  as  a  result  of  the

determined efforts  of the  U.S. to  stop the  war in  the former

Yugoslav regions.

          President Gligorov  underlined that  Macedonia  was  in

favour of  negotiations and  peaceful solutions  during the whole

period. He also expressed the hope that the documents from Dayton

will be successfully implemented, which is in the interest of the

wider stability  in the  Balkan region.  Gligorov  expressed  his

satisfaction with  the decision  of the  Security Council to lift

the arms  embargo,  which  he  assessed  would  have  a  positive

influence on  the advancement  of the  bilateral cooperation  and

Macedonia's place  and  participation  in  the  "Partnership  for

peace" initiative.

          U.S.  Defence   Secretary  Perry  was  pleased  to  see

Gligorov was  recovering so  well, and wished for him to continue

carrying out  his presidential  duties successfully.  He stressed

the interest  of the  U.S. to  help in  the development  and  the

stability of the Republic of Macedonia, which has affirmed itself

as a factor of peace and stability in the south of the Balkans.

          President Gligorov  handed Secretary Perry a letter for

U.S.  President   Bill  Clinton,  expressing  gratitude  for  the

unselfish support  the U.S.  is giving  Macedonia, as well as the

conviction that  the future relations between the two states will

continue to develop successfully.

          The  U.S.  Defence  Secretary  was  received  by  Prime

Minister Branko  Crvenkovski  and  Parliamentary  Speaker  Stojan

Andov. The  talks were  attended by  the defence ministers of the

Nordic countries, as well as the commander of the UNPREDEP forces

in Macedonia,  General Yuha  Angstrom and  the chief  of mission,

Ambassador Henrik Sokalski.

          In  the   talks  with   the  guests,   Prime   Minister

Crvenkovski and  Speaker  of  Parliament  Andov,  emphasized  the

significance of  the  act  of  acceptance  of  Macedonia  to  the

"Partnership for  peace" programme,  and  thanked  them  for  the

support the U.S.A. and the Nordic countries are giving Macedonia.

          Following the  talks, the guest from the United States,

the Scandinavian  ministers and the hosts from Macedonia attended

the formal  dinner held  on the  occasion of Thanksgiving Day, in

the U.S. camp at the Petrovec airport.

          After the  dinner, William Perry said at the joint news

conference: "For  the first  time in the last four years, we have

promises of  peace in  the Balkans.  The peace will put an end to

the killing,  the ethnic cleansing, the displacement of refugees,

and the economic insecurity in Macedonia. We know that it will be

difficult  to  establish  peace,  by  the  U.S.  and  the  Nordic

countries, whose  ministers are  with me  now, are  determined to

realize this  peace. Our  forces will  be  deployed  together  in

Bosnia, just as we are together here in Macedonia. The UN mission

which we have established here is getting a lot of attention, and

therefore we are pleased that it is successful. It has managed to

deter the  expansion of  the war  to Macedonia.  We  visited  our

troops and thanked them for the work they are doing here."

          "I would  especially like  to mention the very long and

warm welcome  I had  with President  Gligorov, who was very vital

and sincere,  and with  many comments  and  questions  about  the

situation. We should all be happy that he is heading toward total

recovery. I  have brought  him a  warm and  sincere message  from

President Clinton," Perry said.

          Asked about  his views  on the  political situation  in

Macedonia, following  the  acceptance  to  the  "Partnership  for

peace" programme,  Secretary Perry  said that  during  his  first

visit, more  than a  year ago,  he had  seen the  danger from the

instability of  the border, the consequences from the embargo, as

well as  the danger from the spreading of the military conflicts.

"If I compare this visit, things have changed a lot," Perry said,

expressing hope that he will cooperate more closely with minister

Handziski in  the near  future, as  part of  the "Partnership for

peace" programme.

          In response  to the question whether any changes in the

peacekeeping mission  are planned,  and whether the U.S. plans to

help Macedonia  with arms,  in view  of  the  lifted  embargo  in

Dayton, Perry  said that  "there are  no reasons  to  change  the

mandate of UNPREDEP, and as concerns the arms embargo, it will be

done in  phases, according to the plan from Dayton. The important

thing  is   that  the  embargo  is  lifted,  and  I  expect  full

cooperation with the Macedonian side."

          As regards the number of NATO soldiers in Bosnia, Perry

said: "NATO  plans to  send 60,000  soldiers to  Bosnia. The U.S.

plan is  to send  the First  Army Division,  which is  located in

Germany at  present, and which numbers some 20,000 U.S. soldiers,

however, it  will be  joined by  the Nordic  brigade,  a  Turkish

battalion, and  most  probably,  also  some  Polish  and  Russian

troops. Altogether,  there will  be some  30,000 soldiers  in the

U.S. division.  They will  be deployed  in Tuzla and in charge of

the northern part. The British soldiers will be located in Bihach

and responsible  of the  eastern part,  while the  French will be

located in Sarajevo. The three divisions will include troops from

many  other  countries  as  well.  For  now,  25  countries  have

expressed the wish to include their troops in the NATO mission in

Bosnia," Perry said.

          As to  when and  how these  troops  will  be  deployed,

Secretary Perry said that "there will not be any more significant

despatches  of   soldiers  until  the  definite  signing  of  the

agreement,  seeing   only  initials  were  placed  on  the  peace

agreement in Dayton."

          In the  meantime, detailed  plans will  be made,  and a

couple  of  reconnaissance  missions  will  be  sent  in  Bosnia.

Following the  signing of  the peace  plan, within a week, enough

troops will  be sent  to establish  control in  Bosnia. The  U.S.

troops will  arrive from  Germany by land and by railway, and the

mission in  Bosnia itself  will  have  a  civilian  and  military

aspect. The  task of  the civilian  one will  be to  provide  the

infrastructure, an  economic aspect,  the elections and return of

the refugees,  while the  military aspect  will be  to provide  a

peaceful environment.



          MACEDONIA APPLAUDS UN RESOLUTIONS

          In relation  to  the  resolutions  adopted  by  the  UN

Security Council, the Macedonian Foreign Ministry emphasizes that

they present  the first practical step toward implementation, and

the recently  signed peace agreement in Dayton, a contribution to

the stability in the region.

          The Resolution  for the  lifting of  the  arms  embargo

foresees the  gradual abolishment  of  the  UN  Security  Council

Resolution no.  713, adopted in 1991, with which this embargo was

imposed on  the former  SFRY. This  is especially  important  for

Macedonia, seeing  the embargo  also applied  to it,  although it

accomplished its  independence and sovereignty by peaceful means,

and without any involvement in the war.

          As it is known, Macedonia suffered enormous losses as a

result  of   the  sanctions  against  FR  Yugoslavia,  which  are

estimated at  several billion  U.S. dollars,  and their  lifting,

certainly, will  have a positive effect on the economic situation

in  Macedonia,   and  wider,   opening   up   possibilities   for

intensification of the economic cooperation in the region.





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

          SKOPJE, NOVEMBER 28, 1995 (MIC)



          RM SIGNS INDIVIDUAL AGREEMENT WITH NATO

          The Republic  of Macedonia  sent a  request to the NATO

leadership  yesterday,   to  sign   an  individual  agreement  on

activities within  the framework  of the  "Partnership for peace"

program, Makfaks reports from Brussels.

          The presentation  document that  contains the military-

strategic characteristics  of Macedonia  and its interests within

the "Partnership  for peace"  program, was  handed to  the acting

NATO Secretary-General  Sergio Balzini  by the  ambassador of the

Republic of Macedonia in Brussels Jovan Tegovski.

          Out of  27 member-states of "Partnership for peace," so

far 15 countries have signed the individual program. The Republic

of  Macedonia,   according  to   expectations,  should  sign  the

individual program at the start of next year.



          RED CROSS MEMBER OF INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION

          At the  start of  yesterday's General  Assembly of  the

International Federation  of the  Red Cross  and Red  Crescent in

Geneva, the  Macedonian Red  Cross was accepted as the 169th full

member of this massive humanitarian movement.



          MACEDONIAN GOVERNMENT: "PROTECTION OF AUTHORSHIP"

          At  yesterday's  session,  chaired  by  Prime  Minister

Branko  Crvenkovski,   the  Macedonian  Government  reviewed  and

outlined the proposal for the adoption of a law on copyrights and

similar rights, which has been imposed as a need to regulate this

matter, standardized  with international projects, and because of

certain weaknesses  of the  existing one. The basic principles of

the law  underline the  need to  stimulate, help  and protect the

development of science, art and culture, and guarantees the right

to free  association with  a view  to  realize  and  protect  the

economic, cultural and other rights and the freedom of the market

and entrepreneurship.

          The general  decrees of the law determine the rights of

the authors  over their  works  from  the  field  of  literature,

science and  art, as well as the copyrights and the rights of the

performers, producers,  rights in  the field  of film production,

RTV organiziations and of the publishers, as related rights.

          At  the  request  of  the  Macedonian  Parliament,  the

Government gave  a positive  opinion on the semiannual report and

the information  prepared by  the People's Bank of Macedonia, for

the realization  of the  economic movements,  the monetary-credit

policy and  the foreign  currency policy for the first six months

of the year.

          The Government  also made  a decision  for Macedonia to

join the Open partial agreement for the prevention and protection

from natural  risks and  technical catastrophes of the Council of

Europe in Strasbourg, which enables the renewal of the Republic's

request, which was initiated for the first time toward the end of

the year 1990.



          MOST COMPANIES REGISTERED IN SKOPJE

          By the  end of  October, the Register of organizational

units of the Bureau of Statistics had a total of 84,909 companies

listed, which  is 0.9%  more than  the situation in September. In

October, the  number of  newly-registered companies  amounted  to

831. The  private ownership is still topping the list with 95.7%,

the state-owned  is taking  part with  1.5%, mixed,  with 1.6 and

associated ownership with 1.2%.

          The companies  are mainly  in the  trade business, with

62.2%, this  is followed  by industry and mining with 9.5%, then,

financial and  other services with 6.6%. The companies are mainly

founded with  domestic capital  - 96.2%,  2.4% are  founded  with

mixed capital  and only  1.3% with  foreign capital. According to

the statistics,  41.3% of the companies are located in Skopje, 7%

are located  in Bitola, 6.1% in Kumanovo, and 5.4% each in Tetovo

and Strumica.



          NORTHERN TRANSPORT CORRIDOR TO BE FINISHED SOON

          Following the  lifting  of  the  sanctions  against  FR

Yugoslavia, and  before that,  the lifting  of the Greek embargo,

there is an obvious increase in the frequency of cargo traffic in

the direction  North-South, and  vice versa,  at  all  Macedonian

bordern crossings on the border with Greece.

          The passenger  transport has  been decreased for a year

already, due  to the exit taxes that the FRY citizens have to pay

upon leaving the country. At the border point Tabanovce, a larger

number of  cargo vehicles  are noticed  lined up  on the highway,

belonging to  Macedonian firms  delivering goods for the Yugoslav

market, as vice versa.

          Obviously liberated  from the  bans and  obstacles, the

businessmen from  both countries,  after almost  30 months,  have

started using the shortes and most rational communication routes.

          According to  the border officials, the transit traffic

is also  increasing gradually. Vechicles from Greece and Bulgaria

are noticed at this border crossing every day, transporting goods

for Central  European countries,  through this  northern European

route. These  last days,  cargo vehicles from Yugoslavia, as well

as Croatia,  Slovenia, Germany  and other  European countries are

noticed entering or passing through Macedonia.





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

          SKOPJE, NOVEMBER 29, 1995 (MIC)



          FRY INTRODUCES 30% CUSTOMS DUTY

          Following the  lifting  of  the  sanctions  against  FR

Yugoslavia,  the  frequency  of  cargo  vehicles  on  the  border

crossing Tabanovce,  especially for  going out  of Macedonia, has

increased considerably  these  days.  As  the  customs  officials

inform, some one hundred cargo vehicles heading toward FRY, cross

here every day.

          Yesterday, the  news came  that the Yugoslav Government

has increased the customs tax on goods coming into FR Yugoslavia,

from 1%  to 30%,  depending on  the type  of goods  going out  of

Macedonia. For  those reasons,  Macedonian trucks  that could not

pay the  increased customs  tax were  sent back  from the  border

crossing Tabanovce.  The customs  officials  at  this  Macedonian

border crossing have not been informed about this decision of the

FR Yugoslav Customs Administration.

          Otherwise, the  customs officials  are staying that the

lines that are being created occasionally are a normal and common

thing.

          The commander  of the  police  station  on  the  border

crossing Tabanovce, Momchilo Jovanovski stated that "according to

our realizations, over the last couple of days, Macedonian trucks

are not being sent back from the Serbian side, except in one case

when the drivers of eight 'Sileks' trucks could not pay the tax."

The police  officer could  not say  precisely what  amount was in

question, and  the trucks were held in the border free zone for a

while, and then continued their way.



          NATO LIAISONS OFFICER ARRIVING

          A Macedonian liaisons officer to NATO is expected to be

appointed  some   time  this  week,  as  the  first  man  in  the

implementation  of   the  cooperation   that  has  started  since

Macedonia's inclusion in the "Partnership for peace" program.

          In  a  month,  at  latest,  in  cooperation  with  NATO

experts, the  document called "individual program" will be worked

out,  which  will  outline  Macedonia's  activities  as  part  of

"Partnership for peace" for next year.

          In   this,    it   will   be   helped   by   Macedonian

representatives who  will work  in the NATO General Staff, in the

Belgian town  of Mons,  and who  will be appointed in the Defence

Ministry by the end of this week.

          Macedonia will  soon send  its attaches  in  the  U.S.,

Great Britain  and Turkey,  countries with  which  the  bilateral

cooperation in  the  field  of  defence  has  begun,  Radio  Noma

reported yesterday.



          LIAISONS OFFICES SOON TO BE OPENED IN ATHENS AND SKOPJE

          The deadline in which the Republic of Macedonia and the

Republic of Greece have to open up liaisons offices in Athens and

Skopje, is expiring in thirty days, Makpress reports.

          In practice,  this means  that the  procedure  for  the

regulation of  the visas  in both  directions will be transferred

from the  border crossings  to the  passport departments  of  the

Liaisons offices in Athens and Skopje.

          There is  no official  information in  both Athens  and

Skopje on the course of the activities surrounding the opening of

the Offices.

          According to  unofficial  information,  the  Macedonian

side has  provided a three-storey house in Athens for its Office,

which is  located in  the northern  part of Athens, and for which

the rent will be US$ 5,000 per month. The Macedonian flag will be

flown in  the area in front of the Macedonian Office, and inside,

i.e. the  hall of the reception, the name "Republic of Macedonia"

will be written on a board. Whether the name FYROM will be placed

in front of the fence of the Office, and not on the fence itself,

will  be   decided  by  the  Greek  authorities.  The  name  most

frequently mentioned  as the  chief of  the  Macedonian  Liaisons

Office is  the  assistant  in  the  Macedonian  Foreign  Ministry

Ljupcho Arsovski, and head of the Macedonian negotiating team for

the "practical measures" of the Memorandum.

          The Greek  side mentions the name of Aleksandros Maljas

as the possible chief of the Greek Liaisons Office in Macedonia.



          ATHENS DENYING SELECTIVE BORDER PASSAGES

          Athens denied  yesterday  that  the  citizens  born  in

Aegean Macedonia  are asked to change their name and surname upon

entering Greece.

          "The Greek  side is assuring that no one has ever asked

anyone to  change his  name, seeing it does not have the right to

do that,  and something  like that  doesn't make  any sense," the

newspaper  of   the  moderate   left-wing  "Elefterotipia"  wrote

yesterday,  without   revealing  a   source.  The  Greek  Foreign

Ministry, according to this newspaper, claims that "many citizens

from Skopje,  originating from  Greece, are  crossing the  border

after previously submitting a visa application, which is received

in a period from three to four days."

          Contrary to  this, as  it is stated, there is a problem

with the  toponyms, since  the new  "Skopje passports"  have  the

Greek names  listed in  the "Slav  version," and  Greece  is  not

mentioned anywhere as the birth place.

          The Greek  side, "Elefterotipia" concludes, wanted that

to be  corrected. Skopje,  as the  newspaper says,  said it would

"find some  kind of  solution to  this, however, nothing has been

done as yet."



          NORMAL CARGO TRAFFIC RESTORED WITH GREECE

          The cargo traffic with Greece is quite evidently coming

back to  normal, as  can be  seen at the three border points with

this country.  Eight compositions,  of which  four are with wagon

cisterns carrying  over 3,500 tones of crude oil, cross the point

Idomeni-Gevgelija every  day, in both directions. In addition, 20

auto-cisterns of Mlaz Bogdanci are transporting oil and crude oil

from the Thessaloniki port, for Makpetrol.

          The transportation  of the  wagons of materials for the

Mines and  Steel Works  "Skopje" has also started. There are also

wagons at  the Thessaloniki  port, waiting to be loaded with zinc

concentrate for  the needs of the Titov Veles smeltery, while the

transportation of  phosphates for the needs of the Veles chemical

industry is  also expected  to  start  soon.  Almost  every  day,

"Fenimak" is sending out one train loaded with nickel towards the

port Larisa, for third countries.



          AGREEING ON CONCRETE PRICES WITH GREECE

          In accordance  with the  Memorandum on  transportation,

signed recently  between Macedonia  and Greece, a meeting between

representatives of  the Macedonian and Greek railways was held in

Athens recently,  which focused on the commercial work of the two

railway administrations.

          According  to   the  information   of  the   Macedonian

railways, the two sides exchanged information of the needs of the

economies of  the railroad  services and  the need to form prices

which will  be competitive  with the road transportation. On this

note,  the  Macedonian  side  pointed  out  that  the  enormously

increased transport  prices of  the Greek  side can  be  counter-

productive, whereby  the Greek  railways expressed a readiness to

reduce them for transportation through Greece.

          The talks also tackled the need to sign an agreement on

the formation  of a  joint commodities tariff, which will also be

discussed with the Yugoslav railways in future.



          DIRECT RAILROAD TRAFFIC WITH GERMANY

          The Macedonian  railways have  announced that following

the lifting  of the sanctions against FRY, Germany has lifted the

blockade on the railways transiting through FRY.

          Thus, after  a  longer  period,  direct  links  between

Macedonia and Germany are restored.



          SKOPJE, DECEMBER 5, 1995 (MIC)

          U.S.A.: "SFRY ASSETS AND LIABILITIES TO BE DIVIDED"

          In response  to  commentary  in  the  Macedonia  media,
speculating on  the U.S.  position on  state  succession  of  the
former SFRY,  the U.S. Information Service issued a press release
containing the U.S. position.
          "In the U.S. view, the former SFRY has ceased to exist.
None of  the  successors  represents  its  continuation.  The  UN
Security Council  has stressed  the need  for the former Yugoslav
republics to  reach agreement among themselves on issues relating
to SFRY  assets and  liabilities. In  this context,  the Security
Council has  also focused  on  the  need  to  address  claims  in
accordance with applicable law. We expect many SFRY assets frozen
in the U.S. to be subject to a variety of claims.
          The U.S.  supports early  mutual recognition  among the
republics of  former Yugoslavia  and  actively  supports  efforts
toward that end.

          INDEPENDENCE OF UNPREDEP
          The head  of the  UNPREDEP mission  in Macedonia Henrik
Sokalski expressed  hope at yesterday's news conference in Skopje
that the  UN Security  Council will  soon make  a decision on the
independence  of   UNPREDEP.  Sokalski   stressed  that   the  UN
Secretary-General Boutros  Ghali supports  such a decision in his
report to the Security Council.
          The  military   commander  of   UNPREDEP  General  Juha
Engstrom emphasized the significance of the UN mission in keeping
the independence  and sovereignty  of Macedonia. He assessed that
there is  "no unavoidable  military threat"  to  the  territorial
integrity of the country.
          Speaking of  the report  of  the  UN  Secretary-General
Boutros Ghali, which he submitted to the UN Security Council last
Monday, Sokalski  said that, although it is short, it depicts the
general security  situation in  the Republic  in the  last  eight
months quite  objectively.  According  to  Resolution  983,  more
specific assessments  with all  aspects  for  the  entire  region
should be  delivered to  the Council by January 31, next year. As
Sokalski   emphasized,    the   UN   Secretary-General's   report
particularly   stresses   Macedonia's   growing   role   on   the
international scene,  which has contributed to the maintenance of
the internal  peace and  security, with a certain progress in the
inter-ethnic relations.  In this context, the significance of the
Interim Accord  with Greece is emphasized, which has strengthened
Macedonia's international position, seeing it was followed by the
establishment of  diplomatic relations  with a  couple  of  other
countries, accession  to the OSCE, the Council of Europe, as well
as participation in the "Partnership for peace" initiative.
          Sokalski underlined  that the report speaks of the need
to  renew  the  mandate  of  UNPREDEP  in  the  next  12  months,
regardless of  developments  in  other  parts  of  the  field  of
operations.
          Asked why the Russian Federation did not give a "green"
light, and  the mandate  has  been  continued  only  six  months,
General Juha  Engstrom said  that he  had no  official statements
from Russia  on that,  but that  it was a rule in the work of the
Security Council.  Had the term been continued another 12 months,
it would  have presented  an exception.  However, he  added,  the
length  of   the  mandate  will  depend  on  the  UN's  financial
possibilities in future.

          EVIDENCE LINKED WITH ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT
          The Saturday  police  action  carried  out  in  several
suburbs on  the territory  of the  Kisela Voda  municipality,  in
which a  couple of  thousand of  homes, garages, cellars, shacks,
cars and  passers-by were  searched, will soon reveal its results
and findings  in a written form, which the Interior Ministry will
deliver to  the District  Court judge  Zdravko  Vasilev,  who  is
leading the investigation.
          Namely, according  to judge Zdravko Vasilev, the police
findings have  been coming  in from  Saturday and  over the  next
couple of  days. Although  there is no confirmation from the head
of the  investigation, it is presumed that the police report will
have to  contain all  the traces  and indications  found  in  the
action, and  which might lead to the revealing of the identity of
the anonymous  buyer of  the car  bomb "Ami 8," which was used to
carry out the assassination attempt on President Gligorov.
          As it  is known,  in the  action, the police was mostly
interested in  re-sellers of  spare car  parts, car repair shops,
scissors for  cutting wire, and have taken samples of sand (found
in the car bomb) for laboratory analysis.

          REPROGRAMMING THE DEBTS TO GERMANY
          Negotiations   on    a   German-Macedonian   Government
agreement finished  successfully in  Skopje on  the first of this
month, which  will regulate  the Macedonian  part of  the foreign
debts of  the former  Yugoslavia. The agreement was signed by the
Macedonian  Deputy   Minister  in  the  Ministry  of  Development
Lazarevski, and  the German  head of  delegation from the Federal
Ministry of Finance Miller.
          According to  the agreement,  Macedonia has assumed 175
million DEM of the general debt of the former Yugoslavia. Namely,
the debt  is related  to financial  credits  from  export  deals,
guaranteed by HERMES and the export deals from the former DDR. On
one hand,  the Macedonian  assumption  of  the  debt  applies  to
credits used  directly by Macedonian importers, and on the other,
to the  Macedonian part  of the  unlocated foreign  debt  of  the
former Yugoslavia,  which, according  to the  Macedonian quota of
the IMF, amounts to 5.4%.
          Furthermore,  the   agreement  foresees   a   long-term
extension of  the pay-back  deadlines (up to 15 years) for a part
of the  assumed obligations,  especially from  '95 and  '96.  The
total amount  in question  is 120 million DEM. The basis for this
reprogramming is  the multilateral  agreement with the Paris one,
from July 17, this year.

          LIAISONS OFFICES BETWEEN ATHENS AND SKOPJE IN JANUARY
          The liaisons  offices between Athens and Skopje will be
opened towards  the middle  of January,  next year. This news, as
Makfaks reports,  was announced  yesterday  by  the  Athens  news
agency. The pending opening of the liaisons offices was announced
at the  meeting Foreign  Minister Stevo Crvenkovski had in Skopje
last week  with Aleksandar  Maljas, high-ranking  official in the
Greek Foreign Ministry.
          The exact  date  of  starting  with  work  is  not  yet
determined, however,  it was  said at  the  meeting  Crvenkovski-
Maljas that  their simultaneous opening in Athens and Skopje will
contribute to  the strengthening  of the  cooperation between the
two countries, as well as the mutual confidence.

          INFLATION RATE - 1.6%
          Compared to  the previous month, the retail prices were
1.6% higher  this month.  According to  the Bureau of Statistics,
the largest  increase in  retail  prices  is  recorded  with  the
"group" agricultural  products -  28.7%, which  is  owed  to  the
increase in  the prices  of the  vegetables -  46.1% and fruits -
7.4%. The other product groups note only minimal price increases,
namely, the  industrial products only 0.2%, the non-food products
0.3% and services 0.4%.
          The cumulative  price increase  in retail  products for
the period  January-November 1995,  compared to  the same  period
last year, amounts to 16.5%.
          Compared  to  the  previous  month,  the  living  costs
increased 1.9%  in November.  This increase  is noticed  with the
food -  3.7%, clothing  and footwear - 1.3%, hygiene and health -
0.9% and  household expenses  - 0.8%. The cumulative index of the
living costs  for the  period January-November  1995, compared to
the same period January-November 1994, is 16.4% higher.

          (Note:For    additional     informations,comments    or
suggestions on  this MIC  daily report or any other news reported
by MIC,please call Vladimir Petreski or Mircela Casule on +389 91
221-842 or E-mail on following address: mic@itl.mk)

          SKOPJE, DECEMBER 6, 1995 (MIC)

          RM AT MEETING OF NORTHERN ATLANTIC COUNCIL
          The Ministerial  meeting of  the NATO  Council is being
held in  Brussels, with  the participation  of Macedonian Foreign
Minister Stevo  Crvenkovski. The main topics on the daily agenda,
in which  the Macedonian  minister is  taking part  for the first
time since  Macedonia's inclusion  in the "Partnership for peace"
program,  are   the  situation   in  Bosnia-Herzegovina  and  the
coordination of the activities on the plan of cooperation between
the Northern  Atlantic Council  for Cooperation  and the  program
"Partnership for peace." During the meeting, minister Crvenkovski
is  expected   to  meet   separately  with   several  colleagues,
participants in this meeting.

          SELECTIVE EXPORT STIMULATIONS
          The  macro-economic   policy  for  next  year  must  be
adequate to the newly-developed economic conditions following the
end of  the war  in the former Yugoslav regions. This implies the
selective stimulation of the export-oriented economy, a selective
approach in  the crediting  of the  economic companies  and their
exemption from  a part  of the  customs taxes  on the  import  of
intermediate goods  and equipment,  which is  not produced in our
country. These  are some  of the  more important  remarks of  the
representatives of  the  export-oriented  companies,  which  were
tabled  at   yesterday's  meeting   with  Prime  Minister  Branko
Crvenkovski and  the ministers  "covering" the economy, which was
held in the Macedonian Chamber of Commerce.
          The  basic   problem,  as   most  of   the  businessmen
underlined,  lies   in  the  lack  of  personal  current  assets,
necessary to  restart their own production. Therefore, they asked
for the  bank credits  (which are now at 50% on an annual level),
to be  reduced to a realistic framework that will correspond with
the annual inflation rate of 8%. Furthermore, the increase in the
prices of the transport services was accented as a problem, which
has followed  the lifting  of the  sanctions against FRY, whereby
the railway transport in Macedonia alone has increased 100%.
          Prime Minister  Crvenkovski underlined that at present,
there are  normal conditions  for doing business. Open borders, a
stable rate  of the denar, low inflation...The high bank credits,
as he stressed, are a result of the bigger financial appetites of
some companies  which market  the surplus  financial  means  with
interest rates higher than those of the banks.
          As to the introduction of contingents for the import of
foreign products and the introduction of selective customs rates,
Prime Minister  pointed out  the need to coordinate the interests
between the  economic subjects, which should be done, before all,
as part  of the  Commerce Chamber.  In  this  sense,  Crvenkovski
called on  the  businessmen  to  come  to  an  agreement  on  the
determination of  their  common  interests  in  relation  to  the
exchange with  the EU  as well, in order to enable the Government
to have  a more  objective approach  in the negotiations with the
EU.

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

M I L S  N E W S

Skopje, 07 December 1995



DEPLOYMENT OF NATO TROOPS FOR BOSNIA THROUGH MACEDONIA

Macedonian delegation led by Foreign Minister Stevo

Crvenkovski attended the session of the North-Atlantic

Committee for relations between NATO and members of the

'Partnership for Peace' initiative. Minister Crvenkovski,

addressing to the participants, emphasized the importance of

the action for reconstruction of Bosnia and the need of just

solution of the succession of former Yugoslavia. He also

said that it is necessary that Macedonia be  financially

compensated since it suffered major losses as a result of

the double embargo, and greeted the arms embargo lifting

saying that it will add to active participation of Macedonia

into 'Partnership for Peace'.

The Macedonian delegation expressed its full support to the

Dayton agreement implementation, expressing readiness to

participate in the civil action in the framework of OSCE

which will organize the monitoring mission for free and

democratic elections in Bosnia.

According to the statement of high official of the Alliance,

as Macedonian Radio reports, commander Julivan has included

Macedonia ( together with Slovenia, Austria, Hungary and

Albania) in the plan for the transit of NATO troops to

Bosnia, and this plan will be arranged by separate

agreements with the countries.

Crvenkovski had a meeting with the US Secretary of State,

Warren Christopher, as well as with representatives of the

Slovene and Swedish delegations. Afterwards, Minister

Crvenkovski departed to Budapest to attend the meeting of

foreign Ministers of OSCE.



NO NEED OF PEACE KEEPERS IN MACEDONIA

'Makfaks' Agency reports that Mikhail Demurin, a deputy

director in Information Department of the Russian Foreign

Ministry, concerning the resuming of UNPREDEP's mandate in

Macedonia, stated that the present situation in Macedonia is

not a threat to the international peace and security, and

added there was no danger to its independence and

territorial integrity. "We believe that after the

initializing the Dayton agreement, there are perspectives

for permanent and just peace in the Balkans", stressed

Demurin.



ATTEMPTS FOR DISHONEST EARNING AND SPECULATIONS

The big oscillations of the value of the Deutch Mark

compared to the Denar that have been taking place these days

in the private exchange offices and the speculations that

until the end of the year DM will reach the value of 33

denars, were commented yesterday by the Macedonian Minister

of Finances,  Jane Miljoski for A1 TV. According to his

words, it is a matter of inaccurate speculations and

attempts for dishonest earnings, but the exchange rate of

the DM, according to the predictions of Minister Miljoski

even on the 1 January 1997 will be 27 Denars per DM, as it

has been already for a longer period. The stable exchange

rate of the Denar compared to the DM at the above level, is

one of the principal elements of the Macedonian contract

with the IMF, which means that if a disbalance of the

exchange rate is to take place would simply mean that the

arrangement would be off, Minister Miljoski stated. The

government has a strong will to remain firm at the scheduled

program and in the complete framework also with the exchange

rate, said  Miljoski, confirming that the National Bank of

Macedonia has not intervened with the financial resources of

the foreign currency reserves, because there was not such a

need. Answering to the question whether the new conditions

in the exchange with Serbia might have caused the raise of

the value of the DM, Minister Miljoski stated that this

could not be the cause as the illegal exchanges in the

period to date are now transformed into legal ones which

actually has many more advantages. As to the efforts of the

exporters from Macedonia that have been voiced for a certain

time concerning the elevation of the exchange rate of the DM

or the depreciation of the Denar, Minister Miljoski stated

that they are unwanted and would have only a short term

effect.





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

          SKOPJE, DECEMBER 8, 1995 (MIC)



          GREECE DENYING START OF NEGOTIATIONS IN U.S.A.

          Greek diplomatic sources have not received any official

announcement from  UN mediator Cyrus Vance about the start of the

negotiations between Athens and Skopje over the name question.

          The  pro-government  "Ta  Nea,"  made  this  assessment

yesterday, in  commenting yesterday's  reports on  Radio  Skopje,

according to which the start of the negotiations is announced for

the middle of this month.

          The Greek  Foreign Ministry,  according to "Ta Nea" has

no information  whether mediator  Cyrus  Vance  will  be  sending

Athens and Skopje invitations for negotiations soon.

          The diplomatic  circles in  Athens, as Makfaks reports,

expect the  negotiations to start next year, although they do not

rule out  the possibility  of  preliminary  consultations  taking

place this month.

          In commenting the announcements for the speedy start of

the negotiations between Athens and Skopje, a number of PASOK MPs

were in favour of postponing them in the survey of the Athens SKY

Radio yesterday,  until the  situation surrounding Prime Minister

Papandreou's health condition is cleared up.



          FRY: BILATERAL COOPERATION WITH MACEDONIA?

          The foreign  trade regime  of FR Yugoslavia, which went

into force  towards the  end of  November, and  which  introduced

customs duty  and contingents  for all  countries, will  stay  in

effect only till the end of this year.

          The new foreign-trade regime will be conformed with the

economic policy  of FR  Yugoslavia for  next year,  which  is  in

preparation  at  the  moment,  and  it  is  unknown  whether  any

important changes will be made, Makfaks reports.

          There are  some announcements that within the framework

of GATT,  the foreign-trade  exchange between  Macedonia  and  FR

Yugoslavia could  be regulated  with a  bilateral agreement  next

year.



          GERMAN MARK - 27.15 DENARS

          Yesterday, the  Macedonian Bank  lowered  the  exchange

rate of  the German  mark again, from 27.25 to 27.15 denars. This

is the  second time  the Macedonian  Bank has lowered the rate of

the German  mark this  week, with  an intention  to influence the

lowering of  the rate in the private exchange offices, which took

advantage of  the psychological  effect of  the  opening  of  the

border with  FR Yugoslavia,  and artificially  raised the rate to

27.60 denars.

          The  first  "reduction"  of  the  German  mark  in  the

Macedonian Bank  caused the  lowering of  the rate in the private

exchange offices,  which sold  it for 27.40 denars yesterday, and

bought it  for 27.20.  A lowering  of the rate is also noticed in

Invest Bank  in which the German mark was dropped to 27.40 denars

yesterday, from  27.70 denars, while it was sold for 27.49 denars

in "Komercijalna  Banka," instead  of 27.70, which is how much it

cost on Tuesday.

          (end)



          (Note:For    additional     informations,comments    or

suggestions on  this MIC  daily report or any other news reported

by MIC,please call Vladimir Petreski or Mircela Casule on +389 91

221-842 or E-mail on following address: mic@itl.mk)









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