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

          SKOPJE, 2 MARCH, 1995 (MIC)



          YUHA ENGSTROM: "SITUATION IN TETOVO NOT TENSE ANYMORE"
         The new  UNPROFOR Commander  in Macedonia  General Yuha
Engstrom told  MIC that according to reports of UN observers,
the situation in  Tetovo is no longer tense. "There is no
increase in our patrols on the border with Albania. There is no
need for that as the situation is calm." General Engstrom
explained that it was normal, with  the coming  of spring,  to
have more patrols on the other side of the Macedonian border.   
      General Engstrom  stated that "dialogue is the only way of
finding  a solution  for any  problem," and "the field reports
say that  the Macedonian  police has  left the  places where 
the incidents took place some ten days ago."          "It is  in
our  interest of  prevent those  conditions, which could also
mean a threat to the peace," said Engstrom.



          U.S. MILITARY LIAISONS TEAM IN RM          As part  of
the  program for joint contact-teams of the main headquarters of
the U.S. Command for Europe, from yesterday, as well  as in 
some member-states of the initiative "Partnership for peace,"  a
military liaisons team has been deployed in RM, on the basis of
long-term occasional duties.          The beginning of the work
of the military liaisons team realizes a  part of the
obligations for cooperation on a military plan, defined  in the 
Memorandum for cooperation, signed between the Macedonian 
Ministry of  Defense and  the U.S.  Department of Defense.
Together with representatives of the Ministry of Defense and the
 General Staff  of the Macedonian Army, the U.S. military
liaisons team  will work  on the  realization of  the program
for joint contact-teams in the Republic of Macedonia.         
The program  that also  contains the  project - "Bridge toward
America,"  the priority  will be  given to building up the army
structure  according to  the model of the U.S. armed forces, as
model of an competent army under efficient civilian control.



          ***  GOVERNMENT   -  MACROECONOMIC   POLICY  FOR 
1995: Yesterday in  the Macedonian  Parliament, Prime  Minister 
Branko Crvenkovski and  the ministers  of the departments
connected with the economy  read out  their reports  on the
economic policy over this year.  The MPs  from the  Albanian
parties, however, did not take part  in the  session, as  a
result  of the events connected with the Tetovo university.     
    In his report, Prime Minister Crvenkovski said that the
economic reforms which are offered in this package do not have
an alternative and that they are already accepted by the IMF and
the WB. The  package of program measures, according to Prime
Minister Crvenkovski, include  curbing the inflation to 18%,
growth in the foreign currency  reserves in  the National bank
of Macedonia for some US$  60 million  over the  year, which 
presents  eight-week exports of the Macedonian economy.         
The prime minister said that one of the aims is keeping the 
rate  of  the  denar  at  the  present  level,  as  well  as
eliminating the  deficits in  the budget. An attempt will be
made to eliminate the deficits in the Fund for pension
insurance, till the middle of the year.          The second 
part,  according  to  the  prime  minister, applies to  the
privatization and the financial rehabilitation of the banking
system.          The prime  minister stated that an attempt will
be made to speed  up the  privatization, as well as
transformation of the 25 "losers" and the sale of the business
areas.          As for the banking system, linear rehabilitation
of the banks will  be conducted, by transferring the frozen
debts to the state, as  well as  transformation of the banks and
privatization of "Stopanska banka."          An important 
segment in  the reforms, according to the prime minister,  also
presents  the return  of the  debts to  the world financial 
organizations, as  well as  the adoption  of new laws for the
business associations, for the public companies, for
denationalization, etc.          As the  fifth segment in this
program was the supply of credits from abroad. So far, according
to the prime minister, US$ 85 million  have  been  provided 
from  the  World  bank  and  an additional US$  14 million as
support of the social policy. Also, US$ 100  million have  been
provided  as  credit  funds  for  the traffic infrastructure, 
the agriculture,  support of the private sector and the small
economy.          The Minister  of Finance Jane Miljovski stated
that the main aim  of the  macroeconomic policy  of the
Government will be the further  reduction of  the inflation, 
and stated  that  last year's inflation of 57% is still much too
high. The main parts of the budget policy will the measures for
the fiscal support of the monetary policy,  which, with  the
surplus of purchase of foreign payment funds, will try to retain
the stability of the denar.          He  said  that  for  the 
conduction  of  the  reforms, measures have  been accepted 
which will  increase the  budget 2% from the  GDP, and that sum
is  3.5 billion MCD (US$ 90 million). This  will   be  achieved 
by  raising  the  prices  of  the  oil derivatives.         
Speaking of  the relations  with the foreign creditors, minister
Miljovski  said that  a part  of the  unlocated debt  of former
Yugoslavia  to the  IMF would have to be recognized, which is 
estimated   at  5.4%   of  the  total  unlocated  debt.  Only
afterwards, can  the negotiations  with the Zurich club start,
in which the  commercial banks are represented, which previously
gave credits to the Macedonian banks and companies from
Macedonia.          As for  the restructuring program for the
"losers," the Minister of  Economy Risto  Ivanov, beside 
stating  the  already known situation,  stated that so far, the
"losers" have submitted request for the provision of revolving
capital of up to MCD 13.61 million (US$  350,000), while,  by
March  1, 1995,  requests  for pronouncing 3,881  workers as 
technological  surplus  have  been submitted. In  addition,
government commissioners in the Managing boards of the companies
have been appointed.          The  Minister   without  
portfolio   Ljube   Trpevski, discussing the  rehabilitation of
the banks, stated that upon the cleaning of  the  financial 
statements  of  the  banks  and  the obligations to  the Paris 
club, the same would be transferred to the Agency for
rehabilitation of the banks, while the obligations to the Zurich
club would still remain in the banks.          In order  to
lessen the dominant position of "Stopanska banka," in  the state
 banking system,  it has been agreed for it not to be greater
that 1.8 times from the next largest bank. With that aim, 
Trpevski said,  one branch of the bank of up to 10% of
"Stopanska banka"  will be  separated, which  will get  a
licence from the  National bank  to work  as  an  independent 
bank  with private capital of 51%.          Minister Trpevski 
also spoke of the relations with the foreign financial 
organizations, for  which he  said that US$ 85 million would  be
obtained  from  the  International  Development Agency, as  well
as US$ 14 million for the social programs. These credits are 
with  10  years  grace  period,  30  year  pay  back deadline,
without interest. In addition to these US$ 100 million,
negotiations are being conducted for another US$ 100 million
from the  WB   for  development  projects  in  the  agriculture,
 road infrastructure and for development of the private sector. 
        Minister  Trpevski   also  stated   that  the  stand-by
arrangement with the IMF would bring Macedonia US$ 55 million.





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

          SKOPJE, 3 MARCH, 1995 (MIC)



          ANTHONY LAKE:  "ADDITIONAL CONTINGENT  OF U.S.
SOLDIERS IN MACEDONIA?"          The advisor  of the U.S.
President on national security Anthony  Lake  stated  last 
night  that  the  administration  in Washington  is  
considering  the  possibility  of  deploying  an additional
contingent of soldiers in Macedonia.          Lake's statement 
is  conveyed  in  a  number  of  U.S. newspapers, pointing  out
that  the  soldiers  will  be  sent  to Macedonia due  to "the 
danger of  expansion of  the war  on  the Balkans," following 
the decision  of the Croatian Government for UNPROFOR to
withdraw from its territory.          The newspaper "Baltimore
Sun," calling upon a statement of a  high official  in  the 
U.S.  administration,  claims  that between 1,000  and 10,000 
soldiers might  be sent  to Macedonia, depending on the option
that will be accepted.          The "Baltimore Sun" commentator,
as Makfaks reports, is assessing that  a couple  of thousand  of
American  soldiers will most probably  be sent to Macedonia, as,
according to Washington, there is  danger, in case the
Serbian-Croatian and Serbian-Muslim conflict continues,  that
"Serbia  might go  into  action  toward Macedonia."         
"Due to  the large  number of  members of  the Albanian minority
in  Macedonia, as  well as  the strain  in the relations between
Athens  and Skopje, such an action of Serbia could easily pull
Albania  and Greece  into the conflict," the "Baltimore Sun"
writes.          Pointing out  that the  presence of  the U.S 
forces in UNPROFOR in  Macedonia is  symbolic, "Baltimore  Sun" 
emphasizes that even such a symbolic participation has great
significance.          The presence  of the U.S. soldiers
expresses the strong determination of  the  Clinton 
administration  to  prevent  "the aggression of Serbia against
Macedonia or the Albanian Muslims in the Serbian province of
Kosovo," the "Baltimore Sun" concludes.



          EUROPEAN INTEREST FOR PEACEFUL MACEDONIA         
"Europe is very interested in seeing to it that another conflict
is not opened in Macedonia," stated the German President Roman
Herzog  in the  press conference  held with  his host  Sali
Berisha in  Duress,  following  his  two-day  visit  to 
Albania, Makpress reports, calling upon the Albanian media.     
    In response  to numerous  questions on the situation in
former Yugoslavia,  the German  President emphasized: "Germany
is making efforts  to resolve  the crisis  in the former
Yugoslavia, and in  that framework,  the Kosovo question, and
giving autonomy to Kosovo."          Germany is  giving  full 
support  to  the  reforms  in Albania and  the development  of
democracy.  The German President emphasized that  "Germany will
be its advocate, defense lawyer in the European structures." He
also positively assessed the efforts for normalization of the
Greek-Albanian relations.



          DIALOGUE FOR OVERCOMING THE TENSIONS          The
Speaker  of  Parliament  Stojan  Andov  received  a delegation 
of   the  Macedonian   political  parties,   MPs  and
associations from  Tetovo. As it was announced, the
parliamentary speaker was informed about the current political
situation in the Tetovo municipality,  following the  events 
with  the  so-called university in Albanian language.         
The  MPs   from  Tetovo   emphasized  their  readiness, together
with  the representatives  of the  Albanian parties  and other
associations,  to find  the correct  way of  overcoming the
present situation,  and expressed  efforts to further building
up the  mutual   trust  and   co-existence.  That  way,  as  it 
was emphasized, the  problems also present in the other fields
of the citizens' lifes, regardless of nationality, would also be
able to be overcome.  The announcement says that the citizens
have always been turned toward each other, and solved the
problems together.          Supporting  these   efforts,  Andov 
 pointed  out  the necessity of  mutual direct  dialogue through
 which the  present tensions could  be  overcome,  whereby  the 
mutual  respect  and tolerance is  of particular  importance. In
 building the  mutual trust,  the   feeling  of   responsibility
 and  respect  of  the Constitution and laws will also be built.
                                  





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

          SKOPJE, 6 MARCH, 1995 (MIC)



          INCREASE IN U.S. CONTINGENT - ONLY AN OPTION         
A Pentagon  high official  denied information  that the U.S.
could  soon  increase  its  forces  in  Macedonia,  Makpress
reports.          In the  statement for A1 TV, on this issue,
major Chuck Franklin said: "We discussed this question as a
suggestion and an option, but  only if  the time  for that
comes. In any case, that will not  happen in the near future,"
he said. According to major Franklin, an  eventual increase  in
the  U.S. forces in Macedonia could be  realized only  if
UNPROFOR  withdraws from  Croatia  or Bosnia, or both countries,
and the conflicts continue and expand. "Then, it  is possible, 
I repeat,  it is possible for us to sent more troops  in 
Macedonia,  to  prevent  the  expansion  of  the conflicts,"
major Chuck Franklin added in the statement for Radio Skopje.   
      U.S. President  Bill Clinton  confirmed  yesterday  the
orientation of  the U.S.A.  to help  the  withdrawal  of  the 
UN peacekeepers from  Bosnia, if  their mission  fails. However,
 he ruled out  the possibility  of long-term  engagement of  the
U.S. land forces  in former Yugoslavia. Clinton also avoided
answering the question  of the  press whether  the U.S. will
send troops to Croatia to  assist the  withdrawal of  the UN
peacekeepers, which have to leave the country by the end of the
mandate, March 31.





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

          SKOPJE, 7 MARCH, 1995 (MIC)



          MACEDONIA DOES NOT ACCEPT FEDERATION ON BALKANS       
  In relation  to the  writing of  the  Kosovo  newspaper
"Rilindija" that  Washington has  offered Skopje  and Tirana 
the formation of  an Albanian-Macedonian  federation, similar 
to the one created  between the  Croatians and Muslims, the
spokesman of the Macedonian  Government Gjuner Ismail stated:
"Recently, there are all kinds of speculations and ideas about
some kind of Balkan federations, confederations,  alliances,
which,  as always,  come from sources  that we assess as
speculative, sources which are in the function of spreading some
kind of rumors."          "The Macedonian  Government deems  it
necessary to once more express  its strong and clear stance in
regard to that. That is that  we have  not had  the intention, 
nor will  we show that intention in  the function  of a 
discussion on this theme," said Ismail and  underlined: "simply,
 our policy is clearly declared, that is  a policy  of
equidistance.  We believe  that any kind of alliances of this
type on the Balkans are anachronisms. Our idea, our policy  and
our  option in  the foreign  policy,  beside  the equidistance,
is the development of alliances and associations in Europe, that
is associations of an European type."



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

          SKOPJE, 9 MARCH, 1995 (MIC)



          "MILOSEVICH WILL RECOGNIZE SLOVENIA AND THE REPUBLIC
OF SKOPJE"          Milosevich is  prepared to  recognize
Slovenia  and the "Republic of Skopje," yesterday's issue of
"Nasa Borba" writes on the first  page. The  text says  that
this issue was discussed in the meeting  of the  Contact group 
from Washington,  on  Monday, while unofficial  sources claim 
that  these  days,  the  Serbian President expressed  readiness
to  recognize the  independence of Slovenia and the "Republic of
Skopje."          In  return   for  that,   Milosevich   asked  
for   an unconditional  lifting   of  the  sanctions  against 
Serbia  and Montenegro, as  well as  the recognition of the
rights of FRY for succession of former Yugoslavia.          The
Washington  correspondent,  calling  upon  reliable sources,
states  that the  term "Republic  of Skopje" would be in the
function  of the  political-diplomatic terminology of Athens.
Allegedly, Milosevich  received "some  support" from  Moscow 
for this, and  only then  would the  recognition of  Croatia and
 B&H follow.          For now,  official Belgrade  has not 
announced a  work about this, although some oppositional parties
have been claiming for  some  time  that  the  Serbian 
President  had  accepted  to recognize all  the newly  formed
states  on the  former  Yugoslav regions.



          REQUESTS FOR CLASSES IN TURKISH AT TEACHER'S COLLEGE  
       The students  of Turkish  nationality  from  the  group
classroom classes  at the  Teacher's College  "Clement of 
Ohrid" from Skopje  sent a  written protest to this institution,
as well as the  Ministry  of  Education  and  Physical  Culture 
and  the Rector's office  of the  Skopje University,  requesting
that  the classes of  this group  be held,  in full,  in Turkish
 language. Their request  should be  settled the  same way as
the request of the students of classroom classes in Albanian
language.          The  Teacher's   College  addressed   the 
Ministry  of Education and  Physical Culture,  asking for  an
opinion  whether this request of the students of Turkish
nationality, who have had a group at the college for a longer
time, should be settled in an identical way,  and whether the
college should open a competition for hiring  professors of  all
subjects,  the way it was done for the Albanian nationality.    
     The Minister  of Education and Physical Culture Emiliya
Simovska will  talk with prof. Yusuf Hamza, one of the signees
of the letter,  these  days,  whereby  she  will  suggest  that 
the students  of   Turkish  nationality   from  this  group 
continue following the  classes in  Macedonian, seeing that
there are only two months left till the end of the school year,
and that even if a competition  was opened, the classes would
not be able to start before the  month of  May. Minister 
Simovska explained that this does not deny the right of the
students of Turkish nationality to follow the  classes at  the
Teacher's  College  in  their  mother tongue. She  will propose 
this request  to be  realized with the beginning of  the next 
school year, with which the students from the first year of
studies will gain the possibility to follow the classes in the
second year in Turkish language.                                
                                                                
            



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

          1. MIC NEWS;               (ENGLISH)

          SKOPJE, 10 MARCH (MIC)



          PRESERVATION OF THE INTERNAL STABILITY          The
Ministry  for foreign  affairs of  the Republic  of Macedonia
announced  that on  the invitation  of Gerd  Arens, the
president of the working body for ethnic and national
communities and  minorities   at  the  international  conference
 for  former Yugoslavia,  yesterday   a   meeting   was   held  
between   the representatives of the RM, including the Minister
of the interior Frchkovski and the Minister of justice Popovski,
and the Albanian members of the Parliament, Ziberi, Murati,
Biljali and Dzaferi.          The participants  in the meeting
agreed to continue the talks on  issues of  common interest, 
among which are education, the issue  of the  languages and  the
local  autonomy. They  also agreed that  the next  meeting will
be held in Skopje on the 30th of March.          The working 
body  undertakes  the  task  of  preparing proposals that  will
bring  about the  solution of the previously mentioned issues. 
These decisions  would have  to be reviewed by the appropriate 
constitutional bodies  and  through  appropriate procedure. The
Albanian representatives underlined the need for a swift
solution of the most urgent issues.          All participants 
agreed that everything has to be done to preserve  the internal
stability, independence and territorial integrity of Macedonia



          SERBS - A CONSTITUTIONAL CATEGORY          "It is 
quite probable  that the  Serbs in  the RM will become a 
Constitutional category,  more precisely that they will be 
added  to  the  pre-amble  to  the  Constitution,  where  the
Albanians, Turks, Vlachs and Romas are already written. There
are no principle  obstacles nor  disputes for this said the
president of the  Council for  inter-ethnic  relations,  Stojan 
Andov,  at yesterday's session  of the  council. The  Government
accepts the opinions of  the Council about a positive solution
of this issue. Otherwise, according  to Andov,  the initiators 
of this  request have to  themselves estimate when would be the
best time to start the procedure to change the Constitution.    
     The Council  discussed the  requests of  the Vlachs, on
which they  requested a  more precise  opinion by the
Government. Otherwise the  requests of  the Vlachs  are: To 
learn the  Vlach language in  the primary  schools. The 
Ministry of education has already replied  that it  has agreed 
to realization  this in the form of  optional classes in the
primary schools. The realization of the  constitutional rights 
about the right to expression, the nurturing and  the further 
development of  the identity  of  the Vlach ethnicity  in
Macedonia,  the financing  of  the  newspaper "Feniks", greater 
participation in the programs of the MRTV, the holding of 
masses in  the Vlach  language in  Vlach churches  in Macedonia.





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From: yane@io.org (yane)
Newsgroups: alt.news.macedonia
Subject: MIC News - 20 March 1995
Date: 20 Mar 1995 14:48:04 -0500
Organization: Internex Online, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (416 363 3783)
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          SKOPJE, 20 MARCH, 1995 (MIC)

          DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS MACEDONIA-U.S.A.?
          Following  yesterday's   decision  to  start  a  direct
dialogue between  Athens and  Skopje, which  is regarded  as done
business in  Greece, according  to some news, the U.S.A. is going
for  official   establishment  of   diplomatic   relations   with
Macedonia.  "Nova   Makedonija"  reports  from  Greece  that  the
leadership of  the State  Department feels  that the reasons that
obstructed the  exchange of  ambassadors between  the Republic of
Macedonia and  the U.S.A.  have ceased  to exist.  The  decision,
according to  "Nova Makedonija," will be made and announced, most
probably, as soon as tomorrow.

          DIRECT DIALOGUE WITH GREECE IN APRIL?
          UN Secretary-General Boutros Ghali stated Thursday that
he had  instructed the mediator in the dispute between Athens and
Skopje Cyrus  Vance  to  start  a  direct  dialogue  between  the
representatives of  Greece and  Macedonia, under  the auspices of
the UN.  This news  was conveyed  in New  York by the Athens news
agency, calling  upon diplomatic  sources in the UN. According to
the same  sources, Makfaks  reports, Ghali expressed optimism for
the resolution of the problem between Athens and Skopje.
          The popular  Greek  TV  station  "Mega"  reported  late
Thursday that  Boutros Ghali  stated in the Security Council that
he had  "personally instructed the mediator Cyrus Vance to find a
formula which  would start  off the  direct negotiations  between
Athens and  Skopje." Boutros Ghali, according to "Mega" said that
he could  see that  there was  political will  both in Athens and
Skopje. Calling  upon  diplomatic  sources,  "Mega"  announced  a
direct meeting  between the  representatives of Athens and Skopje
toward the beginning of April.
          The Greek  Foreign Minister  Karolos Papoulias repeated
that "Greece is still holding the stances expressed in the past,"
and agreed with the assessment of the journalist that "the Skopje
leadership has given up its adamancy."
          On  Friday,   the  Greek  press  does  not  give  great
importance to  Ghali's statement,  but emphasizes the interest of
the U.S.A.,  in the  foreground, to  settle the  problem  between
Athens and  Skopje, as  soon as  possible. The press followed the
visit of the Macedonian Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski to the
U.S.A. with great interest. The newspaper "Katimerini," informing
about  the   meeting  Crvenkovski-Holbruk,  in  a  text  entitled
"Holbruk," wants  a "solution"  to be  found as soon as possible.
The newspaper  points out  that the  concrete results of the one-
hour meeting  are not  known, but  adds that the dialogue between
Athens and Skopje will be renewed under auspices of the UN.
          The newspaper of the moderate left-wing "Elefterotipia"
writes  that  Holbruk  and  Crvenkovski  discussed  the  internal
situation in  Macedonia, as  well as  the possibilities of the UN
forces getting  a separate  mandate in  Macedonia.  Stating  that
Holbruk and Crvenkovski discussed the advancement of the dialogue
between Athens and Skopje, "Elefterotipia" claims that "the Greek
Government expects  large activities for the 'Skopje question' to
come very  quickly, at the insistence of Cyrus Vance and the U.S.
Government."

          OMO "ILINDEN" ACTIVIST ARRESTED
          The police in Petrich (Bulgaria) has arrested the well-
known activist  of the association of Macedonians in Bulgaria OMO
"Ilinden" Janus  Sapundziev,  under  charges  of  "anti-Bulgarian
propaganda and disturbance of the peace."
          "All Bulgarians are killers of Macedonians," Sapundziev
had yelled  from the  roof of  his house  when the police came to
take him to prison, the Sofia newspaper "Trud" writes Friday.
          Sapundziev's arrest is connected with the publishing of
the first number of the newspaper "Pirin Macedonia," on Saturday,
distributed by OMO "Ilinden."
          The central  newspapers in  Sofia  have  already  asked
prosecutors to  intervene for  a ban  of  the  newspaper  of  the
association of the Macedonians in Bulgaria.

          KADARE ON POSITION OF ALBANIANS IN FRY AND FYROM
          "A kind  of 'Auswitz' of the culture is being conducted
toward the  Albanians in Kosovo and FYROM," stated the well-known
Albanian writer Ismail Kadare for radio "Deutsche Velle."
          "In Kosovo,"  Kadare said,  "schools and the university
are being  closed, while  in Macedonia,  due to the opening of an
university, which  is a cultural right of a nation, the police is
enforcing repressive measures."
          At the  reaction of  the Macedonian  desk of the Radio,
with an  explanation that  the Constitution  of the  Republic  of
Macedonia does  not foresee  the  opening  of  an  university  of
nationalities, Kadare  said that  he was not interested in such a
Constitution that  obstructs the  interest of  a nation that only
wants to be educated culturally and scientifically.

          ALFRED  SERECI:   "ALBANIA  INTERESTED   IN  A   STABLE
MACEDONIA"
          "Albania is  interested in  a  stable,  democratic  and
market oriented  Macedonia, that  will uphold the basic rights of
the peoples,"  stated the Albanian Foreign Minister Alfred Sereci
at the  press conference held Saturday in Tirana, the "Macedonian
Radio" reports.
          The same  source says  that the recent events in Tetovo
were assessed  by minister  Sereci as  events that add tension to
the political  relations between  the two  countries, but, at the
same time, expressed will for both sides to overcome the problem.
          The same day, Radio Tirana conveys the statement of the
president of  the National  Democratic Party  Ilijaz Halimi,  who
said, among  the rest:  "The Macedonian  side is  not showing any
readiness, at  all, to  seriously review  the current problems in
order to  advance  the  Macedonian-Albanians  relations.  To  the
contrary, the Government is even creating conflict situations."
          Halimi stated  this in  the meeting  with the member of
the OSCE  in Skopje  colonel Helmut Kohler, who was explained the
problems existing  between the  Albanians and  Macedonians,  from
Halimi's point of view, Radio Tirana announced.
          The Saturday  issue of  "Nova Makedonija"  conveys  the
statement by  Arben Dzaferi,  leader of  the seceded PDP wing and
MP, following  his meeting with the president of the oppositional
Democratic party Petar Goshev. "We are entering a dangerous phase
of competition  between nations,  which,  in  any  case,  can  be
detrimental  for  all.  The  problem  is  how  to  redirect  that
competition in  the institutions  of the system, in a cultural or
sports field,  because, otherwise,  it can  degenerate  in  other
spheres. Our task is to prevent that," said Dzaferi.


          JUDGES DEMANDING URGENT ADOPTION OF LAW FOR COURTS
          In  the   annual  assembly   on  Friday,   the  Judges'
Association demanded  that the  law for  courts and  processional
laws be  passed in urgent procedure, and that a general selection
of judges  be  carried  out  as  soon  as  possible.  The  judges
emphasized the  absurdity of  the present situation in which they
have to make rulings in the new social circumstances based on old
regulations.
          The Minister  of Justice  Vlado Popovski stated in this
meeting "without  an independent  judicature,  there  can  be  no
society in  which the  freedoms and  rights of the citizens are a
foundation for  stability." He  said that  he believed that "this
year, the  judicial authorities would definitely be constituted."
According to minister Popovski, the proposed law for courts is at
a  much   higher  level   now,  and  presents  a  real  "judicial
Constitution."
          The assembly  of the  Judges was  also welcomed by Jack
Paterson from  the bar  association  SILI  from  the  U.S.A..  He
expressed readiness  to help Macedonia in the constitution of the
legal order.
                                             

From news.alpha.net!solaris.cc.vt.edu!news.bluesky.net!news.sprintlink.net!interactive.net!winternet.com!io.org!io.org!nobody Wed Mar 22 19:00:50 1995
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From: yane@io.org (yane)
Newsgroups: alt.news.macedonia
Subject: MIC News - 21 March 1995
Date: 21 Mar 1995 15:24:13 -0500
Organization: Internex Online, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (416 363 3783)
Lines: 143
Message-ID: <3kncld$ptg@ionews.io.org>
NNTP-Posting-Host: wink.io.org

          SKOPJE, 21 MARCH, 1995 (MIC)

          NEGOTIATIONS UNACCEPTABLE UNDER CONDITIONS OF EMBARGO
          In relation  to the  latest statements for continuation
of the Macedonian-Greek negotiations, published in the press, the
Macedonian Foreign  Ministry assesses the agreement for the start
of direct  negotiations between the governments of the RM and the
Republic of Greece, in the presence of Cyrus Vance, as a positive
step. The  direct negotiations  have always  been a  proposal and
stance of the Republic of Macedonia, as there is no other way for
neighbors to negotiate.
          As to  the negotiations,  our stance  in regard  to the
name  is  well-known,  while  we  can  discuss  everything  else.
However, we  are convinced  that real, equal negotiations are not
held under  conditions of  an embargo. The lifting of the embargo
would be  the right step that would create a favorable atmosphere
for necessary  trust and a successful course of the negotiations.
Therefore, if  the statement is true that the embargo should last
also during  the negotiations,  we are  expressing our standpoint
that this is unacceptable to the Republic of Macedonia.

          REACTIONS IN  GREECE: GREAT  PUBLICITY OVER  RENEWAL OF
MACEDONIAN-GREEK DIALOGUE - DIALOGUE AT MINISTERIAL LEVEL?
          The head  of the  Greek diplomacy Karolos Papoulias did
not exclude the possibility yesterday of holding the negotiations
between Athens  and Skopje, scheduled to start in New York during
the first  days of April, with the mediation of Cyrus Vance, at a
ministerial level, Makpress and Makfaks report.
          Papoulias, who  returned to  Athens yesterday  from the
informal ministerial  meeting of  the EU in Krakason, sooner than
expected, stated  that the upcoming visit in New York would focus
on all  controversial issues,  including the  name. Papoulias, as
Makfaks reports,  did not exclude the possibility of the talks on
the controversial issues being "separate and parallel."
          As the Greek media conveys, the French Foreign Minister
Allain Jupe  stated yesterday that "the only optimistic thing" at
the ministerial  meeting of  the EU  in  Krakason  is  the  Greek
announcement for  normalization of  the relations  between Skopje
and Athens.  Otherwise, the  first reactions  in  Athens  to  the
possibility of  establishing a  direct Macedonian-Greek dialogue,
are mainly  positive. Strong  criticism  was  directed  from  the
ultra-nationalistic "Political  Spring" of  Andonis Samaras,  who
accused the  Prime Minister  Papandreou of  backing down from the
agreement with  the political  parties.  Samaras'  criticism  was
dismissed by  the official representative of the Greek Government
Venizelos, who  said that there was no "secret agreement" between
Athens and  Skopje, only  that the  mediation efforts  under  the
auspices of the UN were continuing.
          As Makpress  reports, Venizelos confirmed that a direct
dialogue within  the UN  was possible,  however,  stressing  that
there were  no changes  in the stances toward the name Macedonia.
Venizelos added  that the embargo would not be lifted unless "the
Skopje side  gives some  guarantees that changes would be made to
the Constitution  and state symbols." Papoulias also responded to
the criticism,  by saying  that those  who reacted negatively did
not understand the essence of the problem, Makfaks reports.
          A  number   of  Greek  newspapers  are  connecting  the
announcements for  a direct  dialogue between  Athens and  Skopje
with the  soon opening  of an U.S. embassy in Macedonia. The pro-
government "Ta  nea" claims  that the Macedonian Foreign Minister
Stevo Crvenkovski  accepted for  Macedonia to change the flag and
controversial articles  in the  Constitution in  exchange for the
lifting of  the Greek  embargo.   "Ta nea"  adds that  the verbal
promises should  be turned  into a  text that will be drawn up by
the UN. The newspaper expresses reservation that a solution would
be found  within the  framework of  the  New  York  negotiations,
adding that it would be discussed later.

          MEETING CRVENKOVSKI-HOGG IN PARIS
          As part  of the  Conference for  stability  of  Europe,
Macedonia's Foreign  Minister Stevo  Crvenkovski held  a  meeting
yesterday with  the head  of the British delegation Douglas Hogg,
at his  request. The  meeting encompassed  a  number  of  topics,
placing a  special accent  on the situation in the region, and in
that  context,   the  separation   of  the   mandate  of  the  UN
peacekeeping forces for RM from the existing mandate of UNPROFOR.
It was  also announced  that the  bilateral relations between the
two countries were reviewed.
          Apart from  that, according  to the  Macedonian  press,
minister  Crvenkovski   restrained  from  making  statements  and
comments in  relation to  the statement  of  the  Greek  minister
Papoulias, made  last weekend  in Krakason, for the starting of a
direct dialogue  between Macedonia  and Greece, at the UN. Today,
minister Crvenkovski is expected to speak at the Conference.
          This evening,  Macedonia's ambassador  to  France  Luan
Starova will hold a conference in the Hall of Europe in Paris, on
the theme  "Macedonia in  Europe," at  which a  larger number  of
French intellectuals have been invited.

          MACEDONIAN UNION AT CONGRESS OF GREEK LABOUR CONFERENCE
          Following the  three-day stay in Athens at the Congress
of the  Greek Labour  Conference, the  president of  the Union of
Syndicates  of   Macedonian  Zivko   Tolevski  stated  in  Skopje
yesterday that  "the  Greek  colleagues  regard  the  inter-union
cooperation as  one of  the priority  tasks for the creation of a
favorable atmosphere between the two countries."
          As regards  the embargo  against Macedonia,  the  Greek
union workers  feel that  it is  wrong and  that it  presents  an
irrational move with negative consequences for all.
          In Tolevski's contacts with the leadership of the Greek
union, it  was assessed  that the  unions should  make efforts to
unfreeze the relations between the official authorities. Tolevski
explained that  there is  optimism that  it will soon come to the
establishment of communication between the two governments.
          In April, the Macedonian Syndicate Union will be a host
to the Greek delegation. This is also the time when the agreement
for questions  on which  the cooperation  between the  unions  of
Macedonia and Greece will be based, is expected to be signed.

          ESTABLISHED DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH FR VIETNAM
          The  Republic   of  Macedonia   and  FR   Vietnam  have
established diplomatic  relations, and  the appointed  ambassador
Vladimir  Petkovski   submitted  his  credentials  to  the  vice-
president Nguen Ti Bin.
          During  the   talks,  it   was   concluded   that   the
establishment  of  diplomatic  relations  would  present  further
stimulus for  the advancement  of the  relations and  cooperation
between the two countries, the Foreign Ministry announces.

          INTERVIEW WITH MACEDONIAN AMBASSADOR TO BULGARIA:
          "RECOGNITION OF SITUATION"
          "In spite  of the  difficulties that  are present,  the
bilateral  relations   between  Macedonia  and  Bulgaria  can  be
assessed as  very good,"  says  Gjorgji  Spasov,  the  Macedonian
ambassador to  Sofia, in  the interview  for the  daily newspaper
"Standard," Makpress reports.
          "It's very important to recognize the present situation
of the  society in  Macedonia. With  us,  the  people  feel  like
Macedonians and  regard the  language they  speak as  Macedonian.
That language  saved us  from the Serboization in 1912. No one in
the world will deny that our two peoples have a similar language,
history and mentality.
          The fact  that  Serbia  and  Greece  do  not  recognize
Macedonia  as  an  independent  state  is  of  great  danger  for
Macedonia."
          In the  interview for  "Standard," Gjorgji  Spasov says
that the recognition of the Macedonian Orthodox Church "is one of
the foundations  of Macedonia's  independence. It will also be of
exceptional importance  for Bulgaria  if the  Bulgarian  Orthodox
Church recognizes  the MOC,  with which  it will  admit and prove
that it  does not  hold equal positions with the Serbian church,"
ambassador Spasov stated.
                                      

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