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MILS: News from the FYROM, 97-06-04
From: "Macedonian Information Liaison Service" <mils@mils.spic.org.mk>
CONTENTS
[01] NEW `UNPREDEP' FORCE COMMANDER
[02] TWO COOPERATION AGREEMENTS WITH THE UKRAINE
[03] REGULATING TRANSPORT BETWEEN SR YUGOSLAVIA AND MACEDONIA
[04] BULGARIAN-MACEDONIAN RAILWAY LINK-UP NOT BEFORE 1999
[05] WATTS IN FAVOUR OF PROPOSAL OF FOUR FORMER YUGOSLAV CONSTITUENTS
[06] `TAT' BANKING SCANDAL: `CLIENTS THREATEN WITH CRIMINAL LAW SUITSAND
PROTESTS'
[07] LDP: `THIS GOVERNMENT IS THE WEAKEST AND LEAST CONVINCING SOFAR'
[08] DEFLATION REGISTERED AGAIN LAST MONTH
[09] ENERGY SAVING PROJECT WITHIN `SECI' INITIATIVE
[10] `MAC DONALD'S' IS COMING TO TOWN IN MID-SUMMER...
[11] OLDEST FAIR OF MACEDONIA STARTED YESTERDAY
[12] `Toxic Waste Poisons Kumanovo, Livestock is Dying - and Nobody Lifts a
Finger!' (`Dnevnik' - 2nd June 1997)
MILS NEWS
Skopje, 04 June, 1997
[01] NEW `UNPREDEP' FORCE COMMANDER
Yesterday the command over the UNPREDEP forces component was handed over to
Brig. Gen. Bent Sohnemann (Denmark) at the `Able Sentry' camp at Petrovec,
Skopje. Thus Sohnemann follows the footsteps of Swedish Brig. Gen. Bo
Wranker. The new Force Commander expressed his gratitude towards the
Governments of Finland, Indonesia, Norway, Sweden, the US and Denmark for
deploying troops to Macedonia in order to contribute to the maintaining of
peace and stability in the region. President Gligorov used the opportunity
to air his content with the Resolution of the UN Security Council to extend
the UNPREDEP mandate for another six months, since this reflected its
awareness with regards to the fact that the situation in Albania may well
represent a serious threat to the stability of Macedonia and the entire
region. Among other things, Gligorov also stressed that it was highly
gratifying that the concept of preventive diplomacy, implemented on the
territory of Macedonia for the first time, has acquired substantial
recognition throughout the world. The event has been attended by a
considerable number of high-ranking Macedonian Government officials and
members of the Diplomatic Corps. Those present were addressed by UN Special
Envoy Henryk Sokalski who emphasised that this peacekeeping mission
generates a sense of accomplishment, which has to be ascribed to the
stability maintained in the host-country over the five years since the
beginning of this mission. Newly-appointed Force Commander Brig.
Gen. Sohnemann underlined the importance of increased mobility of UNPREDEP
patrols along the Macedonian-Albanian border.
[02] TWO COOPERATION AGREEMENTS WITH THE UKRAINE
This Tuesday the Head of Ukrainian Diplomacy Genadiy Udovenko arrived in
Macedonia. Upon meeting his Macedonian counterpart Blagoj Handzhiski he
stressed the necessity of improving bilateral cooperation - especially on
an economic level, within the UN, the `PFP' Programme, European
institutions and on a regional level. Both statesmen also signed an
agreement on ministerial cooperation, while an agreement on trade and
cooperation has been signed by Ukrainian Deputy Minister of International
Economic Relations and Trade Andrey Koncharik and his Macedonian
counterpart Blagoja Petrushevski. MTV reports that these two treaties are
the first of 14 which are to be ratified in the near future - in order to
provide a legal framework for further improved cooperation. Besides this,
Macedonian National Television reveals that since 1993 bilateral trade has
been characterized by permanent growth, thus amounting to 38 million
dollars last year. Main carriers of this positive balance fall off to the
heavy metallurgy sector, to the tobacco, food processing and textile
industry and to the construction business.
[03] REGULATING TRANSPORT BETWEEN SR YUGOSLAVIA AND MACEDONIA
Bilateral relations between SR Yugoslavia and Macedonia are adhering to
ratified treaties, in pursuit of the objective to intensify trade, which is
to reach the value of 500 million dollars per annum. This - the Macedonian
Radio reports - has been concluded during the two-day talks between the
Transport and Communications Ministries of both countries, which have been
taking place in Skopje. Other recommendations revolved around the consensus
to exchange 5 000 bilateral permits and 500 permits for / from third
countries - in addition to 200 bus permits. In addition to this it has been
agreed to coordinate railway tariffs and as regards air traffic `MAT' has
been granted three connections to Belgrade and `JAT' has been given
four connections to Ohrid via Skopje. Besides this, both sides agreed that
pay toll is to be lowered in order to render the cost of goods smaller -
i.e. their rates are to be adapted to those of the neighbouring states.
[04] BULGARIAN-MACEDONIAN RAILWAY LINK-UP NOT BEFORE 1999
The completion of the railway link between Bulgaria and Macedonia is not to
be expected before 1999 - according to the South Balkan Initiative, which
met in the US. `Makfax' reports that the meeting concentrated on the
progress of construction procedures of this railway line which is to become
a part of corridor No. 8 (i.e. the East-West corridor) connecting the
Adriatic and the Black Sea up to the Caucasus hinterland. Part of the funds
for this projects - i.e. two million dollars for Albania, Bulgaria and
Macedonia respectively - have been secured by the US Agency for Trade and
Development.
[05] WATTS IN FAVOUR OF PROPOSAL OF FOUR FORMER YUGOSLAV CONSTITUENTS
Two days ago the delegations of five former Yugoslav constituents entered a
new round of succession negotiations in Brussels. Stakeholders discussed
the new draft-agreement i.e. memorandum submitted by mediator Sir Arthur
Watts. `Makpress' is quoting Belgrade agency `Beta' upon claiming that
Watts supported the proposal of B & H, Croatia, Slovenia and Macedonia
to base the division of real estate and other assets, archives; then the
determining of pension eligibility and nationality on the date of 31st
December 1990 - as the official date of Yugoslavia's disintegration (as
determined by the Badinterre Commission). It is common knowledge that so
far negotiations have been deadlocked as only SR Yugoslavia demanded that
1945 should be considered the date of reference as regards the
succession of all assets - including national capital, assets generated
with federal funds which would also cover the federal budget. According to
`Makpress' it may happen that Dayton Agreement Coordinator Karl Bilt may be
involved in negotiation procedures.
[06] `TAT' BANKING SCANDAL: `CLIENTS THREATEN WITH CRIMINAL LAW SUITSAND
PROTESTS'
The deceived bank clients of the `TAT' bank at Bitola have announced the
initiating of three criminal law suits and the continuing of protests - MTV
reports. Client representatives have confirmed that charges are being
pressed against Sonja Nikolovska for fraud and in order to seize her
assets and property. Other suits are to be instigated against former NBM
Governor Borko Stanoevski on grounds of abusing his authority and
investigating the `TAT' bank without a warrant; and against Minister of the
Interior Tomislav Chokrevski for withholding evidence. Client
representatives has also aired their utter discontent this endeavours
undertaken by institutions of the system so far to resolve this crisis.
They further announced the staging of new protests at Bitola on this
Friday. `Dnevnik' reveals that a press conference was held by three
deceived bank clients who have been sentenced to 20 in prison for hurling
stones at several buildings at Bitola. They also delved into police
brutality exhibited during the handling of unrest and the fact that the
sentences had been doled out without being grounded on substantial evidence
- but rather on several false testimonies.
[07] LDP: `THIS GOVERNMENT IS THE WEAKEST AND LEAST CONVINCING SOFAR'
The old/new Government of PM Crvenkovski is the weakest and least
convincing cabinet entrusted with putting an end to the economic crisis -
while does not have even the most basic notion on how to achieve such a
thing... This is part of a statement made by LDP leader Petar Goshev during
a press conference held yesterday. He further stressed that - concordant to
estimates of the LDP Executive Council - the current Government did not
only fail to please the public, but the SDSM MPs as well. In the
opinion of Goshev it is up to the LDP and the IMRO- DPMNE to keep insisting
on the calling of early elections and the forming of a new government,
though both parties aired these demands in an idiosyncratic manner. In this
sense the LDP preferred to act through the institutions of the state - an
approach it is bound to uphold in its endeavour to devise a solution to the
economic difficulties confronting the country. According to Goshev this
does not exclude the implementation of legitimate forms of extra-
institutional activity. In the end he concluded that the LDP and the IMRO-
DPMNE would maintain contact and coordinate their efforts.
[08] DEFLATION REGISTERED AGAIN LAST MONTH
Yesterday the National Statistics Office revealed that throughout the past
month consumer goods prices have dropped by 0.4% in comparison to April
`97. Other data indicates that in the service sector this decrease amounts
to 2.3% due to the dive rates have taken in the culture sector and because
of the lowering of the radio and TV charge. A plunge of prices has also
been registered with the cost of grains (by 0.7%), preserved vegetables,
bakery products and processed fruit (by 1.3%). The living expenses index
for the time span from January to May 1997 has been decreased by 03% in
comparison to December 1996. So far the annual inflation rate totals 2.8%,
and it is being predicted that should such trends continue - the overall
annual inflation rate for Macedonia would amount to 2%.
[09] ENERGY SAVING PROJECT WITHIN `SECI' INITIATIVE
This Tuesday the first meeting of the SECI Initiative representatives,
officials of the Ministry of Economy and of the Macedonian Academy of
Science and Art (MANU) and representatives of the Macedonian business and
energy sectors took place at the MANU. The Macedonian Radio reports that
the event was staged in order to study efficiency and capacity use in the
energy sector - as one of six SECI projects. This particular project covers
the `Centar' municipality, several flat blocks and the Clinic Centre, i.e.
the installing of insulation material and photo-Volt systems (for whose
production `Alumina' has exhibited interest) to save energy in those
objects. It is being revealed that funding may be procured by several
international financial institutions (the European and the World Bank) if
Macedonia ratifies the European Climate Change Treaty. Practice in other
SE European countries so far has shown that this financial aid would vary
between three and five million dollars.
[10] `MAC DONALD'S' IS COMING TO TOWN IN MID-SUMMER...
A-1 TV reports that it has been known for some time that the `Mac Donald's'
fast food chain intends to open a restaurant in Skopje. This has been
confirmed to occur by mid-summer. To this purpose the `Beton' construction
contractor has already refurbished premises (near the Ministry of
Education), and the press has been swamped by advertised vacancy notes for
100 employees. `Beton' revealed that the venture is being co-funded
by the Skopje Brewery. A-1 TV does not exclude the possibility that several
fast-food places may be opened in Skopje.
[11] OLDEST FAIR OF MACEDONIA STARTED YESTERDAY
Over the next three days the fair with the longest tradition in Macedonia -
the 47th Consumer Goods, Reproduction Material and Equipment Fair - is to
take place in Skopje. The event has been registered with the UPI, which
requires the fulfillment of certain standards but also entails profit for
the domestic and international market. This year there is a total 220
participants from all over the world and Macedonia. The Fair has been
opened by Macedonian Economy Chamber President Dushan Petrevski, and it
will be complemented by a great number of fringe events (presentations,
business meetings, etc.) of several industrial branches.
[12] `Toxic Waste Poisons Kumanovo, Livestock is Dying - and Nobody Lifts a Finger!'
(`Dnevnik' - 2nd June 1997)
500 metal barrels full of concentrated arsenic and antimony, and several
hundreds of `unpackaged' cubic liters of these strong toxins and cancer-
causing chemical substances, have been lying around unattended at the
`Lojane' mine near the village of Tabanovce (Kumanovo), at some 30 km
distance from the capital. This has been the case for the past 19 years -
in spite of the fact that the substances are absolutely lethal. The
Ministry of Urbanism, Civil Engineering and Environmental Protection has
committed itself to dispose the toxic waste seven months ago. So far this
commitment has come down to: nothing.
The owner of the `stored' substances has also not been identified yet. It
is being speculated, however, that the substances belong to the `Zajacha'
company from Loznica (SR Yugoslavia). The most recent casualty of this
poison has been a one-year- old heifer, four months ago. Residents reports
the constant loss of livestock due to this ecological disaster. They
fear for their own health as well - quite understandably. The Ministry -
again quite understandably - does not have the money to dispose the toxic
waste properly. It is being assumed that on Monday the Government is to be
briefed in on the state of affairs at the `Lojane' mine. Possible final
depots `in contention' are the abandoned mining shafts at `Lojane' or the
deserted `Jugohrom' plant at Tetovo - stated Under-Secretary of Ecology
Mihajlo Dimovski. Over the past few years a portion of these lethal
substances have contaminated the area in a 200 km radius, due to their not
being contained. Thus the indirect impact has so far been felt by the
population of the villages Slanishte, Tabanovce, Lojane, Vaksince...
Residents reports that their livestock dies `in a jiffy' - without any
torture. It appears that not even weeds grow on the contaminated soil. Last
year the people of Tabanovce built a dirt road using this very soil. The
`Mavrovo' construction contractor has built a drinking water facility only
50 m away from the site where the poison is being kept. This facility
covers the needs of Tabanovce, the railway station at the village and ergo
all passengers. `My heifer died within a few minutes after drinking the
poisonous water. This stuff is everywhere. After each rain is looks like
yogurt and keeps spreading. Nothing grows on this earth. I don't know what
will happen if a child drinks this water...' says Mile Dimitrievski from
Tabanovce. Arsenic and antimony are not toxic in their elementary form,
which is more than can be said of their derivatives - as these are
absolutely lethal for both flora and fauna. 5 mg of this substance and
there is no hope for any human being', experts claim. `People usually do
suffer from acute and chronic poisoning with arsenic and antimony. Both
substances attack the cardio-vascular system. The side-effects are
irrigated respiratory organs, pain in the pectoral region, heavy breathing,
impaired vision, the failure of both kidneys...' enumerates Jasmina
Petrovska, an Associate Reader at the Medical School of Skopje. The only
antidote is the BAL (British Anti-Louisite) serum should the dose in the
human body be under 5 mg - including the intake through contaminated food.
The Geological Institute had compiled a study on this situation last year;
this paper outlines all hydro-geo- chemical and ecological research which
are to determine the level of pollution. `The entire project was to cost 70
000 DM. We have been promised assistance by the Ministry of Science, though
so far nothing has been accomplished in this respect. UNPREDEP also
offered its machinery for the moving of this waste. But all our efforts
have remained barren. It is all up to the Government now', says Nedeljko
Gjorgjevikj (M.Sc.) of the Geological Institute in Skopje.
(end)
mils news 04 June 1997
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