Diplomatic and international mission service /5 29.05.2001
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MACEDONIA – PEACE IN MACEDONIA CAN ONLY BE RESTORED BY PEACEFUL MEANS
SKOPJE, 29.05.2001 (MAKFAX) - LEDAERS OF THE MACEDONIAN POLITICAL PARTIES, VMRO-DPMNE, SDSM, PDP AND DPA, AT A MEETING WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA, ATTENDED BY EU HIGH REPRESENTATIVE FOR COMMON FOREIGN AND SECURITY POLICY, HAVE AGREED THE FUTURE OF MACEDONIA CAN ONLY BE DECICED BY DEMOCRATICALLY ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES, WORKING THROUGH A PEACEFUL AND POLITICAL PROCESS, STATES THE ANNOUCMENT ISSUED LATER AFTERNOON TODAY, AFTER THE MEETING ENDS.
THEY INSIST ON STOPPING OF THE VIOLENT ACTIONS IN PURSUIT OF POLITICAL AIMS, WHICH ARE TOTALLY UNACEPTABLE AND ILLEGITIMATE, AND ARE REJECTED BY MACEDONAN POLITICAL PARTIES.
CONSIDERING THE NEGATIVE CONCLUSIONS OF INTRENATIONAL COMMUNITY ON THE PRIZREN’S DOCUMENT FROM 22 MAY 2001, THE STATUS OF THE DOCUMENT IS NO LONGER RELEVANT. ALL OF THE REPRESENTATIVES ATTENDED THE MEETING, SUPPORT POLITICAL DIALOGUE WITHIN THE MACEDONIAN PARLIAMENT.
THEY REAFFIRM SUPPORT OF THE BROAD COALITION, TO OVRECOME THE CRISIS, STABILIZE COUNTRY AND PROCEED WITH THE REFORM PROCESS OF EURO-ATLANTIC INTEGRATION AS QUCKLY AS POSSIBLE.
THEY COMMIT THEMSELVES IN ACCELERATION OF THE LEGISLATIVE WORK ON MEASURES AGREED BEFORE RECENT DEVELOPMENTS, AND TO ACHIEVE SUBSTANTIAL PROGRESS ON PRESIDENT TRAJKOVSKI AGENDA FOR ADDRESSING INTER – ETHNIC ISSUES, ENDORSED BY ALL BROAD COALITION PARTNERS, BY JUNE 15. /MAKFAX/
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Diplomatic and international mission service /4 29.05.2001
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Macedonia: Terrorists do not hold police station in Aracinovo
Skopje, - The Spokesman for Macedonian Interior Ministry, Stevo Pendarovski, denied the news run by Belgrade’s news agency Tanjug, on alleged terrorist attack on police station in Skopje’s nearby village of Aracinovo.
Macedonian media quote the Interior Ministry Spokesman as saying that there is no police station in the village of Aracinovo. ‘The situation in Aracinovo is edgy but calm, no provocative actions have been reported so far,’ Pendarovski said.
‘Some 20 ethnic Albanian terrorists, positioned in the villages of Mojanci and Orlanci, near Aracinovo and Nikustak, opened fire on police post. Macedonian forces responded the attack, no further shootings occurred afterwards,’ Pendarovski said.
As far as the detonations heard in Skopje earlier today, Pendarovski said detonations originated from the mine of Banjani, situated in the Skopje’s neaby hill of Skopska Crna Gora, where construction activities are underway. /end/
Macedonia: President Trajkovski sends letter to Lord Robertson
Skopje, - Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski sent a letter to the NATO Secretary General, George Robertson, underlying Macedonia’s strong determination to continue the political dialogue. However, President Trajkovski made clear that the political dialogue would proceed as soon as the members of the broad coalition government restore their previous positions before the so-called Prizren declaration was signed.
Macedonian state radio says President Trajkovski made clear that there is no room for representatives of the so-called NLA at the round-table dialogue, only the legitimate representatives of ethnic Albanians in Macedonia could be included in the dialogue. /end/
Hungary: West insists on new agreement in Macedonia
Budapest, - The West will no longer urge the leaders of ethnic-Albanian parties in Macedonia to renounce the ‘peace agreement’ with the so-called National Liberation Army (NLA), that jeopardized the very survival of the broad government coalition designed to defuse the crisis in the country, the Western news agencies reported from Budapest, referring to diplomatic sources.
The EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, is attempting to ignore the disputed agreement and to facilitate and mediate a new agreement between Macedonian and ethnic-Albanian political parties. Such agreement is very likely to entrench the unity of the government and resume the political dialogue for more rights to ethnic Albanians.
The new agreement would practically renounce the effect of the agreement signed by the ethnic Albanian leaders in Macedonia and the so-called NLA. Consequently, both Xhaferi and Imeri will be spared from any official renouncement of the deal. Once the deal was struck last week, the Western powers piled pressure on Xhaferi and Imeri to cancel the deal immediately.
As soon as the breaking news on this controversial deal was released by the local media last week, the European Union, NATO and the United States had issued impetuous communiqués, urging Xhafeti and Imeri to renounce the deal immediately.
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Diplomatic and international mission service /3 29.05.2001
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Macedonia: Solana flies to Skopje to appeal for dialogue
Skopje, - The EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, is due to visiting Skopje later today.
According to the schedule, the EU security chief will meet his personal representative, the British Ambassador to Macedonia, Marc Dickinson.
After completing the talks with the Ambassador Dickinson, Solana is scheduled to meet the President Boris Trajkovski. Following the tete-a-tete meeting with the President, Solana will be holding a joint meeting with the President Trajkovski, the Prime Minister Ljubco Georgievski and the Head of SDSM, Branko Crvenkovski.
After completing the talks with Trajkovski, Georgievski and Crvenkovski, Solana is scheduled to meet the Heads of ethnic-Albanian parties, Arben Xhaferi (DPA), and Imer Imeri (PDP). Then, final round of talks will involve the President, the Prime Minister, the SDSM Chairman, the DPA Chairman and the PDP Chairman.
After completing the talks with Macedonian top officials and the Heads of major political parties that constitute the broad government coalition, the EU security chief is due to briefing the press.
Solana flied to Skopje yesterday and then headed to Budapest to attend the meeting of the Foreign Ministers of NATO, EU and Partnership for Peace (PfP). He presented a report on the current security situation in Macedonia and the talks he has been holding with the country’s top officials.
Solana voiced strong support to the broad government coalition designed to defuse the crisis and take the country to early elections. ‘I presume the political unity government is the best tool for political dialogue,’ Solana told the reporters late on Monday, adding that despite the differences, the interlocutors demonstrated willingness for political dialogue and constructive attitude. /end/
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Diplomatic and international mission service /2 29.05.2001
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Macedonia: Parliament to convene on Wednesday
Skopje, - Macedonian Parliament is due to continuing its 56th session on Wednesday. On the agenda is the draft-law on defense. The parliament failed to pass the law last week due to lack of quorum. Two thirds of votes are needed to pass the law on defense.
After completing its 56th session, the parliament is due to continuing its 69th session. The parliamentary groups will debate the daft-law on political parties and election of parliamentary deputies. /end/
Macedonia: Syndicate Association to set up blockade on highways across Macedonia
Skopje, - Macedonian Syndicate Association (SSM) will stage mass protests at midday outside the parliament and government building in Skopje. SSM is likely to set up blockades on key highways across the country from 11:00 to 13:00 hours.
The SSM Head, Zivko Tolevski, said the Syndicate Association is well aware of the difficult situation the country finds itself in, however, Macedonian workers could no longer put up with the economic hardship. /end/
Hungary: Robertson remains adamantly opposed to negotiations with the so-called NLA
Budapest, - NATO Secretary General, George Robertson, expressed hope that Macedonian government of national unity will bridge the current differences and demonstrate a strong but flexible response to the so-called National Liberation Army (NLA).
Before the outset of NATO ministerial meeting in Budapest, Lord Robertson reiterated that there is no place for the so-called NLA at the round-table dialogue, Western media reported late on Monday. Lord Robertson made clear that there is no place on the round-table dialogue for those who prefer bullets rather than ballot boxes. /end/
Macedonia: Macedonian delegation to attend the European Transport Ministers Conference
Skopje, - Macedonian Minister of Transport and Communications, Ljubco Balkovski, will head the state delegation to attend the 85th session of the Ministerial Council of European Conference of Transport Ministers, scheduled for today in Lisbon.
The European Conference of Transport Ministers is an organization that regulates the relations among European countries in field spanning transport. It has as many as 40 member-states. /end/
Bulgaria: Sofia rejects speculations on Macedonia’s federalization
Sofia, - Bulgarian Prime Minister, Ivan Kostov, and the Defense Minister, Bojko Noev, strongly rejected the widespread speculations of conditioned assistance to neighboring Macedonia. Speculations were spread that Bulgaria preconditions its military assistance to Macedonia with federalization proposals.
Such speculations were spread by Sofia’s daily newspaper following the recent meeting of Bulgarian Defense Minister and his Macedonian counterpart, Vlado Buckovski.
‘This is the most ridiculous fabrication which I have heard over the past four years’, Bulgarian Prime Minister said, strongly rejecting the front-page story run by Sofia’s daily.
Bulgarian Defense Minister made clear that Bulgaria has never made such proposal. He reiterated Bulgaria’s strong attachment to the inviolability of the borders and the territorial integrity of Macedonia. /end/
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Diplomatic and international mission service /1 29.05.2001
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Macedonia: All-out offensive is underway in Matejce
Skopje, - Macedonian security forces continue to clean the Lipkovo-Kumanovo region of terrorists. The Spokesman for Macedonian Military, Lt. Blagoja Markovski, said the cleaning operation would be conducted in the village of Matejce, harboring a group of ethnic Albanian terrorists. The terrorists ensconced in Matejce’s mosque, open fire on Macedonian forces.
The terrorist attacks left a member of Macedonian security forces severely injured last night. The terrorists fired two grenades on industrial outskirts of the city of Kumanovo. No casualties have been reported except for material damage. The utmost target of this attack was the Barracks of Macedonian Army in Kumanovo. /end/
Macedonia: Calm night in Tetovo – helicopters fly over Mount Sar Planina
Tetovo, - No shootings have been reported in Tetovo region and the foothills abutting the Mount Sar Planina over the last night. The residents of Tetovo complied with the curfew, Macedonian state radio reported.
The same source said helicopters flew over the Mount Sar Planian earlier today, conducting tactical and operational assignments. /end/
Macedonia: Macedonian top officials hold emergency talks
Skopje, - Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski met the top officials late on Monday. The interlocutors addressed the current security situation in the country.
No official announcement has been released so far on the conclusions of late Monday’s emergency talks, orchestrated by the President. /end/
Macedonia: Solana strongly supports the broad government coalition
Skopje, - The EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, expressed a strong support to the broad government coalition designed to solve the crisis in the country. ‘The political unity government is the best toll for political dialogue’, Solana said after meeting Macedonian top officials and the leaders of major political parties that constitute the new government.
Solana praised the willingness and constructive stance demonstrated by the interlocutors. However, he added that certain differences did occur. Solana rejected the widespread speculations saying that the so-called Prizren deal was on timetable. The EU security chief said he would be visiting Macedonia soon. Unofficial reports say he will be paying another visit to Skopje on Wednesday. /end/
Hungary: NATO Foreign Ministers to meet in Budapest
Budapest, - The Foreign Ministers of the North Atlantic Council as well as the Foreign Ministers of Partnership for Peace (PfP) are due to meeting today in Budapest. The EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, Javier Solana, is due to presenting a report on his yesterday’s visit to Macedonia and the talks with Macedonian top officials and major political leaders. Reports say he will be visiting Skopje again on Wednesday.
Macedonian Foreign Minister Ilinka Mitreva will represent Macedonia at the two-day ministerial meeting. She is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with her counterparts. The US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, will attend the session. Powell will be holding talks with the representatives of nine candidate states for accession with NATO – Macedonia, Albania, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Romania. /end/
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DAIMS/Front Pages 29.05.2001
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„UTRINSKI VESNIK“ (INDEPENDENT DAILY) – „Matejce is clean of terrorists“ – the northern part of Kumanovo was fired on by the terrorists last night. Reports say the terrorists opened fire from the village of Slupcane. In the headline „Solana arrives in Skopje with a package of new proposals“ – the EU security chief, Javier Solana, came to Skopje in a frantic effort to move forward the political dialogue in Macedonia.
„Xhaferi and Imeri make a kamikaze move!“ – the ethnic Albanian terrorists are about to face a military defeat, It is high time for the civic Macedonia to present its plan on political solution to the crisis. The profiteers of Prizren signatures must not abuse the initiative. If the political parties fail to take the challenge as well as the risk concomitant with the indispensable changes in the country, with no taboo themes, including the fear of possible defeat at the upcoming elections, we shall all face a total defeat.
„NOVA MAKEDONIJA“(PRO-GOVERNMENT DAILY) –„Cleaning operation in Matejce, Otlja is next on the list“; „Three grenades slammed into Kumanovo outskirts“; „Xhaferi and Imeri are reluctant to renouncing the Prizren declaration“ – this daily comments Solana’s unsuccessful mission in Skopje.
Nova Makedonija daily criticizes the Head of Syndicate Association, Zivko Tolevski, who staged a strike for today. This daily says today’s strike is inappropriate given the difficult situation the country finds itself in. The future destiny of our country and its very survival is of top priority.
„DNEVNIK“ (INDEPENDENT DAILY) – „Terrorists defeated in Matejce“, „Macedonia to purchase two warplanes Sukhoi-25 from Ukraine“; „State Secretary in Macedonian Police, Bojcevski, stages the Tigers’ mutiny“; „Robert Badenter to review Macedonian Constitution“.
„No politics is exercised on battlefield“ – this daily criticizes the decision of the Tigers Commander (special police unit) to disobey the Interior Minister’s order and run away from the battlefield. Such inadequate move should be duly sanctioned. It seems that police officials are fighting for higher posts in the time when interethnic war is knocking on country’s gate.
„MAKEDONIJA DENES“ (INDEPENDENT DAILY) –„Is this an outset of Skopje’s unrest?“ – this daily says ethnic Albanian terrorists dig trenches in Skopje’s nearby villages of Nikustak and Vistica. This daily says the so-called NLA conducts mobilization in Gostivar region.
„Javier Solana among Macedonians again“ – this daily comments the EU security chief, Javier Solana’s fifth consecutive visit to Skopje. In the headline „NLA appoints its own ambassadors to Europe“ – this daily writes about terrorists’ diplomatic activities in Europe.
„FLAKA“(PRO-GOVERNMENT ALBANIAN-LANGUAGE DAILY) – „Constitution (marked with anti-Albanian elements) generates the crisis“ – Flaka daily runs a report from the press conference held in Geneva by NLA’s political representative, Fazli Veliu, and his close associates, Vaxhid Sejdiu and Musa Xhaferi. In the headline „Lipkovo region in iron circle, the villages are disrupted and empty“ – this daily says Macedonian forces are shelling the villages of Matejce, Otlja, Slupcane, Orizare...
„The objective of my visit is to move forward the dialogue in Macedonia“ – Flaka daily quotes the EU security chief, Javier Solana as saying. „Aracinovo hosts some 4.000 dislocated persons“ who had fled their homes due to heavy military campaign.
„FAKTI“(PRIVATE ALBANIAN-LANGUAGE DAILY) – „Concern with military actions led by Macedonian forces“ – this daily says everyone is waiting for the epilogue of Javier Solana’s visit to Skopje. Referring to its own anonymous sources, Fakti daily says Solana is not concerned with Prizren deal but with Macedonians’ lack of interest to make concrete steps to real political dialogue.
„Situation in Likovo region is deteriorated“ – Fakti daily says suspicions are raised that Macedonian forces resort to chemical weapons, adding that the villagers of the critical zone headed to Skopje’s nearby village of Aracinovo. They are traumatized and scared.
„VECER“(PRO-GOVERNMENT DAILY) – „Macedonian forces reclaim the village of Matejce, Macedonian soldier severely injured“ - this daily comments the heavy fighting in Kumanovo-Lipkovo region. The Christian monastery is the last post held by the terrorists.
„$10 million waste due to improper management“ – this daily comments the wasted arrangements, which were to be concluded in Ukraine.
„VEST“ (INDEPENDENT DAILY) – „NLA appoints ambassadors abroad“ – whilst the government is waiting for Xhaferi’s and Imeri’s pardon. Fazli Veliu was appointed political representative of the so-called NLA in Switzerland.
„Boskovski returns the gun to Menduh Thaqi’s brother“ – Gafur Thaqi was detained for carrying a gun with no serial number. The Interior Minister, Ljube Boskovski, released him and returned the gun./END FRONT PAGES/
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