============================================ 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. From news.alpha.net!pacifier!usenet.eel.ufl.edu!news.ultranet.com!zombie.ncsc.mil!news.duke.edu!news-feed-1.peachnet.edu!gatech!howland.reston.ans.net!news.sprintlink.net!sunserver.insinc.net!news.bc.net!torn!news.uunet.ca!uunet.ca!io.org!io.org!nobody Tue Mar 21 00:24:00 1995 Path: news.alpha.net!pacifier!usenet.eel.ufl.edu!news.ultranet.com!zombie.ncsc.mil!news.duke.edu!news-feed-1.peachnet.edu!gatech!howland.reston.ans.net!news.sprintlink.net!sunserver.insinc.net!news.bc.net!torn!news.uunet.ca!uunet.ca!io.org!io.org!nobody 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) Lines: 140 Message-ID: <3kkm5k$n7f@ionews.io.org> NNTP-Posting-Host: wink.io.org 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 Path: news.alpha.net!solaris.cc.vt.edu!news.bluesky.net!news.sprintlink.net!interactive.net!winternet.com!io.org!io.org!nobody 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.