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Friday.

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President Georgi Purvanov lays a wreath at the Monument of Paisii of Chiliandari where he visited for observances of the 280th anniversary of Paisii's birth and the 240th anniversary of the writing of his Slav-Bulgarian History. BTA photo by Radoslav Rankov

 
PM GEORGIEVSKI'S ADDRESS AT CONFERENCE ON "MACEDONIA AND CORRUPTION"
 
MIA
 
At its next session, the Macedonian Government will discuss on a national strategy for combat against corruption, Prime Minister Ljubco Georgievski said Friday in his address at the conference "Macedonia and Corruption - Situation and Challenges".
 
"So far, Macedonia has passed the laws on money laundry, combat against corruption and public tender, " Georgievski said referring to the country's activities for corruption prevention.
 
In this respect, he also mentioned the measures for trade liberalization, stipulated in the free trade agreements that Macedonia had signed with almost all neighboring countries, and cutting of customs fees of about 4,000 products.
 
He said that customs fees of sugar, milk, diary products and meat would be reduced until September.
 
Speaking about the privatization process in the country, he said, "about 90% of the companies in Macedonia were privatized when this Government took the power, but it has managed to collect more money from the privatization of the rest of 10%. The 2000 budget has been doubled in comparison with 1998, when it was at Denar 46 billion. This fact speaks for itself about the combat against grey economy and corruption."
 
In this respect, he mentioned the report of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in 2000, which says that Macedonia was the best from all 24 transition countries in regard to number and intensity of reforms, its macro-financial results, also meaning, as he said, that the country was given credit for its efficient combat against corruption. Georgievski also mentioned the Financial Times report on SEE, saying that Macedonia was the second best, following Slovenia, for its results in the combat against corruption.
 
Illegal activities in areas, where law an order has not been reestablished yet and trespassing of the Macedonian border from Albania and Kosovo, were the main reasons for corruption, he added.
 
Saying that corruption was used as means for achieving of political goals, Georgievski pointed out that it had not been present only in Macedonia. In that respect, he mentioned the humanitarian aid that was arriving to Macedonia during the Kosovo crisis, over which the Government had no control.
 
"Great figures were mentioned, while experts were saying that much smaller finds then the pledged ones had been allocated, " Georgievski said.
 
In this context, he mentioned the recent information on spending of 53 million for reconstruction of the houses, damaged in the last year crisis in Macedonia.
 
"There are rumors that maybe 3-400 million has been spent for the reconstruction of houses, which is very suspicious. However, the government has no control over this process," Georgievski said.
 
"No tender in the country has passed without an influence of the Ambassadors to Macedonia, threatening that they will write about the corruption in the country in the Financial Times if the government does not meet their demands.
 
The international operator 'Stone Bridge', which includes several companies, among which 'Soros', has exerted pressure on the Government in the past 3 months to provide two things. Firstly, a monopole of base stations, thus enabling the second mobile operator to gain a profit of 20-30 million per year.
 
The second request regarded to a tender that meant higher prices, thus robbing the citizens for another $20-30 million", Georgievski emphasized.
 
According to him, "The Government survived the pressures, and at the end was threatened that texts on the corruption in the country would be published".
 
The Macedonian Prime Minister also referred to last year's military conflict, emphasizing that "Macedonia was the victim, and now certain people want to accuse the Government that it was a war of corruption".
 
"It is clear when these things come from the international community, but I cannot understand the fact that these accusations also come from intellectuals within the country", Georgievski underlined.
 
"SKOPJE SUMMER 2002" FESTIVAL OPENED.
 
MIA
 
The Macedonian Philharmonic Orchestra opened late Friday the Skopje Summer 2002 Festival with a concert "Tchaikovsky's Evening" conducted by Milan Nacev from Bulgaria.
 
Simon Trpcevski played the Tchaikovsky's Piano concerto No.1 and the Symphony No.5.
 
Macedonian pianist Trpcevski, born in 1979, is a recipient of several international awards, including the second award at the London competition of 600 pianists in 2000, held under auspices of the Prince of Wales. He also won the "St. Kliment Ohridski" award for best concert at the "Ohrid Summer" festival in 2000.
 
The first day of the Skopje Summer program will present the theater from Nis, which is to stage William Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew" at the "Center" theater, directed by Milan Karadzic.
 
This is a fast and lively farce, i.e. caricature paradigm of the oldest and most spread war-war between sexes.
 
Veroslav Gerik is the scenographer, Liljana Petrovik is the costume designer, while Bata Zlatkovik is the music maker.
 
The "Skopje Summer" festival is taking place under patronage of the Ministry of Culture and the City of Skopje, and in organization of the head-office for culture and arts.
 
Premiere of ballet performance "Siljan Flies again", with Russian guest Konstantin Kostiukov in the leading role, is to take place in the MNT Gallery Saturday evening.
 
This ballet is a remake of the famous story about the human-stork and the eternal wish of man to be able to fly.
 
Jagoda Slaneva is the director and choreographer, Trajce Krstevski is the scriptwriter, Ljupka Ristovska is the costume designer, while Vladimir Gjorcevski is the scenographer.
 
Students at vocal-instrument departments of the Skopje Faculty of Music Arts are to hold a concert in the Skopje Museum on Sunday.
 
Macedonians Appalled by Dishonesty of Local Politicians.
 
Opasna bagra
 
Politicians must become more honest, say members of a nation famous for their haste of departure whenever the grocer mistakenly gives them extra change.
 
Skopje, FYROM, [sic!] these days Starting from the parliamentary and presidential elections, through public tenders and privatization, the accusations blaming the Macedonian politicians for cheating, lying and (even!) breaking the law, sparked a wave of dissatisfaction and indignation through the nation. The citizens of this land regularly break the speed limit, constantly borrow paper, pencils, and other objects from their work places, and construe most amazing excuses to avoid military service.
 
You must be really rotten to speak about higher values and integrity all the time, while constantly forging documents for public tenders and hiding the truth, claims high school professor P.N. from Skopje, a man who has to explain his bank how come he issued 47 bounced checks while owing 45,600 denars to his account.
 
They seem above the law, adds P.N. He explains that hes been building a villa in Katlanovo, using the checks to purchase building material, but meant no harm.
 
I want my children to grow into adults believing that honesty and hard work makes you succeed through life, but thats almost impossible as they see whats going on in the Parliament and the Ministries, claims B.V., store manager of Tineks shop, who has plugged to his neighbors cable TV outlet without paying the fee since last year. He habitually explains the shortfalls of the cash register by saying Its a computer mistake again, those darn programmers know sh*t!
 
Dissatisfaction spreads quickly from one end of the state to the other, and has everyone up on their feet, demanding justice.
 
Politicians have an obligation to their constituents to behave honorably and responsibly, states Ljuben Paunovski, former minister of defense, currently accused of emblazonment of 13 Million German Marks [around US $6 Million] from the public funds and of corruption by preferring to grant all ministrys tenders to particular firms. The worst thing is that they can get away with it, getting only a verbal reprimand, adds Mr. Paunovski.
 
However, some people believe that its not just politicians fault. Their desire for easy money and getting instant gain from everything they get in touch with is just a symptom of the general loss of moral values. O.G., a clerk from Shtip, shares this opinion also. He regularly buys tickets for all Macedonian TV Bingo game shows, and does not miss spending part of his monthly salary on scratch and win lottery. Every afternoon he visits a booking house to fill up a piece of paper or two. He says: I dont know where they got it, as if theyve forgotten that persistent and constant labor is the way to go.
 
This morning, student G.D., 21-years old bachelor from Skopje, failed to persuade the traffic policeman who stopped him for speeding that he was in a rush to get to the hospital where his wife was delivering a baby. Still, he did not let the incident ruin his day: he had a great time after he managed to cheat on math exam, thus obtaining the right to enroll into the third year of studies [without paying tuition]. He summarizes the general feeling of Macedonias citizens by saying: I am disgusted when I realize what would happen with our country if everyone would act as our politicians do.
 
For closure, we present the results of a quick survey made among citizens of residential area in Skopje. The question: Would you tell a lie for $200?
 
53.2 % - I have never seen that invoice, why should I pay it!?
21.8 % - Yes, I would tell whatever.
14.0 % - She is my dear cousin from Kavadarci.
08.0 % - The referee was bribed, the boys from Stajkovci played well.
03.0 % - No, but call me if you raise it to $400.
 
Adapted by Razvigor

Steve Forbes praises Bulgaria's economic development since fall of communism.
 
AP
 
SOFIA, Bulgaria - U.S. publishing magnate Steve Forbes on Friday praised the economic and political reforms Bulgaria has made since the fall of communism, expressing optimism in the country's future.
 
"I think Bulgaria can eventually become the Ireland of Southeastern Europe," Forbes said, alluding to Ireland's evolution over the past decade from one of Western Europe's poorest countries to the region's fastest growing economy.
 
"With reforms that the (Bulgarian) prime minister is pushing, in a generation or two, Bulgaria can achieve the same thing," Forbes told reporters after meeting with Prime Minister Simeon Saxcoburggotski.
 
Forbes declined to explain why he felt so optimistic, saying only: "If we were not optimists, we would be still living in caves."
 
Despite moderate economic growth in the past years, Bulgaria is still struggling to overcome the economic legacy of communism. The average monthly salary is the equivalent of about dlrs 120, and the unemployment rate is over 17 percent.
 
Forbes, who had just arrived from a visit to Romania, was touring Eastern Europe to assess the effects of economic and democratic reforms.
 
Later in the day he was scheduled to meet local business leaders and be awarded an honorary doctorate in mass communications at a private university in Sofia.
 
(vz/vg)

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