The Government adopted Tuesday a draft-law on military service in the Macedonian Army - ARM.

 

As Defense Minister Vlado Popovski said, the most important new moment is that the military airforce is now presented in separate chapters due to its specific activities.

 

This legal project completely regulates the issues concerning the military and civic personnel in ARM.

 

"The discretionary right of the defense minister or any other body in the military hierarchy to make decisions based on personal criteria for the rights, obligations, salaries, bonuses etc. is now annulled," Popovski said.

 

In all chapters of the draft, whose development started in 1995, all issues regarding the military status are resolved comparatively, according to the NATO standards.

 

Regarding the proportional participation of members of the ethnic communities in ARM, Minister Popovski said that the draft includes the same formulation from the Ohrid Agreement.

 

"It means fair and proportional participation, considering the criteria of competence. The procedure in this law will be same with the procedure applied for the Law on local self-government and the Law on the Ministry of Interior," he said.

 

The Defense Minister reported that this week an agreement was due to be signed with the Health Insurance Fund, which will enable overcoming of the dispute regarding the Military Hospital.

 

 

 

Macedonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Slobodan Casule received Tuesday a letter from U.S. State Secretary Collin Powell, who says that "the U.S. position regarding the border agreement between Macedonia and Yugoslavia remains unchanged."

 

"I completely understand the significance that you and the Macedonian Government give to the validity of the Border agreement made between the Republic of Macedonia and the FR Yugoslavia in February 2001," Powell says in his reply to Casule's letter from May 23, 2002.

 

Powell also says that the USA "supports the statement given by the Chairman of the UN Security Council, which was also supported by the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in February of this year."

 

"On May 23 we issued our last statement for support to the border agreement, and in that context we completely supported the declaration from the UN Secretary General special envoy to Kosovo, Michael Steiner, by which the Kosovo Parliament resolution of May 23 is annulled," reads Powell's letter.

 

The international community, Powell says, will continue to work with the Kosovo political leaders, urging them to focus on the numerous urgent tasks which are under the interim Parliament authority.

 

"I am certain that the best way to marginalize the extremists, which would like to undermine the results we have achieved, is full implementation of the Framework Agreement. The activities of the Kosovo Parliament should not cancel the implementation of the Agreement," Powell says, adding, "it is an obligation of the signatories of the Framework Agreement and of all political leaders in Macedonia to actively stand for lasting peace.

 

 

 

Macedonian Vice Premier Zoran Krstevski had a meeting Tuesday with Slovenian Economy Minister Tea Petrin, focused on current and future cooperation between the two countries.

 

It was noted at the meeting that the quality and the volume of the mutual goods exchange did not match the potentials of the two countries and the high trade deficit of the Macedonian part was mentioned as one of the negative factors.

 

According to Krstevski, the options for surpassing this problem is to increase the inflow of direct Slovenian investments in the Macedonian economy, with special emphasis on the energy and agricultural sector.

 

Confirming the readiness and the willingness of the Slovenian part to participate actively in finding out solutions for the trade deficit problem as well as for initiating other types of cooperation between the two countries, Minister Petrin emphasized the support that Slovenia was ready to offer to Macedonia for its integration in the World Trade Organization.

 

 

 

Skopje, 04.06.2002 (RM) - Canadian military expert and war reporter Scott Taylor promoted the Macedonian translation of his book Diary of an Uncivil War: The Violent Aftermath of the Kosovo Conflict, a sequel to his groundbraking Inat : Images of Serbia and the Kosovo Conflict.

 

Mr. Taylor will stay in Skopje until tonight--he has to frequently change places of residence because the Albanian nationalists' mafia threatens him with his life, and the life of his family--but our associates managed to talk to him within this limited time-frame. Topics include the criminal and agressive nature of UCK (KLA/NLA), estimates of future developments, as well as the roles of U.S.A. mercenaries, Canadian peacekeepers in the Balkan wars.

 

 

 

 

Tetovo, 04.06.2002. (Makfax) The Democratic Union for Integration (DUI), a new Albanian party chaired by the ["]former leader of the National Liberation Army (NLA)["] Ali Ahmeti, will be inaugurated today in the city of Tetovo.

 

The Initiative Council of the Democratic Union for Integration is comprised of the ["]former NLA political leader["] Ali Ahmeti, the ["]former NLA commander["] Gzim Ostreni, the journalist Teuta Arifi, two outgoing members of PDPs parliamentary group, Azis Polozani and Rizvan Suleymani, as well as the former NLA members Nazmi Beqiri and Hazbi Lika. The foremost [publically stated] objective of the new Albanian party is timely implementation of the Framework Agreement and full equality of Albanians in Macedonia.

 

Ahmeti said the new Albanian party would be seated in Skopje and it would take part in the parliamentary elections, scheduled for September 15. DUI is tenth Albanian party to emerge on Macedonias political stage. The spokesman for DUI, Agron Buxhaku said apart from the former NLA members, who make up the core and backbone of the party, there will be place for those individuals who [allegedly] have no flawed reputation.

 

Dnevnik
By Vesna Ivanovska and Dragan Stojanovski
Translated by VDz

 

Srekjko Jovanoski, the director of the Museum, informed that they've sent the report of the inspection to the Monuments Protection Institute and the Ministry of Culture, and announced that Ministry of Interior is pressing charges against unknown perpetrators.

 

We can not evaluate the situation. I managed to evacuate eight paintings last August. Only a part of the ones that remained in the object were insured. What about the unique archeological and ethnological materials with priceless cultural value? asks Jovanoski.

 

Jovan Kondijanov, director of the Monuments Protection Institute, stated that the damages in the site could be repaired, but: The armed fighters for human rights must leave the object. The Arabati Baba Teke must be safe to be restored. Ive told the representatives of the International organization for trust - building IOM USAID that we dont need money for the reconstruction, we just want them to kindly ask the usurpers to leave the site, so we can start with the work.

 

The expert team reports that the walls were destroyed - shooting holes from projectiles and other kinds of weapons are made. The interior of the Guest House (an object in the complex of Arabati Baba Teke) was painted without a permission of the Monuments Protection Institute. All windows in the dining room were broken, as well the ones in the watch-house and the hotel.

 

"All items from the ethnological collection gathered in the last 50 years are stolen folk costumes, silver glasses, relics, jewelry, furniture, embroideries and other rare and valuable items. Vandals have no thing sacred. Beside the Macedonian folklore materials, they destroyed and stole items from the Islamic religion as well is also said in the report.

 

From the archeological collection are destroyed: three steli (a gravestone) from the antique period, three pitoses (a ceramic bowl) from the iron (early Roman) period and few ceramic plates amforae, skifoses from the Roman period.

 

Parts of the altar are missing, as well as the rosette (the only Romanic rosette in this part of the Balkan Peninsula) from the church St. Atanasija in Leshok, built in 14th century. Albanian criminals also stole reproductions of frescos, paintings from famous Macedonian artists, and more than 200 books, including rare encyclopedia from the previous century.

 

Albanian terrorists have been settled in this complex since the Summer of '01.

 

 

Skopje, June 4 (BTA) - Stojan Andov, Speaker of the Macedonian parliament, has meetings with Bulgarian President Georgi Purvanov and National Assembly Chairman Ognyan Gerdjikov in Sofia on June 5, it was officially announced in Skopje on Tuesday.

 

Andov is going to Bucharest, Romania, to attend a parliamentary conference on security in Southeastern Europe due to be held on June 6-7.

 

During his meetings in Sofia, Andov is expected to ask for Bulgaria's support for the agreement between Macedonia and Yugoslavia confirming their common frontier that was signed last year, and for Bulgaria rejecting the resolution of the Kosovo Transitional Council against the agreement.

 

 

 

AIDS Case in Libya: Defence Lawyer Expects Ruling on Tuesday.

 

Tripoli, June 4 (BTA) - The proceedings in an AIDS infection case in Libya may be adjourned for three or four weeks, and the Arraignment Chamber can be expected to make a ruling to this effect even on Tuesday morning, BTA learned from defence lawyer Osman Bizanti on Monday. The Libyan lawyer represents six Bulgarian health professionals charged with intentionally infecting 393 Libyan children with the HIV virus.

 

If the Arraignment Chamber decides there is sufficient evidence to warrant an indictment, the case will be tried before a criminal court in Benghazi, Bizanti said.

 

An assistant to Bizanti was in Benghazi on Monday to attend the first hearing of the case before the Arraignment Chamber. During the hearing, the Tripoli prosecution delivered the case records to the judge and formulated the previously pressed charges excluding the one of conspiracy against the Libyan State.

 

The Bulgarians are accused of intentional HIV infection and causing an AIDS epidemic at the Children's Hospital in Benghazi; adultery; distillation, distribution, use and storage of spirits; and exchange of foreign currency.

 

According to Bizanti, his assistant requested an adjournment to allow the defence to prepare better. She also requested a medical checkup for the defendants by a forensic doctor in order to see if there are any traces of the torture which they allegedly suffered during the investigation. The six Bulgarian medical professionals pleaded not guilty to the charges and declared that some of their confessions had been extracted under duress.

 

Bizanti said he does not know where the Bulgarian defendants are accommodated. On Sunday, the six Bulgarians were transferred from Tripoli to Benghazi. In Tripoli, they were moved from Judaida Prison to a guarded villa in the suburbs of the city on February 4, 2002 with the assistance of the Gaddafi Foundation.

 

The six were detained on February 10, 1999. A year later, they were charged with intentionally infecting 393 Libyan children with HIV at the Benghazi Children's Hospital, conspiring against the Libyan State, and committing acts conflicting with the norms of life in Libya. On February 17, 2002 the special People's Court, which was trying their case (with one Palestinian and nine Libyan doctors as co-defendants), dropped the conspiracy charge and transferred the proceedings to the criminal court.

 

 

 

Only 5-6% of Real Teachers Will Lose Jobs, Education Minister Says.

 

Sofia, June 4 (BTA) - Between 5% and 6% of the real teachers will be made redundant as of July 1, Education Minister Vladimir Atanassov said at a meeting with representatives of the Union of Bulgarian Teachers Tuesday.

 

The layoffs will start from the so called "conditional teaching positions" and staff paid for non-existing activities.

 

The Education Minister expressed satisfaction with the course that the talks with the teachers and the unions have taken.

 

He said the Ministry is ready to participate in a working commission to prepare a programme for teacher training and re-training. Such a programme already exists and it could only be reconsidered, he said.

 

Atanassov would not guarantee the demanded 20% increase of teacher wages and changes in the Labour Code "because these things are up to a different department". He promised that the Education Ministry team will do its best to have the highest teacher wages possible in the 2003 national budget.

 

The talks between the Ministry and the teachers' union continue on Friday at expert level. Experts of the Ministries of Finance and of Labour are expected to join in next week, said the deputy leader of the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria, Plamen Dimitrov.

 

 

 

Opportunities Will Be Explored for Reducing Imbalances in Bulgarian-Russian Trade, PM Saxe-Coburg-Gotha Says.

 

Moscow, June 4 (BTA spec. corr. Ekaterina Kazassova) - Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha described as "perfect" and "very interesting" his meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Patriarch Alexy II in the first two days of his four-day official visit to Russia. At the end of his second day he held a briefing for the press.

 

He wouldnt say what is the biggest problem in the relations with Russia.

 

According to him, it is not the time to focus on the problems during what he described as "such a successful visit". "Why dont we be more positive," he said.

 

Asked to comment his visit, already described as "a turning point" by Putin and "historical" by Patriarch Alexy II, the Bulgarian government leader said that he dislikes pompous phrases and it would be too presumptuous to call his own visit "a turning point".

 

He said he is ready to discuss specific issues and problems with Russia "but it would be premature to discuss them publicly before an agreement is signed with the Russian side".

 

Asked about the Russian claims to Bulgartabac, he said that the disputable issues will be settled. The issue should not be fanned out of proportion and have people talk of disputable ownership of the tobacco holding company, said the Prime Minister.

 

He also said that the two sides will explore opportunities for reducing the imbalances in bilateral trade. He believes there is untapped potential for cooperation in agriculture and the food industry.

 

Asked whether he has brought a message from Bulgarian Patriarch Maksim for the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Prime Minister said he is a secular person and could not act as a messenger for the two church primates.

 

After the meeting with the press the Bulgarian government leader headed for Bolshoy Theatre. He will be watching Giselle and will meet with the dancers after the performance.

 

 

 

Bulgarian PM Meets Russian Patriarch Alexy II.

 

Moscow, June 4 (BTA spec. corr. Ekaterina Kazassova) - "I am happy to welcome you to the oldest church in Moscow," Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow and Russia said as he walked out to met Bulgarian Patriarch Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha in his official residence at the Danilov Monastery.

 

The Bulgarian Prime Minister is on an official visit to Russia until June 6.

 

As the two met, Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha kissed the Patriarch's hand and then the two exchanged three kisses as the Russian custom requires.

 

At the beginning of the meeting, Patriarch Alexy II spoke about the hardships the Orthodox Churches of the two countries have been through. "But now there is spiritual revival and an ever increasing number of people understand they cannot live without God," said he. He cited a poll showing that 82% of Russians celebrated Easter this year.

 

Russia and Bulgaria have a history of cooperation, said also the head of the Russian Orthodox Church. "In hard times, they have been together fighting for the Bulgarian liberty. There have been bad years but the link between the two nations and churches has remained."

 

Alexy II further voiced concern over the ongoing rift in the Bulgarian Orthodox Church at a time when the conditions are ripe for a growth. He went on to express hope that now when Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha is prime minister, he will help settle by legal instruments the statute of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and the return of its property.

 

"The fact that the head of a royal family returns to politics and is elected prime minister shows there has been a major change in people's way of thinking," said Alexy II offering his respect to the Bulgarian government leader as a statesman who has been forced into exile but never forgot his home country.

 

The Russian Patriarch also expressed hope that as the process of Bulgaria integration into the EU goes forward, Bulgaria will keep up its good relations with its neighbours to the East. He described the Russian visit of the Bulgarian government leader as an important stage in the development of bilateral relations. He also called "historic" the visit of Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to the Holy Trinity and St. Sergius Laura, which, as he put it, is Russia's spiritual centre.

 

Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha voiced appreciation for Patriarch Alexy's concern for the problems is the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. He said that the rift started back in 1965 in the US, has been politicized and used for political gains, and he has been trying to help heal it throughout his life.

 

The Prime Minister was apparently referring to a breakup when 16 parishes of the Bulgarian Orthodox diocese in the US and two parishes in Canada seceded from the Eparchy of America and Australia of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and in 1976 joined the Orthodox Church in America.

 

Asked whether he will follow the call of Patriarch Alexy to try end the rift in the Bulgarian Orthodox Church, Saxe-Coburg-Gotha said he "will do as His Holiness advised".

 

After the 45-minute meeting the Bulgarian government leader and the head of the Russian church had a one-to-one session that lasted 20 minutes. The two did not talk about the recent Bulgarian visit of Pope John Paul II. "We ran out of time," Patriarch Alexy told a reporter who asked him about that. He added that the visit is something the Bulgarian church should talk about and not the Russian.

 

Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha asked about the religious life in Russia, the relations between the church and the government, about theological education and church charities.

 

Patriarch Alexy said further that the churches of the two countries have good relations and that the unity of Orthodox churches is what matters at this moment. He hopes that the admission of Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Bulgaria and other countries with Orthodox Christians into the EU will promote the standing of Orthodoxy in Europe.

 

Asked of any plans he may have to visit Bulgaria, Alexy II said he would accept an invitation to visit Bulgaria for the 125th anniversary of the Russo-Turkish War and on the occasion.

 

 

 

Public Procurement Act to Be Revised Yet Again, State Administration Minister Kalchev Says.

 

Sofia, June 4 (BTA) The Public Procurement Act will be amended once again to liberalize it further. This has to be done to comply with draft amendments to the EU public procurement directive, which are expected to be finalized in the second half of this year, State Administration Minister Dimiter Kalchev told the participants in an investment forum, held here under the motto "Entering the Bulgarian Market. Real Projects for Real Players."

 

The amendments to the Act will streamline the operation of the Public Procurement Register.

 

The Minister recalled that the European Commission is not inclined to accept preferential treatment of Bulgarian companies. According to the Commission, for the time being Bulgaria does not have a developed market for mobile services.

 

On these grounds, mobile operators were removed from the scope of the Public Procurement Act when it was last revised. The preferential treatment of Bulgarian companies when bidding for public procurement is to be regulated in a separate ordinance.

 

 

 

Currency Board Arrangement Has Proved Successful, Central Bank Deputy Governor Says.

 

Sofia, June 4 (BTA) - The currency board arrangement is one of the successful political decisions of the last few years which have largely contributed to Bulgaria's integration in the European and global communities, according to Martin Zaimov, Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Bulgaria (BNB) and head of the bank's Issue Department, which performs the currency board's functions.

 

BTA approached Zaimov on the occasion of the fifth anniversary, June 5, of the adoption of the National Bank of Bulgaria Act, which introduced the currency board system.

 

The law pegged the national currency to the German mark at an exchange rate of 1,000:1. The rate was updated to 1:1 after the redenomination of the lev in 1999. Most importantly, the law imposed rigorous restrictions on central bank lending to support the national budget and on refinancing of commercial banks.

 

The currency board arrangement in Bulgaria has refuted its critics, Steve Hanke of John Hopkins University, credited as the "father" of the arrangement, said at the opening of Investment Forum 2002 in Sofia June 3.

 

Lyubomir Filipov, the last BNB governor before the introduction of the scheme, acknowledges the indisputable financial stability of the post-1997 period, but believes that the potential of the arrangement has not been fully tapped.

 

"Maximum liberalization of the economy has not been achieved," Filipov noted.

 

"International financial transactions were liberalized too late, and licensing regulations are too rigorous. Genuine market levels of interest rates have not been achieved. Loan interest rates loosely based on market factors are applied by international banks operating in this country, but the base interest rate and the interest rates on personal deposits were lower than the reasonable levels for quite a long time, until the LIBOR and the interest rates in the US dropped."

 

"The currency board arrangement has been very successful," said former Finance Minister Mouravei Radev. The move was made as a last resort at a time when the national economy was suffering from financial shocks, Radev said.

 

"The arrangement's positive effect on financial discipline quickly manifested itself through all macroeconomic parameters," Radev said. "Inflation plummeted from 240-250 per cent in January 1997 to single digits in the second half of the year."

 

The former finance minister recommended preserving the currency board arrangement for at least a couple of years after Bulgaria accedes to the European Union, until the country meets the requirements of the European Central Bank related to the introduction of the euro.

 

By DANIEL WOOLLS, Associated Press Writer

 

MADRID, Spain (AP) - By an overwhelming majority, Spanish lawmakers took the first step Tuesday toward outlawing the party seen as the political wing of the Basque separatist group ETA.

 

The Congress of Deputies, or lower house of Parliament, voted 304 to 16 to approve a bill would allow the Supreme Court to dissolve political parties viewed as encouraging or supporting terrorism.

 

The legislation now goes before the Senate, where debate is scheduled for June 25. Passage is virtually assured because the Senate is controlled by the conservative government of Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar that wants the new law enacted.

 

ETA's name is a Basque-language acronym that stands for Basque Homeland and Freedom. The group has killed more than 800 people in its three-decade campaign for an independent Basque homeland.

 

Aznar insists that Batasuna, a coalition of pro-independence Basque groups founded in 1978, is essentially part of ETA.

 

"Those who shelter terrorists will be prosecuted," Aznar said Tuesday during a visit to Belgium. "In Spain, our democracy is not willing to be forced into a corner or blackmailed by terrorists."

 

If the law is approved, the first step toward banning a political party would require a majority vote in either house of Parliament requesting the move from the government. The ultimate decision would be made by the Supreme Court.

 

Batasuna, which is Basque for United, was formed in the early years of democracy that swept Spain after the death of dictator Gen. Francisco Franco in 1975.

 

Batasuna officials deny the party is linked to ETA, but refuse to condemn the bombings and shootings linked to the terrorists.

 

The party had its political heyday in Basque regional elections in 1999 after ETA declared a cease-fire, winning more than 200,000 votes and 14 seats in the Basque legislature. But ETA called off its truce a year later and resumed the attacks. Support for Batasuna plummeted in the most recent Basque elections.