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From: [e-mail] (yane)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.yugoslavia
Subject: MIC NEWS-16 January 1995
Date: 16 Jan 1995 11:04:09 -0500
Organization: Internex Online, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (416 363 3783)
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Message-ID: <3fe5dp$[e-mail]>
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          SKOPJE, 16 JANUARY, 1995 (MIC)

          JAMES  BAKER:   "  TO  SEND  AN  AMBASSADOR  TO  SKOPJE
IMMEDIATELY!"
          Former Secretary  of State James Baker, commenting, two
days ago, certain aspects of the U.S. foreign policy at a hearing
in the  Congressional committee for international relations, said
that the  Clinton administration  should immediately  dispatch  a
fully accredited ambassador to Skopje.
          "I believe that Macedonia," Baker emphasized, "where we
have more  than  500  American  observers  in  the  field,  is  a
particularly dangerous  zone, and  I feel that NATO should send a
clear message,  sustained with  a convincing  threat with  force,
that the Alliance will not allow Macedonia to become the focus of
a broader  Balkan conflict.  According to my opinion, that should
also encompass  a clear  signal to  Greece that its NATO partners
will not  tolerate the  unfounded  and  illegal  embargo  against
Macedonia any  longer, and  that means  that  the  administration
should stop  complying with  the domestic political interests and
immediately send a fully accredited ambassador to Skopje."
          Commenting the situation in the region, Baker expressed
support of  the  efforts  of  the  Contact-group  for  finding  a
diplomatic or political solution to the crisis and as well as the
idea for  the U.S. not to enter Bosnia neither with air, nor land
forces.  "But,  if  this  war  spills  over,  for  example,  into
Macedonia -  that's also  why I  mentioned it  separately  in  my
statement, and  there is  a true risk for that, then it will come
to a broader Balkan war," Baker added. "And history has taught us
that the  U.S. can't stand an unstable Europe. So, in the end, if
it comes  to a broader European war, we would find ourselves over
there, yet  again. And if something happens in Macedonia, it will
come to an involvement of an entire line of countries - Bulgaria,
Serbia, Macedonia, Albania, Greece."
          "My opinion,"  Baker concludes,  "is that  only way  to
prevent that  is by  taking an  approach such as we were not in a
possibility of taking when Yugoslavia started falling apart, that
is, for this to become a mission of the North Atlantic Alliance -
to redefine the mission of the Alliance, for it to also encompass
the maintenance  of the  peace and  the stability of the European
committee. And  to tell  those who  are tempted  by adventures in
Macedonia, that,  if they  do that,  they will face all the force
and fierceness of the Alliance."

          AMERICAN INTEREST IN THE MACEDONIANS
          The U.S. Assistant Foreign Minister Nancy Ellie-Rafael,
in charge of questions concerning human rights, who is staying in
Greece for  a couple  of days,  also  met  in  Thessaloniki  with
representatives of  the Macedonian national minority, whereby she
was informed about the position of the Macedonians in Greece.
          The leader  of  the  "Macedonian  Movement  for  Balkan
Prosperity" Pavlos  Vaskopolous, who, together with Tashko Bulev,
had a  longer discussion  with the  U.S. high  official and  U.S.
consul in  Thessaloniki, said  that they exchanged opinions as to
the ways  in which they could change the situation of full denial
of the existence of a Macedonian minority in Greece.
          Previously, Rafael,  together with  the consul,  had  a
meeting with  the mayor  Konstantinos Kosmopoulos, as well as the
Minister for  Macedonia and  Trakia, Kostas  Trijaridis.  In  the
Greek  media,  Rafael's  entire  stay  in  Greece  was  literally
unnoticed, while  some newspapers  said that  it had  come  to  a
meeting with  representatives of  the self-proclaimed "Macedonian
movement for  Balkan prosperity,"  which,  as  it  was  stressed,
gathered "a group of people who promote pro-Skopje stances."

          PAPANDREOU TURNED CLINTON DOWN
          Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou rejected the proposal
made by  the President  of the  U.S. Bill  Clinton, for  dialogue
without prerequisites,  with, as  he said,  "Albania, Skopje  and
Turkey." In yesterday's interview for the newspaper "Katimerini,"
he emphasized  that a dialogue at a high political level would be
futile and  would create greater tension, if the framework of the
dialogue is not previously determined, and if some questions that
apply to the human rights are not previously settled.
          In  the   same  interview,  Prime  Minister  Papandreou
underlines that  "as long  as  Gligorov  shows  no  signs  of  an
intention to  yield, there  can be no direct dialogue." He blames
Turkey for  the creation  of "lasting tension in the Aegean," and
in relation  to Albania,  notes  that  a  "partial  step  on  the
Albanian side" has been made.
          As regards  the Greek  embargo against  the Republic of
Macedonia,  Papandreou  said  that  "it  will  remain  in  effect
regardless of  the decisions  of the  European Court."  As it  is
known, the  legality of  the Greek  blockade against  its  Balkan
neighbor will  be reviewed  by the  European Court  of Justice on
February 1, at the request of the European Commission. Yesterday,
Papandreou warned  the Macedonian  leaders not  to put  all their
hopes into  "a criticism of the European Court of Greece." Greece
will  keep  the  "stable  diplomatic  front"  against  Macedonia,
regardless of the Court, stated Papandreou.

          ELECTIONS IN MACEDONIA - FAIR AND FREE
          The results  of the OSCE Summit held in Budapest around
a month  ago, were  summed up  in the  meeting  of  the  Standing
committee of  the Parliamentary  Assembly of the Organization for
European Security and Cooperation, which was held in Vienna these
last two  days. In  addition, a  number of  decisions were  made,
which apply  to the  future activities  of this  Council,  during
1995. A  discussion was  also opened  in regards to the report of
the delegation  of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly on the results
of the  elections in  Macedonia, which  were graded as fair, free
and democratic.  The Standing  committee adopted  a resolution on
the situation in Chechenia, whereby it appealed for an end to the
violence and  the implementation  of the principles and standards
of the OSCE.
          "On  behalf  of  the  Parliament  of  the  Republic  of
Macedonia, I  suggested that  this forum  make  a  recommendation
urging for an urgent implementation of the resolution of the OSCE
Parliamentary  Assembly,   adopted  in  July,  last  year,  which
requests that  the Republic  of Macedonia  be  admitted  to  this
organization as  soon as  possible, that  the  Greek  embargo  be
lifted, and  that our  country be  compensated for  the embargoes
from  north  and  south,"  stated  the  head  of  the  Macedonian
delegation, the member of the Macedonian Parliament Panche Nasev.

          IMPERATIVE FOR STABILITY
          The Prime  Minister of  the Republic  of Turkey,  Tansu
Chiler, in  the interview  for the  newspaper in Turkish language
"Birlik,"  assessed  the  political  and  economic  stability  of
Macedonia as  a factor of great significance for the stability of
the whole region.
          "Macedonia is  located in  the heart of the Balkans and
its political  and economic stability are of great importance for
the stability  of the  region, therefore  we  are  following  the
democratic processes in Macedonia with great interest..." "Turkey
is also  giving great  importance to the recognition of Macedonia
under its  constitutional name  and the  integration of Macedonia
into the  regional and  international institutions,"  says, among
the rest,  the Turkish  Prime Minister  Chiler, stressing, in the
interview, that  "the Republic  of Turkey  will  continue  giving
support to Macedonia in every aspect."


=================================================



M I L S    N E W S

Skopje, 6 February, 1995



CRVENKOVSKI SEEKS ADDITIONAL U.S. AID On his Washington visit,
Macedonian Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski met U.S. Secretary
of State Warren Christopher to discuss economic issues,
particularly the possibility of U.S. aid to help Macedonia
settle its debt toward the Paris Club. The Americans said
several plans for economic support are now being prepared.
Macedonian Television says some U.S. calculations show Macedonia
is a country presently receiving the highest American economic
aid per capita. They also talked about extending the agreement
with UN peacekeeping troops in Macedonia and the U.S.
participation in the mission. Crvenkovski stressed Macedonia's
interest in further development of bilateral relations with the
U.S. Crvenkovski later met with Lynn Davis, U.S. Under Secretary
for International Security and Arms Control, congressman
Benjamin Gielman, president of the U.S. Congress Committee for
International Relations, and ex-Secretary of State James Baker.
According to Macedonian Television, the Greek embargo on
Macedonia was not a topic in any of the discussions. Washington
has already explicitly stated it considers the Greek embargo an
obstacle for Greek-Macedonian negotiations. According to
Macedonian Television, the establishment of full diplomatic ties
between Macedonia and the U.S. no longer depends on the outcome
of Greek-Macedonian negotiations. Well-informed sources say
closer diplomatic relations now depend more on dealing with
internal problems in Macedonia, such as improving the democratic
process and providing conditions for the Pedagogical Academy to
start courses in the Albanian language. Meanwhile, A1 Television
says Macedonia and the U.S. are to establish  diplomatic ties in
September, elevating the U.S. Liaison Office in Skopje to a
consulate.



UNPROFOR COMMAND TO BE TRANSFERRED TO SKOPJE The monthly
Skopje-based Macedonian Times magazine writes that the UNPROFOR
Command is shortly to be transferred from Zagreb to Skopje. This
UN decision is supported by NATO and is brought about after
Croatian President Franjo Tudjman decided not to extend the
agreement to have UN peacekeeping forces on Croatian territory.





============================================

M I L S    N E W S

Skopje, 14 February, 1995



BORDER SITUATION CONTINUES STABLE Macedonian Defense Minister
Blagoj Handzhiski yesterday received General Mati Kopra,
Chief-of-staff of the Finnish Army, in the presence of Dragoljub
Bocinov, Macedonian Chief-of-staff. Handzhiski reported the
security situation at borders as stable, adding the UN
peacekeeping mission has considerably contributed to the present
relaxed situation. General Kopra expressed satisfaction with the
cooperation between Macedonian authorities and UNPROFOR troops.



UNPROFOR COMMAND HAND-OVER CEREMONY The commanding officer of
UNPROFOR Command for Macedonia, Brigadier-General Tryggve
Tellefsen, will tomorrow hand over command to Brigadier-General
Juha Engstrom. The ceremony will be conducted at Camp Able
Sentry, close to Petrovec airport, at 2 p.m. The program
includes a review of the troops and an honor ceremony to the
commanders.



MACEDONIAN BUSINESSMEN TO GO TO SERBIA Government spokesman
Gjuner Ismail said a group of 15 influential Macedonian
businessmen will go to Belgrade this week. The group will be led
by Dushan Petrevski, president of the Macedonian Chamber of
Commerce. The goal of the visit is to find ways to overcome
problems in the greatly reduced bilateral cooperation,
especially in the fields of agriculture and production of
tobacco and food, due to international sanctions on Yugoslavia.
Ismail denied reports that Macedonian Prime Minister Branko
Crvenkovski will meet with his Serbian counterpart Mirko
Marjanovic in Belgrade.





=====================================

M I L S   N E W S

S P E C I A L  E D I T I O N

Skopje, 18 February, 1995



ONE DEAD AS POLICE AND CROWDS CLASH IN TETOVO In Mala Rechica,
near Tetovo, at about 2.30 p.m. yesterday, police clashed with a
crowd of people, gathered in front of the building used as the
faculty of mathematics and natural sciences of the
Albanian-language university in Tetovo, killing one and injuring
about 20. Abdi Seljam Ajmini of the village of Lisec was
wounded, and the injured included a reporter of the Skopje paper
Vecher. The incident began when police tried to enter the
building while lectures were in progress. A1 television reports
30 police officers and about 100 villagers were already at the
spot by 2 p.m. Two buses soon arrived carrying police
reinforcements , accompanied by OSCE and UNPROFOR
representatives. The OSCE official made efforts to mediate
between the two sides, but to no avail. Several inhabitants of
Mala Rechica tried to do the same, but failed as well. The
police then began pushing the crowd away from the building, and
the villagers started throwing stones at them. The police tried
using nightsticks, tear gas, and warning shots in the air to
move the crowd. The Tetovo police headquarters claims it was the
crowd which started shooting automatic weapons. The crowd was
soon dispersed, but not before damaging the two police buses and
a vehicle belonging to Macedonia Television. At about 4 p.m., a
PDP delegation, led by leader Abdurahman Haliti, arrived at the
scene. NDP parliament deputy Bekhir Kadriu persuaded the crowds
to go to their homes. The situation clamed down during the
evening hours. Armed police troops are deployed along roads
going into Tetovo and into Mala Rechica. A meeting took place
behind closed doors at the NDP head offices in Tetovo.
Unofficial sources say the university's rector, Fadil Suleimani,
along with representatives of NDP and the Thaci-led PDP faction,
also attended the meeting. A1 Television says people tried to
organize a protest by the Macedonian citizens of Tetovo and
there is a possibility of a demonstration in front of the
parliament building in Skopje.



POLICE ARREST UNIVERSITY RECTOR SULEIMANI Professor Dr. Fadil
Suleimani, rector of the university in Tetovo, was taken into
custody late last night, Macedonian Television reports.



REACTIONS TO THE INCIDENT -- PDP president Abdurahman Haliti,
appearing in an Albanianlanguage program on Macedonian
Television, appealed to all ethnic Albanians in Macedonia, and
especially to those living in Tetovo and its surroundings, to
stay calm and use common sense at this moment as well as in the
days to come. Haliti openly blamed the highest political
institutions in the country, including president Gligorov and
the government, for the latest events in western Macedonia. This
situation, he said, resulted from demands concerning education
by ethnic Albanians being unjustifiably delayed. Those
authorized to deal with the problem have been avoiding it,
creating a situation easily used by everyone, even provocateurs.
According to Haliti, what happened in Mala Rechica yesterday was
the worst possible scenario, leading to no solution. As for
calls by Fadil Suleimani to defend the university, Haliti said
no such calls are needed and pointed out those who have been
chosen and given authority to resolve the problem should finally
do so. Haliti disassociated himself  from statements given by
Suleimani and Joseph DioGuardi, the ex U.S. Congressman who
spoke to the crowd attending the opening of the university on
Thursday. Asked to predict future events in the Tetovo area,
Haliti said it would be unhelpful to predict anything, adding
the current situation is very bad and the police presence only
increases the tension.- Ambassador Tore Bogh, Head of the OSCE
Mission in Skopje, said, "It is with deep regret that I have
received the news that there have been violent incidents in the
Tetovo area, and according to some reports even with the loss of
life. We in the OSCE Mission hoped that both the organizing
committee of the university and the authorities would show
maximum restraint in order that the situation should not get out
of hand, especially in view of the high level of tension which
prevailed. Such restraint was, indeed, shown by all sides on
Wednesday and Thursday of this week. I still do not have
sufficient information in order to give an assessment of what
happened. It is not my job to allocate blame. I can only say
that I am deeply disturbed by what I have heard. I sincerely
hope that the events today will not bring further unrest.
Because that is something that neither this country nor the
Balkan region needs."- Hugo Anson, representative of the UN
special envoy, Yasushi Akashi, this morning issued a statement
to the Press: "We are continuing to monitor developments
throughout Macedonia closely, including Tetovo. We deeply regret
that there has been some violence and we urge all parties to
continue on the path of dialogue, goodwill, compromise and
restraint. The United Nations urges all parties to act strictly
within the Macedonian Constitution and laws of the republic. The
UN Security Council has committed itself to ensuring respect for
the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia. We urge all citizens of this republic to
think of themselves first and foremost as citizens, and only
afterwards as members of various ethnic groups, and to continue
extending the hand of friendship and understanding to each other
within the law. There is so much to be lost by confrontation and
so much to be won through continued co-operation."

- Dime Gjurev, undersecretary in the Macedonian Ministry of
Interior, told reporters in Tetovo yesterday that the police,
although prepared for incidents, had not expected such violent
behavior by the crowd. The police will continue to take steps to
prevent such behavior in future and will bring criminal charges
against the ten arrested leaders. Gjurev said the police fired
warning shots in the air. It is yet to be determined from what
direction the fatal bullet was fired. He said the university
rector will also be held responsible, while the ex-congressman
DioGuardi had already left the country.- The leadership and
executive committee of the Tetovo municipality issued a public
statement appealing to all citizens of Tetovo to restrain from
violence and avoid quarrels and provocation of any kind, in
order to preserve peaceful coexistence in the area. The
statement was signed by Shakir Aliti, Tetovo township
coexistence in the region. The statement was signed by Shakir
Aliti, Tetovo township committee president.- Macedonian
government spokesman, Gjuner Ismail regretted to have to say
that the incident only confirmed the government's repeated
statements that no problem is solvable through actions beyond
the state institutions. The government hopes that the latest
incident will be lesson enough for all who seek solutions
outside the legal framework. The government remains ready for
dialogue and it will consider as legitimate those
representatives of the people who will contribute to resolving
problems through negotiations.- Radio Tirana and the Albanian
Television describe the situation in and around Tetovo as highly
tense after the incidents. Radio Tirana reports one killed and
nine injured, as well as police and army road blocks going into
Mala Rechica . The radio also announced a possibility of
organized gatherings of Macedonians in Tetovo. The television
broadcast a comment titled "Macedonian Chauvinists Armed Against
Education", describing the incident as a brutal and criminal act
by the police and a flagrant violation of human rights.- The PDP
leadership most bitterly condemned the police interference and
intervention against inhabitants of Mala Rechica. The party says
this is a direct attack on the ethnic relations in the country,
leading to a general destabilization of the situation. The act,
PDP says, is a shameful and cruel attack on the right of a
people to education in its native language. According to PDP,
highest political institutions in Macedonia, including the
government and president Gligorov, are to be blamed for not
having found an appropriate solution for educational problems of
ethnic Albanians for such a long time. Bearing in mind the newly
developed situation in ethnic relations after the brutal police
intervention, the PDP leadership appeals to citizens to remain
calm and avoid all actions which could lead to further
escalation of tension in the Tetovo region and in the entire
country. The PDP will continue to make all efforts possible to
help resolve misunderstandings and problems in all spheres of
life through mutual tolerance and dialogue. The party requests
immediate withdrawal of police and troops in order to prevent
further incidents and so enable citizens to carry out their
normal daily obligations.- "Mr. Frchkovski's and Mr. Gligorov's
threats to make use of all means available to prevent the work
of the university in Tetovo became reality today,"
vice-president of the PDP faction Menduh Thaci said. He pointed
to the minister of interior and president of the country as the
two individuals to bear the biggest responsibility for the
incidents. To his knowledge, the police fired indiscriminately
at the crowds.- The Association of Students at the University
"Cyrill and Methodius" in Skopje remains firm in its stand that
all education in the country must be part of an integrated
higher-education system, and therefore finds justification for
all legal measures and instruments undertaken to protect the
constitutional order and territorial integrity of the Republic
of Macedonia.



==========================================

M I L S    N E W S Skopje, 20 February, 1995



SITUATION IN TETOVO STILL TENSE The situation in Tetovo, after
the incident last Friday killing one and injuring 20, remains
tense. More than 10,000 citizens from Tetovo and the surrounding
villages, along with party leaders and representatives of the
municipalities of Tetovo, Gostivar, Debar and Struga, went to
the funeral of Abduselam Emini, killed during the incident. The
funeral was also attended by a large number of Macedonian and
foreign reporters, and representatives of the OSCE and UNPROFOR.
After the funeral, a part of the crowd headed toward the Tetovo
police station, to demand the release of Fadil Suleimani, rector
of the university in Tetovo. Besides Suleimani, the police
arrested four others: Milaim Feizi, president of the Human
Rights Forum of Gostivar and member of the university council;
Arben Rusi, member of the Thaciled faction's leadership and
president of the humanitarian organization "El Hilal"; and
Shaban Kemal and Arben Murtezani, participants in the
demonstration. The crowd dispersed after an hour when parliament
deputy Sali Ramadani appealed to them to do so, promising "he
will personally gather 10,000 people and come back if the
prisoners are not released." The Macedonian government has
reportedly agreed to withdraw police troops guarding the
university sites, after a promise made by the political parties
of Albanians that no lectures will be given for the time being.
Yet villagers of Poroy put up barricades, organized guards
around the village and the local mosque where the university is
to hold lectures for its economic and law departments. The
president of the village's local self-government said these acts
were "the will of the people, who are ready to defend the
university with their lives." Also, Serbian symbols have been
written on the walls of the university buildings in Mala
Rechica. The local villagers say these symbols were written by
the police, but the Ministry of Interior denied this. The
leaderships of the PDP, NDP, ADP-LS and PDP-National Unity (now
led by former PDP leader Nevzat Halili), along with
representatives of the townships of Tetovo, Gostivar, Debar and
Struga , and Albanian ministers and parliament members, started
a continuous meeting to discuss the latest events.  Despite the
fact the meeting is closed for the public, information leaked
that a dispute arose between the PDP leadership and the Thacists
who insisted that ethnic Albanians quit the Macedonian state
institutions. Sources say the PDP leaders also met with top
government officials.



POLICE WITHDRAWS FROM TETOVO AREA Macedonian Television says the
Ministry of Interior, after talks with PDP leaders, decided to
start withdrawing police forces from the Tetovo surroundings,
and to continue withdrawing from the town of Tetovo (according
to the newspaper Vecher their number in Tetovo will be reduced
to the normal level).



MINISTRY OF INTERIOR HOLDS PRESS-CONFERENCE At last Saturday's
press-conference, Dime Gjurev, undersecretary in the Ministry of
Interior, denied reports that the victim Abdiselam Emini had
been shot by a machinegun burst. He presented results of the
court medical officials which proved Emini had been killed by a
M-57 (TT) 7.62-caliber revolver fired from a distance of 60 cm.
He said Macedonian police possess a small number of such pistols
which are also easily bought on the black market. Gjurev
stressed only few policemen were carrying such weapons during
the incident, which does not exclude the possibility that some
of them used them. He told reporters criminal charges have been
brought against five people, and another 10 have been charged
lesser violations. On the grounds of Articles 205, 206, and 218
of the Macedonian Criminal Code, they are charged with inciting
people to resist the police, belonging to a crowd which was
preventing police officers from exercising their duties, and the
illegal possession of weapons. Macedonian Television reports
nine people have been sentenced, with sentences to be determined
today.



GLIGOROV SENDS TELEGRAM OF CONDOLENCES Expressing condolences to
the family of the tragically killed Emini, President Gligorov
said in a telegram: "Such unnecessary deaths once again warn
that, in these times of wars, conflicts and hatred, it is
essential for the peace and security of all our citizens and the
future of the country, to have all sides ready to resolve even
most complicated problems through dialogue and within the system
and its institutions. This is the only way to promise a better
common future."



BRITAIN SUPPORTS MACEDONIA'S INTEGRITY The British Foreign
Office issued a public statement on the latest incident in Mala
Rechica, saying: "Great Britain supports the sovereignty,
territorial integrity and stability of FYROM; it is of vital
interest that the neighboring countries also respect these
principles and closely cooperate with the Macedonian
authorities. The British government is deeply concerned with the
increased tension between the Macedonian and Albanian community.
The Albanian community ought to respect the Macedonian
constitution and law, and the Macedonian government ought to
fulfill its promises and meet the demands made by the Albanian
community. Great Britain appeals to both sides to help alleviate
the tension created by the incident. The event has underlined
the need to create adequate conditions for education of the
Albanian community."





===============================================

          SKOPJE, 21 FEBRUARY, 1995 (MIC)



          PROTEST IN FRONT OF MACEDONIAN EMBASSY          A
student  protest meeting was held yesterday afternoon in front
of the  Macedonian embassy  in Tirana,  as  a  sign  of support
for  the so-called  "Albanian University"  in Tetovo. The
protest meeting  started at the University in Tirana.
Afterwards, the students, who were carrying banners and shouting
out paroles, headed toward  the city  center. They  held a
meeting in front of the building  of the  Macedonian  embassy
in  Tirana,  in  which numerous speakers expressed support for
the Tetovo University. At the end,  the students  left a  letter
of protest in front of the building of the Macedonian embassy.
       Radio  Tirana,  which  broadcast  the  news  about  the
protest in  the afternoon, did not specify the number of
students that took part.



          IN TETOVO - PEACEFUL          "CLASSES POSTPONED" -
NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUING          Yesterday, it  was peaceful  in
Tetovo. The police left the town, while no classes were held in
any of the objects of the so-called Tetovo  university. However,
 in the  afternoon  hours, some twenty  villagers from  the
surrounding  villages surrounded the objects,  acting as
security. In Mala Rechica, the villagers cleaned and re-painted
the house in which the mathematics faculty is located.  The
facade did not have the provocative Serb symbols any longer,
written by unknown "authors" who appeared on Saturday morning,
before  the  funeral  of  the  deceased  Emini,  "Vecer"
reports. The  field on  which the  clashes between the police
and the demonstrators  took place  was cleared  from the  stones
that were thrown at the police.



          MEETING OF MACEDONIAN PARTIES IN TETOVO          The
managing organs of the Macedonian political parties from Tetovo
held a working meeting late last night, at the end of which they
 issued an  announcement made  up of  ten  items.  The
announcement appeals  to  all  citizens  from  the
municipality, regardless of  national or  religious affiliation,
 to  make  all efforts to  keep the  peace and stability, in
order to overcoming the  deteriorated   inter-ethnic  relations.
  It  was  asked  to establish direct  contact and  dialogue
with  the leaders  of the political parties  of the  Albanians
in Macedonia. They expressed support for  the measures  of the
Macedonian Government  and the Interior Ministry  for protection
 of the  Constitution and laws, and demanded  a ban  and
sanctioning  of all activities connected with  the   initiative
for   opening  the   so-called  "Albanian university in
Tetovo." Due  to a  number of incidents, confusion and
provocations   directed  against   certain   citizens,   and
particularly participants,  the Tetovo police station is urged
to provide greater  control and protection for all, and
particularly these   citizens.    The   announcement   stresses
 that   every "gettoization"  of   the  citizens   in  this
municipality,  in particular the  political subjects means
further polarization and danger  of   more  serious   conflicts
 with   possible   tragic consequences. The  Macedonian
political  parties from Tetovo also want a  ban on  any misuse
of the local Assembly and the units of the local self-government
with the favoring and exposition of any nationality, including
the material  and other  means which they posses.



          FIRST COURT SANCTIONS FOR PARTICIPANTS IN CLASHES
    SEVEN PEOPLE CHARGED          The Tetovo  District court
for  minor  violations  has sentenced seven  participants in
the clashes  in  front  of  the object of  the so-called
"Albanian university" in Mala Rechica to 30 days  in prison. The
seven people charged are Sulejman Resiti, Vehab Bajrami,  Ruzdi
Asani, Naser Durmisi, Fadilja Bekiri, Besim Sabani and  Emin
Emini.  The court  determined  that  during  the massive
gathering  in front  of the object in Mala Rechica, these seven
did  not pull  back when  the police  officers told them to
disburse, thereby  committing a violation according to article
14 of the  Law of  torts.  The  court  decision  comes  into
effect immediately.



          INVESTIGATION AND TEMPORARY ARREST FOR SULEJMANI
   The   Tetovo    district   public    prosecutor   Boris
Milosavlevski stated  for the  media that  the Interior
Ministry brought criminal  charges against Fadil Sulejmani,
Miljaim Fejzi, Kemal Sabani,  Arben  Rusi  and  Arben
Murtezani.  The  Interior Ministry requested  that
investigations  be opened  for all five, and that  they be  held
in  custody for  a period  of eight days. Fadil  Sulejmani   and
 Miljaim  Fejzi  were  charged  under  the suspicion of
committing the  criminal act  "participation  in  a crowd that
obstructs an  official from carrying out his duties." Kemal
Sabani was also charged for "illegal possession of firearms and
explosive  materials." One automatic rifle, two belts with 60
bullets and one gun were found in his house.



          MUSLIM GRAVES IN KUMANOVO DESECRATED
Yesterday, the Kumanovo police station received reports for the
desecration of 35 Muslim graves in the town cemetery. The
culprits are  still  not  known,  while  the  police  is
working intensively on  finding out  the people who committed
this vandal act.          The Islamic  religious  community
announced  yesterday that "this  vandal and uncivilized act
deeply offends and revolts the  citizens   of  the  Albanian
nationality  in  Kumanovo  and broader." The  Community expects
the offenders  to be discovered and properly punished.





==============================================

M I L S   N E W S

Skopje, 23 February 1995



CRVENKOVSKI  CRITICIZES  ALBANIAN  STATEMENTS  Macedonian
Foreign Minister Stevo Crvenkovski yesterday summoned Shaban
Murati, the Albanian ambassador to  Macedonia, to register
complaints about some of the official statements from  Tirana
regarding the university in  Tetovo. The Foreign Ministry says
Crvenkovski    expressed   serious   concern   with   the
anti-Macedonian demonstrations  held  in  Tirana  on  February
20,  which  included highly offensive  slogans about Macedonia's
territorial integrity and sovereignty, its  institutions  and
authorities. This,  Crvenkovski  warned, damages the already
positive development of bilateral relations and cooperation
between Macedonia and Albania.



TETOVO   TOWNSHIP  HOLDS  SPECIAL  SESSION  The  Tetovo
township  assembly yesterday  held  an urgent session with the
events  in Mala Rechica as the only  point  on  the  agenda.
The session  was  requested  by  PDP and NDP representatives.
The assembly president Shakir Aliti blamed the government for
the  direct clash between police  and  citizens, saying the
government should bear the responsibility, as no laws regulating
higher education have been  passed  yet.  Prime  Minister
Crvenkovski  and  Minister of Interior Frchkovski   were
bitterly  criticized.   "Mr.  Frchkovski's  police  are
pro-Serbian Chetnicks, with or without his being aware of it,"
said Muzafer Kamberi,  committee  member  and  president  of
the  municipality  of Mala Rechica.  Other  ethnic Albanian
members spoke  in a similar way. Following the  open  and
direct support of the  illegal  university in Tetovo by all
ethnic Albanian members, the Macedonian committee members walked
out of the city  hall.  On behalf of all  of the Macedonians,
member Zoran Stojanovski said,  "The  Macedonian  committee
members are  of  a  common view that the disturbed political and
safety situation in Tetovo results from the illegal activities
of the so-called rector's office of the university in Tetovo and
its wide support by all parties of Albanians in Macedonia.
Statements about the Macedonian police by ethnic Albanians in
this committee are tendentious and  lead to the further
destabilization of ethnic relations." The session, continuing
without  Macedonian  representatives,  passed  resolutions  to
suggest  that  PDP withdraw its ministers  from the government,
to call the government  to  responsibility and to  demand  that
Frchkovski be dismissed from  his  position. The assembly will
continue  to support the work of the university, demanding that
Fadil Suleimani and all suspects be released.



SKOPJE  STUDENTS TO PROTEST AGAINST TETOVO UNIVERSITY The
Students' Council at  the  university "St. Cyrill and
Methodius"  in Skopje, has organized a peaceful  student
protest  for today  in  front of Parliament. Yesterday's session
of the Council went in a different direction than the one
announced by  the  Council  president  Toni  Mirchevski.
Mirchevski  asked  that all university  deans give students a
free  day, calling professors to join the protest.  Some  of
the deans supported  the  students, while some said the protest
comes too late. Students said the university had left it all in
the hands  of  government, failing to carry  out its duties in
such situations. Therefore, they said, the university must be
more energetic in future. Some students,  however,  said  the
protest  would  be counterproductive, as the state  intends  to
integrate ethnic  Albanians  into  the higher education system.
Mirchevski  turned down the suggestion  to hold the protest on
the university  premises  instead  of in front  of  parliament.
He announced a declaration  will be read at the demonstration,
to say students insist on a unique and integral educational
system in the official Macedonian language, respect  for  the
principle  of equality  instead  of  national  keys when
students  enroll,  and  a  demand that  the  executive  power
protects the constitutional  order  and territorial integrity
of  Macedonia without any retreats  at all. The Liberal Union
of Youth opposes the demonstration and has  appealed  to all
students at the  universities in Skopje and Bitola to ignore
initiatives  for  public demonstrations  against  the university
in Tetovo.  The  Union  says  this  is the  only  way  for
students to remain dignified and to not get involved in street
democracy. The Union called all young  ethnic  Albanians to draw
the  right conclusion from the incident in Mala Rechica and
respect law and order as the only way for coexistence. The
Union's  statement  ends with a condemnation  of  the
desecration of Moslem graves in Kumanovo.



DZHAFERI  CALLS  ALBANIANS OUT FOR  PUBLIC DEMONSTRATIONS Unlike
PDP leader Abdurahman  Haliti,  who  insists on  dialogue  and
talks, Arben Dzhaferi, leader  of the informal political group
(Thacists), states that there have been  requests  from the
branches  for  organizing public demonstrations in Tetovo,  as
well as in all the  other cities in Macedonia. In its statement
yesterday,  the NDP says the Macedonian government abused the
readiness for dialogue  shown by the Albanian  political groups.
The authorities continue with  arrests,  and  latest government
view,  presented  by Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski, is for
further repression, arrests and political trials against ethnic
Albanians. The NDP will use all available democratic methods to
express the collective dissatisfaction felt by Albanians in
Macedonia.



ALBANIA  TO  RECONSIDER ITS MACEDONIAN  POLICY Albanian
authorities will no doubt  re-examine  its  policy  toward
Macedonia,  because  the Macedonian government  shows no
intention of fulfilling promises concerning the rights of  the
Albanian minority. This was  stated by the Albanian Deputy
Foreign Minister,  Arian  Starova  in his  interview  with Radio
Tirana. Macedonian Radio  yesterday  said the comment by
Albanian  Radio reveals the truth of Albania's  interest  in the
rights of  Albanians  in Macedonia and its real intentions  in
building  friendly  relations  with  Macedonia.  This means
Macedonian-Albanian  relations will be good only  if in interest
of Albania and  to  the extent where Macedonia is  ready to make
concessions to ethnic Albanians  in  Macedonia. Tirana, in fact,
 wants  a status of constitutive people  for  Albanians  in
Macedonia, to  be  followed  by autonomy and new borders  within
Macedonia, all to make true the dream for a Greater Albania in
the 21st century Europe. Tirana urges  a belief in such dreams,
playing the  card  of homogenization of all  ethnic Albanians in
the Balkan region. Whenever it fails to reach this goal, Tirana
introduces a radicalization of relations with Macedonia,
regardless of any tragic consequences, as already seen. No
arguments can justify their open support for extreme action by
the initiators  of the university in Tetovo,  and urging them to
disrespect the laws  of Macedonia. Closely resembling the old
communist ways, the Albanian President  Berisha's  "democratic"
administration  manipulates the Albanian public  and  mobilizes
students at the  university  in  Tirana to organize
demonstrations  with  slogans like  "Tirana-Prishtina-Tetovo".
The same was only  recently  stated  by  Albanian  Prime
Minister  Mexi,  who  said all Albanians living in Montenegro,
Kosovo, Macedonia, and Greece should gather together  under  one
roof, in on  Albanian  state. What does Berisha really mean
when he says the peaceful coexistence of Albanians and
Macedonians in Macedonia is a pre-condition for stability and
prosperity of Macedonia? Was it  aimed  to gain applause from
the  international public, as dictated by Albanian  patrons in
western Europe and  America, or was it really intended to
assure Macedonia of Albania's good and friendly intentions? Mr.
Starova also  said  his  country has continually  been  helping
Macedonia to endure under  the  Greek  embargo, and has gained
nothing  in return. What is the price Macedonia has to pay to
Albania?, asks Macedonian Radio yesterday.



MILS  SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT: PRIVATIZATION FOLLOW UP The
privatization process speeded  up  in  the  second half of
1994.  According  to figures from the Privatization Agency,
nearly one-fifth of the enterprises in transformation decided
to become privatized within the deadlines set by the
Privatization Law.  The  law gave a two-year opportunity  for
large firms and an 18-month opportunity  for medium and small
companies  to decide on their own whether they  will  enter  the
privatization process.  The  deadline  for small and medium
firms expired in December 1994,  and large companies must decide
by this  June.  Enterprises  in  which the  previous
privatization  has to be examined  are  granted  a somewhat
longer  deadline, but the privatization process in Macedonia
must begin in June 1995. The planned dynamics for 1994 was
completely finished. The Agency submitted  its opinion on 100
cases to the  Government  Privatization  Committee.  Having
received  approval, the Agency  began to organize the sale of
companies. Last January 16 the Agency announced  a  public  sale
 of  the  largest  tobacco  companies,  such  as Makedonija
Tabak  of Skopje, and  the three tobacco-manufacturing firms in
Prilep,  Skopje,  and Kumanovo. The  companies are offered to
international bidders,  with  the  obligation  to purchase at
least  51  per cent of the shares.  The  deadline  for
submitting offers  by  interested  buyers is 15 March. All
potential buyers are advised to contact the Agency's consultants
(Barents  Group  LLC,  KPMG Peat  Marwick,  Washington,  D.C.)
for detailed information.  On  15  February the  Agency
announced  another public sale, offering  ten other large
companies. Six of them (Teteks of Tetovo, Skopski Lozar  of
Skopje,  Zhito  Makedonija  of  Skopje,  Sharpromet  of  Tetovo,
Bilkapromet of Skopje, and Inteks of Skopje) are offering their
indivisible part . The remaining four companies - Fershped of
Skopje, Pivara of Skopje, Angroteks  of Shtip (in fact, a
medium-sized company) and Makedonija Turist of  Skopje  -  will
be management  buyouts.  Potential  buyers of companies selling
their indivisible part are to submit the following: a)
information on  the  portion of the indivisible part  intended
to be purchased; and b) information on the amount offered.
Offers on purchasing companies according to  the  managerial
model  should include  a  program  with  the following elements:
 a)  introduction of the bidder;  b)  development strategy with
a projection  on  balance for the next  five years; c) planned
investment; d) planned  reconstruction;  and  e) planned
employment.  Offers on companies selling  their indivisible part
are to be submitted to the Agency within 15 days, and offers on
purchasing firms according to the managerial model must
submitted  within 30 days from the  announcement. Results will
be published 15  days following the deadlines. The Agency offers
packages of information on  companies  for  sale.  The  next
announcement  of  public  sale of new enterprises is expected at
the beginning of March. Meanwhile, the Agency is planning the
transformation of small and medium companies which have missed
the  deadline for self-privatization. In  compliance with the
Privatization Law,   the   Agency  now  has  the   legal
authority  for  conducting  the transformation  of  those
firms.  The  Agency  will  suggest the following models:  -
small companies will be  advised to sell their indivisible part,
while  -  medium  companies will have  an  alternative  of
either using the managerial  model  or  issuing  shares  for  an
 additional accumulation of capital.  Employees in these firms
will also be offered shares amounting to 30  per  cent of the
companies' value,  at lower prices (in accordance with
privileges set by the law).





================================================

          SKOPJE, 24 FEBRUARY, 1995 (MIC)



          ALBANIAN  PARTIES'  JOINT  STANCE:  "MANIFESTATIONS
OF DISCONTENT"          At the  joint press  conference of  all
ethnic Albanian political parties,  held in  Tetovo yesterday,
it was  announced that today's  day has  been proclaimed  a day
of mourning, on the occasion of  the death of Abduselam Emini.
Honors will be held in Mala Rechica tomorrow, a petition of
dissatisfaction will be sent on Monday, while the following day
(Tuesday), demonstrations will be organized in front of the UN
building in Geneva.          It was  jointly concluded  in the
conference that "the police intervention,  the interruption of
the educational process on the  Tetovo university,  the killing
of Abduselam  Emini, the injuring of  a  number  of  passersby,
the  arresting  of  Fadil Sulejmani, Arben Rusi, Milaim Fejziu,
Nevzat Halili, Musli Halimi and others,  are uncontrolled
actions that increase the political tension with a tendency for
further deterioration."          "Instead of  institutional
dialogue with the legitimate representatives of  the Tetovo
university and the other subjects, in relation  to the
modalities for integration of the educational system in  RM, the
 Macedonian authorities  chose the  most wrong alternative that
instigates the  conflicts  -  repression,"  was assessed at the
press conference.          The representatives  of the  Albanian
political parties are assessing  that the concern and
dissatisfaction of the people is growing.  Therefore, they
informed that the manifestations of discontent will  continue
until  the  people  arrested  are  not released and  until
conditions  for  unhindered  holding  of  the classes at the
"Tetovo university" are not created.



          STUDENT PROTEST  IN FRONT OF PARLIAMENT: "STOP TO
ANTICONSTITUTIONAL ACTIVITIES"          The  students   of  the
 University  "Sts.  Cyril  and Methodius" in  Skopje, held  a
peace  protest  in  front  of  the building of  the Macedonian
Parliament  yesterday,  against  the opening of the so-called
University in Tetovo. In the presence of some  two   thousand
students,  a  declaration  of  the  Student Association was
announced, the organizer of this protest, as well as support
from the students of the University in Bitola "Clement of
Ohrid."          In his  address to the colleagues, Mirchevski
said that the protest was organized so as to show the unity and
strength of the student  movement, to  say stop  to  the
Albanian  political factors in their anti-constitutional acts;
to tell the Government to energetically  oppose such
activities,  and  the  legislative power -  the political
parties, to  strictly uphold the minority rights,  according
to  the  international  conventions.  These, together with the
requests for an only high educational system in Macedonian
language and for abolition of the national keys in the
enrollment  policy,  are  the  main  requests  contained  in
the Declaration, based on the UN Convention against
discrimination in the eduction, as well as the Macedonian
Constitution. In the end, Mirchevski said  that "we will not
allow the education to be used by any  national minority,  in
this  case, the  Albanian,  as  an instrument for  realizing
some  foreign strategies,  that lead to the disintegration of
RM."          The  student   protest  yesterday   passed
peacefully, without the  presence of  the professors,  who gave
their initial support to  this act in the meeting of the
University Council, on Wednesday.



          GOVERNMENT CONDEMNS STUDENT PROTEST          ISMAIL:
"TO EXTREMISM WITH EXTREMISM"          In relation to
yesterday's protest of the students from the  University   "Sts.
 Cyril  and  Methodius,"  the  government spokesman Gjuner
Ismail gave  the  following  statement:  "These days, the
Macedonian public was a witness to the tragic incidents over the
 so-called university in Mala Rechica. The Government of the
Republic  of Macedonia,  in regard to its stances, as well as
the overall  activities, received  full support  from that
public and the  relevant political  subjects in RM, and abroad.
That was also a confirmation of our public stances on this
question.          However, sadly,  we  must  conclude  that
one  of  our stances,  that  one  extremism  will  produce  and
feed  another extremism was  confirmed in an utterly
disagreeable way, with the so-called peaceful  protest  of  the
self-proclaimed  Macedonian student movement.
Yesterday, in  front of  the Macedonian  Parliament, we had a
classical response to extremism with extremism. This
selfproclaimed Macedonian student movement is entirely on the
line of what the  Albanian extremists wanted. I must warn that
the mutual sustaining of  nationalism is actually falling into
the deep well of nationalistic hysteria, the deepening of
divisions and placing those divisions  on a  pedestal of  the
most  important and  only question that can protect our small
country.          The Macedonian Government has to express
regret for the paroles and  songs in  which one  entire
nationality is insulted, because they are insulting for the
Macedonian people."



===========================================

M I L S  N E W S

Skopje, 27 February, 1995



POLICE  DISALLOW LECTURES IN PRIVATE HOUSES  In a public
statement made two days  ago,  the Macedonian Interior Ministry
denied it had promised not to order  police  intervention if
lectures for  the  university in Tetovo take place  in private
houses. The statement underlines that the ministry cannot make
such promises to either Gert Arens or  anyone else, as it is its
duty to prevent any violation of the law.



COMMEMORATION  IN MALA RECHICA Last  Saturday, ethnic Albanians
gathered in Mala  Rechica in a commemoration for the victim of
February 17 when clashes between  police and the crowd left one
dead and a dozen injured. Leaders of all  political parties of
Albanians  attended the commemoration. Meanwhile, the  Tetovo
District Attorney brought new  charges, this time against Arben
Rusi,  president  of  the "El  Hilal"  humanitarian
organization and Musli Halimi.  The indictment accuses them of
participation in a crowd preventing police   officers  from
exercising  their  duty.  The  District  Attorney. requested
that they be held in custody during the investigation.



MACEDONIAN  POLITICIANS  IN  TETOVO  ANGRY  AT  COMMEMORATION
"We bitterly protest  the  recent  gathering of ethnic
Albanians  from Tetovo and other places  in  the  courtyard  of
the  so-university  in  Mala  Rechica," the Macedonian
political block in Tetovo said  in a public statement. "This is
just another illegal and anti-constitutional activity, openly
violating the constitution  and  law. We demand that  the
Macedonian public be completely informed  of  the  event  and
who  those  are  that  are  organizing  such gatherings,  which
include hoisting up  Albanian  flags and promoting some
educational heroes."



UNIVERSITY  IN TETOVO WILL STABILIZE MACEDONIA, RUGOVA SAYS "The
university in  Tetovo  will  not  destabilize  Macedonia;  on
the  contrary,  it will contribute  to  a stronger stability in
the country," said Ibrahim Rugova, leader   of  the  Kosovo
Albanians,  speaking  at  a  press-conference  in Prishtina.
The university is in the interest not only of Macedonia, but of
all nations in the region, he said.



MILETIC  REFUTES SERBIAN INVOLVEMENT IN  TETOVO EVENTS The
Democratic Party of  Serbs reacted bitterly to the news  of the
alleged involvement of Serbs in  events in and around Tetovo, as
 well as rumors that Fadil Suleimani is an  alleged KOS agent.
According to the party leader, Dragisha Miletic, the media  in
Macedonia  is full of lies  and  fabrications and they must stop
blaming  Serbs for every unrest in the country. Miletic also
denied news of Serbian police involvement in Mala Rechica,
saying the Serbian signs on the walls  could not have been
written by  Serbs, as the entire place was under the  control of
the Macedonian police.  Miletic said Serbs in Macedonia are not
demanding a university in their native language as they already
have a university  in Belgrade. He added Serbs in Macedonia
stand for coexistence, while  the  university  in  Tetovo is
only  a  facade  to cover for what is already  happening  in
Kosovo: autonomy to  be  followed  by secession. He promised
protection to all Serbs in Macedonia should the conflict spread.





=================================================

M I L S N E W S

Skopje, 28 February, 1995



MACEDONIA CAN AVOID CIVIL WAR, BERISHA SAYS In an interview with
a Berlin newspaper, Albanian President Sali Berisha said the
Macedonian authorities had used unjustified police force to
close down the university in Tetovo. The Albanian government, he
said, "will have to continue following the situation in
Macedonia", despite strong opposition to it by Greece and
Serbia. The Albanian president said that although civil war
threatens in Macedonia, it can be avoided, adding that
Macedonia's stability is of key importance for the entire
region. There are realistic chances of improving relations
between Albania and Macedonia, and "the Albanian nationality has
all the rights to establish its own university and get more
actively engaged in the country's political life."



ETHNIC ALBANIANS SUBMIT PETITION The "Petition for Equality -
Against Violence", signed by Albanian intellectuals in
Macedonia, says education is essential for Albanians and the
university is not a political goal, but a pure educational goal
of the Albanians and all other citizens in Macedonia. The text
warns that democratic processes in Macedonia and reforms in all
segments of life, especially basic rights, have been dangerously
limited. Albanian intellectuals say there is a tendency to build
a one-nation unitary state despite the multi-national reality,
increasing ethnic and political tensions and endangering peace
and stability in Macedonia and the region. Stating examples of
arrested and murdered Albanians, as well as of confiscated and
demolished properties, the petition points out that the only
government institution functioning in Macedonia is the executive
legislature, serving the needs of one nation at the cost of
another. The legal system in the country is degenerating and
turning into a police system, the petition says. It asks all
citizens to stand up to these negative processes. Finally, the
petition appeals to international organizations - the UN,
Council of Europe, the Peace Conference for Former Yugoslavia
and UNESCO - to help overcome internal tension through
establishing institutional equality in Macedonia as a
precondition for stability and peace.



UNIVERSITY IN TETOVO CONTINUES WITH LECTURES The senate of the
university in Tetovo has told the Albanian-language media that a
way has been found to continue the work of the university and to
inform enrolled students. The senate appealed to citizens not to
gather in front of buildings in which the lectures are taking
place. Nova Makedonija writes that lectures were held yesterday,
probably within the mosque in the village of Poroy.



GOSTIVAR TOWNSHIP ASSEMBLY HOLDS URGENT SESSION Without the
participation of Macedonian members, the Gostivar township hall
held an urgent session yesterday to discuss the events in Mala
Rechica and the opening of the university in Tetovo. Members
paid respects to Emini, the victim of the incident, concluded
the events surrounding the university had been a barbarous act
directed by the government, and they bitterly criticized the
police. They stressed the Macedonian government is not ready for
dialogue with the Albanians in Macedonia, seeing happiness for
the Macedonian nation only in unhappiness for ethnic Albanians.
The township committee demanded that the university be allowed
to work, that all imprisoned Albanians be released and charges
against them be withdrawn.



AUTHOR OF GRAFFITI IN MALA RECHICA DISCOVERED The Macedonian
Ministry of the Interior action has discovered who wrote
offensive graffiti on the walls of houses in the village of Mala
Rechica. It is police officer Goran Stanojkovich, who has now
been fired and will be the subject of a disciplinary proceedings.



FOUNDATIONS LAID FOR ISLAMIC THEOLOGY FACULTY The foundation
stones of a Islamic Theology Faculty were laid in the village of
Kondovo, near Skopje, yesterday. The ceremony was attended by
the leaders of the Islamic Religious Community in Macedonia, led
by president Hadzi Suleiman Redzepi, along with Minister of
Culture Eshtref Aliu and representatives of the NDP, PDP,
Democratic Party of Turks and several ethnic Albanian
parliamentarians. The faculty is to spread on 6,000 square
metres to cost over 2 million German Marks, and to be finished
within 11 months.



ISLAM IN MACEDONIA IS POLITICALLY RADICALIZED The presidency of
the Macedonian Association of Cultural and Scientific
Manifestations of Macedonian Muslims most bitterly condemned the
latest political radicalization of the Islamic religion in
Macedonia. The Association says mosques throughout the country
raise funds for Muslim political causes, calling for Islamic
solidarity and unity of all believers in the resistance against
the Macedonian state.



SERBS IN MACEDONIA TO FORM PARALLEL GOVERNMENT Yesterday, the
Democratic Party of Serbs in Macedonia held a press-conference
to say the university in Tetovo is a Macedonian-Albanian
conflict in which the government has attempted to involve the
Serbs in Macedonia. This is aimed at covering the current social
tensions and robbing state capital, the party said. Party
officials reported a group of ethnic Serbs had been harassed by
Macedonian customs officers on February 18. The press-conference
was held on the day marking the 18-month deadline of the Serbs'
demand to be included in the Macedonian Constitution. This was
part of an agreement with the Macedonian government, but as the
government never fulfilled its part of the agreement, it is no
longer valid, said party president Boro Ristic. "It is obvious
the Macedonian side has forgotten all about the problems of
Serbs in this country. We have been fulfilling all our
obligations as written down in the agreement which was signed by
Interior Minister Ljubomir Frchkovski, but the government has
failed to do so. Therefore, it has lost its credibility among
Serbs in Macedonia who no longer consider it legitimate and
legal. All international institutions have been informed of
this. As from today, Serbs in Macedonia will not accept to be
referred to as a national minority, but as a nation." Boro
Ristic announced his resignation on moral grounds and a
homogenization of all Serbs in Macedonia through constituting
their own parliament and executive institutions. "One thing is
sure - political guerrilla actions to defend democracy, freedom
and national rights, will from now on be more and more present,"
Ristic said. According to him, the Macedonians will never again
have a better Serb to negotiate with, but the Macedonian
government has gambled away its chance to be recognized at least
by ethnic Serbs in the country, if not by other Serbian states.