The attitude of Albanian relevant bodies and convening urgent session of the Albanian Parliament on the latest incident, as well as reactions of other institutions and political parties, confirms that Albania does not take seriously this and all former incidents at the Macedonian-Albanian border.

"Such behavior is only one part of the problem," Government spokesman Gjorgi Trendafilov said for MIA in regard with the incident at the Macedonian-Albanian border two days ago, in which one Macedonian soldier was injured.

"We have underlined many times for the last few years that Albania, i.e. its institutions in charge of the border security or international communication, cannot or refuses to understand that guarding of the Albanian borders is its international obligation, and that this, as every other country, should start doing it seriously," Trendafilov said.

The negligence was maybe understandable at the end of the 90s, when Albania was in turmoil due to bankrupting of the pyramidal savings bank.

"In that time, Albania received large financial and logistic support by the international community. Part of the assistance was allocated for the needs of the Albanian army and police. Accordingly, they must be serious about their border control, as it is international obligation of every sovereign and independent country.

Macedonian members of the joint commission and all of our institutions are holding to their position that the details about the incident correspond to the given description. The Albanian institutions will have to face the reality. If they wish to contribute, as they say, to developing of good neighborly relations, the Albanian authorities will have to pay special attention to the border-guarding.

 

Unfortunately, only the Macedonian side of the border is being controlled now," Trendafilov said.

He considered that the problem was addressed in a wrong manner and any attempts for misinterpretation were not in compliance with the SEE countries' commitment-to work on stabilization of the region.

"There is a simple way for Albania to do so-to deploy standard security units at its own border," Trendafilov said.

 

 

 

Holiday season has been intensified these days. The hot weather made the Macedonian citizens to spend their summer vacations at the mountain and lake resorts in the country as well as the summer camps in the nearby states.

According to the reports, the most visited tourist site in the country is the Ohrid Lake, whereat there are over 50.000 tourists in the camps and hotels located along the coast between Radozda and St. Naum. In the course of the past two weekends over 100.000 tourists from Macedonia and abroad stayed at the mountain and lake resorts of Ohrid and Prespa.

The tourist workers say that the season will reach its peak between July 15 - August 15. There will be hardly any vacancies left in this period, so previous booking is necessary, even for the camping sites and the private accommodation.

Most of domestic and foreign tourists complain about the rise of the prices of the tourist services in the local restaurants as well as the lack of information regarding the destinations towards the smaller tourist localities of the so - called mountain tourism.

There is an increased interest among the Greek, Albanian and Bulgarian tourists for visiting Ohrid and Prespa. The number of traditional Dutch and Austrian visitors of these lakes has decreased, but according to initial statistics the tourist circulation will be on the satisfactory level of the past two years.

 

 

 

The State Election Commission (SEC) appointed Monday the presidents and deputies of 34 municipal electoral commissions (MEC).

Rina Andreevska-judge at the Skopje Appellate Court was released from her duty as deputy-president of the District Electoral Commission no. 6 - Tetovo, on her request. She is replaced by Shuretush Bislimoski, also judge at the Skopje Appellate Court.

Zlatko Linin and Aleksandar Mladenovski, judges at the Skopje Court of Original Jurisdiction, are appointed for MEC's president and deputy for the municipalities Kisela Voda, Studenicani and Sopiste.

Hristo Jovanov, judge at the Skopje Court of Original Jurisdiction 1, is appointed for president of MEC for the municipality Centar. Ljubomir Jovevski, judge at the Skopje Court of Original Jurisdiction 2, is to be his deputy.

Antoaneta Dimovska and Risto Katavenovski, judges at the Skopje Court of Original Jurisdiction, are appointed for president and deputy of MEC for the municipalities Karpos, Kondovo and Saraj.

Dragi Minoski and Bozin Avramoski, judges at the Kicevo Court of Original Jurisdiction, are appointed fro president and deputy of MEC for the municipalities Makedonski Brod and Samokov.

Lenka Babanovska and Slavica Spasic, judges at the Kumanovo Court of Original Jurisdiction, are appointed for MEC president and deputy for the municipalities Kumanovo, Staro Nagoricane and Lipkovo.

Ognen Stavrev and Jane Tapndzioski, judges at the Skopje Court of Original Jurisdiction, are appointed for president and deputy of MEC for the municipalities Cair, Cucer Sandevo, Suto Orizari and Gjorce Petrov.

Verica Somovska and Jani Nica, judges at the Skopje Court of Original Jurisdiction 2, are appointed for MEC's president and deputy for the municipalities Gazi Baba and Aracinovo.

Stojan Mihov and Lence Maneva, judges at the Stip Court of Original Jurisdiction. are appointed for MEC's president and deputy for the municipalities Stip and Karbinci.

Golubinka Kozovska and Jovan Cicakovski, judges at the Berovo Court of Original Jurisdiction, are appointed for MEC's president and deputy for the municipalities Berovo and Pehcevo.

Blagoj Cikarski and Metodi Ivanov, judges at the Vinica Court of Original Jurisdiction, are appointed for MEC's president and deputy for the municipalities Vinica and Blatec.

Ljupco Stoimenov and Mitko Georgiev, judges at the Delcevo Court of Original Jurisdiction, are appointed for MEC's president and deputy for the municipalities Delcevo and Makedonska Kamenica.

Nikola Mihailov and Zoran Gligorov, judges at the Kocani Court of Original Jurisdiction, are appointed for MEC's president for Kocani, Orizari, Zrnovce, Oblesevo and Cesinovo.

Stojman Dimkovski and Mile Stoimenovski, judges at Kratovo Court of Original Jurisdiction, are appointed for MEC's president and deputy for Kratovo, Klecovce and Orasec.

Ivan Stojcevski and Loza Ilievska, judges at the Kriva Palanka Court of Original Jurisdiction, are appointed as MEC's president and deputy for Kriva Palanka and Rakovce.

Aco Tasev and Milanco Rambabov, judges at the Stip Court of Original

Jurisdiction, are MEC's president and deputy for Probistip and Zletovo.

Lidija Dimova and Nadica Andreeva, judges at the Veles Court of Original Jurisdiction, are MEC's president and deputy for Veles, Gradsko, Izvor, Bogomila, Caska, Zelenikovo, Petrovec and Ilinden.

Slobodan Arsovski and Todorce Milanov, judges at the Sveti Nikole Court of Original Jurisdiction, are MEC's president and deputy for Sveti Nikole and Lozovo.

Gjorgi Manevski and Nake Georgiev, judges at the Strumica Court of Original Jurisdiction, are MEC's president and deputy for Strumica, Vasilevo, Bosilovo, Novo Selo, Murtino and Kuklis.

Biljana Delova - Nikolova and Tomislav Simeonovski, judges at the Gevgelija Court of Original Jurisdiction, are MEC's president and deputy for Valandovo.

 

Gjorge Curlinov and Elena Makarovska, judges at the Gevgelija Court of Original Jurisdiction, are MEC's president and deputy for Gevgelija, Star Dojran, Bogdanci and Miravci.

Stojan Bojkov and Elizabeta Petkovska, judges at the Kavadarci Court of Original Jurisdiction, are MEC's president and deputy for Kavadarci, Rosoman and Konopiste.

Stalinka Cejkovska - Mitrova and Ratko Petrovski, judges at the Negotino Court of Original Jurisdiction, are MEC's president and deputy for Negotino and Demir Kapija.

Ljuben Binovski and Zoran Stevanovski, judges at the Prilep Court of Original Jurisdiction, are MEC's president and deputy for Pilep, Vitolista, Krivogastani, Topolcani, Mogila, Kukurecani, Novaci, Dobrusevo, Bac and Staravina.

Andon Atanasov and Slavco Milev, judges at the Radovis Court of Original Jurisdiction, are MEC's president and deputy for Radovis, Podares and Konce.

Petre Srbinovski and Todorka Siskovska, judges at the Bitola Court of Original Jurisdiction, are MEC's president and deputy for Bitola, Bistrica and Capari.

Lile Naumovska and Ljube Stojanovski, judges at the Bitola Court of Original Jurisdiction, are MEC's president and deputy for Demir Hisar and Sopotnica.

 

Mira Angeleska and Tance Sofronioski, judges at the Kicevo Court of Original Jurisdiction, are MEC's president and deputy for Kicevo, Vranesnica, Drugovo and Plasnica.

Koco Ivanoski and Domnika Zerde-Kurete, judges at the Krusevo Court of Original Jurisdiction, are MEC's president and deputy for Krusevo, Zitose and Dolneni.

Ljubin Aleksijeski and Trajce Skrceski, judges at the Ohrid Court of Original Jurisdiction, are MEC's president and deputy for Ohrid, Kosel, Meseista and Belcista.

Slobodanka Samarovska and Biljana Jonovska, judges at the Resen Court of Original Jurisdiction, are MEC's president and deputy for Resen.

Zejadin Islami and Goce Ibusevski, judges at the Struga Court of Original Jurisdiction, are MEC's president and deputy for Struga, Vevcani, Velesta, Labunista, Delgozde and Lukovo.

Nesat Selimi and Jordan Velkovski, judges at the Tetovo Court of Original Jurisdiction, are MEC's president and deputy for Tetovo, Zelino, Jegunovce, Tearce, Vratnica, Dzepciste, Sipkovica, Kamenjane, Bogovinje and Brvenica.
Zarif Zekiri and Ilmi Seferi, judges at the Gostivar Court of Original Jurisdiction, are MEC's president and deputy for Gostivar, Negotino, Polosko, Vrapciste, Cegrane, Vrutok, Mavrovi Anovi, Dolna Banica, Srbinovo, Oslomej, Zajas and Rostuse.

Petrit Duka and Sehat Marku, judges at the Debar Court of Original Jurisdiction, are MEC's president and deputy for Debar and Centar Zupa.

Last Friday, SEC appointed the presidents, deputies and members of the six district electoral committees.

Svetlana Trajkovska is president of the district electoral committee (DEC) for the election district no. 1- Kisela Voda, while Simeon Nikodinovski is appointed for a deputy. President of DEC for the election district no.2 - Kumanovo is Ismail Limani, and his deputy is Jovan Jovanovski.

DEC's president in the election district no. 3 - Stip - is Stojance Ribarev.

 

Angel Stojanov is appointed for his deputy. Svetolik Nikolovski and Kornelija Davceva are appointed for president and deputy of DEC in the election district no. 4 - Strumica. DEC's president and deputy in the election district no. 5 - Bitola - are Danica Risteva and Kice Juzevski.

Jusuf Rustemi is president of DEC in the election district no. 6 - Tetovo, while Rina Andreevska is appointed for his deputy.

The presidents and their deputies are judges at the Appellate Courts in Skopje, Stip and Bitola.

According to the State Election Commission (SEC) financial plan, expenditures for the election activities are to be at Denar 139,678 million, i.e. 30% less than the amount spent for the local elections in 2000.

For the elections, an amount of Denar 140 million is planned in the country's budget. SEC is to allocate about Denar 64 million for the election material, while an amount of Denar 68,3 million is necessary for salaries of members of the election bodies.

Ballot printing will take Denar 17 million, while an amount of Denar 45 million should be allocated for purchasing of means for voter identification.

The European Agency for Reconstruction will grant 266,000 to SEC, through the International Foundation for Election Systems (IFES) for unification of the election material and equipment, which is to be distributed at all 2,973 polling place, IFES Director Blessington said.

SEC and IFES are to sign a cooperation agreement next week. This document will present a continuation of their cooperation, which started in 2000 for the local elections.

At today's session, SEC made a decision for preparing of a draft-program for the police tasks during the lection process in compliance with the new Law on election of parliament members. The draft will be submitted to the Interior Ministry and to the lection bodies.

Political parties, which will take part in the parliamentary elections, will have to submit their lists of candidates till August 5, while the regional election commissions will determine the lists order on the ballot by drawing lots until August 9, and to submit it to SEC until August 10. SEC should present the lists order in media until August 16.

The pre-election campaign will be carried out from August 14 to September 14.

Domestic and foreign organizations, interested in monitoring of the elections, should submit their requests to SEC until September 5 at latest.

On September 15, the voting process will take place from 07.00 to 19.00 hours, and 24 hours after closure of the polling places, the first unofficial results will be presented. Soldiers, prisoners and displaced persons will vote on September 14.

 

 

"Bulgaria Only Country in Central, East Europe Which Has Not Yet Destroyed Its SS-23 Missiles," Bulgarian Foreign Ministry Says in Observations.

 

Sofia, July 29 (BTA) - "Bulgaria is the only country in Central and Eastern Europe where missiles of this class, a holdover from the bloc-to-bloc confrontation era, still exist," the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Monday in observations prompted by print media items on the destruction of the SS-23, FROG and Scud missile systems.

 

The observations note that the US and the CIS countries have honoured their commitments under the 1987 Treaty between the USA and the USSR on the Elimination of Their Intermediate-Range and Shorter-Range Missiles. "The countries of Central and Eastern Europe, which possessed such weapons, have already destroyed them, too. They were not required to do so by commitments under international treaties. By their actions, however, they have contributed to the non-proliferation of missile weaponry, which is an important objective of NATO and is also an objective of our own security policy," the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry declared.

 

According to the observations, the Council of Ministers Decision dated November 29, 2001on retirement and destruction of the missile systems "contributes to guaranteeing national security in the changing world situation. It is directly associated with Bulgaria's interest to receive an invitation to NATO in Prague and to become a full member of the Alliance. The Bulgarian Parliament has voted a declaration in support of this Decision.

 

This Declaration was the latest in a series of proofs of the existing political consensus on the country's principal priorities and on the manners and means of their attainment."

 

"Account has also been taken of the limited financial resources available for maintenance, physical protection and storage of the missiles. The Bulgarian national interest demands combat-capable armed forces, interoperable with NATO. The maintenance of such class of missiles, which are unusable in the new interenational situation, is inconsistent with the National Security Concept and the Military Doctrine of the Republic of Bulgaria," the observations say.

 

It is further pointed out that in the missile destruction process Bulgaria is tapping the experience of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe which have destroyed identical missile systems on their territory with US financial and technical assistance. "Other countries have not expressed readiness to finance this operation," the Foreign Ministry observes, stressing that the "US Government is paying all substantial ancillary costs" and that "the company selected to implement the project has ample experience of destroying missile complexes."

 

In a separate development, Environment and Water Minister Dolores Arsenova is expected to meet later on Monday with local government officials and members of the public in Stara Zagora (Southeastern Bulgaria), who insisted on seeing her in order to receive assurances that the missile destruction does not pose a hazard to human health and the environment.

 

In an appeal to the local residents circulated Monday, the Kazanluk Citizens Militia called for a "general mobilization of the population" and readiness to blockade the Zmeyovo Central Ordnance Materiel Test Range, where the Scud, FROG and SS-23 missiles are to be destroyed. Protest marches of the residents of Kazanluk and the villages near the test range are planned for July 31. Gathered at a rally, the residents of one of these villages, Srednogorovo, have adopted a declaration insisting that the range be closed down and its land be restituted to its former owners.

 

 

 

Clandestine Designer Drug Lab Busted near Sofia.

 

Sofia, July 29 (BTA) - The National Service for Combating Organized Crime (NSCOC) has busted a clandestine synthetic narcotics manufacturing laboratory. The NSCOC acted jointly with the Sofia District Prosecutor's Office and the Interior Ministry's Criminal Intelligence and Police Detection directorates, the Ministry's Chief Secretary, Major General Boiko Borisov, told a news conference Monday.

 

Two Bulgarians and two foreigners have been arrested, said NSCOC Deputy Director Venelin Velikov.

 

After a car chace, the criminals were apprehended in a weekend house in a village near Sofia, where the laboratory was also housed.

 

Searches are being conducted at several addresses in the capital, Colonel Velikov said.

 

The law enforcers seized between 50 and 70 kg of a synthetic narcotic, enough to make some 400,000 pills. The exact quantity has yet to be specified, but a field test has identified the substance as amphetamine.

 

Two kilos of tablets bearing the Captagon logo were also found, along with a packaging machine, a drier, and 100,000 US dollars.

 

The criminals were caught by surprise and were arrested on the spot.

 

The ring consists of persons who have been intermittently involved in the drug business for years, Colonel Velikov said.

 

One of those apprehended was known to police back since the 1980s, when he was involved in smuggling and foreign exchange speculation, he said. The NSCOC has surveilled the ring for two months now.

 

The drug manufacturers were working on orders from Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Denmark, Germany and the US, Colonel Velikov said. They have other criminal connections, and the Service's work on the case is not completed, General Borisov specified.

 

"The operation was carried out by the book, and I hope that the detainees will be convicted," the Interior Ministry Chief Secretary said. "The teamwork was wonderful, we are notified in advance, and a prosecutor of the Sofia District Prosecutor's Office was present throughout the detection and the apprehension," Sofia City District Prosecutor Margarita Popova concurred.

 

 

 

Prime Minister Saxe-Coburg-Gotha Meets German Businessmen, to Attend Stability Pact Forum in Salzburg.

 

Sofia, July 29 (BTA) - Bulgarian Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha has arrived in Salzburg to attend a forum of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe, the Council of Ministers Information Directorate said.

 

Monday evening Asutria's Federal Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel and the Siemens General Manager for Austria and Southeastern Europe Albert Hochleiter are hosting a reception for the guests.

 

Parallel to the official meetings, Saxe-Coburg-Gotha will hold bilateral sessions with colleagues of Southeastern Europe at the forum.

 

The Bulgarian Prime Minister arrived in Austria after a working visit to Germany. He conferred with executives of German insurance company Huck, who told him they are planning to establish themselves in Bulgaria. The PM also met with German wine importers, who showed interest in Bulgarian wines.

 

At the Institute in Coburg, the Prime Minister talked to high technology experts who said they want to come to Bulgaria and establish contacts for future cooperation. Meeting with members of German hunting organizations, Saxe-Coburg-Gotha promoted the worthwhile opportunities for development of hunting tourism in Bulgaria, the press release says.

 

In Bad Scheben, the Prime Minister visited the art gallery of Dr Schreiner, a major German arts sponsor, which exhibits paintings by Bulgarian artists as well.

 

 

 

Bulgaria Closes Customs Union Chapter in Negotiations with EU.

 

Brussels, July 29 (BTA exclusive by National Television correspondent Zornitsa Venkova) - The Customs Union chapter was closed at the latest round of Bulgaria's accession negotiations with the EU, which ended here on Monday evening.

 

The Bulgarian delegation was led by European Affairs Minister and Chief Negotiator Meglena Kouneva. Thus Bulgaria has completed negotiating on 21 out of the 30 chapters.

 

EU law on this chapter forms the basis of the single market and is therefore fundamental to the existence of the EU. In this sense, it is important for Bulgaria that this chapter was closed. It is in this chapter that solidarity between the countries stands out. Kouneva cited joint projects with Germany, France and Britain, which aim to improve the operation of the Bulgarian Customs.

 

"I am glad that we have translated into practice the priority we stated in March: to accelerate the closure of the Customs Union chapter," Customs Agency Director Asen Asenov said.

 

Representatives of the European Commission and the member states congratulated Bulgaria on its progress towards membership. They see the Customs business strategy adopted by the government as a positive sign. Also, they noted that a year before accession, the Customs administration must have a developed computer system allowing free information exchange with the rest of the EU countries. Sofia should continue working in these areas. It came as no surprise that the position of the 15 member countries said Bulgaria should continue its efforts to tighten measures against abuses and corruption in the Customs administration.

 

Under the agreements reached on the Customs Union chapter, Bulgaria commits to provide a transparent and effective Customs service, the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry said in a press release.

 

It should fully correspond to the EU structures in terms of professionalism and reliability. Thus Bulgaria guarantees the ability of its institutions to exercise Customs control and to effectively apply EU law in this area.

 

By the end of 2005, all Customs units in Bulgaria will meet the high European standards, with the ensuing benefits for business and the prevention of corruption. The results of work carried out under the contract with Crown Agents will further help to increase Customs revenues, the Foreign Ministry said.