The Public Meeting of Mps with Citizens

REPORT

on the public meeting of MPs with citizens from ED4 in Radovish

topic: THE RADOVISH ECONOMY- SELLOUT INVESTMENTS, FUTURE

Radovish, 26.01.2004 Citizens Association MOST conducts its activities in a way to contribute for developing a more democratic, more stable and prosperous Macedonia, through involving citizens in activities and projects that provide transparency, responsiveness and accountability of governmental, political and election organs and institutions towards the real need of the citizens.

MOST believes that by INCREASING THE LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT OF THE CITIZENS can be out of great importance for the development of democratic institutions, rule of law and the respect of human rights in Macedonia.

In the framework of the program for building responsive institutions, MOST is conducting the project “Mobile Parliament”- public meetings of MPs from all parliamentary groups with citizens, in all electoral districts on topics out of public interest. These meetings are being realized in the second phase of Mobile Parliament. The Radovish economy- sellout, investments, future TOPIC: The Radovish economy- sellout, investments, future

PRESENT: The MP Nikola B. Kamcev (SDSM), citizens and members of NGO as well as interest groups from the municipality.

MODERATOR: Dragan Antonovski, journalist.

The big number of unemployed in Radovish (more than 7 500 persons), the selling of the biggest industry capacities in Radovish as well as Bucim mine on one hand, and on the other reactions from the people that lost their job because of it, was more than a motive for a public meeting on a topic like this.

DISCUSSION

A short introduction about the goals and activities of the project “Mobile Parliament” as well as the purpose of the meeting, given by the coordinator and the moderator started the meeting. The citizens greeted this opportunity to speak with the MPs about the problems they are facing with, and used their right to express their views on the topic in stake.

One of the most popular questions discussed was the selling of Bucim mine, whether it is legal or not and does Bucim have enough resources to stay in business for another 15 to 20 years.

According to citizens’ opinion, the mine was privatized and sold illegally, with a big discount on the price, and with all the equipment and recourses for at least 15 years of exploitation. Because of this, as it was stated, the successful work of the most profitable firm in Radovish was destroyed in a period of 2-3 years. Because of the answer on a MP question given by the Ministry that the selling of the mine is legal, the citizens asked for the proper inspections to check the origin and the transaction of the money, so a proper conclusion can be submitted.

The former employees in Bucim have unsettled salaries and benefits, and in number of times they have addressed the proper authorities about this, as well as the Helsinki comity for human rights in Skopje, but there was no answer.

The citizens also stated that the selling of Dekorteks was illegally done, with a big discount on the value of the stocks and demanded for an MP’s question to be asked in the Parliament about this. It was pointed out that if an illegal selling of Dekorteks is concluded, the second degree government commission should annul the same.

Part of the citizens thought that reason for the problems of the workers is the lack of professionalism of the Syndicate Union of Macedonia. They think that besides the membership fee that all the workers are paying, SUM does not protect their interests and rights.

As one of the bitter problems in Radovish is the lack of institutions like appeal or economy court, information etc. The present MP replied to this stating that with the upcoming laws for decentralization, most of the authority will fall with the local self- government, so a lot of the institutions will have to function on a local basis.

Citizen’s Association MOST- “Mobile Parliament“ 2 At the end, it was concluded that the government will have to prepare a program for employment, were a priority will be put on employing persons with high education. Also it was pointed out that the citizens will have to come up with individual projects and programs as suggestions within the cooperation with the local self-government, and with that to arouse development of the micro-economy and employment.

RECOMENDATIONS/ SUGESTIONS/ CONCLUSIONS:

1. An MP’s question should be asked: “Was the selling of Dekorteks from 02.09.2002 legal or not?”.

2. Another MP’s question about the privatization of the hotel Panorami and the restaurant.

3. To prepare programs by the citizens in cooperation with the authorities in the municipality and to seek for investments so the problem with the unemployment could be solved.

4. The authorities from the municipality in cooperation with the local NGOs and interest groups should develop a strategy for employment, with a priority on employing high education persons.

5. To arouse the proper inspections do check the origin of the funds that wre used to privatize Bucim mine.

6. Investments are needed for reviving of the city-from the budget, from donations and funds that will be provided from projects.

7. To find ways so the ex-employed in Bucim can have their late behind salaries and benefits paid. The Radovish economy- sellout, investments, future LIST OF PARTICIPANTS ON THE PUBLIC MEETING IN RADOVISH 1

No. Name NGO/Interest group Tel./E-mail 1 Jordan Hristov Dekorteks A.D. 032/ 633-491 2 Georgi Draginov Retired 032/ 633-363 3 Tanja Damjanska MCNI 032/ 632-850 4 Dime Damjanski MCNI 032/ 632-513 5 Ljubin Mancov Citizen 070/ 541-781 6 Blazo Ristov Ass. for Constitutional Right 070/ 482-216 Radovish 7 Simeon Cekov Citizen 070/ 760-576 8 Petre Temelkov Citizen 070/ 639-003 9 Damjanski Blagoj Citizen 032/ 631-573 10 Nenad Kamcov Student 032/ 635-600 11 Zorka Hristova Citizen 032/ 633-491 12 Biljana Trajanovska Student 032/ 635-336 13 Violeta Petrova Citizen 032/ 631-754 14 Branka Mileva Citizen 032/ 631-300 15 Vangje Grabuljeva Dekorteks 032/ 635-447 16 Snezana Klandeva Citizen 032/ 632-746 17 Ilija Klandev Citizen 032/ 635-242 18 Vaska Gjorgieva Citizen 032/ 635-854 19 Daniela Georgieva Citizen 032/ 635-854 20 Irena Georgieva MCNI 032/ 632-989 21 Gligor Bojadziev Citizen 070/ 575-598 22 Gjorgi Cipushevski Citizen 032/ 634-199 23 Lile Stefanova Citizen 070/ 319-256 24 Toni Stefanov Citizen 032/ 632-902 25 Oliver Atanasov Citizen 032/ 641-442 26 Gjorgji Atanasov Citizen 032/ 641-441 27 Mile Stojmenov Citizen 032/ 633-317 28 Igor Milev Citizen 070/ 214-618 29 Ljupce Enfushev Citizen 070/ 778-058 30 Dimce Koshov Dekorteks A.D. 070/ 710-385 31 Kiro Todorov Dekorteks A.D. 032/ 633-974 32 Kiril Matrapazov Citizen 032/ 633-400 33 Natka Matrapazova Citizen 032/ 633-400 34 Vanco Dimitriev Citizen 070/ 599-098 35 Tome Gjozev Citizen 032/ 631-731 36 Trajce Nakov Citizen 032/ 632-223 37 Marjan Mijalov Citizen 38 Slavica Andolieva Citizen 032/ 635-334 39 Stojce Manolov Citizen 070/ 468-437 40 Viktorija Manoleva Citizen 032/ 633-874 41 Toshko Kukutovski Citizen 070/ 247-292 42 Borce Kamcev Citizen 070/ 319-096 43 Slobodanka Jovanova Citizen 032/ 632-893 44 Kostadinka Nikolova Citizen 070/ 657-202

1 На средбата присуствуваа 73 граѓани, но сите не се запишале на списокот на учесници Citizen’s Association MOST- “Mobile Parliament“ 3 45 Dimce Angelov Citizen 032/ 634-121 46 Vasil Mitev Citizen 070/ 214-685 47 Aco Konzulov Citizen 070/ 247-267 48 Koce Kamcev Citizen 032/ 635-206 49 Risto Jakimovski Citizen 070/ 319-405 50 Milevka Gjorgieva Citizen 070/ 512-635 51 Vasilka Milentijevik Citizen 070/ 818-066 52 Stole Ristov Citizen 070/ 733-682