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INFO
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DEFENSE ASKS FOR ACQUITTAL
OF BOSKOSKI AND TARCULOVSKI
Ljube Boskoski and Johan Tarculovski's lawyers - Edina Rasidovic and Antonio
Apostolski - asked for their acquittal in the Hague Tribunal on Wednesday.
Rasidovic justified her request by claiming that the prosecution failed to
prove neither command responsibility of the former interior minister, nor
direct influence over the reservists in Ljuboten village.
According to the defense, Boskoski had undertaken all leagal measures to
conduct a probe into the case - judicial organs were immediately informed,
while the MoI set up a commission and cooperated with the relevant officers
while investigating the village.
The Hague Tribunal Office in Skopje was also informed about the victims.
In his closing remarks, lawyer Apostolski said the prosecution fell short of
proving that Tarculovski participated in a joint criminal plan on executing
an illegal action - attack over civilians and civilian facilities.
He pointed out that Tarculovski acted legally by observing the orders given
by late President Boris Trajkovski and therefore, he shouldn't be punished
for it.
According to Apostolski, an acquittal was not only fair decision, but also
the only decision made by this Council.
The Hague prosecution demanded yesterday 12 years of imprisonment for Ljube
Boskovski and 15 for Johan Tarculovski, who are being charged with personal
and command responsibility considering the action carried out by the
Macedonian security forces in the village of Ljuboten on August 12 2001.
The Hague prosecution attempted in the closing remarks to justify the
indictment and the required punishment for both Tarculovski and Boskoski.
In the closing remarks, the prosecution claimed 14 homes, which were not
military targets, were destroyed, whereas civilians were treated in a cruel
way.
The hearing of a total of 64 prosecution and defense witnesses came to an
end on March 18. Approximately 1.200 exhibits were presented at the trial,
while the minutes taken at the hearings exceed 11.000 pages.
After the closing remarks, the Court Council usually passes the judgment
within three months.
FLOODS STRIKE
LIPKOVO REGION
40 houses and about 100 hectares of arable land are severely flooded
following last night's inundations that struck the Lipkovo region.
Areas of Opae, Lopate and Rezanovce villages were gripped by heavy rains,
causing great damage to the houses and fertile land.
Part of the dwellers have evacuated their families and accommodated them at
relatives, while the water supply still isn't regulated.
Agriculture Minister Aco Spasenovski visited Wednesday the flooded areas of
the villages, together with a team from the Crisis Management Center.
- We're planning to set up mechanisation to clean the river canals, because
that's essential. We will also provide food aid for the dwellers, since the
water has flooded everything. A team will be established that will monitor
the ongoing situation, stated the Minister.
Teams from the Agricultural Inspectorate will estimate the damages caused by
the inundations. |
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NEWS
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MACEDONIA,
U.S. SIGN DECLARATION OF STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP AND COOPERATION
The Republic of Macedonia and the United States of America signed
Declaration of Strategic Partnership and Cooperation.
Both countries are determined to expand and deepen the close partnership
between the two countries based upon common goals, interests, and values.
Macedonian Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki and the U.S. Secretary of
State Condoleezza Rice late Wednesday in Washington signed the declaration,
which contains three elements.
The first element refers to strengthening the cooperation regarding trade
and economy, the second to increasing cooperation within the security
sector, whereas the third one focuses on finding more concrete ways for
approximation and more intensive contacts between Macedonian and U.S.
societies.
The Declaration also emphasises strong partnership in the fight against
global terrorism and promoting international stability, demonstrated by our
troops serving together in Iraq and Afghanistan, our civilian and military
officials plan to intensify their bilateral high-level contacts and seek
increased joint training and exercise opportunities to enhance the
inter-operability of our forces, and strengthen our partnership in promoting
international security and non-proliferation.
The Declaration also underlines U.S. pledge for sovereign, democratic and
prosperous Macedonia that realizes our shared values of peace, freedom, the
rule of law, and a free market economy.
The United States continues to work with our NATO Allies to maintain
Macedonia's robust cooperation with NATO under existing mechanisms, while it
awaits a membership invitation.
Both countries look forward to Macedonia joining NATO as soon as possible.
Our intensified cooperation at this time will further strengthen Macedonia's
readiness to take on Alliance obligations and responsibilities in the near
future, the Declaration reads.
After signing the Declaration, the U.S. Secretary of State Rice stated this
agreement between American and Macedonian people is small sign for permanent
cooperation and friendship between the US and Macedonia.
At the ceremony, Rice voiced strong support for Macedonia joining NATO as
soon as the name issue is settled, saying it deserves membership because of
its contribution of troops to the U.S.-led coalitions in Iraq and
Afghanistan:
"Macedonia is a good friend of the United States. Greece is a good friend of
the United States. And it is our great hope that with enough will, and with
enough effort and enough flexibility that this issue can be resolved," she
said. "Because during the NATO meetings in Bucharest, it was very clear that
the members of NATO want Macedonia to be invited into NATO, and that we hope
to have that happen as soon as possible."
Foreign Minister Milososki said that this is very important event for
Macedonia that showed that relations between US and our country are based on
mutual trust and partnership.
"Our soldiers are serving side-by-side, shoulder-to-shoulder, with American
and other soldiers in NATO missions in the world," he said. "And Macedonia
has proven that as a peaceful nation in southeastern Europe, it could really
contribute to the peace, stability and economic development in our region."
That’s why we consider an important historical step which will be become
operational on several levels especially in relation to economic exchange
and cooperation between out two nations, FM Milososki said. |
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