OFFICIALDOM AIDS CRIME AND THE MAFIA?

A New Political Scandal in Macedonia

AIM, Skopje, March 18, 1994

How true are the claims that have been circulating in Macedonia for quite some time now that black-market dealings have been taking place with the assistance of certain individuals holding high offices? A few days ago, such charges have been voiced personally by the Assistant Minister of Internal Affairs of Macedonia, Pavle Trajanov, who told the daily newspaper " Nova Macedonia" that " a number of high officials were involved in organized crime in Macedonia, in particular, those from the various ministries of the Macedonian Government." After such a statement, which clearly accuses governmental officials of organized crime in the country, the Macedonian Minister of Internal Affairs, Ljubomir Frckovski, called a press conference. Indeed, although he called the press in order to speak of a completely different subject - the situation at the state borders - it was evident that the purpose of the press conference was to deny the accusations Trajanov made a few days earlier in his statements to "Nova Makedonija."

What did Trajanov say? By giving specific examples of the abuses of office, machinations and speculations connected with sites for the construction of provisional and permanent structures, protectionism in the issuing of licences for the import of livestock, illicit trade of cigarettes, he directly accused a number of ministries ( Ministry of Construction, Ministry of the Economy, Ministry of Finance, the Public Accountancy Office, the Customs Administration). Trajanov told " Nova Makedonija" that "the Ministry of the Interior has been familiar with all the machinations connected with organized crime for quite some time now, that it had at its disposal the required evidence, and that it was well known who was implicated,in what manner and due to what reasons in such illegal acts, including individuals currently holding high offices." Undoubtedly, the most provocative part of his statement pertained to his claim that a threat existed of organized crime in the state rising to the level of parallel power and that there were indications that such unlawful and criminal dealings were the main source of funds for financing some of the political parties.

At the already mentioned press conference, held a few days after his assistant Trajanov made these accusations, Minister Frckovski categorically denied the involvement of high officials with the mafia and stressed that Trajanov's claims were his personal views. The Ministry of Internal Affairs, Frckovski pointed out, does not deal with political statements and threats, since that would lead to totalitarian options, but is engaged in the investigation of criminal acts. If that were the case, Frckovski underlined, the Ministry of Internal Affairs would have to file charges based on the accusations of the Assistant Minister.

If this Ministry does not make a specific move in that direction in a specific period of time, Frckovski said, emphasizing that it was precisely the field of activity of his assistant Mr. Trajanov, it would mean that either someone within the Ministry was blocking the whole process or else that some other functional obstacle existed which was protecting the Government and its officials. Frckovski categorically claimed that he would personally inform the public if any such charges were brought. If no charges were filed, he added, the responsibility would rest on the individual who made the accusations.

In the meantime, Mr. Trajanov the Assistant Minister of Internal Affairs, gave another statement to the daily paper "Vecer" and said that the Ministry of the Interior had filed three charges, which in his opinion, is a confirmation of the fact that organized crime did exist in Macedonia. In his view, only in these three cases, the state had been robbed of 360-380 thousand DEM. Trajanov also told "Vecer": " These three charges concern three discovered cases, in Skopje, Stip and Strumica respectively, for which we succeeded in obtaining the necessary evidence.The Skopje case is connected with the abuse of office resulting in a 140,000 DEM loss to society, in Stip it concerned a tribute of 140,000 DEM while in Strumica we also discovered a case of the abuse of office resulting in a theft of 80-100,000 DEM."

Concerning the involvement of the very authorites, Trajanov pointed out "that although it was difficult to prove such involvement,all indications confirms the fact" and added: "It cannot be a just a coincidence when the SDK (Social Accountancy Office) first establishes that there are no coverups, and then the police establishes that they actually did exist. Or else, it was hardly possible for goods to come in and out of the country at the customs without any control if someone did not stand behind such acts. In the background of such dealings are individuals, and I claim that organized crime is not possible if it does not take place in cooperation with individuals in high offices."

Is a new scandal looming in the distance which will most probably shake up the Government of young Branko Crvenkovski waits to be seen. However, it seems that the hush-hush stories that have been circulating in the lobbies for quite some now of certain officials who have been robbing the state and who have become real "godfathers" in organizing illicit traffic of goods and the mafia in Macedonia are actually true.

T.A. T.A.