Inter-Parliamentary Union - British Group - PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION FROM MACEDONIA 4 TO 8 DECEMBER 2006


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Delegation Reports

PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION FROM
MACEDONIA : 4 –
8 DECEMBER 2006

Inward Delegation from Macedonia
4 to 8 December 2006

Delegation

Mr Goran Misovski MP
New Social-Democratic Party

Mr Fadilj Sulejmani MP Independent

Mr Aleksandar Nikoloski MP VMRO Party

Mr Jovan Manasievski MP Liberal Democratic Party

Mr Rexhep Prekopuc
Head of International Affairs

Mr Milovan Takov
Interpreter

The delegation led by Mr Goran Misovski MP arrived at Gatwick airport on Sunday, 3 December 2006. They were met on arrival by Mr Dimitar Blazevski, from the Macedonian Embassy and Mr Jim Rodgers Deputy Secretary, British Group IPU.
The official programme started on Monday morning with a tour of Westminster Abbey and a visit to the Electoral Commission. Sam Younger, Chairman, gave the delegates an overview of the UK electoral system and explained the most recent reforms on funding for both individual candidates and political parties that were introduced in 2000. He also explained how the openness of the system has discouraged rich individuals from donating very large amounts of money, and that a further review is underway to try and identify a more equitable solution to party funding. He also explained the rules on expatriate voting.
Lunch at Shepherd’s restaurant was hosted by Lord Radice on behalf of the British Association for Central and Eastern Europe (BACEE). It was also attended by the Lord Speaker and other members of BACEE.
In the afternoon, the delegation met Mike Gapes MP, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, in the IPU room. He outlined the work of his committee, the type of enquiries that they undertake and their relationship with the Executive. He said that he hoped his committee would be able to visit the Balkans in 2007.
This was followed by a presentation on Parliamentary Procedures of the House of Commons by Dorian Gerhold, Principle Clerk of Select Committees. In the evening, an official welcoming dinner in the Marriot County Hall Hotel was hosted by Rt Hon Lord Anderson of Swansea DL and attended by other members of the British Group.
Tuesday began with a tour of the Palace of Westminster conducted by Baroness Harris of Richmond. The delegation then met Tony Lloyd MP, in his capacity as leader of the UK delegation to the Council of Europe and the Parliamentary Assembly of the OSCE. In reply to a question on Kosovo, they said that they would like to have a more stable neighbour to their north but they did not see Macedonia as either part of the problem or part of the solution to the internal affairs of Kosovo.
Recent improvements in the internal situation of Macedonia they mainly attributed to the Ochrid Agreements and the recognition and integrity of their border with Albania. The acceptance of border integrity by the Macedonian minority and the use of their own language were also key factors in the improving situation.
The delegates then paid a courtesy call on the Rt Hon Michael Martin MP, Speaker of the House of Commons, before attending lunch in the Churchill Room hosted by John Randall MP, Secretary of the Associate Parliamentary Group on Macedonia.
The last meeting of the day was with Sir Philip Mawer, Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, who explained the work of his office and spoke about parliamentary privilege.
In the evening, the delegation attended a performance of Evita at the Adelphi Theatre with Rt Hon Lord Kilclooney.
Wednesday started with a two-hour round table discussion in the Attlee Suite with members of the BGIPU chaired by Eric Martlew MP. The delegation talked about relations with Greece which they claimed were excellent despite its objection to the use of the title “Republic of Macedonia” which remains a problem.
Reform of the armed forces, which was supervised by the British Army, is now complete and more closely reflects the ethnic balance of the community. A small detachment is now serving with the coalition forces in Baghdad.
Freedom of religion, a legacy of the Ottoman Empire, continues in Macedonia but Church Land confiscation, a legacy of the Communist era, remains unresolved although some progress has been made on this issue.
Possible EU membership was also discussed especially in the light of recent resistance to enlargement that has been shown by some member states.
The delegates then attended Prime Minister’s Questions before moving on to lunch at Lancaster House hosted by Rt Hon Geoff Hoon MP, Minister of State for Europe, Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Following lunch, the delegation met Lord Dubs, Chairman of the EU Enlargement All Party Group, together with other members of the group. The delegation acknowledged that police and judicial reform was a requirement for EU entry and insisted that these reforms will go ahead whether or not Macedonia gets into Europe. They also regard inward investment as a necessary priority and have appointed two Ministers to work full time to attract businesses to Macedonia. The delegation then left for Heathrow to catch a flight to Belfast.
Thursday, the last day of the official programme, started with a brief on the political situation in Northern Ireland by Mary Madden, Head of Political Affairs Division of the Northern Ireland Office. This was followed with a briefing by Detective Superintendent Esmond Adair, Police Service for Northern Ireland (PSNI), on serious crime in the province, most of which would appear to be linked to ex para-military groups such as the IRA.
The delegates then walked to the Parliament Buildings for a meeting with Jim Wells, Member of the Legislative Assembly, Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). Mr Wells explained the stance his party has taken on the St Andrews Agreement to restore the power sharing institutions. The DUP feels that the parties most concerned are unlikely to meet the target date set out in the agreement simply because of Sinn Fein’s intransigence over support for the police and judiciary and its support for crime conducted by the IRA. Members of his party have no personal or public communication with SF/IRA but they are willing to debate issues in Parliament. Regrettably, Sinn Fein was unable to field a candidate to meet the Macedonians due to last minute committee commitments in Stormont.
In the afternoon, delegates were given a tour of the interface areas of East, North and West Belfast where, unfortunately, some new barriers are being erected between communities despite the almost universal acceptance of the 1999 Peace Agreement and the demonstrable benefits it has achieved.
The final visit in Belfast was with the office of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland which investigates all reports of misconduct and malpractice of the PSNI. The delegation took a late flight back to London in order to connect with an early morning flight home on Friday.