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|
Tuesday, 05 February 2008
Source:
www.vlada.mk
MIA interview - Prime
Minister Nikola Gruevski
February 3 rd
Mr. Gruevski, EU
Commissioner Franco Frattini announced last week he would pay a visit to
Macedonia due to the opening of the visa center, but also said this
would represent the beginning of EU talks with Macedonia on visa regime
liberalization. What is your stance on this?
Frattini's statement that his
visit would focus on the opening of the visa center is in fact the
beginning of the liberalization talks, i.e. annulment of visas for
Macedonian citizens, which is great news for the country. In the course
of the past 15 months, we have signed the readmission treaty, introduced
the biometric passports, we will open the visa center, and we will put
into use the so-called integrated border management in a few months. As
soon as talks begin, we can assume their outcome. Their completion would
not depend on the Government only, but on the political will of EU
Schengen zone member-states. Macedonia is technically ready for swift
annulment of visas.
Can we expect the visa annulment
by the end of 2008, i.e. January 1, 2009?
The Government has its
obligations, which we will complete well before the end of 2008. As I
said, the political decision will follow. I hope that EU will realize
the regional situation and will not allow for a lack of principle.
Foreign Minister of Slovenia ,
which currently holds the EU Presidency, said last week that Macedonia
has met all conditions to become NATO member-state, and the only problem
now is the name dispute and finding a compromise solution. After his
arrival to Skopje , he stated that the name is not part of the official
criteria for NATO accession, but still a very important issue?
Both statements have confirmed
what I said before the New Year, judging from the talks I had with a
number of prime ministers, foreign ministers etc. Besides the
congratulations on the reforms from NATO ambassadors recently in
Brussels , the main recommendation was a swift resolution to the name
issue. Now Rupel said that reforms have been positively assessed, but
the only problem for Macedonia is the name, adding this is not an
official part of NATO criteria, but can represent a large problem. I
have been aware of this, but unfortunately our neighbor Greece thinks
that a name compromise is a change of the constitutional name or a
different name for international use. We believe in a solution other
than this offer.
Are you preparing certain
measures for the possible price shock?
This is a global trend and it is
imposed to Macedonia from the outside. Except for several countries,
which have undertaken certain steps, the majority, including Macedonia ,
are currently in stage of analyses, after which something will be
undertaken. However, this will not fully stop the process on the
long-term. Thus, the Government has increased pensions, state
administration salaries, along with a 5.5 percent economic growth and
significant amount of foreign investments. However, we are working on
finding other measures for improvement of the living standard.
Tuesday, 05 February 2008
Source:
www.vlada.mk
PM
Gruevski: Inflation in 2008 about
three percent at most
Skopje , February 3 rd
The intention is
to sign a bilateral agreement on visa exemption for countries' citizens,
said PM Gruevski Sunday regarding the possible visa regime with Albania
.
According to the Law on
Foreigners adopted in March 2006, the issuing of visas in embassies, not
at borders, should have started on February 1.
"Taking into account the
excellent relations with Albania , we believe there is no problem in
transferring to a liberalized visa regime", added Gruevski.
Answering a journalist question,
PM Gruevski stressed that inflation in 2008 would reach three percent at
most.
"We are reviewing different
options in the Government, conducting analyses regarding the price rise.
We will soon present certain measures, but one should not expect
spectacular results. The global process cannot be stopped on the long
run", said Prime Minister Gruevski.
Wednesday, 23 January 2008
Elenovski-Browne: Macedonia
meets basic NATO membership criteria
London, January 22nd
Minister
of Defense Lazar Elenovski met Tuesday in London with British Defense
Secretary Des Browne for talks regarding Wednesday's meeting in Brussels
and NATO summit in Bucharest.
- Great Britain backs the
Republic of Macedonia generally and in terms of the NATO membership
process, however its support is more precise with regard to defense and
other political reforms, stated Elenovski after the meeting, stressing
that Macedonia was expecting Britain's support both at tomorrow's
meeting in Brussels and at the NATO summit in April.
The Minister in London also held
a meeting Tuesday with State Minister for the Armed Forces Bob
Ainsworth, former NATO Secretary General George Robertson, and Anthony
Smith, Director for European Political Affairs in the UK Foreign and
Commonwealth Office.
Macedonia's progress achieved in
all spheres was reaffirmed at the meeting and it was concluded that the
country is meeting the basic criteria for NATO membership.
- The British support is much
more extended. This country has been supporting Macedonia since it
declared independence, while the British contribution to defense reforms
is enormous, said Elenovski, noting that Macedonian troops were part of
the British contingent within the NATO-led mission in Afghanistan.
The meetings also focused on
Greece's announcements towards vetoing the membership of Macedonia into
the Alliance.
- It has been concluded that
Macedonia meets the basic membership criteria. We have favourable ties
with Greece at numerous levels. The political issue considering the name
dispute is something distinct from the general NATO membership criteria,
highlighted Elenovski.
He will take off to Brussels
Tuesday evening where he will join PM Nikola Gruevski and Foreign
Minister Antonio Milososki at the meeting of the North Atlantic Council.
Wednesday, 23 January 2008
Source: www.vlada.mk
Nimetz: Ohrid meeting - best
so far; no proposal for new name
Ohrid, January 21st
This
has been the best meeting so far, with both parties demonstrating
willingness for ironing the differences, UN Envoy in Macedonia-Greece
name talks, Matthew Nimetz, said Monday in Ohrid after a three-hour
session with the negotiators of the two countries Nikola Dimitrov and
Adamantios Vassilakis.
- The talks have been rather
sincere with reasonably constructive ideas and demonstration of
flexibility by both parties. I think that we are definitely making
progress and believe in a possibility for finding a solution. I am not
going to say that we are a step to resolving the problem, there has been
no proposal for a new name, and we are dealing with a rather complex
matter, Nimetz said.
For Greek negotiator Vassilakis,
the name dispute is not a bilateral issue, as it encroaches on the
region's security.
- Recently, Greece has made a
giant step by offering a complex name, which would incorporate the name
Macedonia with a geographic characteristic. If I knew that complex name
I would have told it to you, Vassilakis said.
Commenting the proposed measures
for confidence building between Macedonia and Greece, Vassilakis said
solving of the name dispute was crucial.
- The Greek Government believes
that now is the right time for resolving the name problem. It must be
clear that there has been no threat by the Greek Government, while NATO
membership requires meeting of certain criteria. If (the country) fails
to do so, we shall make an appropriate decision that has been presented
in several occasions, Vassilakis said.
Macedonia's negotiator Dimitrov
considers that there are still great differences between Macedonian and
Greek positions on the name dispute.
- The proposal for a complex
name, which for Greece is a generous concession, demonstrates this
difference. The provisional reference, under which
Macedonia has been admitted in the UN, is also a complex name, so the
proposal brings nothing new. Athens' proposal of March 2005 - the
Republic of Macedonia-Skopje - is also a complex name - so it is not a
new one either. Novelty for me is linking the name dispute settlement
with Macedonia's accession to the international organizations, which
means changing of the course that is complicating the negotiations,
Dimitrov said.
Macedonia hold to its position
that name dispute is a bilateral matter, Dimitrov said.
- Our decision to be flexible in
the bilateral negotiations with Greece is a serious concession in a
series of those Macedonia has already made - constitutional changes, new
flag and acceptance of the provisional reference within the UN. Usage of
the constitutional name does not present any territorial threat to
Greece, while Macedonia and Greece, as neighbours, have a common
European future, Dimitrov said.
At today's meeting,
Macedonia proposed for the two countries to set up a joint
education-historic commission, which should review the differences in
the history textbooks of the two countries and offer solution for their
ironing. The proposal in a form of 'non-paper' also foresees more
bilateral meetings and opening of the border crossing "Markova Noga".
Macedonia also advocates an adoption of a joint declaration on
friendship and good neighborly relations.
In two weeks, Athens is to host
the resumption of the negotiations on the name dispute.
Wednesday, 23 January 2008
Source:
www.vlada.mk
DM Elenovski: Great Britain
is partner, ally and supporter of Macedonia
London, January 21st
Great
Britain is a partner, ally and supporter of Macedonia throughout the
years of defense reforms, while the British presence was most important
regarding the developments in the Macedonian Ministry of Defense, stated
Defense Minister Lazar Elenovski in London on Monday.
A delegation of the Ministry of
Defense, led by Elenovski and comprised on ARM Chief of Staff
Lieutenant-General Miroslav Stojanovski, is paying an official visit to
Great Britain on Monday and Tuesday for talks with experts from the
British Defense and Foreign Affairs Ministries, as well as with many top
officials of several consulting agencies, MIA correspondent from London
reported.
The delegation held separate
meetings Monday with John Dickson of the Security Sector Development
Advisory Team within the British Defense Ministry, as well as with Neil
Grayson, assistant director and chairman for Central Europe and West
Balkans in the Ministry. The meetings focused on talks about what needed
to be done in the period to come.
- The reform process has no end,
it is constantly under way. Suggestions from British experts are always
welcomed, stated Elenovski.
Meetings with British Defense
Secretary Des Browne, the State Minister for the Armed Forces Bob
Ainsworth, the former NATO Secretary General George Robertson and
Anthony Smith, Director for European Political Affairs in the UK Foreign
and Commonwealth Office are scheduled for tomorrow at which British
support for Macedonia is expected to be reaffirmed.
- We're entering into a critical
period. What Britain has been giving to us and will give especially at
the Bucharest Summit is an obvious support for us. We only need to agree
on certain details, stressed Minister Elenovski.
Wednesday, 16 January 2008
Source:
www.vlada.mk
FM Milososki at Alliance of Civilizations
Forum in Madrid
Madrid , January 15 th
Foreign
Minister Antonio Milososki will take part Tuesday at the first annual
Alliance of Civilizations Forum in Madrid , MIA reports.
Political leaders,
representatives of international and regional bodies, donor agencies,
foundations and civic associations will take part at the forum, focused
on increased polarization among nations and cultures worldwide, as well
as possibilities for development of global inter-cultural partnership.
Management of differences in the
era of globalization, political challenges in building inter-cultural
understanding, consolidation of international partnership, roles of
religious and political leaders in promotion of global security and use
of mass media for promotion of inter-cultural understanding are some of
the themes at several plenary sessions within the forum.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon,
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero, Turkish Prime Minister Recep
Tayyip Erdogan, and former Portuguese President and Alliance of
Civilizations High Representative Jorge Sampaio will give introductory
remarks.
FM Milososki is scheduled to hold
several bilateral meetings with forum participants.
The main goal of the Alliance of
Civilizations is creation of a global political space for promotion of
communication and mutual understanding of nations and cultures. It was
established in 2004 upon Spain 's initiative, followed by Turkey 's
support as co-sponsor and other UN members.
Thursday, 10 January 2008
Source:
www.vlada.mk
Agricultural subsidies in
2008 - Euro 45 million
Skopje, January 3rd
Agricultural
subsidies in 2008 will amount to Euro 45 million, Prime Minister Nikola
Gruevski told the news conference on Thursday.
- This is historic amount of
support, which will trigger the biggest positive effect amongst farmers,
said Gruevski.
According to him, this year
tobacco will be financially supported with 50 euro cents per kilogram,
double the amount compared to last year. Wheat, corn, barley, rice and
soy will be subsided with 100 euros per hectare.
The Government, added Gruevski,
will support the production of rice as of this year for the first time
with 100 euros per hectare, whereas it will also provide 32,5 euros for
registering each farmer.
Tuesday, 11 December 2007
Source:
www.mrt.com.mk
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Macedonia ranks fifth at Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2007
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| Monday, 10 December
2007 |
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The Republic of Macedonia ranked 5th
at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2007 which took place late
Saturday in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Belarus was the winner, Armenia was second and Serbia won third
place at the Junior Eurovision Song Contest.
Rosica
Kulakova and
Dimitar
Stojmenovski represented Macedonia performing
11th with Ding Ding Dong song accompanied with
Marija
Zafirovska as violinist,
Nikola
Trencevski as drummer and
Emilija
Langovska and Sara
Markovska as ballet dancers.
Representatives of 17 countries participated at the Junior
Eurovision Song Contest 2007
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Thursday, 06 December 2007
Source:
www.mrt.com.mk
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Government Team to present Macedonia's business potentials in
Germany |
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| Thursday, 06
December 2007 |
Germany,
after Italy and Austria, is the third business destination where
Macedonian Government delegation led by PM
Nikola
Gruevski
will present Invest in Macedonia Project.
Besides Prime Minister Nikola
Gruevski, Deputy PM
Zoran
Stavreski, Transport,
Communication Minister Mile Janakieski
and the CEO of the Agency for Foreign Investments Viktor
Mizo are in the delegation, who
will present Macedonia as investment destination Thursday and Friday
in Stuttgart and Munich.
PM Gruevski before
German business will present Macedonia's key priorities on political
and economic plan, Deputy PM Stavreski
will refer to economic reforms, while Minister
Janakieski will address the
possibilities in investments in infrastructures. CEO of the Agency
for Foreign Investments Viktor Mizo
will refer to government's priorities and support of investors,
special technological and industrial development zones and
possibilities on potential investors and support to companies from
Baden-Wurttemberg and
Bavaria.
The delegation is also scheduled to meet
Gunther Oettinger
- the Minister of the Germany's federal state Baden-Wurttemberg
and visit Mercedes-Benz main factory in
Sindelfingen.
On Friday, the delegation is to meet Bavarian Minister of Economy,
infrastructure, transport and technologies Ervin Hubert to discuss
possibilities for further development of the economic cooperation.
The Road Show in Stuttgart and Munich will be supported by Theo
Weigel, former German
Finance Minister, now an Adviser of the Macedonian Government, and
the German Chamber of Commerce.
|
Thursday, 06 December 2007
Source:
www.mrt.com.mk
|
Euro 11 million for stimulation of
self-employment |
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| Thursday, 06
December 2007 |
The
Macedonian Government at Wednesday's session reached a decision to
single out Euro 6 million for stimulating self-employment and Euro 5
million for constructing social apartments.
As
of February and throughout 2008 the Government will
realise the project on
self-employment, envisaging approval of credit resources for the
unemployed to start their own business in order to cut down the
unemployment and to open new jobs.
- The project will enable conditions for reducing the unemployment
and improving the living standard, as well as many other positive
effects. It will also significantly contribute to resolving the
problems of bankruptcy workers and those who were made redundant,
while boosting the development of micro and small enterprises, being
one of the most important driving powers in terms of economic
growth, Prime Minister Nikola
Gruevski told the press
conference on Wednesday.
Up to 3,000 euros will be approved for each opened job, whereas
projects with at least five job positions will be financed i.e.
15,000 maximum. Gruevski
said that over 2,000 persons will be able to take credit with the
approved resources, adding that the Government was prepared to
increase the fund.
The credits are intended first and foremost for the unemployed in
agrobusiness,
handicraft, manufacture, commerce, tourism etc.
Gruevski stressed that
free education for entrepreneurs is planned, since it is project's
key pillar. The Employment Agency together with regional committees
will control the utilisation
of resources.
Over 600 social apartments in amount of Euro 5 million will be
built in 2008 in Skopje,
Makedonska
Kamenica,
Kavadarci,
Kocani and other Macedonian
towns. Their distribution will be carried out via open competition
issued by the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
- With these measures the Government is undertaking active social
policy for preserving the dignity, honour
and integrity of the citizens from this social backgrounds, said
Gruevski, adding that
the resources for the projects are provided by Budget's surplus
income.
|
Thursday, 29 November 2007
Source:
www.mrt.com.mk
|
Johnson Matthey to invest GBP 100 million in Macedonia
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|
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| Thursday, 29
November 2007 |
Johnson
Matthey's board has reached a decision to invest in technological
development zone "Bunardzik" in Macedonia, Macedonian Prime Minister
Nikola Gruevski.
According to him, the investment is
worth GBP 100 million (140 to EUR 150 million). London-based Johnson
Matthey company is one of the largest groups within "Johnson
Controls", covering over 40% of the world market for production of
catalysts for the car industry.
- The investment will open over 500 new jobs and what is most
important, it will enable operations for many other smaller
companies in Macedonia, which will became their subcontractors and
will produce parts for company's production, stressed Gruevski.
He said the plan was "Johnson Matthey" to kick-start significant
export activities, thus the Macedonian factory to reach EUR 3,5
billion up to 2013 by exporting.
- EUR 3,5 billion is a very serious export for the Republic of
Macedonia. Of course, the export will be increased each year
gradually, said Gruevski.
He informed that in addition to the initial plan on constructing a
factory in Bunardzik, the company also plans on moving some of its
capacities from another country.
- It is a big investment that will not only have a financial and
employment effect in Macedonia, but also it will have an effect on
the fight for attracting foreign investors, the Prime Minister
emphasised.
Gruevsi said that the investment, together with the latest
information that one of the strongest companies on the Balkans -
Croatia's Dukat - has entered with its own investments in "Ideal
Sipka", the opening of the Swedish dairy plant "Swedmilk", as well
as the information on other investments entering Macedonia,
represented a truly favourable trend.
- It's an excellent trend and I believe we'll have it more and more
as time goes by, highlighted Gruevski.
He said that within the "Invest In Macedonia" campaign, a government
delegation will visit Germany for meeting number of businessmen in
order to present Macedonia's investment advantages.
- Simultaneously, we're undertaking many other activities and I
believe the Invest In Macedonia campaign gives and will give
effects, stressed PM Gruevski.
|
Tuesday, 27 November 2007
Source:
www.mrt.com.mk
|
Institute for Cultural and
Spiritual Heritage of Albanians in Macedonia opens
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|
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| Friday, 23 November
2007 |
Within the observance of the Day of Albanian Alphabet, which is
marked at a state holiday for the Albanian ethnic community in
Macedonia, an Institute for Cultural and Spiritual Heritage of
Albanians in the Republic of Macedonia was opened in
Skopje's
Kursumli-An
on Thursday. Prime Minister
Nikola
Gruevski
said that the right of communities to express, nurture and develop
their identity through establishment of cultural, artistic and
educational institutions, scientific and other associations, is
guarantied by the Constitution.
"Today's formal opening of the Institute is another confirmation of
the Government's strategic priority for investments in culture,
science and education, along with the efforts for full expression,
nurturing and development of educational needs of ethnic Albanians
in the Republic of Macedonia", said PM
Gruevski.
He expects the Institute to represent a source of a number of
scientific works sheding
new light on Albanian language and literature, as well as the
cultural-historic heritage of the Albanian community in Macedonia as
an integral part of the country's spiritual heritage.
Minister of Education and Science Sulejman
Rusiti stated that the
Institute represents a bridge in Macedonia and the region in
general.
"We will build institutions, raise the level of science and culture.
We are ready to stand shoulder to shoulder with all cultures of the
European peoples", stressed Minister Rusiti.
The institute is named "Pietr
Bogdani" according to
the Albanian 17th-century writer, who contributed to the development
of the Albanian alphabet even before its adoption.
The Institute for Cultural and Spiritual Heritage of Albanians in
Macedonia is comprised of five departments - language, literature,
history and ethnology, language relations, and migration.
|
Monday, 26
November 2007
Macedonian mess
Nov 22nd 2007
Source:
www.economist.com
Time to look past archaic disputes
FOR anyone who cares about peace
in the Balkans, few things matter more than keeping intact the country
most of the world calls the “Republic of Macedonia”. Its perilous
stability will wobble more with looming independence for next-door
Kosovo, which will delight
Macedonia’s Albanian minority, and stoke the Slav majority’s fears.
In theory, no rich country should
care more about Macedonia than neighbouring
Greece. Yet relations are hampered by an arcane dispute about
nomenclature. Greece insists that “Macedonia” was, is and can only be
part of Greece. The name’s use by a region of Yugoslavia was, it
maintains, part of a communist-era plot aimed at
destabilising Greece. Greece therefore insists
that the country be called “Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” (FYROM).
The end of an acronym
Extremists on both sides use
rhetoric (seen, among other places, in clumsily made presentations on
YouTube) so ill-phrased and
comical that Borat himself
could claim authorship. They share the unspoken but absurd assumption
that the features of the entity known as Macedonia in ancient history
should be of decisive importance in modern ethnography or political
geography: because an ancient kingdom called Macedonia existed, only one
modern entity can claim that name. The region is still waiting for a
statesman to pick that assumption apart.
It is a close call, but the
extreme Macedonian nationalist position, which argues that most of
northern Greece is “theirs”, is perhaps the battiest. It is as if the
Greeks insisted that unicorns were pink while the Macedonians
maintained, even more absurdly, that the horned beasts were of a
colour found nowhere on the
conventional spectrum: moonlight, perhaps.
Greek twitchiness about even mythical
controversies was more understandable in the early 1990s, when the whole
future of the southern Balkans was alarmingly fluid and unpredictable.
Amid disputes over Macedonia’s future involving Serbs, Albanians and
Bulgarians, the Greek objection to the name was part of a wider pattern
of worries about borders and minorities.
But the Macedonian nuts have
little effect on their government’s policy these days. The country has
changed its flag and constitution in order to accommodate Greek
sensitivities. The forward-looking government in
Skopje is into flat taxes, e-government and
attracting foreign investment (paradoxically, in large measure from
Greece).
Greece, however, still insists
that the mere existence of a next-door country called Macedonia “is
directed against the cultural heritage and historical identity of the
Greeks” and “there is no question of its neighbour
acceding either to the European Union or to NATO under the name Republic
of Macedonia”.
A lobby group called the
“Association of Macedonians” has issued an appeal this week noting that
Greece does not fully recognise
Macedonian passports and that Macedonia’s state airline cannot fly to
Greek airports. That, they say, adds insult to injury.
Slavophone
people in northern Greece have had a tough time, not only with mass
deportations in 1949 but also in their treatment by the authorities on
issues such as surnames and schooling ever since. (Greeks saw the
slavophone minority, with some
justice, as a security threat during the Cold War, and Greek minorities
have been abominably treated too in other countries. But even multiple
wrongs don’t make a right).
The great tide of
EU and NATO expansion that has
served the continent so well in the past ten years is already running
worryingly slack. Pushing ahead with Macedonia’s applications to both
bodies will change the mood in the whole region. Prosperity and
stability in the Balkans will benefit Greece hugely. It is time to
relegate the name issue to the backwaters of bilateral diplomacy, and
highlight the benefits to Greece of Macedonia’s stability and
prosperity—and the dangers of its disintegration.
Wednesday, 21 November 2007
Source:
www.forbes.com
Macedonia's economic growth should reach 5 pct this year, next year -
IMF
MUMBAI
(Thomson Financial) - The International Monetary Fund said Macedonia's
economic performance has been strong and growth this year and next
should reach 5 pct.
The fiscal position continues to
strengthen, international reserves are increasing, and central bank
interest rates remain low. Despite higher food prices, average inflation
should stay low, at around 2 pct this year and 3 pct in 2008, the
IMF said.
The government's budget for 2008
will safeguard macroeconomic stability. Despite ambitious plans to cut
personal and corporate income taxes, make selective cuts in VAT,
increase spending on pensions, public investment in roads and education,
and government wages, the budget should deliver the deficit target of
1.5 pct of GDP, the IMF
said.
Many structural reforms are also
being implemented. The government and central bank have submitted their
revised central bank law to the European Central Bank and to the
European Commission for review. The new law strengthens the financial
soundness of the National Bank of the Republic of Macedonia, and
reaffirms the government's commitment to safeguarding the bank's
independence, the IMF said.
The energy sector's financial
problems are also being addressed. Starting from January, large
electricity users will purchase all their needs at market prices, which
will remove the need for a budget subsidy to MEPSO,
the electricity transmission company.
Thursday, 15 November 2007
Source:
www.vlada.mk
Coordination meeting
regarding final stage of project for rest construction of Corridor X
Skopje , November 13 th
Financial
aspects of project for rest construction of Corridor X related to road
section Demir Kapija-Smokvica were the topic of Tuesday's Third
Coordination Meeting.
"The rest construction of
Corridor X will enable creation of a modern transport route connecting
the region with Central and Eastern Europe, providing closer and
efficient cooperation between Macedonia and Greece, giving incentive to
the building sector, which would lead to faster economic growth and new
jobs", said Vice Premier for European Affairs Gabriela
Konevska-Trajkovska at the meeting opening.
According to her, the project
will represent a concrete proof that Macedonia 's path towards EU is not
consisted only of political and legislative commitments, but also
practical support for raising of the living standard and economic
performances.
Construction of road section
Demir Kapija-Smokvica requires Euro 155 million.
Financial partners - European
Commission, European Investment Bank, and Greek Ministry of Interior -
are to provide information on the approval of the Euro 155 million,
including national co-financing from the state Budget.
The Macedonian delegation also
includes representatives of Vice Premier Zoran Stavreski's Cabinet, as
well as representatives of the Finance and Environment Ministries.
Wednesday, 14 November 2007
Source:
www.mrt.com.mk
|
Finance Minister Slaveski submits 2008 Draft-Budget to Parliament
Speaker |
|
|
| Wednesday, 14
November 2007 |
Minister of Finance Trajko Slaveski handed over
Tuesday the 2008 Draft-Budget to Parliament's President Ljubisha
Georgievski during a formal ceremony.
The budget is being submitted to the legislative body in such a
manner for the first time, following the example of west European
countries.
- The 2008 Draft-Budget of the Republic of Macedonia is based on the
outstanding economic results in 2007, the best ones in the
transitional period, as well as on the increased economic growth for
2008, accompanied with low and stable inflation rate and with
significantly positive impact on the disposed citizens' income,
stated Slaveski while submitting the 2008 Draft-Budget.
The 2008 Budget is projected with expected GDP growth between 6 and
6,5%, inflation rate from 2,5 to 3%, planned employment growth of 4%
and increased productivity from 4 to 5%.
Total Budget's revenues are planned to reach 35,5% of the GDP. Total
expenditures are determined at 37% of the planned GDP.
The 2008 Budget foresees 1,5% deficit of the GDP.
In addition to providing resources for rise of public
administration's salaries with the Draft-Budget, Slaveski said the
Government would implement further reform policies such as
significant boost of capital investments in education, health
system, road infrastructure and IT, country's affirmation for
attracting foreign and domestic investors as well as enhanced
transparency and responsibility within state institutions and their
capacities in implementing the planned reforms with regard to the EU
and NATO integration processes.
|
Wednesday, 14 November 2007
Source:
www.setimes.com
Macedonia name issue still a stumbling block
13/11/2007
With a NATO membership bid at stake, Greece and
Macedonia are coming under renewed pressure to resolve their dispute.
With Macedonia hoping for a NATO invitation in
2008 and Greece threatening to block it, there are pressing reasons to
resolve their decades-old name dispute. But UN envoy Matthew
Nimitz --
brokering negotiations between the two sides -- still faces a task akin
to the labour of Sisyphus, the legendary king cursed to roll a boulder
up a hill for eternity.
Both countries are proving tough bargainers, with
Greece prepared to exercise its power within the EU and NATO, and its
neighbour banking on getting enough international recognition to put
pressure on Athens.
Late last week, Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola
Gruevski firmly rejected the idea of a "dual name", under which the
country would keep its constitutional name but use a different one
internationally.
Any name other than Republic of Macedonia -- the
name given in the constitution -- is unacceptable, Gruevski said.
The dual name idea is included in a new set of
proposals presented by Nimitz at the start of the month. The prime
minister said that while the document contains some good points, others
pose a problem for Skopje.
"There is an item that is definitely unacceptable
for us, which says that the Republic of Macedonia is to accept for
international use a name other than the constitutional name of the
Republic of Macedonia," Maxfax quoted him as saying.
Earlier, Macedonian leaders issued a statement
opposing any name change, even if this means being denied NATO entry.
The ruling VMRO party, its ally the Democratic Party of Albanians and
the opposition Social Democrats have presented a united front on the
issue. Polls show overwhelming opposition -- approaching 100% -- to a
new name for international use.
Greece, however, argues that the name "Macedonia"
implies claims on Greek territory and distorts history. According to the
Greek daily Kathimerini, Athens is signaling that it would accept
a composite name – such as Nova Macedonia or Upper Macedonia -- that
clearly distinguishes the country from the Greek province of Macedonia.
Greek diplomats have already circulated proposals
to this effect to members of the UN Security Council, NATO and the EU,
Kathimerini said.
"Greece wants to solve the problem -- it is
making a sincere effort in this direction," Nimitz said in an interview
with the paper.
According to Denko Malevski, a former Macedonian
foreign minister and UN ambassador, Greece "wants a fast solution,
fearing complication after the recognition of the Republic of
Macedonia's constitutional name by Canada" and other states.
However, he added, the political situation in
Macedonia and Greece makes such a solution difficult to achieve.
Current Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki,
meanwhile, hopes that "Greece will give advantage to regional
priorities. The resolution of the name dispute is a factor for our
stability, and our stability is beneficial for the Republic of Greece,"
he says.
Tuesday, 13 November 2007
Source:
www.mrt.com.mk
|
European Information and Innovation Centre to Republic of Macedonia
promoted |
|
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| Monday, 12 November
2007 |
SS. Cyril and Methodius University
Monday promoted the European Information and Innovation Centre to
Republic of Macedonia.
The idea for realisation of the project
originates from Feb. 2006. It enables use of the resources from the
funds of the European Commission’s programme aimed at transfer of
technology from and to the European companies, economic promotion
and improvement in education.
The European Commission established the programme in 1995 with 83
member states. The centre will have an annual budget of around of
Euro 250.000 out of which Euro 150.000 are resources from the
European Commission and the Macedonian Government i.e. the Ministry
of Economy will participate with Euro 100.000.
- We can proudly say that we are the first country in the Western
Balkans which signed such agreement and can use the EU Programme,
Deputy PM for European Integrations Gabriela Konevska – Trajkovska
said adding that it is a significantly good opportunity for
Macedonia for usage of Euro 3.6 billion which are at the disposal of
the EC Programme.
- Pragmatically said it would mean 3.6 billion possibilities for
creation of projects for usage of everything that could be useful
for the Republic of Macedonia. With this programme we could exchange
experiences, which are of significant importance for the science,
Konevska – Trajkovska said.
Velimir Stojkovski, Vice-Rector for Science at the Skopje’s
University said that the centre’s goal is to mutually direct the
activities towards deepening the transfer of knowledge and
innovations and competitiveness increase of Macedonian small and
medium sized enterprises.
- The key issue is how to set the concepts of development which
should lead us to bigger inclusion and efficiency of the science,
connection of the University with the economy, their competitiveness
and the importance of knowledge as resource which would finally
promote Macedonia as country of knowledge, Stojkovski said.
|
Monday, 12 November
2007
Source:
www.govtech.com
Macedonia Transformed
Through Broadband
Nov 9, 2007, By Indrajit Basu
As Milivoje Gorgevic (Misko to his friends),
executive producer and co-founder of the FX3X, a Macedonia-based digital
animation company, came out of a late-evening meeting, the only thing he
wanted was to go home for some well-earned rest. The day was
particularly grueling for him and he was tired. But he had to rush to
his office to finalize plans for roping in yet another local school to
make it a part of his company's education program.
"We are growing very fast," said Misko, "and we need more skilled people
in our company and the schools in Macedonia are our biggest source."
FX3X runs education programs in 80 secondary
schools in Macedonia on the basics of animation and uses those schools
for developing the talent pool it needs to expand. Back in 1997, when
Misko and his friend Kristijan Danilovski started their visual effects
and 3D animation venture in the Balkans, they had to be content serving
just the local markets. "Although we wanted to serve the global markets,
there was hardly any infrastructure and not enough talent to support our
ideas," says Misko "But thanks to USAID and the Macedonia Connect (MK)
project, FX3X has been growing at over a hundred percent each year for
the last two years. The wireless infrastructure that MK incorporates has
not only given us the opportunity to build a talent pool in Macedonia
but also an opportunity to tap the global markets."
"Two years ago we hardly had any foreign
clients," added Misko. "Today with MK, big data transfers are not a
problem any more. We have reached a point where we derive just 10
percent of our total revenues from local clients while the balance comes
from global clients."
Indeed, it is hard to imagine that a country --
formerly part of Yugoslavia -- which until about six years back was an
ethnic trouble spot torn by the conflict between government and ethnic
Albanian rebels. Today, it easily serves as a role model for other
developing states as the first wireless country. But courtesy the
nationwide wireless project MK, that has brought broadband Internet
access to almost 95 percent of the country's residents, Macedonia can
now look forward to moving from a conflict-torn region to an economy
moving forward on information, communication and technology (ICT).
Funded partly by the U.S. Agency for
International Development (USAID) and partly by the Macedonian
Government, the $5 million (shared equally by the two), Macedonia
Connects is a three-year program which is providing broadband Internet
connectivity to almost 545 elementary and secondary schools, research
institutes, universities and dorms throughout the Republic of Macedonia.
Initially it was conceived as an education
project but it was soon realized that the project could also achieve
other strategic objectives like economic development and democracy. The
network was soon extended to almost to the whole of Macedonia, reaching
rural communities scattered throughout the rugged mountainous
countryside to become the backbone for a national wireless system.
"The impact of the project has been enormous as
Macedonia now enjoys the benefits that a broadband wireless network
generally brings to a developing country," says Strachan. But besides
the fact that MK increased Internet penetration dramatically (from 4
percent to almost 33 percent), which has enabled most residents of
Macedonia- who migrate from their small villages and move to the capital
city of Skopje to find employment- to start a business outside Skopje
and communicate with new clients around the world (like Misko, many
apparel companies, and even lamb farmers, who for the first time, have
found markets outside Macedonia by opening a website) MK stands out from
similar other projects.
Monday, 12 November 2007
Thursday, 8 November
2007
EUCOM helps
Balkan states' militaires meet NATO needs
By
Charlie Coon, Stars and
Stripes
Europe edition, Thursday, November 8, 2007
STUTTGART, Germany — The U.S. European
Command is hoping that recent meetings in Skopje, Macedonia, will
bolster the bids of Macedonia and two other Balkan nations to join NATO.
The meetings, held Oct. 31 and Nov. 1,
addressed reforms being made by the Macedonian, Croatian and Albanian
militaries. To join the 26-nation security alliance, the three nations
must be able to mesh militarily with other NATO nations.
“We support their getting in, but we
don’t have any control over the decision; that’s a NATO decision,” said
Lt. Col. Scott Cilley, EUCOM’s political-military desk officer for the
Balkans.
The alliance could add new members at
its April 2008 summit in Bucharest, Romania.
Last week’s meetings were held as part
of the 7th Adriatic Charter Chiefs of Defense Conference. Military
logistics was a prime theme, including talks on the equipping of troops
and the procurement and transporting of military assets.
One goal, Cilley said, is for the three
nations to improve their logistics capabilities, which would lessen
their need to be supported by the U.S. and other militaries.
“They are transforming their logistics
to support peacekeeping operations so they can react as quickly as
possible,” Cilley said.
“We are not averse to helping assist
them, but it would be better as members of NATO to have that capability
themselves.”
Cilley noted that the nations already
have contributed to NATO missions. Croatia, for example, plans next year
to increase from 200 to 300 its troop allotment to NATO’s International
Security and Assistance Force in Afghanistan.
Vice Adm. Richard K. Gallagher, EUCOM
deputy commander, led the U.S. delegation. Gallagher met with the
defense chiefs from Macedonia, Croatia and Albania, as well as those
from Serbia, Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The mentoring of, and collaboration
with, Balkan militaries is part of an ongoing strategy in the region by
EUCOM.
Other efforts include
military-to-military training such as that being conducted by Joint Task
Force East in Romania and Bulgaria, and the training of military
inspectors being coordinated by EUCOM’s inspector general’s office.
Cilley said that the region’s defense
chiefs seemed willing to work together.
But political stability will play a role
in the countries’ achieving NATO membership, according to Ted Galen
Carpenter, vice president for defense and foreign policy studies at the
Washington- based Cato Institute.
For example, Croatia is relatively
stable and the most ready to enter NATO, but Macedonia is still working
to gain solid national footing, he said.
“Security capability depends so much on
political stability,” Carpenter said. “That’s where we have big question
marks on so many of these countries.”
Carpenter added that people in the
region are generally welcoming of Western overtures.
“I think most of the populations see
NATO and [European Union] membership as currency for getting into the
club of modernized, Western nations,” Carpenter said. “It’s more of
symbolic importance in the case of NATO than of practical importance.”
Wednesday, 7 November
2007
|
Macedonia considers EU progress report balanced
|
| |
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TIRANA,
Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Macedonia regarded the European Union progress
report on this tiny western Balkan country as "well-balanced",
news reaching here from Skopje reported on Tuesday.
"The report not only includes
positive things undertaken by the country, but also our
shortcomings and jobs to be done. Moreover, it contains
recommendations," Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski said.
The annual report made public
on Tuesday said that Macedonia made progress in creating a market
economy last year, but a lack of dialogue between political
parties was paralyzing the democratic system.
"Things that are in
government's control, such as economy and fight against
corruption, are positively assessed in the report. However, there
are some things which do not depend on us only, but on the
opposition too," Gruevski said.
Gruevski added that the
government would carefully study the report and its
recommendations, work hard, and do everything to achieve its end
of joining the EU.
"There are many challenges
ahead and much has to be done. We are still a country that needs
to develop its economy. We will continue our work with the already
established tempo," stressed Gruevski.
Macedonia was officially
granted a candidate status for the EU membership in 2005. But the
EU report said that accession talks with EU are not likely to
begin before 2009.
"The start of the accession
talks doesn't depend on us only. But we will continue to work with
enormous enthusiasm, commitment and responsibility, just like what
we have done thus far," said Gruevski.
|
Thursday, 1 November 2007
Source:
www.mrt.com.mk
|
Meeting of Balkan military chiefs in
Skopje
|
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Wednesday, 31 October 2007 |
Army
Chiefs of Staff of six Balkan countries, including a delegation of
the United States European Command (EUCOM), will gather in Skopje on
Wednesday. The main theme of discussion is the logistical support to
the NATO-led military operations abroad. The gathering is in the
framework of the meeting of Chiefs of Staff of the Adriatic Charter
members - Macedonia, Albania and Croatia.
The participants also will discuss the preparedness of the armed
forces of the Adriatic Group members to acquire NATO membership, as
well as regional military cooperation.
Among those expected to attend will be the Lieutenant General
Miroslav Stojanovski (Macedonia), General Josip (Croatia),
Lieutenant General Luan Hoxha (Albania), General Zlatan Stojkov
(Bulgaria) Lieutenant General Zdravko Ponosh (Serbia) and Lieutenant
General Jovan Lakcevic (Montenegro).
Rear Admiral Richard Gallagher will lead EUCOM delegation. The
Deputy Chief for Resources, Lieutenant General Miladin Milojcic,
will lead the delegation of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
|
Wednesday, 31 October 2007
Source:
www.vlada.mk
Rafajlovska-Vizjak: Macedonia ,
Slovenia share both past and future
Ljubljana , October 29 th
Macedonia and
Slovenia have common past and certainly common future, Economy Minister
Vera Rafajlovska said Monday at a meeting with her Slovenian counterpart
Andrej Vizjak.
Yesterday, Rafajlovska
had a meeting with Slovenian businessmen, part of the Hilton Hotels,
discussing possibilities for this project to come to Macedonia , as well
as for an Aqua Park to be constructed in Skopje.
Rafajlovska said
Slovenia supported Macedonian model for liberalization of the energy
sector. However, Slovenia 's experience with the energy stock market is
not favorable and Macedonia was advised not to rush with this
initiative.
Slovenia offered
Macedonia 50 sq.m. free space at the next Tourism Fair, scheduled for
January next year. It also offered its strategy for development of
tourism, which got high grade by the European Union.
Macedonia-Slovenia
economic cooperation is good, but there is still room for further
development, Vizjak said, pointing out that his country is among the top
10 foreign investors in Macedonia.
At the meeting, Vizjak
advocated an establishment of joint committee on pre-accession
assistance, which will serve to businessmen and their interests. Vizjak
also expressed hope for Macedonia to get a date for the European Union
entry talks during Slovenia 's EU presidential mandate, reiterating
Slovenia 's support of Macedonia 's Euro-integration process.
Last updated
Macedonian-
UK news
|
Joint military exercise
"Macedonian Glitter 2" of Adriatic Group armies |
|
|
|
Monday, 29 October 2007 |
Ceremony on opening
of joint military exercise "Macedonian Glitter 2", including army
special forces from Macedonia, Albania and Croatia as part of
practical forms of training and cooperation within the Adriatic
Charter, will be held at army range Krivolak on Monday, reads
Defense Ministry press release.
The goal of the exercise, classified as LIVEX, i.e. terrain
exercise, is training of personnel of the three partnership armies
in conducting joint NATO-led operations for stabilization and peace
support.
Most of exercise activities will be carried out according to a
determined scenario.
The exercise, due to be opened by Director of Macedonian Army (ARM)
Chief of General Staff, Major-General Zoran Dimov, will be attended
by guests from the General Staffs of the participating armies, along
with observers from Bosnia&Herzegovina, Montenegro and Serbia, reads
the press release. |
FM Milososki: Constitutional name is
a reality disputed only by Athens
| Monday, 15 October
2007 |
No
one else in the world despite Athens - neither the media nor other
states - have a dispute related to the constitutional name of the
Republic of Macedonia and it has become an acknowledged reality,
stated Monday Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki. - Macedonia in the
talks that are being held in New York is using the power of
arguments, whereas Greece is attempting to use the arguments of
power which is not a favourable practice, said Milososki answering a
journalist question at the sidelines of the Balkan Media Forum,
which takes place in Ohrid.
According to him, Greece should make an attempt to avoid the mistake
it made in 1992 when "governments were changed and disassembled due
to the name dispute".
- This time round I hope that they will give advantage to the
regional priorities. The name of the Republic of Macedonia is also a
factor for its stability, while our stability is in favour of the
Republic of Greece, highlighted Milososki.
Regarding the fulfilment of the vacant ambassadorial posts, he said
the Government and Foreign Ministry are acting in line with the Law
on Foreign Affairs and there will be no postponement of the
procedure. - The instrument of consultations is at our disposal and
we'll use it when needed, said Minister Milososki.
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Thursday, 25 October
Source:
www.vlada.mk
Milososki: Macedonia will defend with
arguments the constitutional name
Skopje, October 24 th
It
is desirable a solution on bilateral name dispute with
Greece to be found prior to NATO Summit in April in 2008,
Macedonian FM Antonio Milososki stated Wednesday.
- The Republic of Macedonia in this
process will use all power of arguments while Greece
unfortunately sometimes uses the argument of force to make
a pressure on Macedonia . We will defend with all
arguments our right to constitutional national name and
own identity, Milososki said answering journalist question
after today's meeting with Nicolas Schmit, Luxembourg
Minister delegate for Foreign Affairs and Immigration.
He pointed out that it is desirable a
solution on differences with Greece on use of
constitutional name of the Republic of Macedonia to be
found, which is only disputed by Athens.
- We except from Greece as the oldest
EU and NATO member in the region to show maturity and give
its support to mutual goals that NATO and EU have in this
region to enter in zone of stability, to achieve this
mutual goal also by integration in the NATO in helping
each other. It would be in favour to the Republic of
Macedonia and Greece as well, Milososki said.
Thursday, 25 October 2007
Source:
www.vlada.mk
Macedonia will use Bulgarian experience for EU
negotiations
Skopje, October 24 th
Macedonia
will use Bulgarian experiences on its road to EU
full-fledged membership in the sphere of utilization of
Pre-Accession Funds, conducting negotiations and
screening, issue of cross-border cooperation as well as
communication with media at the moment of conducting
negotiations.
This was agreed Wednesday at today's
meeting between Gergana Grncharova, Bulgarian Minister of
European Affairs and Deputy PM for European Integration
Gabriela Konevska-Trajkovska.
- The Republic of Macedonia highly
assesses the political will and wish of the Republic of
Bulgaria to cooperation on issues regarding the European
integration especially significant issues, which are on
the agenda for 2008, Konevska - Trajkovska said underlying
the previous good cooperation between the two countries.
Grncharova said that Macedonia so far
has achieved large progress on the road to the EU and on
this road has a partner in Bulgaria with which it shares
close cultural relations, religion and history something
that Sofia did not have when it conducted negotiations
with the EU.
- Negotiations are not an easy task.
The EU is very experience and solid player on the
negotiating table and it is in your interest to continue
to swiftly conduct the reforms because their postponement
makes them heavier and slower and time is very important
resource, Grncharova said. She said that the entire
preparation for EU membership is a process, which requires
political dialogue, and what helped Bulgaria on this road
is the achieved political consensus between the ruling and
opposition parties in the country.
According to her very important is
building good coordinating mechanism and in this relation
she praised Macedonian Government for formed working
groups with resources prepared for negotiations for each
of the chapters prior to receiving date for negotiations
with the EU. Bulgarian Minister of European Affairs
announced continuation of cooperation between the two
countries with meetings every six months and several
thematic meetings on European integration for next year.
|
|
Macedonian
delegation at World Bank, IMF Annual Assembly
Skopje , October 22
In the
framework of the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Annual Assembly in Washington , Macedonian delegation comprised of
Vice Premier Zoran Stavreski, Finance Minister Trajko Slaveski, and
Macedonian National Bank Governor Petar Gosev met Saturday and
Sunday with high officials of the two institutions, representatives
of rating agencies and delegations of other countries, reads Finance
Ministry press release.
The delegation met with World Bank Executive
Director Herman Wijffels, Netherlnads Deputy Prime Minister and
Finance Minister Wouter Bos, Dutch Minister for Development
Cooperation Bert Koenders, Bosnia&Herzegovina Finance Minister
Dragan Vrankic, representatives of the Council of Europe Development
Bank (CEB), representative of the International Finance Corporation
(IFC) Shahbaz Mavaddat, representative of Japan Credit Agency Makoto
Utsumi, representatives of Merrill Lynch International, Standard and
Poor's and Daiwa Securities, IMF Deputy-Director Takatoshi Kato, IMF
Executive Director Agge Baker, IMF European Department official Juha
Kahkonen, IMF Director of Fiscal Affairs Department Teresa
Ter-Minassian, as well as the team of "Doing Business".
The Macedonian delegation presented the current
political and economic situation in the country, with an emphasis on
economic reforms in the past year. Meeting with rating agencies
focused on Macedonia 's ranking at the fourth spot of the World Bank
report "Doing Business", as well as 21-spot leap in the
"Transparency International" report.
World Bank Executive Director Wijffels stressed
that the institution was satisfied from implemented reforms in
Macedonia . Meetings with IMF officials focused on the completion of
the third review of the Stand-By arrangement, while talks with Dutch
Constituency officials resulted in the conclusion that Southeast
Europe region shows best results regarding economic growth.
Macedonia is at the level of Southeast European countries with a
six-percent economic growth.
The Macedonian delegation is scheduled to meet
Monday with World Bank Vice-President for Europe and Central Asia
Region Shigeo Katsu, World Bank Director for Macedonia Orsalia
Kalantzopoulos, as well as Deutsche Bank representatives, reads the
press release.
Macedonia urged to accelerate reforms
During meetings last week with President Branko Crvenkovski, EU
and NATO officials stressed the need for a quicker reform process
and said last month's brawl at parliament should be investigated
thoroughly.
By Marina Stojanovska for Southeast European Times
in Skopje --
NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer (right) and
Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski speak with the press
after their meeting at NATO Headquarters on Thursday
(October 4th). [Getty Images]
|
Macedonia should speed up reforms and fully investigate a recent
outbreak of violence in parliament, EU officials told President
Branko Crvenkovski during his three-day official visit to Brussels
last week. Accompanied by Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki, the
president met with EU Enlargement Commissioner Ollie Rehn and EU
security chief Javier Solana.
"EU Commissioner Rehn pointed out in which areas we are lagging
behind, and I assured him that Macedonia has capacity and political
will to accelerate the pace of the reforms," Crvenkovski said. "It's
our ambition to start negotiations for membership in 2008 and I
believe we have a national consensus on that issue."
He said he informed Rehn about the reforms Macedonia has made and
the improved business climate that has resulted from a series of
measures taken by the government.
Rehn, meanwhile, stressed the need for improved political
dialogue, as well as for pushing ahead with reforms in the police,
administration and judiciary and mounting a stronger fight against
corruption.
Last month's incidents at parliament should be resolved without
any delay, he added.
Fighting broke out among MPS from rival ethnic Albanian parties
during a parliamentary session on September 25th. Journalists
covering the story were roughed up first by bodyguards working for
the Democratic Union of Integration party, and later by Macedonian
police.
In his meeting with Crvenkovski, Solana said Macedonia must
ensure such occurrences are isolated. Every political party should
be focusing on the country's EU agenda, he said.
While in Brussels, the Macedonian president also met with NATO
Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, who echoed the messages of
his EU colleagues.
The NATO chief acknowledged that major steps in defence reform
have been made and that the decentralisation process is under way.
However, he said, some sources of tension still must be overcome.
It is of exceptional importance that the country becomes a NATO
member, de Hoop Scheffer said. "But to do that, a mature political
culture should be established," he added, welcoming the
establishment of a special commission that will investigate last
month's parliamentary brawl.
Macedonia will "do its best" to make swift progress, Crvenkovski
told him. He reiterated the Macedonian Army's readiness to continue
to contribute to peace missions in Afghanistan, Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Iraq and Lebanon. The president also said he will visit
Macedonian soldiers deployed in Kabul in the coming days.
This content was commissioned for SETimes.com
|
Campaign for free preventive gynaecological check ups starts
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Monday, 08 October 2007 –Source: MRT online
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Under
the motto “Outsmart the cancer, be healthy woman” the Ministry of
Health starts Monday the campaign for free preventive
gynaecological check ups. - The
goal is aimed at women’s consciousness raising level for the need
of regular breast and uterus check ups. Early detection of the
malignant diseases enables on time treatment and continuation of
the life, Health Minister Imer Selmani said at Sunday’s press
conference.
Ministry of Health provided free check ups for all women whether
they have or have not blue cards in all public health institutions
by the end of the year, Selmani said.
He also said screening for early detection of uterus and breast
cancer will be organised for the first time in
Macedonia.
The campaign is realised in cooperation with the Macedonian
Women’s Lobby and Parliamentary’s Committee for Equal
Opportunities of Men and Women. The government has provided Denar
11,5 million for the planned activities, Selmani said.
- The number of these malignant diseases is increasing
progressively both in world frameworks and in
Macedonia. 472
cases of breast cancer were registered in 2001 and now this number
is over 600. 196 women are registered with cancer of the uterus in
2001 and now their number is 230, Health Minister Selmani said.
Chairwoman of the Parliamentary’s Committee for Equal
Opportunities of Men and Women Liljana Popovska said that this
campaign is necessary for the women to learn about their rights
and for gynaecologists to learn their obligations.
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Gruevski: Government passed law on granting vouchers to graduates
to buy computers
|

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Monday,
08 October 2007
|
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All
students in state and private universities in the country that
enrolled their final year will receive vouchers valued at Denar
12.300 for buying computers, PM Nikola Gruevski said at Sunday’s
press conference. - Government at its session on
Saturday passed the law on issuing vouchers valued at Denar 12.300
i.e. Euro 200 for all students that enrolled the last year. With
this vouchers they can buy computers in any shop. This is
direct subvention of the Government for citizens to buy computers,
Gruevski said, adding that the vouchers will be valid until Dec. 15, 2007.
According to the data of the Ministry of Education around of
10.000 students have enrolled the final year. If some vouchers
remain unused they will be annulled by the Commission of the
Interior Ministry and Finance Ministry aimed at preventing their
misuse.
PM Nikola Gruevski said that draft law will be submitted to the
parliament on Monday and its approval is expected by the end of
the week.
- The 21st century is the century of digital literacy, Internet
and global network. We must not allow digital gap between
Macedonia and
world economies to increase. With this law the vision of the
Government "Macedonia Country of Computer Experts" continues,
Gruevski said.
|
AGROFOOD
2007 fair opened
Skopje , October 2
Support to agriculture
will reach 215 million euro by 2010. Additional 85 million euro will
be available from European Pre-Accession Funds that Macedonia will start to use in
several months after accreditation of the competent agency, Minister
of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Supply Aco Spasenoski said
opening the AGROFOOD 2007 fair.
He reminded that
the support to the farmers is 3.5 times bigger than the last year.
- The trend of
increase will continue in the next three years by allocation in
stages firstly 45 million, then 75 and 100 million euros in 2010. A
large step is made in relation to financial means of the European
funds. We have shortened the deadlines for formation and functioning
of the competent agency through which these means will be realised,
Spasenoski said.
Direct payments
remain the fundamental instrument for support to agriculture.
Rational usage
of land, forests and water and raising the level of development of
the rural environment, remains a priority for the Ministry of
Agriculture.
According to him
establishment of productive and stable agricultural production are
directions upon which Macedonian strategy for agriculture and rural
development is based on.
Many reforms
need to be carried out aimed at saving the Macedonian agriculture
from the previous lethargy, Spasenoski said.
AGROFOOD
includes several international fairs: International Fair of Food,
Beverages and Consumer Goods, International Fair of Machines
Equipment, Packing and Domestic Transport, International Fair of
Tobacco and Machines, International Fair of Agricultural Industry
and International Exhibition of Wine and Strong Beverages
National Presentations.
Over 300
companies from 15 countries will present their production programmes
at a total area of 12.000 square meters in four halls of Skopje
Fair.
Traditionally in
the frameworks of AGROFOOD also ALTRAVITA 2007, International Fair
of Popular and Traditional Medicine, will be organised and fair of
equipment of communal hygiene will be organised for the first time
sponsored by
Skopje 's Mayor Trifun Kostovski.
AGROFOOD 2007
fair will last until October 6 and is held under the auspices of the
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Supply. ProCredit Bank
is the partner to AGROFOOD 2007 fair event.
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Report
on
Macedonia
realistic, including recommendations and remarks
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Source, MRT on-line
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In the
report on Macedonia due to be published on November 6, the
European Commission will not judge, but note the realistic
situation, representatives of the EU Enlargement Directorate
General told Tuesday Macedonian journalists, who pay a study visit
to Brussels. European Commission's recommendations and
remarks refer to the entire country, to all parties, so that
everyone learns lessons on what to do in order to accelerate the
country's EU integration. The Union is
interested in the state's general progress, not the one of the
ruling or opposition parties. In theory, everybody aspires for the
EU, but this should be translated into practice, say Enlargement
Directorate representatives.
According to them, progress has been achieved in the improvement
of the business climate, shortening of procedures for firm
registration, thus creating conditions for attraction of
investments. High unemployment rate is still an open problem.
EC salutes the adoption of the Laws on Police and Religious
Communities, as well as the determination for fight against
corruption and the results achieved, but points out that dealing
with this phenomenon is possible only through efficient
application of adopted measures and permanent political
commitment.
Pertaining to judicial reforms, the EU recommends their faster
implementation, as well as adoption of the remaining acts related
to the Public Prosecutor's Office. A positive element is the
signing of the visa facilitation and readmission agreements, which
is the first step towards full visa annulment. The Ohrid Agreement
implementation remains a crucial point for
Macedonia's
Euro-integration.
Criticisms refer to the fulfillment of political criteria. The EC
expects state institutions to function and efficiently communicate
within their legal competencies, as well as constructive political
dialogue on issues that require wider consensus. A remark is
focused on the political disagreements, which are not for
programmes or projects, but motivated from personal reasons and
political exclusion, as well as the fact that EU is used in daily
political disputes on what one or the other party had not done.
Regarding the determination of a date for beginning of accession
talks, Secretariat officials say this does not depend on the EC,
but is a political decision that is currently influenced by
scepticism of several member-state
regarding the EU enlargement.
Still, it is not disputable for EU that
Macedonia and
other Western Balkan countries should be part of the Union, while
reserves by certain member-states do not refer to this, but to
other regions. A stance that predominates in the Union is that
the region would not be permanently stabilized without the
Euro-integration of Western Balkan states. Their membership can be
seen as a mid or long-term consideration, depending on the
implementation of reforms and EU's position on enlargement.
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Transparency International:
Macedonia 84th
in Corruption Perceptions Index
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Source: MRT on-line
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Macedonia
is ranked 84th with 3.3 index points, placed in the first half of
the "Corruption Perception Index" for 2007, released Wednesday at
the website of "Transparency International". Thus,
Macedonia
improves its position by 20 spots compared to 2006.
Denmark shares
top spot with
Finland and New
Zealand with
9.4 index points as least corrupt countries worldwide, while
Somalia and
Myanmar share
last spot with 1.4 index points.
Slagjana Taseva, chairman of "Transparency-Zero Corruption", a
contact-member of "Transparency International" for
Macedonia,
informed at Wednesday's press conference that this year's report
is most comprehensive thus far, encompassing 180 countries and
territories, based on results of 14 different surveys on the state
of corruption perception in administration and politics.
According to the Report, the divide in perceived levels of
corruption in rich and poor countries remains as sharp as ever.
Developed and developing countries must share responsibility for
reducing corruption, in tackling both the supply and demand sides.
"Despite certain gains, corruption remains the basis for
corruption, poor development in countries with low profit at a
national level", said Taseva.
Regarding
Macedonia's move,
Taseva stressed this comes not as a result of the 30 new countries
included in the survey, but to the increase of index points from
2.7 to 3.3.
"The fact that we have managed to show certain progress means that
people polled domestically and abroad have demonstrated larger
confidence, i.e. that the corruption problem is improving. I would
not say that we are that good, but this is an exceptionally large
progress for us, having an exceptional importance, because this is
a reference index used by those who want to acquire
an information about the country when deciding on any type
of cooperation. This will result in many positive implications
regarding the economy's development, confidence in state
institutions", underlined Taseva.
The research on
Macedonia used
results from six surveys by world-renowned agencies, five of which
implemented in 2007, and one in 2006.
Pertaining to regional countries,
Croatia and
Bulgaria share
64th spot with 4.1 index points, Serbia is 79th
with 3.4, Bosnia &
Herzegovina shares
84th spot with
Macedonia, while
Albania is
106th with 2.9 index points.
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PM Gruevski: No increase
of electricity price in foreseeable future
Skopje,
September 21 st
- Prime Minister Nikola
Gruevski stated Friday that electricity price would not be increased
in the foreseeable future.
"According to
the information I have, there will not be any increase of
electricity price", said PM Gruevski during his visit to the new VIP
shop in Skopje City Mall.
Asked if the
Government favors liberalization of energy market, Gruevski stressed
that full liberalization should gradually develop, but could start
with large consumers.
"There is
difference from one liberalization to another. Full liberalization,
literally meaning that each shop purchases its own electricity,
should gradually develop. However, this can start with large
consumers, something which they can withstand without any serious
problems", underlined Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski.
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DM Elenovski: We've
demonstrated leadership when it comes to military and political
cooperation
Skopje, September 25 th
Minister of Defense Lazar
Elenovski opened on Tuesday the 18th meeting of the Political-Military
Steering Committee (PMSC) and the 17th meeting of the Southeast Europe
Defense Ministerial Coordination Committee (SEDM-CC), which will be
presided by Macedonia in the next two years.
- We've
demonstrated leadership on several plans when it comes to military and
political cooperation. Hence, currently we are presiding over one
essential process such as the SEDM process in order to contribute in
the next two years to enlarging the NATO merits, stated Elenovski
after opening the Skopje meeting. He emphasized that the objective is
to deploy the multinational SIBRIG brigade, being the foundation of
the entire process, into a new mission. Moreover, SIBRIG headquarters
had a successful mission last year in Kabul , Afghanistan .
Chairwoman of PMSC
and SEDM-CC Radica Gareva said
Macedonia 's chairmanship with the
Secretariat demonstrates that the country is not only a consumer but
also a country that produces security.
- The
participation of military forces into the SIBRIG brigade will show
that we have a capacity to spread stability and security beyond the
region, said Gareva, informing the brigade will not be engaged by
year's end because various possibilities in terms of where to be
deployed will be analyzed.
PMSC and SEDM-CC
Secretariat organize the meeting, aimed at coordinating activities
during
Macedonia 's SEDM presidency in period
2007-2009.
- I would like my
personal support to assist Macedonia in obtaining NATO
membership. The participation of the Macedonian Army in
Afghanistan is
of utmost importance from a military aspect. I believe there's no
better demonstration of Macedonian military forces' capability with
regard to NATO membership, stated John Shore , British officer and
representative of this process, while answering a journalist question
whether ARM, from a military aspect, is ready for Alliance 's membership.
The meetings are
held at the level of PMSC and SEDM-CC permanent representatives from Albania , Bulgaria , Greece , Italy , Macedonia , Romania and Turkey , as well as
representatives of other SEDM member-states.
Conclusions are
expected to be passed at the 2-day PMSC and SEDM-CC meeting that would
lay the foundations for reaching decisions and approving the submitted
plans by SEDM defense ministers at the forthcoming ministerial meeting
in Kiev , which is to take place
on
October 22 2007
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Bilateral meetings of FM
Milososki on margins of final session of EU Foreign Ministers' meeting
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Viana do
Castelo, September 8
Macedonian
FM Antonio Milososki Saturday on the margins of the final session of
the informal EU Foreign Ministers' meeting in Viana do Castelo held
bilateral meetings with the Foreign Ministers of Turkey, Estonia,
Latvia, Italy, Luxembourg and Croatia, Ali Babajan - Urman Paet, Artis
Pabriks, Massimo D'Alema, Jean Asselborn and Graber Kitarovic.
Spokesperson of the Macedonian Foreign Ministry Shpresa Jusufi stated
for MIA that the meetings were focused on integration of the Republic of
Macedonia in the EU
and the NATO as well as possibilities for date to start EU
negotiations and membership in the NATO for which FM Milososki was
given support by the interlocutors.
Also the meetings were focused on further
development of bilateral relations in the part to strengthening the
economic cooperation and the situation in the region with special
accent on resolving Kosovo status. Saturday afternoon Milososki will
meet with the Austrian FM Ursula Plasnik. The regular informal meeting
(September 7-8) tackles a number of issues, such as Kosovo, EU
cooperation with regional partners - Russia, Ukraine, India and
Africa, as well as reform process of EU agreements.
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Macedonian-Portuguese business forum
opens in
Lisbon
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Lisbon , September 10 th
Republic of
Macedonia is a
stabile environment at a political and macroeconomic plan, favoring
development of small and medium enterprises. Principles and mechanisms
of the democratic society function, while the country is a candidate
for EU and NATO accession, said Monday Economy Minister Vera
Rafajlovska in the presentation of Macedonia's investment potentials
at a two-day Macedonian-Portuguese business forum in Lisbon.
The forum includes
representatives of 14 Macedonian companies, mainly in production and
distribution of food, production of industrial pumps, trade, hotel
management, textile etc, as well as businessmen of several Portuguese
companies, MIA reports from Lisbon .
The business forum is
organized by the Macedonian Economy Ministry, in the framework of
Government's activities for the country's promotion during Portugal 's EU Presidency.
Emphasizing reforms
undertaken by the Macedonian Government in the tax system, judiciary,
education system and improvement of business and investment climate,
Minister Rafajlovska said that introduction of flat tax has made
Macedonia into a European business heaven. Emphasis was put on tax
mitigations and favourable conditions the state offers in
technological-industrial zones, as well as their infrastructure, VAT
and excise exemption, leasing the zone land under most favourable
conditions.
Rafajlovska stressed that
education reforms, as well as Government's reforms for IT development
would contribute to the fast realization of project "Vardar Silicon
Valley".
According to her,
investments are also welcome in the transport, energy and
telecommunications sector, along with industry and tourism.
"Macedonian airports, road
segments and international railroad will be given under concession,
while tenders for construction of luxury hotel complexes and malls in
Skopje and Ohrid
are ongoing. The energy sector offers possibilities for investments in
thermal, gas and hydro po wer plants", stated Rafajlovska.
She underlined the
importance of the export-oriented agriculture-food industry, including
processing of fruit and vegetables, production of wine and tobacco,
metalurgy, textile and shoe industry, car parts industry,
pharmaceutical and medical apparatus industry, production of software
and electronics.
"This is a great day for
Macedonian and Portuguese businessmen, while the goal is for the
latter to acquaint themselves with
Macedonia as one of
the most prestigious destinations for investment in Southeast
Europe", said Macedonia 's Honorary Consul to Portugal Pedro Meneres
Gudel.
The forum will include
presentations on Macedonia's energy and tourist potentials, while
ambassador Jordan Plevnes will talk on topic "Permanent Ties between
Macedonia and Portugal", as well as President of the European
Commission on Culture Vasco Grassa Mura.
Officials of Portuguese
company "Aquapura", which purchased state-owned land in Prespa for
construction of a tourist settlement, will also address the forum.
Moreover, Macedonian representatives are to visit Portuguese companies
on Tuesday.
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