Macedonian police have arrested two persons in connection to the robbery of ProCredit Bank-Skopje, which took place on 10 April.
The police believe that one of the detained bought the two vehicles used in the robbery, while the "biological traces" of other one, a man with double citizenship - Kosovo and Croatia's - matched those found on the vehicle. In addition, an operation for tracking down of the third person believed to have been involved, is underway.
The arrested B.T. (29) from Skopje bought the vehicles Golf 3 and Alpha Romeo 155 used in the robbery, from the used car lot "Guri" in the beginning of 2009.
In his testimony before the police, he said that his cousin A.T. (31) from Skopje, who is still on the run, ordered him to buy the vehicles. B.T. also said that his cousin kept constant contact with a man from Kosovo.
The armed group managed to steal 50,000 euros from the bank located in downtown Skopje in a daring operation. In the shootout with the police, two officers and a bypasser were wounded.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Alexander The Great Bisexual
Macedonia’s bisexuals are delighted that their hero, Alexander the Great, will soon break the macho monotony of their country’s capital.
A prank press release in support of the Macedonian government initiative to erect a giant statue of Alexander the Great, “the greatest bi-sexual in the history of the world”, as stated, appeared recently on Facebook.
This joke aimed to rile the patriotic feelings of Macedonia’s hard-line nationalists who see this ancient warrior king as the symbol of their national pride, and was signed by a fictional citizens’ association, named “Alexander Bi-Macedonian”.
“We, the bisexuals have always been rejected by society in all possible ways, including symbolically.
Skopje and Macedonia are full of macho heroes. Even women are excluded from the Macedonian symbolic universe,” the association states.
The conservative VMRO DPMNE-led government’s bid to plant a statue of Alexander in Skopje’s main square is a “significant step towards emancipation, offering us a person that will unify us on much higher level”, the release continues.
“We have always seen Alexander as an iconic figure for our bisexual lifestyle. We look on him as a man who beside conquering and unifying the world unified people of different sexual orientations as well,” the release further writes.
Beside affirming sexual diversity, the monument will make the country a top tourist destination as “every bisexual from Europe will be delighted to take his picture in front of the statue”, it continues.
I still remember how scandalized people were in both Macedonia and Greece after watching the Oliver Stone blockbuster “Alexander”, which portrayed the young hero as in love with his mate Hephaestion.
Partly out of curiosity and partly out of some hidden suicidal drive I deliberately started conversations on this issue with people from both countries who I thought were notably patriotic. I somehow survived to tell the tale!
First they would start blushing, while trying to stay calm and explain to me that I had been surely misled.
They would nervously clasp their hands together in a prayer-like position.
But soon they snapped, losing their tempers and attacking the “commies, masons and who knows who else” for plotting a conspiracy against their national hero.
The reactions were identical. The only thing these people could not agree upon was who was stealing whose history – Macedonians or Greeks?
Ok, heroes are heroes and their rightful place is on city squares, to remind the people of their glorious achievement or ideas.
I can even to some extent understand why people tend to worship stereotyped “horse-mounted” egoists and slaughterers like Alexander or Napoleon – more than some really deserving scholars, for example.
But that is not the point here.
As far as I know, there is no hard proof that Alexander was truly a bisexual although various circumstantial evidence does point to that theory.
But that is also not the point.
The point is that, unfortunately, the fight against numbing stupidity in the Balkans is still waged only through the irony and wit of a few.
And they have to remain anonymous, of course, just in case them find themselves in the way of some “patriot”.
A prank press release in support of the Macedonian government initiative to erect a giant statue of Alexander the Great, “the greatest bi-sexual in the history of the world”, as stated, appeared recently on Facebook.
This joke aimed to rile the patriotic feelings of Macedonia’s hard-line nationalists who see this ancient warrior king as the symbol of their national pride, and was signed by a fictional citizens’ association, named “Alexander Bi-Macedonian”.
“We, the bisexuals have always been rejected by society in all possible ways, including symbolically.
Skopje and Macedonia are full of macho heroes. Even women are excluded from the Macedonian symbolic universe,” the association states.
The conservative VMRO DPMNE-led government’s bid to plant a statue of Alexander in Skopje’s main square is a “significant step towards emancipation, offering us a person that will unify us on much higher level”, the release continues.
“We have always seen Alexander as an iconic figure for our bisexual lifestyle. We look on him as a man who beside conquering and unifying the world unified people of different sexual orientations as well,” the release further writes.
Beside affirming sexual diversity, the monument will make the country a top tourist destination as “every bisexual from Europe will be delighted to take his picture in front of the statue”, it continues.
I still remember how scandalized people were in both Macedonia and Greece after watching the Oliver Stone blockbuster “Alexander”, which portrayed the young hero as in love with his mate Hephaestion.
Partly out of curiosity and partly out of some hidden suicidal drive I deliberately started conversations on this issue with people from both countries who I thought were notably patriotic. I somehow survived to tell the tale!
First they would start blushing, while trying to stay calm and explain to me that I had been surely misled.
They would nervously clasp their hands together in a prayer-like position.
But soon they snapped, losing their tempers and attacking the “commies, masons and who knows who else” for plotting a conspiracy against their national hero.
The reactions were identical. The only thing these people could not agree upon was who was stealing whose history – Macedonians or Greeks?
Ok, heroes are heroes and their rightful place is on city squares, to remind the people of their glorious achievement or ideas.
I can even to some extent understand why people tend to worship stereotyped “horse-mounted” egoists and slaughterers like Alexander or Napoleon – more than some really deserving scholars, for example.
But that is not the point here.
As far as I know, there is no hard proof that Alexander was truly a bisexual although various circumstantial evidence does point to that theory.
But that is also not the point.
The point is that, unfortunately, the fight against numbing stupidity in the Balkans is still waged only through the irony and wit of a few.
And they have to remain anonymous, of course, just in case them find themselves in the way of some “patriot”.
National Bank of Macedonia prepares new measures to protect denar
National Bank of Macedonia has announced possible new tightening of monetary policy, Macedonian A1 television channel informs.
Everything depends on the foreign currency reserves, whose balance runs to EUR 1,2 billion now.
If planned measures prove to be insufficient, the bank will take additional ones, said bank governor Petar Gosev.
In the last four months National Bank of Macedonia has spent some EUR 300 million of the foreign currency reserves to secure the protection of the exchange rate of denar, the channel says.
Everything depends on the foreign currency reserves, whose balance runs to EUR 1,2 billion now.
If planned measures prove to be insufficient, the bank will take additional ones, said bank governor Petar Gosev.
In the last four months National Bank of Macedonia has spent some EUR 300 million of the foreign currency reserves to secure the protection of the exchange rate of denar, the channel says.
Macedonian pork is safe, say producers
Domestic pork is healthy and safe, whereas consumers can use it freely, stated Wednesday Macedonian producers and processors.
They complained of suffering enormous losses due to the citizens' misinformation, thinking that the swine flu is transferred through food.
"The disease that recently appeared in Mexico is not transferred through consumption of pork and its processing, but from one human to another. This is a mutation of the swine, human and bird flu, but of humane, not animal type. Therefore, we ask that term 'swine' is replaced with 'North American'", stated members of the Group for Production of Pork and Processing.
According to them, since the news on the global spreading of the swine flu, pork sales in Macedonia have reduced by 50 percent.
Veterinary Administration director Dejan Runtevski stressed that the ban for import of live pigs, which entered into force on Tuesday, would be applied as long as necessary.
Scheffer - Macedonia fulfills criteria for membership in NATO
Macedonia has fulfilled all criteria for membership in the Alliance and what remains now is to resolve the dispute with Greece over the name of Macedonia, NATO chief said today.
At the meeting with the outgoing Macedonian president Branko Crvenkovski, NATO Secretary General Jaap De Hoop Scheffer said that he expected for negotiations aimed at finding a mutually acceptable solutions to intensify once the elections in both countries are over.
The interlocutors agreed that the in the following period, the efforts should focus on creating an atmosphere of good-neighborly relations between the two countries.
At the meeting with the outgoing Macedonian president Branko Crvenkovski, NATO Secretary General Jaap De Hoop Scheffer said that he expected for negotiations aimed at finding a mutually acceptable solutions to intensify once the elections in both countries are over.
The interlocutors agreed that the in the following period, the efforts should focus on creating an atmosphere of good-neighborly relations between the two countries.
Macedonia seeks for economic cooperation with United Arab Emirates
The Minister of Foreign Trade of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, will pay a working visit to Macedonia on Thursday.
Her visit to Macedonia comes as part of the European tour, and is aimed at improving the bilateral cooperation, above all in the economic field and other areas of joint interest.
According to the agenda, the UAE minister will meet with Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki, Economy Minister Fatmir Besimi and Environment Minister Nexhati Jakupi.
Her visit to Macedonia comes as part of the European tour, and is aimed at improving the bilateral cooperation, above all in the economic field and other areas of joint interest.
According to the agenda, the UAE minister will meet with Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki, Economy Minister Fatmir Besimi and Environment Minister Nexhati Jakupi.
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Macedonian milk producers expects Swed milk to pay their money off until Monday
Macedonian milk producers do not know whether Swed Milk Company had started the procedure on paying off the money for the milk. Despite it was agreed on the last meeting with the governing team half of the money to be paid off until the end of the week, Macedonian A1 television informs. They said on Friday’s conference they even do not know who the new owner is.
A1 reminds Swed Milk Company owes more than EUR 3.5 million to about 3000 milk producers.
The other part of the money has to be paid off until the end of February.
A1 reminds Swed Milk Company owes more than EUR 3.5 million to about 3000 milk producers.
The other part of the money has to be paid off until the end of February.
Macedonian race for next president
A total of seven candidates, three of them ethnic Albanians, will run in the March 22 ballot, with the ruling VMRO-DPMNE represented by Djordje Ivanov.
The opposition candidate and, according to analysts , the election's front runner, is Ljubomir Frchkoski.
However, former Interior Minister Ljube Boshkoski is emerging as "the most interesting candidate", our reporter in Skopje says.
He spent four years detained at the Hague Tribunal, undergoing a trial there accused of 2001 murder of ethnic Albanians, but was acquitted of all charges last year.
Both Boshkoski and Frchkoski spoke for B92 on Saturday.
Boshkoski said he is not hiding his disappointment over the fact that VMRO-DPMNE, a party of which he is a member, did not choose him to run.
"I have four years of Hague solitude behind me. In a room sized 2.5 square meters I had time to think about Macedonia's future. Even during the first days after my departure I realized that the situation in Macedonia was alarming and that my country was extremely isolated. You know, although I returned from jail, I am in this way imprisoned again, and I cannot allow for that to happen."
"I disagree with some moves made by Premier [Nikola] Gruevski, but what worries me the most is his insistence on the Macedonians' ancient roots. This Aryan theory is something we don't need at all," Boshkovski said.
Frchkoski, on the other hand, sees it as his "personal challenge" to stand against "the authoritarian rule that has isolated Macedonia managing to push in into a Balkan corner".
"After twenty years of independence we are once again setting up the basic security issues, of whether or not Macedonia will face internal federalization and whether Albanians will separate in local municipalities."
"We cannot expect fair elections, the most we can expect is for them to be calm. Unfortunately these are the election criteria just like in Africa," said he.
Meanwhile, it is already clear that ethnic Albanian votes from the first round will go to the Macedonian bloc candidate that will be most accommodating to Albanian conditions and demands, our reporter says.
The opposition candidate and, according to analysts , the election's front runner, is Ljubomir Frchkoski.
However, former Interior Minister Ljube Boshkoski is emerging as "the most interesting candidate", our reporter in Skopje says.
He spent four years detained at the Hague Tribunal, undergoing a trial there accused of 2001 murder of ethnic Albanians, but was acquitted of all charges last year.
Both Boshkoski and Frchkoski spoke for B92 on Saturday.
Boshkoski said he is not hiding his disappointment over the fact that VMRO-DPMNE, a party of which he is a member, did not choose him to run.
"I have four years of Hague solitude behind me. In a room sized 2.5 square meters I had time to think about Macedonia's future. Even during the first days after my departure I realized that the situation in Macedonia was alarming and that my country was extremely isolated. You know, although I returned from jail, I am in this way imprisoned again, and I cannot allow for that to happen."
"I disagree with some moves made by Premier [Nikola] Gruevski, but what worries me the most is his insistence on the Macedonians' ancient roots. This Aryan theory is something we don't need at all," Boshkovski said.
Frchkoski, on the other hand, sees it as his "personal challenge" to stand against "the authoritarian rule that has isolated Macedonia managing to push in into a Balkan corner".
"After twenty years of independence we are once again setting up the basic security issues, of whether or not Macedonia will face internal federalization and whether Albanians will separate in local municipalities."
"We cannot expect fair elections, the most we can expect is for them to be calm. Unfortunately these are the election criteria just like in Africa," said he.
Meanwhile, it is already clear that ethnic Albanian votes from the first round will go to the Macedonian bloc candidate that will be most accommodating to Albanian conditions and demands, our reporter says.
Kosovo PM on secret visit in Skopje
Kosovo Prime Minister /PM/ Hashim Taci was on a secret visit in Skopje, Macedonian A1 television informs.
“The aim of the visit and with whom he talked with remains a secret. TV’s team saw Taci in Skopje’s restaurant. He refused to say what the aim of his visit was. Taci’s cabinet press office in Pristina claimed he did not go anywhere.
There are cars with Albanian registration in front of the restaurant where he had lunch,”A1 informs.
“The aim of the visit and with whom he talked with remains a secret. TV’s team saw Taci in Skopje’s restaurant. He refused to say what the aim of his visit was. Taci’s cabinet press office in Pristina claimed he did not go anywhere.
There are cars with Albanian registration in front of the restaurant where he had lunch,”A1 informs.
Government makes kitsch patriotism: former PM
The patriotism, which is realized in Macedonia these days, is kitsch patriotism. The whole national policy reduces to a mass propaganda, which aim is to turn people into ancient Macedonians, former Macedonian Prime Minister Lubco Georgievski said, Macedonian Spic newspaper informs.
“This is a patriotism, which bases are very weak sections. We make extra problems with Greece,” Georgievski said.
In reference to his political ambitions Georgievski said that they are at the field of analysis and examination. In his words Macedonia has to be flexible in reference to name dispute.
“This is a patriotism, which bases are very weak sections. We make extra problems with Greece,” Georgievski said.
In reference to his political ambitions Georgievski said that they are at the field of analysis and examination. In his words Macedonia has to be flexible in reference to name dispute.
Macedonia to receive EUR 3.5 million for education
Macedonia will receive EUR 3.5 million for education from the regional pre-accession funds for 2008 in the frames of Tempus program, which is focused on the development of education, FOCUS News Agency correspondent in Skopje informs.
“The Tempus program stimulates the mobility not only among students but also among lecturers. They have greately contributed to the development of the high education," Macedonian Minister of Education Pero Stojanovski told a press conference.
He added that representatives of the countries taht are now joining the program are visiting Macedonia to get acquanted with the program's functioning in the country.
“The Tempus program stimulates the mobility not only among students but also among lecturers. They have greately contributed to the development of the high education," Macedonian Minister of Education Pero Stojanovski told a press conference.
He added that representatives of the countries taht are now joining the program are visiting Macedonia to get acquanted with the program's functioning in the country.
Macedonia may heed Bakoyannis advice
Few days ago Greek FM Bakoyannis, in Belgrade as part of her OSCE journey, issued a statement that Macedonia should follow Greece's example.
At the time, it wasn't clear what precisely did the Greek FM had in mind.
This morning, it appears as there is a good chance the government in Skopje will follow Athens' advice. No, it has nothing to do with minorities or cooking financial books, something Athens is an expert in.
A French Army delegation has signed an agreement with Macedonia for training Macedonian helicopter pilots in France. Because of this, the possibility of Macedonia purchasing French helicopters has greatly increased.
The Macedonian pilots are already trained on Russian/Ukrainian/Israeli helicopters. The only reason they would train on french helicopters is, if they are buying some.
Skopje has already decided to send a military attache to France, to be a liaison between the two armies. Greece bought their political support from France earlier this year, by agreeing to purchase fighter planes worth few billion euros.
Macedonia may join the French friendship bridge, in "Greek" style.
At the time, it wasn't clear what precisely did the Greek FM had in mind.
This morning, it appears as there is a good chance the government in Skopje will follow Athens' advice. No, it has nothing to do with minorities or cooking financial books, something Athens is an expert in.
A French Army delegation has signed an agreement with Macedonia for training Macedonian helicopter pilots in France. Because of this, the possibility of Macedonia purchasing French helicopters has greatly increased.
The Macedonian pilots are already trained on Russian/Ukrainian/Israeli helicopters. The only reason they would train on french helicopters is, if they are buying some.
Skopje has already decided to send a military attache to France, to be a liaison between the two armies. Greece bought their political support from France earlier this year, by agreeing to purchase fighter planes worth few billion euros.
Macedonia may join the French friendship bridge, in "Greek" style.
EC Report on Macedonia due in November
From within the EC in Brussels they informed that the report on Macedonia will be announced in November. “The conditions for Macedonia obtaining date for start of negotiations remain the same – meeting of the political criteria and the benchmarks.
Olli Rehn encourages the country to focus on progress in these key areas,” stated EU Enlargement Commissioner Spokesperson Krisztina Nagy for Kanal5 TV.
From within CoE they said it was still early to tell whether date for start of the negotiations with the EU will be granted as the conduct of the elections remained to be seen.
Nevertheless, they reminded that the possible decision for start of accession negotiations should be made by the EU Ministerial Council via consensus. A solution to the name issue remains to be found, they said from within the CoE.
Olli Rehn encourages the country to focus on progress in these key areas,” stated EU Enlargement Commissioner Spokesperson Krisztina Nagy for Kanal5 TV.
From within CoE they said it was still early to tell whether date for start of the negotiations with the EU will be granted as the conduct of the elections remained to be seen.
Nevertheless, they reminded that the possible decision for start of accession negotiations should be made by the EU Ministerial Council via consensus. A solution to the name issue remains to be found, they said from within the CoE.
UMD Strongly Condemns Sofia Mayor Borisov´s Plans to "Buy" Macedonia
The United Macedonian Diaspora (UMD) categorically condemns Sofia mayor Boris Borisov´s recent statements in Chicago advocating an effective "buyout" of Macedonia by Bulgarians to ensure "friendly relations" between the two states. "Such a statement by a leading politician of an EU and NATO member is deeply troubling and reveals a fundamental ignorance of the principles on which both organizations were founded," stated UMD President, Metodija A. Koloski. Plans to effect a "buyout" of Macedonia by Bulgarians violate one of the EU´s most important principles, "promoting respect for the principles of independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and the inviolability of borders." They are tantamount to economic extortion, not unlike the 1995 embargo that Greece imposed on Macedonia to create a "friendly atmosphere" among Macedonians.
UMD regards Mr. Borisov´s reasoning that Bulgaria, through economic and political isolation, will foster "friendly relations" with Macedonians as laughable on its face, if not dangerously mischievous. Although the UMD deplores Mr. Borisov´s remarks, the United Macedonian Diaspora promotes and encourages friendly, positive and mutually productive relations between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia.
UMD believes that Mr. Borisov´s stated goal of friendly ties would best be achieved not through economic extortion and enforced "bulgarianization" of Macedonia´s economy, but rather through the prompt registration of OMO-Ilinden PIRIN (Political Party of the Macedonian Minority in Bulgaria) as a legitimate political party representing ethnic Macedonians in Bulgaria. "Rather than resort to economic extortion, the Republic of Bulgaria would be well advised to recognize the sizable Macedonian minority in Bulgaria. And rather than ignore the very founding principles of NATO and the EU, the Republic of Bulgaria might even wish to issue a formal apology for the deportation of nearly 9,000 Macedonian Jews to Hitler´s death camps," added Koloski.
UMD regards Mr. Borisov´s reasoning that Bulgaria, through economic and political isolation, will foster "friendly relations" with Macedonians as laughable on its face, if not dangerously mischievous. Although the UMD deplores Mr. Borisov´s remarks, the United Macedonian Diaspora promotes and encourages friendly, positive and mutually productive relations between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia.
UMD believes that Mr. Borisov´s stated goal of friendly ties would best be achieved not through economic extortion and enforced "bulgarianization" of Macedonia´s economy, but rather through the prompt registration of OMO-Ilinden PIRIN (Political Party of the Macedonian Minority in Bulgaria) as a legitimate political party representing ethnic Macedonians in Bulgaria. "Rather than resort to economic extortion, the Republic of Bulgaria would be well advised to recognize the sizable Macedonian minority in Bulgaria. And rather than ignore the very founding principles of NATO and the EU, the Republic of Bulgaria might even wish to issue a formal apology for the deportation of nearly 9,000 Macedonian Jews to Hitler´s death camps," added Koloski.
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Wages long overdue, banks waive late payment fees
Commercial banks in Macedonia will earn millions of denars from daily interest charge on late payment amid imbroglio caused by Public Revenue Office's master software collapse while computing the gross wages.
About 600.000 working people in Macedonia owed averagely 1.788 euros to banks till November 2008. Simple calculation shows that banks will earn at least 10.000 euros per day through charging daily interest on late payment of installments provided that the fixed penalty for late payment was set at 1 denar a day, Nova Makedonija daily said.
Banks charge 19.5% interest rate on late payment on annual basis.
In the headline "Banks don't care about UJP problem", the local daily Utrinski Vesnik says "the citizens will pay high price for state's error prompted by collapse of the software of Public Revenue Office (UJP)". The working people cannot collect their monthly wage due to software collapse.
Who will pay the price given the fact that bankers don't care whether the citizens receive their wages in due time. Moreover, banks don't care about the reason why the citizens have been put in such a situation although some companies have no financial worries, Utrinski Vesnik said.
Editorial commentary in Dnevnik daily raises the issue of accountability. The relevant authorities should be held accountable for the collapse of the so-called gross wage concept. In normal countries, such omissions result in resignations by those responsible.
Those who ignore the responsibility probably want to confirm that our country is not among normal countries, Dnevnik daily said.
About 600.000 working people in Macedonia owed averagely 1.788 euros to banks till November 2008. Simple calculation shows that banks will earn at least 10.000 euros per day through charging daily interest on late payment of installments provided that the fixed penalty for late payment was set at 1 denar a day, Nova Makedonija daily said.
Banks charge 19.5% interest rate on late payment on annual basis.
In the headline "Banks don't care about UJP problem", the local daily Utrinski Vesnik says "the citizens will pay high price for state's error prompted by collapse of the software of Public Revenue Office (UJP)". The working people cannot collect their monthly wage due to software collapse.
Who will pay the price given the fact that bankers don't care whether the citizens receive their wages in due time. Moreover, banks don't care about the reason why the citizens have been put in such a situation although some companies have no financial worries, Utrinski Vesnik said.
Editorial commentary in Dnevnik daily raises the issue of accountability. The relevant authorities should be held accountable for the collapse of the so-called gross wage concept. In normal countries, such omissions result in resignations by those responsible.
Those who ignore the responsibility probably want to confirm that our country is not among normal countries, Dnevnik daily said.
Ljube Boskovski’s nomination returned for correction
Macedonia’s State Electoral Commission has returned the nomination of the independent presidential candidate Ljube Boskovski for a correction, the Macedonian Nova Makedonija daily writes.
The mover of the nomination has to determine whose initials will be put down on the nomination – Boskovski’s or subscriber’s. The mistake has to be corrected immediately or within 48 hours after the nomination was submitted.
The mover of the nomination has to determine whose initials will be put down on the nomination – Boskovski’s or subscriber’s. The mistake has to be corrected immediately or within 48 hours after the nomination was submitted.
Headscarved Pupil Pushes Limits In Macedonia
The case of a teenage girl who wants to wear her headscarf to school is creating waves in Macedonia, with educational authorities, local officials and teachers locked in a tug-of-war over religous freedom and the right to education.
Macedonia's constitution sets the country as secular, strictly separating church and state.
The conservative VMRO DPMNE government introduced religious education in primary schools last years, creating controversy and attracting criticism by opposition parties and several local NGO’s.
The right of Muslim women to wear headscarves is a hot topic in many European countries with minority or immigrant Muslim populations, as well as in Turkey, where the state is secular but most of the population is devoutly Muslim. France for example insists on secularity and bans wearing headscarves in state institutions.
The girl, who attends a high school in the western Macedonian town of Tetovo, a predominantly ethnic Albanian area, wanted to wear her head scarf over her school uniform. After several warnings, the head master Ljatif Ismaili banned her from class until she removes the headscarf during school hours.
The girl then complained to Tetovo mayor Hazbi Lika, who used his authority to sack Ismaili
But once the State Education Inspectorate reviewed the case, it ordered that Ismaili be reinstated immediately to his post, saying he was right to act in accordance with school regulations, passed by the parents' association, banning religious and national marks inside school building.
“If the mayor does not comply, we will take away his competence (to appoint and fire headmasters)” the head of the Inspectorate, Robert Georgiev, told local Vreme daily on Wednesday.
Macedonia's Tetovo area was the site of an uprising by the Albanian minority in 2001, and ethnic relations are still fragile. Almost all ethnic Macedonians are Orthodox Christians, and the 25-percent Albanian population is mostly Muslim, generally more devout than the highly secular Albanians in Kosovo and Albania proper.
Commenting on the Inspectorate's decision, the head of the sector for religious education of Macedonia's Islamic Community, Jakup Selimovski, disagreed, arguing that the schools regulations cannot overrule the state law on freedom of religion and the right to education.
The girl then complained to Tetovo mayor Hazbi Lika, who used his authority to sack Ismaili
But once the State Education Inspectorate reviewed the case, it ordered that Ismaili be reinstated immediately to his post, saying he was right to act in accordance with school regulations, passed by the parents' association, banning religious and national marks inside school building.
“If the mayor does not comply, we will take away his competence (to appoint and fire headmasters)” the head of the Inspectorate, Robert Georgiev, told local Vreme daily on Wednesday.
Macedonia's Tetovo area was the site of an uprising by the Albanian minority in 2001, and ethnic relations are still fragile. Almost all ethnic Macedonians are Orthodox Christians, and the 25-percent Albanian population is mostly Muslim, generally more devout than the highly secular Albanians in Kosovo and Albania proper.
The Inspectorate conceded that the law does not specifically prohibit wearing religious marks in schools. However, it added, since the pupils in that particular school are from different ethnicities and religious denominations, the headmaster thought that such an overt display of faith would harm the cohesion of the school, so he acted according to the statute that the parents themselves approved.
“The scarf is a religious mark," Selimovski said. "A (Muslim) woman is obliged to cover her head and no one should prohibit a Muslim girl from education because of this.”
The conservative VMRO DPMNE government introduced religious education in primary schools last years, creating controversy and attracting criticism by opposition parties and several local NGO’s.
Bakoyannis: Skopje's provocative stance undermines confidence
Greece is committed to finding an all-win solution, but unfortunately the provocative attitude of Macedonia hinders creation of a climate of mutual confidence, Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis said.
She made the statement in an interview for Monday edition of Politika daily.
According to Bakoyannis, such an attitude makes the chances for a timely UN-brokered solution to the name issue rather obscure.
"I would like to stress once again that a mutually acceptable solution will bring benefit to FYROM (Macedonia) and will also strengthen regional stability in Southeastern Europe, and at the same time it will boost the country's EU prospects," Bakoyannis said.
Bakoyannis, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, arrived in Belgrade today, on her first trip to Serbia since Greece assumed the OSCE presidency.
She made the statement in an interview for Monday edition of Politika daily.
According to Bakoyannis, such an attitude makes the chances for a timely UN-brokered solution to the name issue rather obscure.
"I would like to stress once again that a mutually acceptable solution will bring benefit to FYROM (Macedonia) and will also strengthen regional stability in Southeastern Europe, and at the same time it will boost the country's EU prospects," Bakoyannis said.
Bakoyannis, the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, arrived in Belgrade today, on her first trip to Serbia since Greece assumed the OSCE presidency.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Macedonia with record trade deficit in 2008
The amount of Macedonia’s export for 208 is USD 2.87 billion and the export- USD 6.85 billion, Macedonian Dnevniknewspaper informs. That means the country ended 2008 with record trade deficit at the amount of 2.87 billion, which is with billion more than in 2007.
The reason for the record deficit is the expensive import of energy carries, edition informs.
The reason for the record deficit is the expensive import of energy carries, edition informs.
Every third in Macedonia looks for job
Every third person fit for work in Macedonia is unemployed, the Macedonian Spic daily writes.
The Employment Agency says 270,000 people in Macedonia are looking for a job. Economists warn that in 2009 unemployment rate will jump. At the end of the last year 340,000 people were registered in the Agency. 20% of them were registered to use health insurance.
The Employment Agency says 270,000 people in Macedonia are looking for a job. Economists warn that in 2009 unemployment rate will jump. At the end of the last year 340,000 people were registered in the Agency. 20% of them were registered to use health insurance.
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