Macedonia rise to 50th in FIFA World Rankings

Macedonia have moved into the top 50 in FIFA world rankings, as it was ranked 50th with 563 points.

Macedonia has nine more points than September's rankings. Macedonia's national team, led by new coach Srecko Katanec, made a significant progress and marked a fantastic jump in world rankings.

Brazil still tops the rankings with world cup winners Italy in second place, followed by France. Argentina have moved one place down to fourth, with six-placed Germany one place behind England.

The other Euro 2008 qualifying countries that are in the same group with Macedonia - Croatia was ranked 19th, Russia 33rd, Israel 36th, Estonia 112th and Andorra 167th.

Gruevski seeks Germany's support for Macedonia's EU, NATO bids

Macedonian Prime Minster Nikola Gruevski arrived on a three-day visit to Germany on Monday (October 16th) hoping to win Berlin's backing for his country's EU and NATO bids.

Macedonia was recognised as an official EU candidate last year, but has yet to be given a starting date for its accession talks with Brussels. Gruevski voiced hope that this would happen next year.

His first official foreign visit since taking office in August comes weeks before NATO's November 28th-29th summit in Riga and less than three months before Germany assumes the rotating, six-month EU presidency on January 1st.

"We place great hopes in Germany as the next EU presiding country," Macedonian news agency Makfax quoted Gruevski as saying ahead of talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday.

He also expressed his country's commitment to implementing judicial reform and other required measures.

"We are fully focused on reforms -- especially the economy and the fight against corruption and criminality," he said in an interview with the German news agency DPA, noting his country's ambition to become an EU member by 2013. He said around 95% of the measures stipulated by the Ohrid Framework Agreement, which ended months of ethnic conflict in the country five years ago, have been adopted.

Gruevski also said people in his country felt "disappointed" over the much discussed enlargement fatigue among older EU member nations.

"We are too small a country to be a problem ... we only have two million people," he said, noting that his entire country numbers fewer people than many European capitals.

Stressing Germany's support for Macedonia's stable development, Merkel expressed Berlin's determination to ensure the Balkan nation's "good path to the future". But she gave no indication of any specific steps Skopje could expect from the German EU presidency.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso suggested last month that the EU should take a break before admitting new members after Bulgaria and Romania join on January 1st, so that it could conduct pending institutional reforms.

Along with Albania and Croatia, Macedonia also aspires to NATO membership. The Alliance is not expected to invite new nations to join during next month's meeting in Latvia. However, Gruevski voiced hope Monday that his country would receive such an invitation in 2008 and would become a full-fledged member by 2009.

Macedonia fires workers on 'political grounds'

Macedonia's new government has axed hundreds of public sector workers, despite criticism from Brussels and requests that civil servants should be shielded from political interference.

Only three days after the new government was elected in August, it removed 544 managers and members of managing boards in state institutions and enterprises.

The changes did not stop there, as some newly appointed managers have made further purges of officials lower down the ranks.

Throughout September, the media has been awash with reports of large-scale sackings of officials in the customs, prison and health services.

The government has defended the personnel changes, saying they were needed to build up these institutions and fight corruption.

But experts say mass dismissals merely show the new government is continuing the bad old practice of politicizing the public administration. Some warn it will undermine the potential to reform it.

Others go even further, saying the country has no real chance of joining the European Union if governments continue to manipulate public employment in this manner.

"The dismissals and appointments in the public administration have taken place at such a speed that it suggests the practice of political employment is continuing," said Gordana Siljanovska, professor of law at Skopje University and an expert in public administration.

Experts say the changes will weaken the capacity for reform at a time when the government has promised serious progress, both to the public and to the EU, and as the country hopes to receive a starting date for membership negotiations with Brussels.

EU officials have also warned that massive dismissals may damage the ability of the administration to deal with the challenge of reform.

Pierre Mirel, director of the European Commission Enlargement Directorate, voiced his reservations about the changes on a visit to Skopje in September. "You do not have to change people to make changes," said Mirel.

One reason for the EU criticism is that many of the recently dismissed officials were former trainees of EU-run programs.

"We have reacted to changes of those people in whose training we invested," a source from the EU office in Skopje told Balkan Insight.

The same source said the EU office wrote to the customs office, asking it not to remove local experts working on a program financed by the Dutch government.

The pressure from Brussels has not stopped the wave of sackings from continuing in the customs office, however.

It did succeed in preventing changes to the law that would have made it easier to sack personnel in the Electronic Communications Agency, an independent regulation body.

"By revising the law in this field, the independence of this body might have been threatened, which is why we hope our comments will be taken into consideration," said Mirel.

Mirel's pointed remarks came only a month before the first report on Macedonia's progress as a EU candidate is to be published. The EC is expected to adopt the report on 8 November.

The government denies sacking people in order to employ loyal party members.

"It is natural that certain changes will occur," the right-of-centre prime minister, Nikola Gruevski, said in response to the criticism. "It is normal that a political team coming to power and with its own programme wants to work with people it trusts."

A government spokesman, Veton Ibrahimi, also denied party political influence on public appointments.

"All the newly appointed officials are professionals, which was not the case with their predecessors," he said.

However, the government has not provided any individual explanatory notes for the dismissals, much to the anger of the government's own anti-corruption body, the State Anti-Corruption Commission.

The commission said due process was not being adhered to when the government made the dismissals, as people were entitled to individual explanations for their removal.

"The commission concluded that the constitution and laws, as well as the prescribed procedures and criteria, were not obeyed in these acts," the acting head of the commission, Slagjana Taseva, said in mid-September.

"This goes directly against the principle of de-politicization and of professionalism in the public administration."

Gruevski did not accept the comments of the state committee, insisting the changes were legitimate.

But experts remain worried about the big picture. Ljubomir Kekenovski, professor of economics at Skopje University said recent events highlighted a fundamental problem that in Macedonia there was still no real distinction between state and public property.

"Public institutions belong to the public and not to political parties," Kekenovski told Balkan Insight, adding that government should enjoy no more than overall oversight.

"The government should undertake only overall control and regulation," he went on. "Contrary to this, the politicians are taking over state and public institutions."

Siljanovska agrees. "The party political criteria for public employment must be replaced by professionalism," she said.

"So far, governments are tying their own hands. When they behave like this with the public administration, they then find they can't accomplish the reforms they need."

In the meantime, some dismissed officials are weighing up legal action.

Ana Pavlovska Daneva, professor of law at Skopje University, who was axed from the state pension funds agency MAPAS, told Balkan Insight she will take her case to court.

"How is it possible to dismiss such a large number of officials at the same time?" she asked, criticizing especially the fact that no explanatory notes accompanied the dismissals.

If many sacked employees follow her example, and sue the government over the lack of explanation for their removal, the State Anti-Corruption Committee estimates it may cost the government a great deal of money.

Germany asks Macedonia for understanding on EU's internal problems

Germany has no dilemma for the European perspective of Macedonia, but asks for understanding of the need of institutional reforms as a necessary prerequisite for admission of new members.

The German Parliament’s Foreign Policy Commission Chairman Ruprecht Polenz conveyed this message to the Macedonian Foreign Minister Antonio Miloshoski.

According to the Macedonian Foreign Ministry, Polenz said "Germany has no dilemma as to the European perspective of Macedonia, however, he asked for understanding of EU's position that internal institutional reform of the Union has to be completed in order to enable admission of new members".

In his address before the members of the Bundestag's Foreign Policy Commission, Miloshoski expressed Macedonia's hopes for setting a date for launch of negotiations for membership in EU in 2008, as well as for "clear message on the possibility for inviting the country to join NATO" at the upcoming summit in Riga.

Miloshoski gave his address in the framework of activities of the Macedonian delegation led by PM Gruevski, which wrapped up its two-day visit to Berlin on Tuesday.

Previously during the day, Gruevski expressed content with the visit to Germany.

EC: Macedonia's economy marks significant progress in some areas

Macedonia's economy in some areas has made a significant progress, and in some areas it has even superseded some members of the Union.

Representatives of the European Commission voiced this opinion at the bilateral meeting in Skopje, held on the occasion of presentation of the first self-appraising report relating the European Charter for Small Enterprises.

Introduction of the one-stop system for registering business enterprises was pointed out as an example for the progress.

This marks the fourth National report on small enterprises, but this is the first self-appraising document, on the basis of which the progress of the country in 10 areas encompassed by the European Charter for Small Enterprises is assessed.

EC's representative in charge of industry and enterprises, Edward Tersmette, underlined that the Commission attaches special significance to these reports, since it serves as an indicator of the degree of development of any given national economy.

He added that Commission expects positive developments to take place in the region within the next three years. "There are many EC's programmes stand at your disposal, all you have to do is to reach for them and implement it", Tersmette said.

European Ambassador to Macedonia, Erwan Fouere, specified that as many as 75 percent of the employed in EU work in small enterprises.

"We are welcoming government's focus on the economic reforms", Fouere said.

Macedonian governmental representatives, Vice-Prime Minister Gabriela Konevska-Trajkovska and Economy Minister Vera Rafajlovska announced strong support for the small- and middle-sized enterprises.

Konevska reiterated Government's preparedness to work as a partner with the private sector, pledging for unreserved support.

Minister Rafajlovska specified that revising of the National Strategy for Small- and Middle-Sized Enterprises is in its final stage.

The 2006 National report is comprised of two segments. The first one demonstrates the current status in the small- and middle-sized enterprises in the country in terms of the 10 areas of the Charter, while the other segment refers to the government's goals to be achieved in the next year.

Foreign investments in Macedonia cut by half in 2005

Foreign direct investments (FDI) in Macedonia in 2005 were almost cut by half compared to 2004, and the country was ranked at the bottom in the region.

Roughly $100 million were invested in Macedonia last year, according to World Investment Report 2006 published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

In Macedonia, FDI flow slipped down in 2005, compared to 2004, when the country reported $157 million foreign direct investments.

Macedonia ranks at the bottom among the countries in South East Europe. In 2005, FDI flow in SEE region ranged $157 million.

FDI inflows rose substantially in Romania and Bulgaria, the future members of the European Union. Both countries reported $63 billion i.e. $2.2 billion worth of foreign investments in 2005. FDI flows in Croatia ranged $1.69 billion. Serbia and Montenegro - $1.48 billion, Bosnia and Herzegovina - $300 million, Albania - $260 million.

FDO inflows in Southeast European region rose to $13.3 billion.

The report says global FDI inflows rose substantially in 2005. Global FDI inflows marked 29% jump reaching $916 billion. A major contributing factor to this strong growth was the market increase in the inflows to developed countries. Rising global demand for commodities was reflected in the steep increase in natural resource-related FDI, although the services sector continued to be the major recipient of FDI.

EU member-countries remained the main magnet for FDI flows, marking $442 billion inflow, i.e. almost half of global FDI inflows.

Bitola and nearby villages run out of libraries

Dozen libraries in Bitola and the nearby villages have been closed down on Tuesday, Makfax correspondent said.

St. Kliment Ohridski University Library in Bitola, which is in charge of small libraries in this area, has decided to close the libraries due to low turnout of readers.

The head of St. Kliment Ohridski Library, Jelena Petrovska, said the small libraries will be shut down amid low number of readers.

"We have established a board to oversee the functioning of local libraries over a five-year stretch. In conclusion, the number of readers attending library ranges from 0 to 5 on yearly basis," Petrovska said.

She gave no additional data on library fund. Some books will be allocated to primary schools and communities in Bitola.

The Islamic population bomb

Traditionally- or at least in the past 5 centuries- the West enjoyed an unparalleled superiority in technological, economic and military sphere versus the East. Nowadays the Western and in particular European power is facing a dramatic decline due to an old but very effective weapon, their own population decline and the population explosion by the Muslim states. In the previous decades since the end of WWII a tremendous demographic expansion of the Islamic population worldwide has occurred and the trends are for continuation well into the 21st century.

The Balkans in the 90’s, were the first areas in Europe where the population explosion of Muslims resulted in a virtual takeover in areas such as central Bosnia and Kosovo. Even Montenegro, a traditional Eastern Orthodox nation, has a sizeable Muslim minority that will eventually became a majority within the coming decades should the upward projection trends prevail.

Demographics are a sensitive issue in discussion of worldwide events such as regional conflicts or terrorism. The politically correct modus that dominates the Western political system combined with an absence of historical research, has laid the foundations of ignorance on how macro-historical population alterations can and do change history and remake a civilization and the way of life.

In our age the Muslim world has at its disposal the ultimate weapon to remake the European future. The weapon is not nuclear nor chemical, but simply the population bomb, or as one might state it as the “P-Bomb”!

Islam: The unparallel growth

For centuries the Islamic world was suffering from a weakness in replacing its human resources. The territory traditionally inhabited by Muslims was an area inflicted by various invasions (Mongols, Crusaders, internal conflicts), as well as covered with large segments of non-arable land and desert. Therefore the population growth was weakened by environmental and human factors, resulting into a more or less stable demographic outlook.

In the era of the great Arabic expansion-8th-12th Century A.C- Islam was the religion and way of life for around 40-50 million peopleThat was not more than 10% of world’s then population.

In order to support their continuous invasion plans towards Europe and India, Muslims assimilated foreign elements in their communities like Christians and Jews, and such assimilation was done by proselytism, often forced and sometimes not, to convert them into Islam. Most of these faith-turnarounds were committed by the use of brute force, mass kidnappings of mostly young aged Christians, slavery and alike.

Later as a result of the Turkish Ottoman occupation of the Balkans in the 15th century AD expansion of the Islam penetrated well into the European territory, as far as Southern Hungary.

The decaying nature of the Ottoman Empire that viewed industry with dismay, resulted in the 19th century national rebirth of nations such as Serbs, Greek, Bulgars and a subsequent expulsion of many Islamic communities in South Eastern Europe that were stettled there by force in the first place.

At that time, West was viewed victorious: British and French colonialism stretched across most of North Africa and the Middle East and the triumph of the West was self-evident.

The encounter of the Western capitalistic states with the underdeveloped Muslim world in the early 20th century was beneficial for the Muslims as introduction of new agricultural methods, sanitation and industrial production, resulted in the dramatic uplifting of the way of life for millions of Muslims that began to reverse the demographic trends that up to then were characterized by high death rate. A French historian, Fernard Braudel, was the lone voice in 1957 that alerted Europe of the ticking Muslim population bomb. Braudel predicted that the then 75 million Muslims of the Middle East will reach 110 million by the early 21st century, a very low predicition of today's actual of 300 million.

Incredible predictions and possible outcomes

An average woman in the Muslim world is the mother of more than 4 children on average, well more than twice than the European level. This sums up into an annual population increase in the Middle East of around 2%.

In the midst of the Europe's victorious 19th century the population growth rate was no more then 1.5%. One has to remember that such lower European growth did enabled the colonization of most of the America and Australia and the creation of quasi European states such as USA, Australia, Canada that actually dominate the world scene today.

In 1960 the percentage of Muslims worldwide was around 13% while in 2001 it reached just above 20%. If the trends continue -- all thing equal -- in 2050 around 35% of world’s population will be Muslim, by far the largest percentage in Islam’s history.

Another element associated directly with the population growth is the high percentage of young people in Muslim countries that cannot be absorbed into the job markets and have great difficulties in upward social mobility. In combination with the autarchic regimes that govern quite a few Muslim states; a breeding ground for rebellion, terrorism and civil unrest has been unraveled. As the reach in the world shrinks due to improved telecommunications and transport, so do the social ramifications of the Middle East become globally widespread.

In the recent European history the state of Bosnia illustrates the dynamics of demographics in internal politics. In 1948 the Muslim population of that Yugoslav republic was less than 30%. In 1991 when Yugoslavia disintegrated Muslims comprised 44% and became the religious denominators of that new state. In Kosovo, today's Muslim Albanian population in the early 50’s was around 60% and 40 years later reached an overwhelming 90%. Both of these regions became theters of conflict involving Muslims against Christians.

Of course population growth is not the only explanatory factor of a series of regional conflicts, but is an important element when one wants to predict future peripheral shifts of power that may eventually lead to wars and uprisings.

Europe- Middle East demography

If it is to examine European and Middle Eastern states and their historical demographic projection, interesting notes could be taken, that reveal wider trends and imbalance of power.

In the 50’s the population of Greece was 7 million people, while the one of Turkey was 21 million, a 1:3 analogy. Nowadays Greece encompasses 11.1 million citizens and Turkey 70 million. Therefore the analogy is 1:7 and that may explain to an extent the roots of the current Greek-Turkish rivalry and brinkmanship.

Continuing in the early 70’s the Magreb states of Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, and Egypt had population of 70 million. In the same period the Mediterranean European states, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece, were populated in total by 160 million people. Today the numbers are 150 million for North Africa and 180 million for Southern Europe.

The trajectory for the year 2050 will be 250 million for North Africa and just 150 million for Southern Europe. In essence a population gap in Mediterranean Europe will be in stark contrast with an incredible increase in states just a few nautical miles from their shores.

The European Union already has drafted plans for a pan-European coast Guard force, in order to control the inevitable mass immigration from South to the North. Future will tell if that will be an effective measure.

Already, sizable Muslim minorities inhabit European metropolis such as Berlin, Paris and London. In France 75 of the populous cities have Muslims and around 4% in Germany and UK.

The American campaign War on terror coupled with terrorist attacks in Europe over the past few years, has increased European suspicion in their Muslim neighbors and at the same time it has increased the assertiveness of the Muslim communities that view themselves as persecuted and discriminated against. As Islam precludes assimilating into a new society and teaches that the new society should be assimilated into Islam, coupled with widespread proselytism that has already begun in certain states, the population gap between two communities should further increase the size of Muslim presence in Europe.

Historically, population shifts are a recurring phenomenon and Europe was already witnessed the Barbarian Invasions from the North in the late centuries of the Roman Empire. Later on the infamous Vikings populated areas in the European periphery leaving their marks up to date. From the Eastern territory nations such as the Hungarians, Huns, Tatars and Mongols had populated parts of Eastern Europe and played a significant role in the shaping Europe’s civilization. All of these new nations, however, exhibited cultural tendency to assimilate with one another and accept cultural ways of their neighbors, something not happening with the Muslims.

The Yugoslav conflicts over the past 15 years have revealed the first appearance of militant Muslim posture in a European territory, not previously seen since the Balkan wars of 1912-13. Meanwhile, the illegal immigration of Muslims from North Africa, Middle East and the Hindu Subcontinent into Europe has sharply increased, finding itself safe havens of communication, logistic and transport support in places like Pristina, Sarajevo and Tetovo.

These cities are that green corridor that is now controlled by the Western peacekeeping forces, but many project they will not be there for ever. US has already announced a total withdrawal from Bosnia.

Political correctness is handicapping Europe to use of logic in dealing with the emerging death of its Greco-Roman European civilization - and the outcome quite reasonably would be for Europe to view developments with awe and distress not willing to comprehend the simple facts of life that withour rebirth there is only death.

OSCE poll finds decentralisation successful in Macedonia, tax collection still a challenge

Overall, decentralisation in Macedonia is being implemented successfully, without difficulties in most areas, according to mayors surveyed in a new poll by the OSCE monitoring mission. By a large majority, however, the mayors said fiscal decentralisation poses a big challenge.

The main difficulties in the financial area are administration of local taxes and fees, the survey found. Since revenue collection is the basis for normal functioning of local self-government units, assistance in this area will be vital if decentralisation is to proceed.

The OSCE poll was aimed at determining the results of the transfer of authority from the central to local levels that began in July 2005. It was conducted in Skopje, which functions as a separate unit of local self-government, and in 80 other municipalities.

Macedonia has a total of 84 municipalities, following the new law on territorial organisation that entered into force in 2004. Before then, Macedonia was divided into 123 municipalities.

The poll focused on financial management, urban planning, education, inter municipal co-operation, local communities, relations between communities and equality of genders. The results show significant progress in these areas.

"We have not only analysed and assessed the present conditions, but we offer recommendations for future activities of the local authorities that can be supported by the OSCE Mission and other members of the international community with the aim of better focusing and increasing the efficiency of the given aid," said Philip Stil, head of the Public Administration Reform Department with the OSCE Mission.

"Results of the poll and recommendations are an important guideline directing all the entities on the way of decentralisation. As the main partner of the government, we will continue to serve the municipalities as the lobbyists for their interests and will continue to develop our members' capacities, said Andrej Petrov, the chairman of Local Self-Government Communities.

Decentralisation in Macedonia formally started on July 1st 2005 when most responsibilities were transferred from the central to local levels. These include collection of property tax and a part of the VAT.

Under a decision made by the previous government, municipalities manage some sports facilities. The municipalities of Ohrid and Struga were also given the management of the Lake Ohrid coast, with the aim of boosting tourism.

Macedonia Losing Millions of Dollars without Ambassador in USA

Skopje/Washington. Macedonia will lose dozens of millions of dollars under the fund ‘Challenge of the Millennium’ on account of not having an Ambassador in the USA after withdrawing Ljupco Georgievski, Macedonian TV station A1 informs.
According to diplomatic sources in this case there is no one to continue the work of former Macedonian Ambassador Nikola Dimitrov.
After Mr. Dimitrov’s mandate ran out Macedonia had an ambassador in the US only for two months – a term that was insufficient for convincing the White House that Skopje deserves to receive part of the USD 5 billion intended for countries with which Washington maintains friendly relations.
Albania, which has similar economic indicators, has received USD 16 million this year from the fund as this sum is expected to double in 2007, A1 notes.

Vreme: Bulgarian Citizenship Becomes More and More Attractive

Sofia.According to the former Bulgarian Minister of Foreign Affairs Solomon Passy, who is current chairman of the Parliamentary commission of Foreign Policy, a total of 82,000 foreigners have applied for Bulgarian citizenship so far, the Macedonian daily Vreme reports. Despite the high interest for Bulgarian passports in Macedonia, the largest number of passports have been issued to people from Moldova, he said. As the Bulgarian citizenship is becoming more and more attractive, the Parliament of the country adopted to make the procedure even easier.

Bulgaria and Romania Will Join the EU, But What About the Others?

This time, there were no flags, emotional euphoria, and grandiloquent-bombastic rhetoric about "the final end of the Cold War," which was the case on May 1, 2004, when eight former Soviet satellites joined the ranks of the happy European family. Instead, Bulgaria and Romania received a remarkably lukewarm, if not to say, icy welcome.

On Sept. 26, the European Commission, the executive body of the European Union, announced that the Balkan-duo would be allowed to enter the EU on Jan. 1, 2007. Like a severe schoolmaster, the EU commission immediately admonished the two pupils. Its (draft) report, compiled under the auspices of enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn, pointed out that the young brethren are in need of additional education about European rules and values. Rehn's report states that Bulgaria only produced limited progress in modernizing its justice system, adding a complaint about the lack of investigation and prosecution of high-level corruption, and warns Romania that "petty and small scale corruption remains a problem." If Romania and Bulgaria fail to push on judicial reform, judgements and warrants issued by their Courts will not be recognized in the EU. On March 31, 2007, they will have to convey clear proof of progress in the field of justice and in the combat of corruption. The EU also imposed other transitional arrangements on its latest "acquisitions": a restriction on the free movement of workers — so far, only little Estonia has officially announced that it will welcome Bulgarian and Romanian labour-immigrants — and bans on food exports and cuts to the EU funds, in case problems with the reform of the backward agricultural branch arise.

An article was published in The Times of London on Sept. 25 indicates that indeed a lot of work is awaiting Bulgaria and Romania. The leading British daily — a dedicated advocate of EU-enlargement — wrote that efforts to wipe out corruption have been stepped up, but at the same time provided some examples of the rotten mentality that is still keeping parts of Bulgarian and Romanian society in its stranglehold. In Bulgaria, a former director of the state-owned heating company is being accused of tax evasion and transferring $2.85 million to foreign bank accounts. Six prosecutors were sacked for "forgetting" a massive corruption investigation. Bribing the police is everyday, practical routine, not to mention the 150 gangland-killings over the last five years. On the weekend before the publication of the Commission's findings, 18 customs officers and 2 former secret agents were arrested at Bucharest Airport. Many (Western) tourists could add stories about their personal experiences with "civil servants" demanding payment of "local" or "environmental taxes" at the Bulgarian and Romanian borders.

Did the EU make a grave mistake then by letting Bulgaria and Romania in? On the contrary. First, accession of both countries was inevitable, since this was already agreed upon during the EU summit in Helsinki, in December 1999. The Thessaloniki Summit (June 2003) set the accession-date of Jan. 1, 2007. On April 25, 2005, both countries signed their Accession Treaties in Luxemburg. These treaties also contain protocols on a possible one-year postponement, but cancellation of the operation as such was out of the question. Second, the argument that EU membership will deeply anchor democracy, the rule of law, and the free market economy in the new member states and will enhance regional stability is not bound to time and space. Logically, it could be applied to all the countries on the European continent that have displayed interest in eventually joining the ranks of the EU — so not only to Bulgaria and Romania, and before them Poland, the Baltic States, and all the other countries that joined the EU in 2004 (Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovak Republic, and Slovenia), but also to Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Albania, Moldova, Turkey, Ukraine, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and, after dictator Aleksandr Lukachenko's voluntary or forced retirement, Belarus.

In the recent past, the EU already made promises to Croatia and Macedonia. Romano Prodi, the then president of the European Commission, granted Croatia the official status of candidate for membership in June 2004. Like neighboring Slovenia, Croatia once belonged to the multi-ethic Habsburg Empire that infamously collapsed at the end of the First World War in 1918, but is still seen by many as the EU's "delivery room." The main obstacle for Croatian membership, the extradition of war criminal Ante Gotovina to the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, has meanwhile removed itself (Gotovina was arrested in the Spanish Canary Islands in December 2005). Prodi's successor José Manuel Barroso nominated Macedonia — officially: "the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia," or "F.Y.R.O.M." — as a candidate member state in November 2005, a recommendation that was taken over by the European Council (the European heads of government) one month later. Vigorous EU and NATO diplomacy prevented the outbreak of a Kosovo-like civil-war between native Macedonians and ethnic Albanians in 2001, but tensions have occurred ever since. Guiding Macedonia to the EU altar might be a good incentive for consolidating a lasting peace in the country.

Bearing in mind the magic formula of exporting the basic liberal-democratic values to Europe's fragile, former communist — and before that, authoritarian-fascist — Eastern periphery, it is rather striking that Barroso made the following statement (Sept. 25): "The upcoming enlargement with Bulgaria and Romania will be the last stage of enlargement allowing the reunification of Europe. There are limits to our absorption capacity." An institutional agreement among its current members should precede further EU-enlargement, the president of the commission added in the European Parliament.

Of course, Barroso is right from a formal point of view — an ever-growing EU should not end up as an unmanageable tanker helplessly adrift in the ocean of world politics. But is this the only explanation for the sudden neglect of the enlargement rational that has proved to be so successful over the last 15 years? Apart from Turkey — the accession talks with this country, which kicked off last year, are on the brink of a collapse — the Balkan and former Soviet republics will not be in a position to exert far-going influence on Brussels' decision-making process. In total, they have approximately 85 million inhabitants, but a combination of Germany and France will simply overrule them.

Yet, another, more crucial factor is slumbering in the background: the wish to appease the wrath of the spoiled inhabitants of "Old Europe." The rejection of the European Constitution by French and Dutch voters on May 29 and June 1, 2005, has been interpreted as a clear hint that the inhabitants of the old and rich member states are no longer willing to pay for obscure, unknown peoples in the East, who dare to dream of a more prosperous future and who will deluge the West, snatching up all the jobs there. Barroso seems to take into account the possibility that the French and Dutch will blockade a second, adapted version of the constitution, or a completely new treaty on the reform of the EU's institutional framework, as well.

Not surprisingly, France, still an influential member of the union, immediately expressed its warm support for Barroso's hardened stand. La Grande Nation is not anxious to welcome more pro-American countries (the Romanian government, for instance, signed an agreement on the opening of American military facilities on Romanian soil with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in December 2005) that might undermine its "natural leading position" within the EU even further. France announced it would subject all future enlargement rounds to plebiscites. Nicolas Sarkozy, the rightwing candidate in France's presidential election next year, reiterated his doubts about further EU expansion. Other members, like Italy, Belgium and Luxemburg, share France's view that the construction of a European "core group" might be the inevitable outcome.

So it seems that the unpopular — but inescapable — accession of Bulgaria and Romania had to be compensated for in the capacity of employing tough language against the backwards stragglers. Regarding Ukraine and Georgia: has the EU surreptitiously taken the cynical decision to render them to Russia's sphere of influence, so that it can pursue lucrative gas deals with versatile Moscow? The reticence and lack of enthusiasm Brussels has displayed after the 2004 Orange Revolution in Ukraine has surely contributed to the return to power of sinister, pro-Russian Viktor Yanukovych in Kiev last August. Former Estonian Prime Minister Mart Laar called on the EU to play a mediating role, but the union has remained remarkably silent during the recent Russian-Georgian crisis.

Barroso's hesitation has exposed the EU's real weakness: a total lack of authoritative, visionary politicians who are able to explain to a broader audience in a calm and convincing way the necessity of disseminating stability throughout the whole of Europe, including its outskirts. Will the new Vaclav Havel please stand up?

Conference on SEE lakes protection

International conference on integrated protection and management of lakes in South-East Europe (SEE) countries opened in Ohrid on 12 October.
The three-day conference brought together some 60 representatives of the SEE countries, the World Bank, UNDP and UNESCO. The event was organized by Macedonian Ministry of Environment and the International Organization for Water Protection.
In the course of opening session on Thursday, the World Bank pledged support to joint projects of the SEE countries on sustainable management of transboundary waters.
The World Bank still remains a key supporter of environment protection projects, however, it made it clear that transboundary water management would require a co-operation among the countries in the region.
The conference is expected to set out guidelines and new projects on lake protection, funded by international finance organizations.

Budget expenses increased for 6,5 billion Denars

Budget expenses increased for 6,5 billion Denars

Skopje, 12.10.2006 (Makfax) - The State Budget, with its re-balance for the income side, was increased for 5,8 billion Denars, and in the expense side - for 6,5 billion Denars.

Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski announced this in Skopje on Thursday, adding that the Government has submitted the Budget re-balance to the Parliament.

Agriculture, education, social services and clearing out of inherited debts are key items that the Government plans to cover with the proposed Budget re-balance.

Gruevski, as reported by Makfax, said that the modified Budget projection envisages most money for farmers and the agricultural sector, where the increase is from three to around four billion Denars.

The Budget re-balance also envisages around four million Euros for de-compensation of the salaries from the collective agreements in the Ministry of Education.

Around 500 million Denars are set aside for settling out debts left over from the previous government to the ministries and other public institutions.

The Government intents to allocate around 10 million Euros for the education sector, including two million for improvement of students' standard, around 500 million Denars would be aimed towards improving the prisons' conditions, and just as much for the Pension Fund, as a transitional expense for covering the deficit in this institution.

A total of 200 million Denars are allocated for the Major Roads Fund, due to recorded deficit that occurred by improper collection of highway tolls. The Prime Minister announced investigation of this issue.

Around 300 million Denars will be allotted to programmes of the social package, and a significant portion of three million Denars will be aimed for the Culture.

Prime Minister Gruevski, while avoiding to state details about sources that will cover the Budget re-balance, announced that the Government will not increase the taxes.

On the joint press-conference of three deputy prime ministers and the Minister of Finance Trajko Slavevski, he said the cause for the re-balance of the Budget that the Government adopted is the inappropriate distribution of incomes and expenses that was planned with the previous Budget. /

etovo University Situation Escalates

Tetovo. The situation in the University of Tetovo is escalating, Macedonian TV station A1 reports.
Yesterday university inspectors found out about 100 more forged diplomas. Some of them were issued to close relatives of former and present functionaries who received the certificates after only a few months. Some of the professors who had taught at the University had forged their masters and PhD diplomas. Wives, children and cousins of the professors had been appointed at the university without having the necessary qualifications, A1 sources from the Macedonian Education Ministry claim. According to unofficial information 2,000 forged diplomas, issued to students from Kosovo and Albania, have been discovered so far.
Macedonia’s Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski is concerned about the situation, A1 says. He claims that all those responsible will face the consequences of their actions but he added he would wait for the Inspectorate to carry out a thorough check-up. The Ministry informs that the check-up will go on for at least a month.

Macedonia recalls ambassador to U.S

Macedonia's President Branko Crvenkovski on Tuesday issued a decree to recall the country's ambassador to the United States, who was accused by the government of undiplomatic behavior, news from Skopje reported.

Macedonia's new government, elected in July, sharply criticized Ljupco Jordanovski, a former parliamentary speaker, for being indiscreet when dealing with the media.

Jordanovski and his counterpart in London engaged in a public debate in local media over why their Social-Democratic Party lost the elections, and their views were extensively quoted in the media.

Macedonian Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki said they had violated the diplomatic code of behavior, and he threatened to keep the diplomat, who is in Skopje at present, indefinitely for consultations until the president recalled him.

However, Western diplomats in Skopje said the new government wanted to use this opportunity to get rid of the two diplomats who belonged to the rival Social-Democratic Party and fill the two most important positions with their own people.

Gjorgji Spasov, Macedonia's ambassador to Britain, resigned last month.

Macedonia, Balkans have no EU membership timetable, Barroso says

Berlin- European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said Wednesday that Macedonia and other Balkans countries knocking at the European Union's door could not be given any timetable for membership. Barroso, speaking at a news conference after talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, insisted that the EU remained open to taking in countries from the Balkans.

But he added: "To achieve it they have to do a lot in political and economic terms."

Barroso said that for this reason "we cannot commit ourselves to a precise calendar."

The EU is set to admit Bulgaria and Romania to the currently 25-nation bloc next year pending a final green light from several present member states including Germany.

Charges of misused of foreign assistance by Macedonia quickly rebuffed

Allegations by the new Macedonian government that its predecessor misused foreign assistance proved to be short-lived. The claims, made last week by government spokesman Veton Ibrahimi, were vehemently denied by the former Deputy Prime Minister in charge of European Integration, Radmila Sekerinska.

According to Ibrahimi, some ambassadors had complained that foreign assistance managed by Sekerinska was being misused. A government commission would be formed to look into the matter, and the police, finance ministry and anti-corruption commission would become involved if needed, the spokesman said.

Making unjustified accusations without investigation is ridiculous, Sekerinska responded. She charged that the ruling VRMO-DPMNE party was attempting to discredit her and interfere with the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia ahead of a party confidence vote on former Prime Minister Vlado Buckovski.

Sekerinska is generally viewed as the most serious candidate to succeed Buckovski, who lost the confidence vote Saturday (October 7th). Analysts say she has the potential to boost the party's ratings -- currently the worst in its history.

International officials and diplomats quickly weighed in, dismissing the allegations of mismanagement as groundless.

US Ambassador to Macedonia Gillian Milovanovich, British Ambassador Robert Chatterton Dickson and EU Special Representative Erwan Fouere all took issue with Ibrahimi's statement. In a press release, the US embassy said it was "surprised by recent reports in the media alleging the misuse by the previous government of donor assistance, including assistance provided by the US government through USAID. The embassy has no knowledge of such misuse and has made no such allegations."

"All USAID procurements are conducted in compliance with US government regulations, designed to make those transactions fair, transparent, and competitive. Prior to awarding a project, implementing partners are subject to an audit of their internal controls and accounting policies and procedures. All financial records and project activities are subject to periodic and random audits conducted by the Office of the Inspector General and independent audit firms," the statement added. Fouere said he was satisfied with the procedures used.

"The EU assistance management is the responsibility of the European Agency for Reconstruction in a fully transparent manner, and we are satisfied with what has been achieved," Fouere said.

Similar words came from the British ambassador. "We have never had any problems with fraud or questions of misuse of our funds and we are continuing to work with the current government in the same manner with an extensive programme," Dickson said.

Fouere criticizes ousting of Tetovo University's Rector

The latest developments at the Tetovo University and the Parliament alike, are not good for the image of the country, European Ambassador Erwan Fouere said today in Ohrid, Makfax's correspondent reports.

"I haven't seen the integral version of the report yet, however it seems obvious to me that the replacement of the Tetovo University's Rector was not carried out according to regular procedure, which must be observed in such cases".

As regards the open conflict between DPA and DUI, Fouere said that as a ruling coalition ally, DPA is the one that should come forward and try to initiate a dialogue with DUI. According to him, the cooperation between these two parties is a necessary prerequisite for reaching a political consensus for resumption of the reform process.

"EU expects from Macedonia to push ahead with the reform agenda, which is important for the future of the country, therefore the parties' political interests should give way to the common interests", Fouere said.

During his visit to Ohrid, Fouere attended the presentation of the results of the project "Improving cultural cooperation in the ethnically mixed schools".

The project, funded by the European Agency for Reconstruction, was carried out in 20 primary and secondary schools, including 900 pupils and students. The project was aimed at overcoming of the inter-ethnic prejudices.

Macedonian president recalls ambassador to U.S. over media correspondence

SKOPJE, Macedonia Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski on Tuesday recalled the country's new ambassador to the United States whom Macedonia's governing conservatives accused of undiplomatic behavior.

Crvenkovski said he unwillingly signed a decree recalling Ljupco Jordanovski from Washington after Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki threatened to keep the diplomat in Skopje indefinitely "for consultations."

Macedonia's conservative government, elected in July, sharply criticized Jordanovski — a former parliament speaker posted to Washington the same month — after he engaged in a public debate in local media with his counterpart in London over why their Social-democratic party lost the elections.

The two ambassadors aired their opinions on the matter in newspaper letters columns, and their views were extensively quoted in the media.

The ambassador to Britain was recalled last month.

Crvenkovski — who has final say on diplomatic appointments — complained that the affair tarnished Macedonia's international image.

"The excuse that someone should be recalled only because the government lost confidence in him is unacceptable and unfounded," he said.

"Macedonia does not have its ambassador to one of the most important capital cities."

Macedonia insists on mutually acceptable solution for Kosovo

Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski said on Monday that Macedonia insists that the solution for the Kosovo status issue has to be "mutually acceptable" by Belgrade and Pristina.

"We encourage both sides to reach a mutually acceptable solution under the auspices of the international community," Crvenkovski told Stefan Lehne, director for western Balkan in the Council of Europe, who is on a visit to Macedonia.

News reaching here from Skopje said Crvenkovski and Lehne agreed that the demarcation of the border between Macedonia and Kosovo should be completed before the decision is made on the final status of Kosovo.

Kosovo has been under UN administration since 1999 when NATO troops forced Serbian forces to withdraw from that province.

Source: Xinhua

Priebe: Date for starting EU entry talks with Macedonia not specified yet

It's not possible to set the date for starting the EU accession talks with Macedonia for the time being, said Reinhardt Priebe, the Head of the European Commission Directorate for Western Balkans.

On the sidelines of a two-day conference on Economic Co-operation and Investment Opportunities in Southeast Europe, staged by Washington-based Center for Strategic & International Studies, Priebe stressed that the European Union has not yet set the starting date for accession talks with Macedonia.

"No date has been set. We co-operate with the Macedonian government and next month we will publish an evaluation report on the progress the country has made thus far in the process of reform. The report will specify the areas that require additional work to meet the accession criteria," Priebe said.

Asked to comment the reforms that Macedonia has wrapped up, Priebe stressed that the country has a lot of work ahead.

"It's obvious that the country should focus on implementation capacity. It's a small country with small administration and an extensive EU agenda ahead," Priebe said.

In the course of the conference, European Commission's Director for Western Balkans underlined the need to boost regional co-operation among the countries in the Western Balkan, adding that EU candidate-countries should address the open issues, press ahead with judicial reform and seek modalities to fight corruption in order to boost foreign investments.

He underscored that the wider international community should be involved in the region, particularly in the process of Kosovo status settlement. Priebe reckons that timely settlement of Kosovo status would be in the interest of the entire region.

Priebe said Croatia has made a significant progress in terms of EU integration process, adding that the EU expects the country to be ready for entry by the end of 2010.

EU Worried as Macedonian Crisis Looms

EU officials have expressed concern over instability in candidate state, Macedonia, as ethnic Albanians have vowed to challenge the newly-established government led by incoming Macedonian Prime Minister, Nikola Gruevski, the center-right leader.
"It would be wrong to say that we (the EU) are not worried," a source who wished to remain unnamed told Balkan news agency, DTT-NET.COM.

EU diplomats said its current member states are watching recent developments in the west Balkan country "very closely," and urging "all sides to behave constructively" (to avoid escalation of hostilities).

Ethnic Albanian politicians in the country have warned that the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) could find itself in a serious crisis in the coming weeks amid strong dissatisfaction of most Albanians whose preferred party has been excluded from the new government.

The main party of ethnic Albanians in Macedonia, The Democratic Union for Integration (DUI), is under heavy pressure from its members and supporters to oblige Gruevski to respect their will as expressed in the July elections "by all means", DUI top adviser, Agron Buxhaku, said.

Buxhaku went on to explain that the DUI ??would not like a repetition of 2001. We will do the utmost to avoid it and change the mind of Mr. Gruevski by political means in order for the political will of Albanians expressed during the elections to be respected," he said, in expressing doubts that the DUI leadership could contain growing internal discontent.

In 2001, Macedonia suffered through seven months of heavy fighting between Albanian separatists and Macedonian security forces, which ceased following the June 2001 Ohrid Agreement ? brokered by the EU and NATO diplomacy ? and stated that the Macedonian government agreed to improve the rights of the Albanian population.

Gruevski's (PUT THE ACTUAL PARTY NAME HERE AND PARENTHECISE THE PARTY AS SHOWN) VMRO-DPMNE party led the Macedonian government during the 2001 hostilities, while the DUI's President, Ali Ahmeti, led the Albanian guerrillas.

Buxhaku last week held meetings with EU officials in Brussels, telling DTT-NET.COM after the talks that "We are to decide in coming days on our next steps."

Buxhaku said various options are on the table. These included the disruption of relations between municipalities in the westernmost areas of the country, which is mainly populated by ethnic Albanians, and the central government.

Such a move, according to Buxhaku, may be the first concrete "political step" to be taken as soon as a message to Gruevski that "?his government doesn't represent the majority of Albanians and cannot function within the whole territory of Macedonia" is made clear.

Ethnic Albanians make up approximately 25 per cent of Macedonia's 2.2 million population and the DUI, together with its partner Party of Democratic Proseperity (PDP), won 17 parliamentary seats, or more than 60 per cent of support of the voters of the Macedonia's main minority.

Macedonia�s unrest is likely to negatively influence its first EU progress report, due in November, less than a year after it won official candidate status last December.

The EU made clear that Macedonia can expect admission talks to take place only if it steps up reforms that stress further improvements on the rights of ethnic Albanians.

England held by Macedonia

England suffered humiliation at the hands of Macedonia for the second time in four years as they were held to a goalless draw in their European Championship qualifier at Old Trafford.

Steve McClaren's side were woeful in the opening 45 minutes and there was only a slight upturn in fortunes after the break against a well-organised side who had drawn with England at St Mary's Stadium in 2002.

Macedonia grew in confidence as the game progressed and there will have to be a massive improvement if England are to attain a positive result in Croatia on Wednesday.

Macedonia gave England an early warning when Goran Pandev jinked into the penalty area and smashed a shot into the side-netting.

Robert Petrov arrived late to meet a right-wing cross from Vlade Lazarevski but fired his volley wide.

England held to draw, Scotland upsets France, Spain loses in Euro 2008 qualifying

Scotland upset World Cup runner-up France 1-0 Saturday, and Spain lost for the second time in European Championship qualifying. The Netherlands and England were both held to draws and world champion Italy earned its first win.

Scotland's win puts it in first place in Group B with a perfect nine points from three games, three more than France.

Gary Caldwell capped a standout defensive performance by turning home an in-swinging corner from Paul Hartley at Hampden Park.

"It is amazing — an unbelievable result," Caldwell said. "One of the best ever for Scotland. But the group goes on and there is a long way to go yet."

It was also the first time in 14 years that France had lost a qualifying game on the road. Since a 2-0 loss to Bulgaria on Sept. 8, 1992, France had won 13 European Championship and World Cup qualifying games away from home and drawn seven.

"I know what we have to do and what we cannot do," France coach Raymond Domenech said. "Playing for playing is not enough. We have to play to win and have that combative attitude again."

Also in Group B, Italy beat Ukraine 2-0 off goals from Massimo Oddo and Luca Toni for its first win since lifting the World Cup in July. Key Ukraine striker Andriy Shevchenko missed the match with a fever.

Lithuania beat the Faeroe Islands 1-0 in the same group to be third with four points. Italy is fourth with four points and Ukraine is fifth with three.

"The France loss shows how difficult this group is. It's tough for everyone to gain points," Italy coach Roberto Donadoni said. "We have an extremely difficult road ahead of us."

The winners and runners-up of the seven groups advance to the final tournament in Austria and Switzerland from June 7-29. The two hosts automatically qualify.

Sweden beat Spain 2-0 to keep its perfect record after three games and lead Group F. Johan Elmander and Marcus Allback scored and goalkeeper Rami Shaaban made several key saves.

Spain has only three points from three games after losing to Northern Ireland 3-2 last month. It opened qualifying with a 4-0 win over Liechtenstein.

Denmark drew 0-0 with Northern Ireland and Latvia beat Iceland 4-0 in the other Group F games. Denmark and Northern Ireland each have four points, with Spain in fifth place.

England beat Macedonia 1-0 last month but couldn't score at Old Trafford.

"It's never an easy ride in these qualifying groups. Ask Italy. Ask France," England midfielder Frank Lampard said. "That's the way it goes."

England barely had a shot on goal in the first half, but the second half of the Group E match provided more opportunities for the hosts. Macedonia goalkeeper Jane Nikolovski kept out attempts from Peter Crouch and Wayne Rooney, and Steven Gerrard hit the crossbar.

Israel held Russia to a 1-1 draw in Moscow. Israel substitute Amit Ben Shushan scored late in the second half. Andrei Arshavin scored for Russia after five minutes.

Croatia beat Andorra 7-0 to equal its highest ever margin of victory, with Mladen Petric scoring four goals.

England still leads Group E with seven points, followed by Israel, which also has seven. Croatia is third with four points.

The Netherlands earned a 1-1 draw at Bulgaria off a header from Robin van Persie in the 61st minute. Martin Petrov scored for Bulgaria.

Romania beat Belarus 3-1 in another Group G game with goals from Adrian Mutu, Ciprian Marica and Dorin Goian.

That win puts it top of the group with seven points, ahead of the Dutch on goal difference. Slovenia earned its first points with a 2-0 win over Luxembourg.

There were plenty of goals in Group D qualifiers. Ireland fell to a 5-2 defeat at Cyprus, the Czech Republic beat San Marino 7-0 and Slovakia defeated Wales 5-1.

Michalis Constantinou and Constantinos Charalambides each scored twice against Ireland in Nicosia, with Alexis Garpozis adding the other. Stephen Ireland and Richard Dunne got the goals for Ireland.

Dunne was sent off in the 78th minute for two yellow cards.

Jan Koller and Milan Baros scored two goals each for the Czechs, with Marek Kulic, Jan Polak and David Jarolim also scoring.

"We got what we wanted," Czech Republic coach Karel Bruckner said. "It was a compulsory victory for us ... without a card and without an injury."

Wales fell to its heaviest home defeat in 98 years against Slovakia. Marek Mintal scored two goals for Slovakia, with Dusan Svento, Miroslav Karhan and Robert Vittek adding the others.

Wales' previous worst home defeat was a 7-1 loss to England in Wrexham in 1908. The hosts were without Manchester United winger Ryan Giggs, who had a hamstring injury.

"I was surprised it was so easy, but then Wales were depleted and they did not have Ryan Giggs," Slovakia coach Dusan Galis said. "These things make a difference."

The Czech Republic leads Group D with nine points, followed by Germany and Slovakia with six points each.

In Group C, European champion Greece beat Norway 1-0 off a goal from Kostas Katsouranis to go top of the standings with six points. Turkey also has six points after beating Hungary 1-0 off a goal from Tuncay Sanli and Moldova drew 2-2 with Bosnia-Herzegovina. Norway also has six points.

In Group A, Nikola Zigic scored for Serbia in a 1-0 win over Belgium. Armenia held Finland to a 0-0 draw and Poland beat Kazakhstan 1-0. Euro 2004 runner-up Portugal beat Azerbaijan 3-0 with two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and one from Ricardo Carvalho.

Macedonian parties sanctioned for campaign financing violations

During the July parliamentary elections in Macedonia, only seven parties complied with campaign finance regulations, according to the country's election commission. Eleven other political formations -- including the election winner VMRO-DPMNE and the former ruling party, the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) -- broke the rules and now face fines.

The commission said last week that it has filed misdemeanor charges against parties, coalitions and voters' groups that failed to turn in a required financial report on time. The violators could each face penalties of up to 5,000 euros.

The VMRO-DPMNE and SDSM, meanwhile, have been told to release the names of those who funded their campaigns. Otherwise they too will face misdemeanor charges.

In reports submitted to the commission, the VMRO-DPMNE said it had spent 1,262,000 euros on its campaign, while the SDSM said it spent 862,000 euros.

SDSM Secretary General Nikola Kjurciev explained the party had submitted a complete report, including the names of donors, to the State Auditing Institute. "If it is necessary, we will submit the report to the State Election Commission as well," Kjurciev said.

The election commission also is filing misdemeanor charges against seven television channels: MRTV, Sitel, Alsat, A1, Artan, Ohrid, and Orbis. It says they did not provide balanced coverage of all the parties during the campaign. That conclusion stems from a report by the Radio Diffusion Council, a panel responsible for monitoring television broadcasting.

The Election Code obligates parties to submit a report on the total amount of money spent, as well as sources of funding and private expenditures, within 30 days from the verification of MPs' terms.

Campaign finance practices in Macedonia were a major target of criticism by the OSCE in its report on the July elections. The OSCE called for the Election Code to be amended, and for clear and precise provisions to be established in order to prevent illegal methods of funding.

The seven parties that did comply with the rules were The New Social Democratic Party, the DUI-PDP coalition, the League for Democracy, National Democratic Party, the Serb Radical Party, the DRUM and the United Macedonians coalition.

Macedonia's trade deficit nears $900 million

Macedonia's trade deficit in the first eight months of 2006 totals $885.648.000, according to latest data published by State Statistical Office.

Macedonia's balance of trade in the period of January-August 2006 ranges $3.853.198.000, whereas export comprises 38.5% and import comprises 61.5%.

Major contribution to country's export in the period of January through August 2006 was noted in unfinished products (33.2%), finished products (26.1%). The major import was reported in unfinished products (29.9%), mineral fuels, lubricants etc. (19.5%), machines and transport devices (18.7%).

Major contribution to Macedonia's export of goods was marked in country's export to EU member-states (55.1%) and the former Yugoslav republics (32.7%). Macedonia's imports from EU members are put at 44.6%, imports from developing countries total 37.4%.

Turkish hijacker stayed in Macedonia, police have no data

Hakan Ekinci, the hijacker of Turkish Airlines passenger plane, stayed in Macedonia for 48 hours, said Albanian police sources. Macedonian Interior Ministry, on the other hand, claims it has "no data" so far.

Makfax correspondent in Tirana said Albanian daily Shekuli cited police sources as saying that Ekinci had entered Albania on 6 May this year and later he entered Macedonia at Kafasan border crossing on 8 May.

He stayed in Macedonia for 48 hours before heading back to Albania, Tirana's daily Shekuli said, citing a source in Albania's Anti-Terrorism department.

Asked by Makfax to comment the information, sources in Macedonian Interior Ministry said the ministry has no available data indicating that the person entered Macedonia.

Shekuli daily claims that Albanian Interior Ministry will notify the authorities in Skopje in a bid to collect information on individuals Ekinci had contacted with during his stay in Macedonia.

Local media say Ekici's trip to Macedonia might shed light on the investigation into possible links he had in Macedonia.

The hijacker is said to have close ties with five China's Muslim Uyghurs. His girlfriend works at the Albanian Interior Ministry.

In the course of Thursday's session of Albanian Parliament, the opposition deputies had insisted that the government should be held accountable for the case, urging the ministers of interior and transport to resign

11th anniversary of assassination attempt on Gligorov, perpetrators unknown

There are neither suspects nor convicted in relation to attempted assassination of Macedonia's former president Kiro Gligorov although 11 years have elapsed after the car bomb explosion in downtown Skopje.

A remote-controlled bomb went off shortly before 10:00 hrs on 3 October 1995 at Makedonija Street near Bristol hotel. The bomb, stashed in parked automobile, was activated when president's limousine was passing by.
The explosion killed president Gligorov's driver and injured two by-passers. One of the injured people died.
Gligorov suffered severe injuries in the head and it took months to recover. Later on, he resumed presidential duty till expiration of mandate.
The investigation into attempted assassination turned futile. There were different indications on who might have ordered the assassination, nonetheless, the most likely thesis is that the assassination was masterminded by Serbian mobsters with logistical support from Macedonia and secrete services of neighboring countries.
The motive and the mastermind of the assassination is still enigma. The investigation remained deadlocked, only the media continued to seek evidence in a bid to shed light on the assassination.

At the time of attack, a number of high-ranking police officials were not in Skopje. The initial measures in the course of investigation, such as closing of borders and airports, were carried out with a few-hour delay.
Later on, the investigation was directed to individuals and organizations which were later proved to have nothing to do with the assassination.
The then interior minister Ljubomir Danailov-Frckovski said a powerful multinational company from neighboring country had masterminded the assassination. Media pointed their finger on Bulgarian Multigroup.
Gligorov had invited the then chief of Multigroup, Ilija Pavlov, who assured the president that Multigroup was not involved in the attempted assassination.

The last institutional attempt to shed a light on the assassination was made during Ljubco Georgievski's government (1998-2002), when Stavre Djikov served as public prosecutor and Ljube Boskovski as interior minister.

Macedonian premier says border dispute with Kosovo should come before final status

SKOPJE, Macedonia Macedonia's prime minister on Tuesday said a border dispute with Kosovo should be settled before the province's final status is determined.

Nikola Gruevski met with the top U.N. official in Kosovo, Joachim Rucker, to discuss the dispute.

Kosovo has claimed more than 2,000 hectares (4,900 acres) of land in Macedonia since 2001 border agreement between Skopje and Belgrade.

"The border dispute should be solved before, or as a part of the overall solution for Kosovo, but not after," Gruevski said.

Rucker, who also met Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski, agreed.

"It should be solved in the context of the status and certainly not after," Rucker said.

The United Nations hopes to resolve Kosovo's status by the end of the year, but talks have stalled with both sides unwilling to compromise on their demands.

Ethnic Albanians, who make up 90 percent of province's 2 million people, are seeking independence from Belgrade. Serbia and Kosovo's Serb minority say the province is the heart of Serbia's ancient homeland and should remain within its borders.

"Days of Comedy" festival opens in Kumanovo

Traditional international theater event "Days of Comedy" opens Tuesday at Trajko Prokopiev Culture Center in Kumanovo.

Italian dramatist Carlo Goldoni's play, directed by Kole Angelovski, will open this year's festival.

The 9th edition of Days of Comedy, featuring 11 comedies, seven domestic and four foreign plays, will run till 18 October.

Besides Kumanovo Theatre, other guests will include the Macedonian National Theatre, Bitola Theatre, Veles Theater, Albanian Theatre from Debar and Albania, National Theater of Djakovo, Kosovo, Montenegrin National Theater, Varazdin Theater, and Bulgaria's Constantan Velickov National Theater.

The one-act comic opera Rita of Gaetano Donizetti, directed by Trajko Jordanovski, and performed by Macedonian Opera and Ballet, will be the closing show.

Vecer: Macedonia Opens Air Space to Low-Cost Airlines

Skopje. Macedonia prepares to open its airspace to European airline companies, offering low-cost flights, the Macedonian daily Vecer. The cabinet of the country envisages to discuss the agreement for a joint European air space, which would create conditions for passengers in Macedonia to use the services of small air carriers, servicing low-cost flights to larger European towns.

Head of UNMIK to visit Macedonia

The Head of UNMIK Joachim Rucker is to due arrive to Skopje on Tuesday for an one-day working visit, an official announcement says.

According to the agenda, the Chief of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo will hold talks with Macedonia's top officials.

Following his meeting with the Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski on Tuesday morning, Rucker will hold separate talks with Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and Foreign Minister Antonio Miloshoski.

U.S. Congratulates Macedonia on Success in Clearing Land Mines

Washington -- The United States congratulated Macedonia September 29 for successfully clearing land mines from its territory and thus joining "the growing number of countries that are no longer significantly affected by land mines leftover from past conflicts."

The United States contributed $1.6 million to humanitarian mine action in Macedonia through the International Trust Fund for Demining and Mine Victims Assistance by matching contributions made by other donor nations, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), corporations and individuals, according to a State Department announcement.

The aid sent six teams of mine-removal experts to Macedonia from Bosnia-Herzegovina, and helped Macedonia build its own capacity to clear mines. The funding also supported the training of 60 mine-clearance personnel, including 16 specialists in disposal of explosive ordnance.

The United States also provided the Macedonians about $500,000 worth of mine-removal equipment, including four-wheel drive vehicles, metal detectors, radios, medical gear, a computer and other office equipment. In addition, the United States contributed funds to local Macedonian Battle Area Clearance Teams.

Many of the land mines were left over from hostilities that erupted in the first half of 2001 when a group of ethnic Albanians calling themselves the National Liberation Army carried out armed provocations near the Kosovo border that soon escalated into an insurgency. Claiming to fight for greater civil rights for ethnic Albanians in Macedonia, the group seized territory in northern and western Macedonia and launched attacks against government forces.

In August 2001, the Ohrid Framework Agreement ended the fighting and laid out a legal and political action plan for the creation of a stable, multiethnic country with a strong civil society that respects the ethnic identity and interests of all Macedonian citizens. (See related article.)

Macedonian authorities have estimated that, as a result of the fighting, 80 villages were contaminated with land mines and unexploded ordnance, according to the United Nations’ Mine Action Service.

The U.S. Humanitarian Mine Action Program has invested well over $1 billion in mine action worldwide, including mine removal, mine-risk education, assistance to mine survivors, research and development on better ways to find and clear mines, and training for local mine action managers. Countries and regions that have received this assistance and that have been rendered free from the humanitarian impact of land mines and unexploded ordnance are Costa Rica, Djibouti, Guatemala, Honduras and Kosovo.

In addition, El Salvador and Suriname also have become mine-impact free, receiving from the United States land mine survivors' assistance and airlift capacity for humanitarian mine-removal specialists.

In July the U.S. government announced $2.1 million in grants to 20 NGOs around the world and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). (See related article.)

In August the State Department announced a breakthrough mine-detection device that combines metal detection with ground-penetrating radar, called a Handheld Standoff Mine Detection System. The new device, which is being used by the Department of Defense, can screen out the many bits and pieces of metal found in mined areas and on former battlefields that give a "false positive" signal to metal detectors. (See related article.)

The State Department continues to provide humanitarian aid to land mine removal through its Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement.

A report summarizing recent accomplishments of the interagency U.S. Humanitarian Mine Action Program and a fact sheet on milestones in humanitarian mine action are available on the State Department Web site.

For more information, see Arms Control and Non-Proliferation and the electronic journal Protecting Lives, Restoring Livelihoods: The U.S. Program To Remove Landmines.

Bulgaria Introduces Free Visas for Macedonian Citizens from 1st January 2007

Skopje. Bulgaria is going to introduce free visas for Macedonian citizens from 1st January 2007 and the regime for their issue will be maximally relieved, Macedonian Vreme newspaper reports citing sources from Macedonian Foreign Ministry. The official Sofia authorities took the engagement for that after the official agreement in Sofia was signed on 21st September. The procedures for issuing visas will be quite easy and the visas will be valid for longer period of time. The Bulgarian Embassy in Skopje will be issuing these visas and the officials promised to enlarge the personnel at the embassy.
The expected accession of Bulgaria to EU next year obliges the country to stick to the Schengen agreement.