MACEDONIA – EU RELATIONS

The integration of the Republic of Macedonia in the European Union represents a clear and categorically expressed strategic interest and a priority goal in the policy of the Macedonian Government. The bilateral Stabilization and Association Agreement signed in April 2001 is the last stadium before Macedonia’s admission to the family of developed European democracies. The agreement, as part of the stabilization and association process, initiated by the European Union, represents its major contribution to the Stability Pact for Southeastern Europe. By the end of 2002, the agreement was ratified by the parliaments of Germany, Denmark, Ireland, Austria, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands and United Kingdom. In 2003, the parliaments of France, Portugal, Greece and Luxembourg also ratified the agreement.
Macedonia is the first country in Southeastern Europe that successfully brought to an end the negotiations for signing of such an agreement. Another detail of this accord is interesting, and that is the fact that the Agreement was first ratified by the European Parliament before the separate EU members states did the same. The Stabilization and Association Agreement, as a complex and legally binding political act, places the Republic of Macedonia among the potential members of the EU and makes it a factor in creating a Europe of the future, a society with the highest democratic values, security for all its citizens and social justice.
From an economic point of view, the Agreement opened the doors to one of the largest, and financially one of the most powerful market in the world. The European family is the most significant partner of the Macedonian economy and within those frames, exports to the EU account for 50.7%, as imports account for 45.2% of Macedonia’s total foreign trade. Before the Stabilization and Association Agreement was signed, in 1997, Macedonia and the EU signed an agreement for cooperation, as well as textile, wine, and transport agreements. Macedonia’s most important trade partners in Europe are Germany, Italy, and Greece, and its most important export products are ready-made clothing, hot rolled and zinc-coated plates, non-alloyed zinc, wine, ferrosilicon, flexes, footwear, and cotton yarn. The export of these goods earns Macedonia an annual profit of around $400 million.
The Stabilization and Association Agreement between the Republic of Macedonia and the EU
has an asymmetrical model that regulates their bilateral trade relations. Under the SAA, the Macedonia-made goods imported in the EU will not be subject to customs and quantity restrictions, save for fish, sea products, veal and wine. Macedonian goods will be one-sidedly entitled to customs relieves in a ten years’ period of adjustment towards a future, limitless competition. The European Union is already allowing customs-free import of almost all the Macedonian products, and with the gradual trade liberalization on the Macedonian side, a free trade zone will be introduced over the next ten years. Within the framework of the SAA, special protocols regulate trade in, what are known as, sensitive sectors, such as textiles, and production of steel and steel products.
In March 1996, the Republic of Macedonia became a full member of the PHARE program and between 1996 and 1999, 100 million euros was granted to Macedonia in support of its reforms.
In January 2002, the European Commission adopted a five-year strategy for Macedonia for which
EUR 110.5 million was approved. The EU financial aid will be implemented through the CARDS program from 2002 to 2006 and will support the plan for stabilization and association of the West Balkan countries. Priority will be given to the democratic processes, the legal, economic and social development, ecology and other key matters in the process. An accent will be put on the promotion of the civic society and the inter-ethnic dialogue, and on reconciliation and prevention of any new conflicts. The money will also be used to support the process of creating effective market economy, promote trade, decrease unemployment, improve the judiciary system, reinforce border controls, protect natural environment and prevent money laundering. For the countries in the region
included in the process of stabilization and association - Albania, Macedonia, Bosnia, Croatia, and Serbia and Montenegro - the European Commission committed a total of EUR 5.5 billion.
In the next ten years, the EU, as well as other international political and financial factors are expected to show greater interest in the political consolidation of Southeastern Europe. In this regard, Macedonia is considered one of the leaders that should use its positive influence to help the countries of the Western Balkans get out of the crisis as soon as possible.

Cytostatic medicines to be procured by Clinic Center on monthly basis

Skopje Clinic Center has launched a new practice in procurement of cytostatics, Borce Georgievski, the Director of the Center announced today.

He explained that in the future, each Clinic Center's department will have to file their orders until the fifth day of the month.

Georgievski said that this month's orders have been already executed. It is the first order of medicines and medical material made by the new managerial team.

"All previous orders, have been made by the prior managerial team", Georgievski said.

According to him, the shortage of these medicines occurred due to improper tender procedures.

"We wrapped up this process last month, and conclusion of new contracts with suppliers is now under way. We expect to provide access to the patients of the six types of cytostatics, which were omitted from the list of available medicines' throughout 2006", Georgievski said.

Dnevnik, Skopje: EU Starts Talks with Macedonia on Visa Regime Facilitating

Skopje. The EU started talks with Macedonia for easing the visa regime. Students, business people and air carriers will be the first to take advantage, Macedonia’s Deputy PM Gabriela Konevska-Trajkovska said in Bitola cited by the Macedonian Dnevnik newspaper.
“This is the first step towards the entire liberalization of the regime,” Trajkovska announced. She refused to comment on the European Commission’s draft paper that BBC knows of. The paper states that Western Balkan countries will not join the EU for many years on.

UK Minister for Europe to visit Macedonia

he British Minister for Europe Geoff Hoon will visit Macedonia on 7 - 8 November.

"The award by the European Union of Candidate Status to Macedonia last year was both welcome and deserved. But, as with any other candidate nation, the EU's conditions for membership are tough and will be rigorously applied," Hoon said on his visit to Macedonia.

Minister Hoon will be discussing the work that meeting the conditions will involve with the new government, British Embassy said in a statement.

"No-one doubts that there is hard work ahead. This will include building a modern, independent and professional police force and an efficient and fair judiciary," Hoon said, adding that through this process, Macedonia will realize its future as a modern, democratic European state that can deliver security, justice and prosperity for its citizens.

Minister Hoon kicked off a three-day visit to the region today, visiting Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia and Montenegro.

Macedonia's corruption index worsens

Macedonia ranks 105th in corruption watchdog Transparency International's 2006 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI).

The CPI is a composite index that draws on multiple expert opinion surveys measuring perceived levels of public sector corruption in 163 countries. It scores countries on a scale of zero to 10, with zero indicating high levels of perceived corruption and 10 indicating low levels.

In the past three years, Macedonia has the same corruption perceptions index (CPI) of 2.7 and it continues to drop in TI's annual reports. In 2005, Macedonia was ranked 103rd, and a year before it was ranked 97th.

In 2006, Macedonia was 105th among 163 countries tying with Bolivia, Iran, Libya, Malawi and Uganda.

According to TI's 2006 rankings of countries in South East Europe (SEE), Macedonia is almost at the bottom of the SEE region. Albania was ranked 111th with CPI 2.6.

As regards the countries in South East Europe, Slovenia was ranked 28th, Greece 54th, Bulgaria 57th, Turkey 60th, Croatia 69th, Romania 84th, Serbia 90th and Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) was ranked 93rd.

TI said that some of the world's poorest nations are also the most sleaze-ridden, undermining international development efforts. Corruption is shockingly rampant worldwide with almost three-quarters of the countries in the report scoring below five, including all low-income countries and all but two African states.

Wealthy democracies topped the list, confirming the link between anti-sleaze efforts and prosperity. Finland, Iceland and New Zealand scored a near-perfect 9,6, followed by Denmark (9,5), Singapore (9,4), Sweden (9,2) and Switzerland (9.1).

Worsening perceived levels of corruption was seen in the United States. TI noted that while industrialized nations scored high on this year's index, corruption scandals continued to rock many of them.

Macedonia's opposition social democrats elect new leader

Macedonia's main opposition social democrats elected former deputy prime minister Radmila Sekerinska as their new leader early Monday.

At an emergency congress of the Social-Democratic Alliance for Macedonia, Sekerinksa, 34, won the overwhelming majority of the vote.

She was the only candidate to replace former prime minister Vlado Buckovski, who stepped down after the party lost July's parliamentary elections to Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski's conservative VMRO-DPMNE party.

"We are turning a new page," Sekerinska told reporters after the vote.

Considered a close ally of Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski, Sekerinska served as deputy prime minister responsible for Macedonia's EU integration in Buckovski's leftist coalition government.

Macedonia applied to join the European Union in March 2004 and was accepted as a candidate last year, after the European Commission praised its efforts in dealing with an ethnic Albanian insurgency in 2001.

The social democrats have 24 deputies in Macedonia's 120-seat unicameral parliament.

Macedonia’s Defense Minister: Dividing Line between Macedonia and Kosovo is Technical Issue

Sofia. The dividing line between Macedonia and Kosovo is a technical issue. If we turn it into a political one we make it a problem, Macedonia’s Defense Minister Lazar Elenovski told a reporter of FOCUS News Agency after a meeting with his Bulgarian counterpart Veselin Bliznakov.
Elenovski pointed out that the dividing line would be specified in the framework of Kosovo status talks. Minister Elenovski underlined after the meeting that he hoped Bulgaria’s EU membership and support would influence Macedonia’s NATO aspirations. He also said that during the meeting plans for future joint defense initiatives between the two countries were swapped.
Minister Elenovski promised to continue cooperating for the reconstruction of the Bulgarian military cemeteries in Macedonia.

BULGARIA TO SUPPORT MACEDONIA’S EU AND NATO ACCESSION

Bulgaria would support Macedonia in its attempts to become NATO and European Union member, Foreign Minister Ivailo Kalfin said.

International Herald Tribune (IHT) quoted Kalfin as saying that he hoped Macedonia would be invited to join NATO in 2008. Macedonia’s NATO accession was important both for Bulgaria and for the whole region, Kalfin said after a meeting with his Macedonian counterpart Antonio Milososki.

Kalfin also said that as an EU member state Bulgaria would support future EU enlargement.

“Bulgaria's position is that the enlargement is the most successful European project in the past decade," Kalfin said.

After the European Commission’s decision to let Bulgaria and Romania join the EU on January 1 2007, EC President Jose Manuel Barroso called for halt in the enlargement process.

Such decision would lead only a ‘distant chance” for Balkan countries such as Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro and Albania to enter the union, IHT said.

Bulgaria would impose a visa regime for the Macedonian citizens after January 1 2007, but “thanks to Bulgaria's decision to issue visas charge-free, mutual travel and communications will not suffer that much", Milososki said.

Macedonia Wildcats Fight for Survival

LESNICA, Macedonia - It's considered a national symbol, displayed on the back of Macedonia's 5-denar coin. But the Balkan lynx, the largest of European wildcats, is a very rare sight in the southern Balkans these days.

Conservationists say only about 100 remain scattered across the region, making it Europe's most endangered wildcat, and they're mounting an urgent effort to save it.

The cat roams the rugged hills of western Macedonia and is also found in parts of Montenegro, Albania, Serbia and Greece. Macedonia is home to the largest number, about 30 - not nearly enough to stave off extinction, experts fear.

Zdravko Moteski, a 70-year-old hunter from the western village of Lesnica, is helping researchers gather information about the elusive cat.

"It's a very rare and sensitive animal, like a shadow moving in the trees," Moteski said during a visit by members of a conservation group to his home in Lesnica, a village 50 miles west of the capital, Skopje.

"I never had a chance to see a lynx. I've only traced its footprints during the winter," he said.

Shepherds and loggers also are being interviewed about the lynx, which can grow to a length of 4 feet, 3 inches and weight of nearly 80 pounds.

A distinct subspecies, the Balkan lynx is generally reddish brown or light gray. Because of its short tail, it largely relies on ear movements for communication.

The cat is adapted for surviving in heavy snow and it follows a largely solitary life. Males are not aggressive among themselves, preferring to avoid one another.

"It's believed the Balkan lynx inhabited the empty territory in the southeast Balkans. This type, like its European relatives, leads a solitary life, moving in territory up to 5 square kilometers (almost 2 square miles)," Svetozar Petkovski, a zoologist and program director at the Macedonian Museum of Natural History.

"Its favorite prey is mammals of different sizes, including mice and rabbits as well as the wild boar piglets. They usually ambush their prey," he added.

Several European conservation groups are providing support for efforts to save the Balkan cat from extinction. They include the German-based Euronatur, the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research and the Swiss-based organization KORA.

The Balkan lynx shares the same fate as other European wildcats, all but vanishing from former roaming grounds. But several European countries, among them Austria, Switzerland, France and Germany, have halted the decline by reintroducing the animal.

Such efforts are a long way off in Macedonia, where the lynx is legally protected from hunting.

"Macedonia is just at the beginning of that road," said Dime Melovski, a 26-year-old biologist who works for a local conservation group.

"Our project is planned to last till the end of 2009. Within that time, after interviewing people, we will carry out field research, setting up photosensors to hopefully photograph a lynx," he said. "Then we hope to eventually capture one for DNA analysis and to reintroduce the Balkan lynx with breeding in captivity."

Melovski isn't optimistic.

"It's still a big cat with slim chances of survival," he said.

Crvenkovski Met Parvanov in Strumica

Strumica. Macedonia’s President Branko Crvenkovski met Bulgaria’s President Georgi Parvanov in the center of the town of Strumica, FOCUS News Agency’s special correspondent Denka Katsarska reported.
The two heads of state laid flowers to the monument of late Macedonia’s President Boris Trajkovski. Trajkovski’s monument is located in the center of the town near the Army Home. The script on the monument quotes the late President’s words: “We all share one and the fate, which is Macedonia”.
A meeting is scheduled to take place between the two heads of state.

Bulgaria to support Macedonia's drive for NATO, EU entry

Bulgaria's Foreign Minister on Friday voiced firm support for neighboring Macedonia's hopes to join NATO and the European Union.

"I hope that in 2008 Macedonia will be invited to join NATO, which is important not only to us, but also to the whole region," Ivailo Kalfin told reporters after meeting Macedonian counterpart Antonio Milososki.

Bulgaria joined NATO in 2004 along with six other eastern European nations, and is set to become an EU member on Jan. 1.

Macedonia, Croatia and Albania are all hoping for early invitations to join NATO, but the alliance has refused to set a date.

Kalfin also said that as an EU member Bulgaria would favor the continuation of the bloc's expansion policy.

"We ourselves feel the expansion fatigue in the union ... but Bulgaria's position is that the enlargement is the most successful European project in the past decade," he said.

After the European Union decided to let Bulgaria and Romania in on Jan. 1, the EU's chief executive, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, called for a halt to further expansion. That leaves only a distant chance of membership for Croatia, which has already begun entry talks, and for EU candidate Macedonia, as well as for other Balkan nations such as Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Albania.

Kalfin and Milososki signed a deal to impose a visa regime on Macedonian citizens' traveling to Bulgaria, as required by Bulgaria's EU entry agreements.

"I am not happy with these visas ... but I hope it is a temporary measure," Milososki told reporters. "But thanks to Bulgaria's decision to issue visas charge-free, mutual travel and communications will not suffer that much."

EU to disappoint Balkan hopefuls

The European Commission will recommend next week that Western Balkans countries postpone any moves towards joining the European Union.

Last year Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia and Albania's all edged closer towards joining the EU.

But a draft Commission report to be published next week says the countries cannot expect to join the EU in the short term, despite some progress.

The report says they are likely to join only in the medium to long term.

The countries are now marking time - not only because reforms have slowed down at home, but also because people in Western Europe want enlargement to pause.

Reforms needed

The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia was hoping to start membership talks, but the European Commission is saying: "Not yet."

The draft report seen by the BBC urges Skopje to speed up political reforms, fight corruption and improve relations with ethnic Albanians if it wants to move ahead with its EU bid.

The report praises Serbia's new constitution and the country's economic stability. But it offers no prospect for the early resumption of talks on an association agreement unless Belgrade helps catch Gen Ratko Mladic, suspected of masterminding some of the worst atrocities of the Bosnian war a decade ago.

Leaders from Balkan nations at a regional summit
Balkan leaders will be told to delay EU membership talks

Serbia is also urged to take a constructive approach to Kosovo, where the majority ethnic Albanians are expected to gain limited independence in the next few months.

The report describes the question of Kosovo's status, relations with Serbia and Bosnia's future as the major challenges for the year ahead.

But it points out that accession for the countries of the region is many years away and calls for the EU to refrain from setting any dates for future new members.

It appears unlikely that a large group of countries will join at the same time, the European Commission says. Future accessions are likely to occur in the medium to long term.

When they meet in December, EU leaders are expected to back those conclusions.

But some, like the French and the Austrians, will be frustrated that the Commission has stopped short of setting the bloc's ultimate borders.

The EU is defined by its values, the draft report says, rather than by fixed geographical limits.

Skopje must accept compromise name or won't get in EU and NATO: Karamanlis

Greece will block the accession of Macedonia in EU and NATO, if Macedonia refuses to accept a compromise over the constitutional name of the country.

Greek Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis said this in his speech before the Greece's Parliament.

"The leadership of this neighboring country needs to assess the situation and respond to Greece's positive stand", Karamanlis said in the course of debate on state's foreign policy. "On the road (of Macedonia) to EU and NATO, a mutually acceptable name has to be defined. It stands as a condition for Greece's ratification of the accession", the Greek Prime Minister specified.

By signing the 1995 Interim Agreement, Greece undertook an obligation not to block Macedonia's membership in international institutions and organizations.

Athens's problem with the name of Macedonia dates from early 20th century, when Greece formed an alliance with Serbia and Bulgaria in the war against Turkey, and occupied about 50 percent of the geographic territory of Macedonia. This area is now a region in northern Greece.

The part of the territory which was then taken over by the Kingdom of Serbia, is the territory of the present-day Macedonia.

Smaller parts of the geographic territory of Macedonia are now within the borders of Bulgaria and Albania.

Blic, Serbia: Greece to Block Macedonia’s EU, NATO Membership over Name Dispute

Athens. “Greece will block Macedonia’s EU and NATO membership, unless Skopje makes a compromise on the country’s name”, Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis said, the Serbian newspaper Blic reported. A mutually accepted solution is the condition for the ratification of Macedonia’s NATO and EU membership by the Greek Parliament. Since 1991 Greece has disputed Macedonia’s right to use its name because it thinks it belongs only to the Greek national and historic heritage. Besides, Greece is afraid of Macedonia’s possible claims to the Greek border district bearing the same name. In 1993 the UN recognized Macedonia as the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia. Continuous talks between Greece and Macedonia held under the auspices of the UN have been unsuccessful by now, the newspaper comments.

Macedonia Expects Date for EU Talks in 2007, and Invitation for NATO in 2008: Foreign Minister

‘Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Bulgaria achieved a lot at both bilateral and regional level. In their cooperation the two countries have been lead by the goal of achieving the main European and Euro-Atlantic values’, the Macedonian Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki said in his lecture on the topic ‘Macedonia and NATO’, organized by the Atlantic Club, a reporter of FOCUS News Agency informed.
The republic of Macedonia continues to make all the necessary efforts on the way to European and Euro-Atlantic integration, Milososki added.

Russia protests to Macedonia as diplomats attacked

Russia sent a protest note to Macedonia on Monday urging the Balkan state to conduct a fast and objective investigation into a violent attack on four Russian diplomats at the weekend, Russian media said.

Macedonian media speculated that the fight had been over a young woman, while the interior ministry said it was doing all it could "to find and apprehend the attackers".

The diplomats were just about to leave a central cafe in Macedonia's capital Skopje late on Saturday when an unknown man approached them and hit one of the Russians, Russian television channels said.

"Soon afterwards, between 10 and 12 people were taking part in the attack on the four diplomats," said Russia's ORT First Channel. "The attackers used glass bottles and brass knuckles."

The diplomats were badly hurt and taken to hospital. They have now left the hospital and are in a satisfactory condition, Russian media reported.

Macedonian police spokesman Borce Pesevski said that at around 1.30 a.m. (0030 GMT) on Sunday "there was an argument between a dozen people at a bar, an argument that continued outside on the pavement".

"Then six to seven still unknown assailants physically attacked four others, all employees in the Russian embassy," he said. "They were beaten up, sustained injuries, and after receiving medical treatment they were released home."

Moscow expects Macedonia to give an official explanation once the incident has been investigated, Interfax news agency quoted Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin as saying.

Bitola's exotic locations to be offered to Hollywood

Video footages of locations in the city of Bitola will be offered to US film producers, Makfax's correspondent reported.

Macedonian director Darko Mitrevski began today shooting of the exotic locations and cultural landmarks in the city and its surrounding.

In addition to Bitola, Mitrevski will also make video recordings of sites in Mariovo, Prespa and Ohrid.

Bitola's local authorities have covered the costs of the shooting, while Macedonian Minister in charge of attracting foreign investments, Gligor Taskovic, is responsible for contacts with US producers.

SILMAK cut off from power supply system

Ferro-alloy production plant SILMAK from Jegunovce near Tetovo, has been cut off from the electric power network by MEPSO, the public enterprise engaged in power distribution.

MEPSO, which announced SILMAK's disconnection yesterday, explained that the move was prompted by long-overdue bills.

The government claims that recently incurred debts of SILMAK total 700.000 euros in addition to the previous 5 million euros worth of debts.

On the other hand, SILMAK claims its "financial commitments total 26.998.000 denars", and considers MEPSO's move to have been caused by the overall shortage of electricity supply the country is facing.

SILMAK's representatives said that halted operation will result in reduced foreign currency influx amounting 34 million euros on the basis of power production sold in advance, in addition to about 1.000 jobless workers.

Ambassador Solotsinsky says there is no diplomatic scandal

The late Saturday's incident outside Skopje's Trend cafe, where Russian diplomats were beaten up, is neither a diplomatic scandal nor a political case, Makfax correspondent quotes the Russian Ambassador to Macedonia Vladimir Solotsinsky as saying in Ohrid.

Ambassador Solotsinsky, who paid a visit to safety-belts manufacturing plant in Ohrid's nearby village of Belcista, said this was an isolated case which has no impact on Macedonian-Russian relations.

Russian Ambassador added that the Macedonian government is not involved in the incident, nonetheless, the diplomatic rules foresee that in such cases a note of protest be handed in to the Foreign Ministry of the country concerned.

"Our diplomats were attacked by intoxicated hooligans, who exist everywhere, and therefore, the same thing can happen in Paris, London, New York or any other place," Russian Ambassador said.

He added that the fight outside Trend cafe seems to have upset the diplomats in Skopje.

Not only the Russian Embassy but also the entire diplomatic chorus expect the authorities in Macedonia to track down and punish the perpetrators, Ambassador Solotsinsky said, adding that Macedonia will demonstrate that it could fulfill its obligations and guarantee the safety of foreign diplomats in the country.

Referring to blood test results, Ambassador Solotsinsky confirmed that no alcohol was found in blood samples of Russian diplomats. One of Russian diplomats does not consume alcohol because he suffers from hepatitis, and the other one is sportsman, the Ambassador added.

Mediation law comes into effect

The law on mediation comes into effect on November 1st. Mediation, a form of alternative dispute resolution which means dispute-solving by means other than going to court. The main advantage of mediation is that is saves time and money.

With mediation, both parties agree to appoint a trained mediator who assists them to clarify the issues and reach a compromise solution. It is the mediator's job to establish the common ground between the two parties, looking at each of their needs, and to act as a neutral channel of communication between them.

Most types of dispute are suitable for mediation, from commercial disagreements to workplace disputes and divorce proceedings.

"We expect that mediation facilitates settlement and help the courts with stockpiled paperwork. Mediaton will also help the citizens reach settlement within a reasonable deadline," Deputy Justice Minister Sash Vasilevski said.

He added that mediation law is in the framework of comprehensive judiciary reform, which will assist Macedonia's rapprochement to European legislation.

Practical implementation of the law will start on 15 November.

The first Mediation Center will open at the Chamber of Commerce in the coming days. Meanwhile, the mediators' remuneration tariff will be specified.

A team of 60 mediators have completed the training course thus far. Mediators are tasked to facilitate settlement, not to sway decisions. Initially, mediation will be implemented in the Skopje District Court only, later in other courts in Strumica and Gostivar.

Domestic experts expect the mediation to facilitate a wide range of disputes - family dispute, commercial disagreements, corporate dispute, consumer dispute etc. The outmost objective of mediation is to ensure a low-cost settlement.

Justice Ministry unveiled an educational media campaign to inform the citizens about mediation and the positive effects.

"Implementation of this law will greatly depend on how much we will educate the citizens to make them comprehend that mediation saves time and money," Justice Ministry officials said.

Till opening of Mediation Center, where the clients will meet with mediators, the citizens can obtain information by dialing 3223306.

MEPSO to cut power supply to Silmak

The Public Enterprise for power distribution MEPSO announced another halting of electricity supply to the ferroalloy production plant Silmak from Jegunovce.

MEPSO's move was prompted by Silmak's failure to hold out to its commitment to gradually repay the debt owned to MEPSO.

MEPSO has already halted power supply to Silmak in early October, due to Silmak's debt incurred by unsettled electricity bills totaling 6 million euros. However, the plant managed to persuade the power distribution company to resume electricity supply after working out a deal for gradual payment.

Part of reasons for Silmak's disconnection from power supply system is the imminent power shortage Macedonia is facing during the winter period.

Some of the Macedonian media reported that electricity supply might be reduced to other big power consumers as well.

Executives say ELEM faces tough time

JSC Electric Power Plants Macedonia (ELEM) finds itself in a poor situation in terms of technical equipping and finances, but will put all effortс to fulfill its share of obligations in power production.

Vlatko Cingovski, the general manager of ELEM, said this today at a press conference, at which he presented the new executives and the situation they found company to be in.

The company will request from the Government to allow selling of 30 percent stake of the company in order to overcome the financial problems.

Presenting the company's balance sheet, Cingovski said it indicates a positive balance totaling 9 million euros, at least on paper, since ELEM's debts amount to 128 million euros, compared to 137 million euros owed to the company.

The company's director singled out lack of a clearing house for settling accounts among all companies involved in power related operations on a daily basis, lack of competition and depressed prices, as the main reasons for the week financial situation of the company.

Cingovski accused the previous managerial team for the poor situation of the power production company.

He confirmed press reports that coal stock in REK Bitola is depleted. Moreover, the existing coal supplies are of very poor quality, which might result in damaged turbines.

"The situation in the coal mines is disastrous. It will take months to put them in order", Cingovski warned.

On the other hand, he pointed out that the situation with the hydro electric plants is much better, primarily due to the favorable weather conditions, which resulted in exceeding of the planned production by 153 percent.

Kumanovo's public utility workers go on strike

The employees of the Kumanovo's public enterprise "Cistota i Zelenilo" halted working activities and went to strike today, Makfax's correspondent reported.

"We demand for payment of three overdue salaries, health insurance contributions and food money", the president of the enterprise's syndicate Slagjan Mihajlovski said, adding that the strike will go on as long as their demands are met.

According to Mihajlovski, the syndicate is due to decide today which departments will continue their activities, as prescribed by the law.

The Mayor of Kumanovo announced a meeting in Thursday, among representatives of the Finance Ministry, Cistota i Zelenilo's managerial team and local authorities, aimed at reaching an agreement on modality of settling 40 million denars worth of VAT taxes, owned by the enterprise.

The account of the public enterprise Cistota i Zelenilo has been blocked for 40 days. The company refused to collect garbage in Kumanovo for 20 days, which prompted local authorities to hire a Bitola-based company to do the job.

Macedonia awaits spring thaw on EU enlargement

EUOBSERVER / BRUSSELS - Macedonia believes French elections in spring 2007 and a pick-up in the European economy will clear the way for starting EU accession talks in 2007 or 2008, foreign minister Antonio Milososki told EUobserver in an exclusive interview on Friday (27 October).

"We think that after the elections in France, renewed energy is going to come to this European debate [on enlargement fatigue], that Europe is going to be more able to overcome these difficulties," the minister said.


"We are happy that the economic situation in Europe is also gradually improving. This is a factor that will positively influence the feelings of [European] people concerning immigrants, concerning newcomers, concerning this sensitivity on enlargement," he added.

The timetable could see: an 8 November EU report praising Macedonian political reform but voicing worry over mounting ethnic tensions; 22 April French presidential elections; the German EU presidency soon after setting a date for EU-Macedonia accession talks to start in 2007 or 2008 and EU entry in 2012 or 2013, Mr Milososki indicated.

"We are asking for a date [for starting accession talks], because being a candidate country without a date is like arranging a wedding without music and so we can not start with the wedding," he explained.

EU enlargement fatigue came to the fore after French voters rejected the draft EU constitution in mid-2005 in a move linked to popular feeling that EU expansion is out of control, with the 2004 wave seeing 10 countries join the bloc and with Romanian and Bulgarian accession looming next year.

"Absorption capacity" - the concept that EU institutions can not function in their present form with any more member states - is also emerging in Brussels as a new enlargement criterion alongside formal "Copenhagen Criteria" on democracy, human rights and market economy standards.

"Macedonia is a country with a population the size of Paris, without counting the [Paris] suburbs. That is not an entity that could disturb any absorption capacity of the EU," the Macedonian foreign minister said on his 2.1 million-strong country. "We are happy to be small."

Balkan frontrunner
All the Western Balkan states are officially heading for EU entry with Croatia (which began accession talks in October 2005) and Macedonia (which gained EU candidate status in December 2005), ahead of Bosnia, Albania and Montenegro and with Serbia and Kosovo tied up in war crimes and sovereignty disputes.

On paper, the EU says that "every country will be measured according to its merits" when it comes to accession, but some EU diplomats say the bloc is tightening membership criteria and is treating Balkan hopefuls as a "group of future members" that will stay "on hold" for several years.

Macedonia's internal political conflict - with ethnic-Albanian opposition party DUI and the ruling Macedonian conservative party VMRO-DPMNE at each other's throats since 5 July elections - is "accidentally serving well" Brussels' reluctance to press ahead with Balkan enlargement, one EU diplomat stated.

Stability at risk
"We are watching very closely the relations between the government and the Albanian opposition, because it's very important for the stability of the country," the contact told EUobserver.

The DUI has vowed to topple the government on grounds it can't be trusted to implement the 2001 so-called "Ohrid Agreement" on protecting the country's 500,000-strong ethnic Albanian minority, with corruption issues and a 35 percent unemployment rate also damaging Skopje's EU readiness credibility.

Recent "direct contact" between DUI leader Ali Ahmeti and VMRO-DPMNE prime minister Nikola Gruevski is "the best possible sign" of softening interethnic relations, foreign minister Milososki argued, adding that Skopje and Brussels have successfully built a "multiethnic functional democracy" in Macedonia in the past 13 years.

"We are proud of that," the foreign minister said.

New working hours in Skopje's Clinic Center

New working hours from 8 a.m. till 8 p.m. will be introduced in out-patient clinics and daily hospitals at Clinics Center as of November 1st, an official source told Makfax news agency.

The novelty is that each clinic at the country's largest hospital complex will have its own telephone line, which will enable the primary-care physicians to appoint medical examination for their patients.

Control examinations will be scheduled by specialist in his/her report to primary-care physician, containing the date and the hour when the examination took place.

This novelty will decrease the possibility that patients pick doctors-specialists to run the treatment.

The current working hours at out-patient clinics run from 7 a.m. till 3 p.m. The introduction of new working hours aims to ease the queues at overcrowded hospitals in Clinics Center. The move has already won consent by doctors and other medical staff.

Macedonian government regrets over attack on Russian diplomats

Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski on Monday expressed his regrets over the incident in which four Russian diplomats were attacked in a Skopje cafe at the weekend, news reaching here from Skopje reported.


"The government of the Republic of Macedonia will put all its efforts to investigate and clarify the incident," says a statement released by the prime minister's public relations office.

The incident took place in the early hours of Sunday morning in a popular cafe in downtown Skopje, capital of Macedonia.

Macedonian police said the four Russian diplomats had a quarrel with other people in a cafe and when they were about to leave, a man hit one of them, sparking a brawl. Between 10 and 12 people were taking part in the attack on the four diplomats, local media reported.

The Russian embassy said that the diplomats had suffered injuries including nose fractures, contusions and deep facial cuts.

The Russian ambassador to Macedonia, Vladimir Solotsinsky, has sent a note to his Macedonian counterpart, asking for a swift and objective investigation into this incident and punishment for the attackers.

Macedonian Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki promised a thorough investigation, saying bilateral relations should not be affected by what he called an isolated incident, perpetrated by hooligans.

"This is an isolated incident, and more precisely, a common street melee, in which no representatives of state institutions took part," said Shpresa Jusufi, spokeswoman of the Macedonian foreign ministry.

The Macedonia interior ministry said it was doing all it could "to find and apprehend the attacker."

Macedonian Foreign Minister: Bulgaria Will Be My First Destination from The Region

Skopje. ‘I will probably hold a visit to Bulgaria in shortest time and this would be the first country I will visit in the region’, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Macedonia Antonio Milososki said in an interview for FOCUS News Agency. According to Milososki this would continue the successful development of the relations between the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Bulgaria. The two countries are soon to mark a 15-th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

The Negative Trend in Relations of Russia and Macedonia

Russia expressed the protest to Macedonia following the beating of four diplomats of the RF embassy in Skopje, the capital of Macedonia, at night from Saturday to Sunday. The government of Macedonia will consider the accident today, October 31, 2006.
Late Saturday, four employees of Russia's embassy went to the popular Trend Café in downtown Skopje in hope to have a good time there. But when they were leaving in the small hours, a young man approached and stroke several blows at one of them for no apparent reasons.

A few more joined the scuffle at the exit, the diplomats claimed. All of a sudden, the guards stepped in to beat the Russians, driving up the number of attackers to between ten and 12.

The diplomats were saved by the police that stopped the row. Suffering from various injuries, they had the first aid applied in one of the local hospital and passed the blood test for alcohol there. The result was negative, representatives of the RF embassy pointed out.

In interpretation of Macedonia’s officials, the Russians were attacked by six or seven persons after the quarrel with other visitors of the cafe.

Macedonia’s third mobile licence tender gets under way

Macedonia's telecoms regulator the Electronic Communications Agency says that bidding for the country's third mobile licence will begin next week. The process will last until 15 January 2007 with the successful bidder required to launch in the summer of next year. Macedonia says it has already received expressions of interest from four international and four domestic companies wishing to participate in the auction. Under the auction rules, the third mobile operator must pay a minimum EUR5 million for the use of radio frequencies, and must agree to roll out a network capable of serving two million users. Companies wishing to bid must have reported income of at least EUR300 million in the period 2004-05, and the new operator must provide bank guarantees from ‘prominent world banks’. In addition, the winner must cover 30% of the population in the first year, rising to 50% in the second year and 90% in the fourth.

Macedonia Expecting to Receive EUR 300 Mln in Annual Foreign Investments

Skopje. The Macedonian government is expecting MacInvest Agency, which has 20 new employees and whose budget has soared 4-5 times, to attract between EUR 250 – 300 million in foreign investments annually. This is what Macedonian TV station Kanal 5 reports.
The agency will focus its efforts on the sectors in which Macedonia is considered to have some advantages: agriculture, textile industry, car industry and IT.
Mac Invest is headed by the Brit James Blewett who has to account for all the funding the government has allotted for attracting foreign investments, Kanal 5 notes.

KFOR, Macedonia discuss boosting co-operation

SKOPJE, Macedonia -- Defence Minister Lazar Elenovski and the Chief of General Staff of the Macedonian Army, General Miroslav Stojanovski, met with KFOR Commander General Roland Kather on Tuesday (October 31st) in Skopje. They discussed ways to strengthen co-operation, particularly with regard to communications and exchanges of information between the Macedonian military and KFOR. They also talked about regional security and the latest developments in the Kosovo status talks.

In other news Tuesday, Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski endorsed the recently passed police law. Police reform is a chief requirement for the country's entry into the EU and NATO. (Makfax, MIA, A1 TV - 31/10/06)

Café security beat Russian diplomats in Macedonia

Four Russian diplomats were beaten in the Macedonian city of Skopje Oct 28. According to Macedonian interior ministry, the four diplomats were going to leave the café building when an a young man approached them and gave one of them several blows without giving explanations. Then the café security joined the assailant. There was 10 to 12 people among those who beat the diplomats, resulting in latter receiving heavy injuries. They were given initial medical assistance in a hospital and are now home.

According to Ekho Moskvy report, police is searching for the assailants. Russian foreign ministry is going to issue a protest note to the Macedonian side.

Cardiology Clinic complains of shortage of stents with cytostatic agents

The Skopje's Cardiology Clinic is facing a relative shortage of stents that have cytostatic agents.

The Director of the Clinic, Sahko Kedev said this today, explaining that shortage is due to increased volume of procedures and insufficient supply of the implants.

"I requested speeding up of the delivery procedure as early as the last week and we expect to receive the necessary supplies within a week", Kedev said, adding that he won't allow for provision of the necessary medicines and expandable materials on private basis, being it by the medical personnel or the patients.

At the moment, the Cardiology Clinic has 40 stents at its disposal, procured upon public bidding by the wholesale pharmacy distribution company "Dr. Panovski", however, Dr. Kedev MD, says they are unusable because they have no cytostatic agents.

On the other hand, the former Director of Cardiology, Dr. Borce Petrovski MD, dismissed Kedev's claiming by saying that "his statement is complete rubbish. It is a world-wide practice to use this kind of stents, which can be coated with cytostatic layer additionally, if a need arises".

Petrovski also accused Kedev for raising ungrounded allegations against his practices while holding the position of head of Cardiology Clinic.

"I refuse to take part in Kedev's manipulations that turned into a media circus, until he comes forward with solid arguments", Petrovski said, threatening to set out legal procedures against the slander attempts of his successor.

Law on Police Important for Macedonian Reform Agenda

Skopje. The adoption of the Law on Police is as a significant step forward in Macedonian efforts to complete its reform agenda, said the Mission of the European Union in Skopje, the Macedonian agency Makfax reported.
At the same time, the Mission expressed regrets of discordant stands on the key aspects of the law that surfaced in the process of legislation's adoption.
Therefore, EU Mission to Macedonia urged the ruling power and the opposition to pursue intensive dialogue in implementation of the law and adoption of the secondary legislation. Equal representation, internal control and the use of languages are the fields that call for improvement, EU Mission said in its statement released on the occasion of adoption of the Law on Police.

4 Russian diplomats battered in Skopje.

SKOPJE, October 29 (Itar-Tass) -- Four employees of the Russian embassy in Macedonia have been attacked, a source at the Macedonian Interior Ministry told Itar-Tass on Sunday.

The incident happened on Saturday evening. The four diplomats were about to leave a cafй on the central square of Skopje when a young man approached them and suddenly hit one of the diplomats. The cafй security joined the brawl when the diplomats went out. All in all, ten to twelve people took part in the attack.

The diplomats were injured. They received medical aid at the Skopje hospital and were discharged for further treatment at home.

The police are looking for the attackers. The Russian Foreign Ministry will make a protest, the source said.

Ground Breaking Ceremony for Johnson Controls New Macedonian Plant

2006-10-26, Skopje, Macedonia -- Johnson Controls, a leader in automotive interior experience, lays the foundation stone of a new automotive electronics plant in Eastern Europe on 5 October. The ground breaking ceremony takes place in the presence of Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, along with John Barth, Chairman and CEO, John Fiori, Executive Vice President and President Johnson Controls International and other representatives of Johnson Controls. The new plant is part of Johnson Controls’ strategy for Eastern Europe and production is due to start at the end of 2007. It is anticipated that by the end of 2008, around 150 new employees will have been hired to assemble printed circuit boards in a total workspace of around 6,000 square meters.



“This foundation stone signifies an important and exciting achievement for Skopje and Johnson Controls,” said company Chairman and CEO John Barth. “The Macedonian government has been extremely committed and I would like to thank its officials for their work in supporting this effort. I have no doubt that our partnership will yield excellent results for both Johnson Controls and the Skopje community.”
The new plant is part of Johnson Controls’ long-term strategic objective to position itself in the growth markets of Eastern Europe. Primarily Slovakia is to be supplied from here. The company is investing around USD$20 million in the new plant being built in Bunardzik, a free economic zone located a few kilometers from Skopje. Over the next few years, the capacity of the new plant will be successively adjusted to the order volume. The new location will enable some very good synergies to be leveraged with the development center of the company located only 200 kilometers away in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Social commitment as a corporate objective
“We are always conscious of our social responsibility and here in Macedonia we are making an investment in the future,” explained John Fiori. This investment by the company is not only in the construction of the plant but also in technology, people and the community. For instance, Johnson Controls has a scholarship program at the university in Skopje, where the company provides financial support to 35 students for a maximum of four years.

From these students 20 are already in their second year and 15 are new to the program. These scholarships are set up to ensure that the very high educational standard required by the automotive industry is maintained.

The Macedonia scholarship program is just one example of Johnson Controls’ global commitment to corporate citizenship. Another example is the company’s global sustainability initiative, which focuses on people and the environment – to the benefit of the communities where it does business. “We believe one of the reasons we have been very successful for the past 120 years is that we have strong corporate values,” said Barth. “These values – integrity, customer satisfaction, our employees, improvement and innovation, and safety and the environment – are the foundation of how we do business all over the world.”

Johnson Controls is a global leader in interior experience, building efficiency and power solutions with 136,000 employees in more than 1,000 locations serving customers in 125 countries. The company provides innovative automotive interiors that help make driving more comfortable, safe and enjoyable. For buildings, it offers products and services that optimize energy use and improve comfort and security. Johnson Controls’ automotive product portfolio also includes seating systems, instrument panels/cockpits, door and overhead systems, interior electronics and electrical energy management. The company provides batteries for automobiles and hybrid electric vehicles, along with systems engineering and service expertise. Founded in 1885, Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The European headquarters is in Burscheid, Germany. Please visit www.johnsoncontrols.com for additional information.

Source: Johnson Controls

Kanal 5: Macedonia not Suitable for Business Development

Skopje. Macedonia is not an appropriate country for business development, the last United Nations Development Program (UNDP) report on competitiveness reads, the Macedonian Kanal 5 informs.
UNDP experts’ main remarks towards Macedonia are high taxes, underdeveloped private sector, discrepancy with world economic tendencies, and weak functioning of the Government in this direction. The recommendations for quicker economic development include a balanced budget, market enlargement, and export increase. The Macedonian experts call for urgent structural reforms. The local business insists that the Government take severe measures for interest reduction and putting aside resources for budget development.

Foreign minister: Macedonia hopes to join NATO in 2008, EU by 2012

BRUSSELS, Belgium Macedonia expects NATO to invite it to join the alliance by 2008, and plans to fulfill all conditions for EU membership by 2012, the country's foreign minister said Friday.

"We are expecting a strong encouraging message" from NATO's upcoming summit next month in Riga, Latvia, Antonio Milososki said. "We expect realistically that we will be invited to join at the next enlargement summit in 2008."

Macedonia, Croatia and Albania, members of the so-called Adriatic group, are all hoping for early invitations to join NATO. The alliance has refused to set a date, but says expansion will feature strongly at its next summit scheduled for 2008.

Milososki, who was meeting with NATO ambassadors in Brussels, said his nation had already undertaken many of the reforms demanded by both NATO and the EU as a precondition for membership.

These included the establishment of a 6,800-member professional military service and participation in operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Bosnia.

Milososki stressed that since dealing with an ethnic Albanian insurgency in 2001, the nation had become a model of good inter-communal relations for the entire Balkan region.

"We are showing the world that having different ethnic groups ... is not a disadvantage for democracy to succeed," said Milososki, who was named foreign minister after a change of government following elections two months ago.

The tiny Balkan nation applied for EU membership in March 2004 and was accepted as a candidate last year, after the European Commission praised its efforts in dealing with the 2001 rebellion.

Macedonia's government was aware of enlargement fatigue within the EU, which has been anxiously mulling the prospect of letting in Turkey — a poor, predominantly Islamic nation that has problems with human rights, Milososki said.

"We are happy we don't have 72 million inhabitants" like Turkey, he said, adding that he didn't think that would affect Macedonia.

The EU's "absorption capacity" will not be strained by the nation of 2 million people, Milososki said.

Vecer: Large Number of WWI Bombs Lying on the Bottom of the Ohrid Lake

Ohrid. Large number of bombs from the WWI are lying on the bottom of the Ohrid Lake, the Macedonian newspaper Vecer reads today. Team of experts from Slovenia collaborating with the Macedonian Protection and Rescue Agency made some researches these days and has discovered the presence of numerous explosive devices that represent great danger because of their location near the shore. The lake will be cleaned up from the bombs next year, the Agency’s Director Georgi Trendafilov said.

Local authorities won't allow exploitation of Ohrid Lake under concession

The Council of the Ohrid Municipality held a session today, which produced a recommendation to the Government to postpone concluding concession agreement for exploitation of the Ohrid Lake.

The Council based its decision on the fact that no biological justification for fishing of endemic trout species exists as no mechanisms for protection of the lake's fish stock are put in place, Makfax's correspondent reported.

The Council also suggested conducting a transfer of responsibilities encompassing fish stock protection to Ohird and Struga's local authorities.

The Agriculture Ministry announced last February a public competition for awarding concession license for exploitation of the Ohird Lake. Three bidders have submitted applications thus far, however, none of them delivered a plan for fish stock protection to the competent Hydrobiological Institute.

Zegin drugstore demolished in Bitola

A drugstore belonging to Zegin company, housing pharmaceutical laboratory of the Public Health Facility, has been demolished late Wednesday, Makfax's correspondent reported.

Marija Litoska, the manager of the drugstore, confirmed the incident took place at 23:00 hrs, adding that the perpetrators did not took a thing, but merely committed the act of vandalism.

She also said that the security agency "Protect" that was supposed to guard the drugstore, informed her about the incident as late as at 6 a.m., because, according to the agency, the contract with Zegin had been expired.

The Police conducted inspection at the site and the operation for tracking down the vandals is under way.

Transportation Ministry voiced warning to urban mafia

Macedonian Ministry of Transportation and Communication has send a public warning to the so-called urban mafia, saying the Ministry won't tolerate its illegal operations anymore.

The warning followed the attempt to avoid pulling down of an illegally constructed object at the bank of the Vardar River in Skopje. Investors, Skopje's Centre Municipality and lawyers are involved in the case, which resulted in threats to personal safety of the Transportation Minister.

"The Ministry of Transportation and Communication would like to send a public message to all supporters of the urban mafia that the Ministry won't cave in to provocations like the alleged wrongdoings of the Ministry, and it will remain steadfast in its commitment to put order in the sphere of urban planning and construction", the announcement says.

The so-called urban mafia refers to illegal construction business, which spins tens of millions euros on annual basis. It reached alarming proportions especially in Skopje, and is considered as one of the key generators of corruption in the country.

The Ministry also denied today the allegations voiced by Aleksandar Tortevski, the lawyer of the investors of the building in question, that "Ministry has been sending emissaries" to settle the matter off the record.

Minister Mile Janakievski called the lawyer to report the case to the Police "immediately and not later than tonight", and to offer evidence of his allegations.

At the same time, the Ministry urged once again the Mayor of Center Municipality to execute the decision for pulling down of the object, reiterating its call to all Mayors across the country.

Macedonia ranks 45th in Worldwide Press Freedom Index 2006

The annual Worldwide Press Freedom Index 2006 from Paris-based organisation Reporters Without Borders shows that Macedonia is ranked 45th.

In the annual report Macedonia shares 45 to 48 place with Cape Verde, Mozambique and Serbia and Montenegro with the so-called freedom press index, which is 11,50.

The first place share Finland, Iceland, Ireland and Netherlands while the three worst violators of free expression - North Korea, bottom of the Index at 168th place, Turkmenistan (167th) and Eritrea (166th) - have clamped down further.

Denmark (19th) dropped from joint first place because of serious threats against the authors of the Mohammed cartoons published there in autumn 2005. For the first time in recent years in a country that is very observant of civil liberties, journalists had to have police protection due to threats against them because of their work.

Bosnia-Herzegovina (19th) continued its gradual rise up the Index since the end of the war in ex-Yugoslavia and is now placed above its European Union member-state neighbours Greece (32nd) and Italy (40th).

The index measures the state of press freedom in the world. It reflects the degree of freedom journalists and news organisations enjoy in each country, and the efforts made by the state to respect and ensure respect for this freedom. Reporters Without Borders compiled a questionnaire with 50 criteria for assessing the state of press freedom in each country. The questionnaire was sent to partner organisations of Reporters Without Borders (14 freedom of expression groups in five continents) and its 130 correspondents around the world, as well as to journalists, researchers, jurists and human rights activists.

Macedonian Governmental Team To Meet with IMF representatives

Skopje. The negotiating teams of the Macedonian Government and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will meet today at the Government's premises, the Macedonian Makfax informs.
Macedonian Deputy Prime Minister Zoran Stavreski is due to hold talks with the Head of the IMF Mission for Macedonia Mark Griffiths.
Macedonian Vice-Prime Minister in charge of implementation of the Ohrid Agreement Imer Selmani, the Minister of Finance Trajko Slaveski, and the President of the National Bank of Macedonia Petar Goshev will also attend the meeting.

Germany supports Macedonia on its way to NATO and EU

Germany stands firmly behind Macedonia's efforts for integration in NATO and the European Union, German Defence Minister Franz Josef Jung told his Macedonian counterpart Lazar Elenovski during their meeting in Berlin, Macedonian Defence Ministry announced.

"Minister Jung appraised highly the manner in which reforms in defence area have been conducted thus far", the announcement adds.

On his part, Minister Elenovski expressed Macedonia's commitment for further participation within the ISAF mission in Afghanistan, as well as the readiness to contribute to strengthening of the European defence and security policy through inclusion of ARM soldiers in the European combating units.

Vecer, Macedonia: Tens of Murders Last Year in Tetovo

Skopje. Tens of murders have been registered last year in Tetovo, Macedonia, the Macedonian daily Vecer reported. The last murder happened a few days ago when a close relative of the Mayor of Tetovo Hazbi Lika – Issa Lika – was killed.
The Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski said that there was no danger for inter-Albanian clashes in Macedonia.

Authorities raise charges against Tetovo University's employees

The authorities raised today the first set of charges against employees of the Tetovo State University (TSU) involved in illegal activities.

Tetovo Police set out in motion a procedure for raising criminal charges against three persons suspected of being involved in counterfeiting university diplomas, Makfax's correspondent reported.

Bashkim Selmani, 37, former Secretary General of the Tetovo University is suspected of having issued to A.D, 23, and A.M., 24, from Tetovo's nearby village of Nerashte, certificates of graduation at the Faculty of Classical Studies.

A.D. and A.M. (secondary suspects), used the false certificates to acquire employment at the "Ismail Qemali" primary school located in Nerashte.

The prime suspect in the case, Selmani, was dismissed from duty three weeks ago, during Tetovo University's personnel shake-up.

US supports Macedonia's NATO bid

The United States voiced support to Macedonia in its effort to acquire an invitation for membership in NATO.

US Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau for European and Eurasian Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo, conveyed this message to the Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski today, says the official announcement released after Gruevski-DICarlo meeting.

"US Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau for European and Eurasian Affairs has pledged US support to the Macedonian Government on its way to Euro-Atlantic integrations, as well as to implementation of reforms in the fields spanning economy, judiciary, battle against corruption and activities relating the Ohrid Agreement".

According to DiCarlo, "these reforms will actually contribute to achieving a greater economic growth and approximation of the Republic of Macedonia to NATO and the European Union".

At the meeting, Gruevski reiterated "strong commitment of the Republic of Macedonia to remain an ally in the coalition for global battle against terror and pledged for further participation of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia in peacekeeping missions in Iraq, Afghanistan and Bosnia-Herzegovina".

Senior U.S. official encourages Macedonia to continue with reforms

SKOPJE, Macedonia A senior U.S. official on Monday encouraged Macedonia to press ahead with reforms that will increase the tiny Balkan country's chances of joining the EU and NATO.

Rosemary DiCarlo, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs who arrived on Monday for a two-day visit, voiced support for Macedonia's goal of joining both.

"We support your aspirations and we share your values," DiCarlo told reporters after meeting with Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki. "We are working very closely with Macedonia to make the needed reforms and we want to make this country the strongest candidate for joining NATO."

Macedonia, Croatia and Albania, members of the so-called Adriatic group, are all hoping for early invitations to join NATO. The alliance has refused to set a date, but says expansion will feature strongly at a summit scheduled for 2008.

DiCarlo reiterated that Macedonia should continue with its judicial and police reforms, intensify its fight against corruption and ensure religious freedoms.

Macedonia applied for EU membership in March 2004 and was accepted as a candidate last year, after the European Commission praised the country for stemming an ethnic Albanian insurgency in 2001.

DiCarlo also met with Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and other government officials.

US stands strongly behind Macedonia

The United States strongly supports Macedonia in its Euro-Atlantic aspirations, but urge for speeding up of reforms and dialogue between the ruling power and the opposition.

This was stated after today's meeting of the Macedonian Foreign Minister Antonio Miloshoski and US Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau for European and Eurasian Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo.

"We will back Macedonia in implementation of the necessary reforms and on its road to Euro-Atlantic integrations", DiCarlo said.

She added the highlights of discussions included also "the need of the rule of law, as well as the need of Government's cooperation with all political parties aimed at enhancing the efforts in the fields spanning battle against corruption, full implementation of the Ohrid Agreement and backing of the process for determining the future status of Kosovo".

DiCarlo underscored the importance of "the judicial reforms, combating corruption, human trafficking, and respect of religious freedom and rights of all citizens".

Macedonian Minister Miloshoski confirmed this. "We will put a special focus on the fight against trafficking with human beings and organized crime in the region. We will also work with all religious communities in the country to improve the legislation referring to religious freedom", Miloshoski said after hiss meeting with DiCarlo.

As regards the Kosovo issue, Miloshoski said he and DiCarlo shared the stance that resolving of the Kosovo status should be carried out in the manner that will provide for strengthening of the region's stability.

"The process of reaching a solution on the Kosovo status is also a good opportunity for closing the technical issue of the border demarcation. We express out gratitude to the international community for its support regarding this, but also to Pristina's authorities, who acknowledge the fact that this issue poses as a challenge that requires a positive response", Miloshoski said.

Bitola's Roma residents protest against scandalous death of fellow citizen

Instead of celebrating Ramadan Bairam, Bitola's Roma residents staged protests against, as they put it, scandalous death of the 39-year-old Miljraim Veliovski.

The cause of Veliovski's death, who died last night at the Bitola's hospital, is still unknown, Makfax's correspondent reported.

Veliovski's family accused the doctors of failing to give him a proper medical treatment.

"We had been taking him to the hospital on Thursday and Friday, but he wasn't admitted until Saturday. However, once they laid him on the bed, no one paid any attention on him, despite our pleas to be examined by a doctor", said Edail Veliovski, the brother of the now late patient.

The Romas are convinced that Miljaim's death resulted from doctors' negligence and raised allegations of racial discrimination.

"He was well and sound, never suffered from any disease. Despite their doctor's oath, medical staff divide the patients to black and white ones", Qamil Demirov, a close friend of the late Miljaim said.

"All necessary tests had been conducted and the patient was provided with adequate medical treatment, however, we were unable to come up with diagnosis. Once the autopsy is performed, we will establish whether someone should be called to account", said Dr. Dimce Kuzmanovski, the Director of Bitola's Hospital.

After refusing to approve the autopsy on Sunday, the family changed its mind today. They reported the case to the Bitola Police and notified the District Prosecution Office

International Oil Companies Drawn to Untapped Oil Riches in Macedonia

Norwegian, Turkish and Kazakh oil and gas companies plan to come to Macedonia to see just how much oil is bubbling under the surface at the untapped Engilija field near Sveti Nikole in the east of the country, reported Skopje daily Vreme on October 21.

Although it has been known since at least the 1960’s that the flat, soft area known as Ovcho Pole (Shepherd’s Plain) contained some amount of natural resources, no one knows exactly how much. In Yugoslav days, a company from Novi Sad in northern Serbia, Nafta Gas bored into the earth near the village Ergelija, registering positive for oil and gas. After the discovery, however, work mysteriously stopped for reasons still unknown, and until the present day no one really knows how much oil Macedonia might be sitting on. A few months ago, the economics weekly Kapital caused a brief sensation with a lengthy article discussing the issue.

According to Vreme, new Minister for Foreign Investment, and former Vice-President for Publicity and Marketing of the AMBO oil pipeline project, Gligor Tashkovich is in touch with the heads “of some big world’s energy companies” over the resumption of oil exploration in eastern Macedonia. The new government has rated development of the energy sector as among its top priorities for the economic development of the country.

At the moment, the biggest interest in Ergelija has come from Kazakhstan oil giant Kazmunaygaz, reports Vreme, adding that Tashkovich is also speaking with a Norwegian oil company and relevant officials in the Norwegian government.

However, in May 2006, the Macedonian web portal Total had reported that the ex-Minister of Economy, Besnik Fetai and Richard Wordsworth, president and manager of Bankers Petroleum signed a memorandum for cooperation for the Ergelija exploration. Bankers Petroleum already has a presence in the Balkans, working on oil fields in Albania. “Our strategic interest is to be present in this region. Because the investigations from the past have given some positive indications, we decided to sign the memorandum for cooperation with the Ministry of Economy. We wish to expand our activities in the region. Macedonia offers solid possibilities in that respect,” said Wordsworth at the time..

This previous announcement was however not mentioned by Vreme, leaving it unclear as to what became of the deal. Tashkovich also recently visited Kazakhstan, deemed a desired investor for Macedonia on the domestic energy sector. Some of their companies are already interested in the Macedonian market, the article adds. However, a preliminary problem to sort out is the need for the two countries to make diplomatic and consular relations. Also, Kazakh and Turkish companies are believed to be among the candidates to transport the oil in the Trans-Balkan gas pipeline, AMBO, reads Vreme.

Should Macedonia suddenly find itself an oil-rich country, it would come as a great boost. According to A1 TV, foreign investments in Macedonia in 2005 fell drastically compared with investments in 2004, leaving the country on the bottom rung compared to other countries in the region. Last year in Macedonia only around $100 million of foreign investment came in, according to a report on world investments published by the UN’s Conference for Trade and Development (UNKTAD).

Not so fruity salad

Another troubled Balkan candidate for the European Union

WHICH countries will be next in line for membership of the European Union, after Bulgaria and Romania join in January? Many people would answer: Croatia and Turkey, which are now in negotiations. Few would remember Macedonia, a poor, land-locked country of 2m people, with a stagnant economy, which has been offered membership talks but no firm date for starting them. Macedonians have got used to being unloved and ignored. What is more annoying is that the world notices them only when bad things happen.

Officially, at least, good things are now happening. In 2001 Macedonia went to the brink of civil war when a guerrilla army sprang out of the ranks of the ethnic Albanians who make up 25% of the population. The EU, the Americans and NATO rushed to damp the fire, producing the Ohrid agreement, which has proved a success in keeping the peace. What has been a failure is the economy. More than a third of the workforce is unemployed and, except for some biggish privatisations, there has been little foreign investment.


All of which makes it unsurprising that, in July, the electorate turned against the Social Democrats, ruling in coalition with a party led by Ali Ahmeti, who led the Albanian guerrillas in 2001. Diplomats have since been falling over themselves to praise the peaceful transfer of power to a new centre-right coalition under Nikola Gruevski. In public, that is. In private, there is rising concern about Macedonia. Were it a bigger place—or already in the EU—it might have received the sort of attention that has recently been given to Poland or Hungary. For Macedonia too is in the throes of a political earthquake.

The big bone of contention is the government. Mr Gruevski's party needed an Albanian coalition partner (as elsewhere in the region, people vote on ethnic lines). He struck a deal with the smaller of the two main Albanian parties, much to the fury of Mr Ahmeti, whose party won more than 60% of the Albanian vote. He is now arguing that Albanians must wonder what is the point of voting at all, if a Macedonian gets to choose which Albanian party keeps him in power.

Mr Ahmeti's anger is not just about his interpretation of democracy. To be out of power in Macedonia means to be out of patronage. Within three days of the new government taking office in August, as many as 544 managers and top officials from state companies had been sacked or shunted aside. Hundreds of civil servants have been replaced by loyalists to Mr Gruevski's party or to his Albanian partner. The purge has extended right down to lucrative positions manning motorway toll-booths.

The government insisted that it had to replace all these people as part of its bid to stamp out corruption. In fact, says one well-placed senior Macedonian, “it is the nature of things here that you have to replace everyone around you, because otherwise they will do everything in their power to discredit you. People are dedicated to their parties, not to their country.”

One group caught in this argument over power is Transparency International, a German-based anti-corruption lobby group, which has been an influential voice in Macedonia. Transparency has just announced that it is withdrawing its accreditation of the local branch in Macedonia, though it added it hoped to set up a proper operation again.

Gabriela Konevska-Trajkovska, the minister in charge of European integration, was previously, albeit briefly, head of Transparency International in Macedonia. She hopes negotiations on EU membership can start in 2007. EU officials say this is realistic—so long as the country does what it is asked. But for now, they are hopping mad. Many of the people they had trained over the past few years to deal with intricate details of EU rules and regulations have been replaced.

In Tetovo, the western Macedonian town where most Albanian politicians are based, Mr Ahmeti says that former fighters have been coming to him to suggest that, unless his party is taken back into the government, they should take up arms again. He has told them to keep their cool but adds that he cannot take responsibility for the results if his party continues to be ignored. Yet the implied threat is probably an empty one. Whatever else may happen in Macedonia, there is no appetite for a return to armed conflict.

Blair says UK strong supporter of Macedonia's EU and NATO bids

"Great Britain supports strongly the inclusion of Macedonia in European Union and NATO, as soon as your country is ready", British PM Tony Blair said in his congratulating letter sent to the Macedonian PM Nikola Gruevski, upon his election to the post.

"We were happy with the fact that Macedonia acquired a candidacy status during our presidency over the Union, and we value highly participation of the Macedonian soldiers in operations of the NATO-led allied forces in Afghanistan, who are serving under British command", Blair said.

Furthermore, Blair said that Macedonia has yet to consolidate its progress toward a multi-ethnic democracy in line with the Ohrid Framework Agreement and is looking at lot of work in terms of meeting the conditions for integration in Europe.

"I ensure you and your team that we will continue providing practical and political support as you push ahead with important work of reforms implementation", says Blair's letter sent to Macedonian PM Gruevski.

Lapon: Incidents like the one in Tetovo can't harm security

The late Thursday's incident in Tetovo can't harm the cross-community security in Macedonia, said Alain Lapon, project manager in UNDP.

Lapon, who is in charge of UNDP's project Partnership for Community Safety & Security, made an address on the occasion of completion of safer community building project, implemented in Tetovo as well as in eight other municipalities across the country.

'Incidents, like the one in Tetovo yesterday, could not harm the safer community approach. We need to educate the youths on non-violent communication," Lapon said.

At the project closing conference, the participants have concluded that security-related issues in municipalities have been already detected and can be solved through partnership, support and concrete co-operation between the local and the central authorities.

As regards the effects of the Project, UNDP representative said incidents caused by use of weapons are decreasing in all nine municipalities covered in the project. The project turned successful in terms of raising public awareness on the necessity to hand in illegal weapons

All municipalities that were included in the project - Tetovo, Jegunovce, Tearce, Sopiste, Cair, Gorce Petrov, Stip, Aracinovo and Debar - were granted certificates for their contribution to enhancing the safety and security in their livelihood and reduction of crime, in particular incidents caused by use of firearms.

The municipality of Jegunovce was singled out as the most successful in terms of implementation of the project. No incident was reported in this municipality in the course of the project.

Macedonia Losing Its Children

Skopje. Macedonia is among the countries with highest death rate of babies in Southeast Europe, representative from the UN Fund for Children (UNICEF) announced today, Dnevnik newspaper reports.
The death rate of babies increased with 13.2% in 2004, UNICEF said. The increased death rate among young mothers too rose to 12,8 on 1,000 births. Death among children under the age of 5 also increased compared to the level several years ago, as in 2004 it was 14,8%. This is the highest percentage among the countries in the region, UNICEF pointed out. Poverty level is lower compared to the rest of the countries in the region but nonetheless the number of the children who live with USD 2.15 a day is larger than the number of elderly who live under this poverty threshold.