Parliamentary dispute turns physical in Macedonia

Prolonged political tensions erupted into a brawl at the Macedonian Parliament on Tuesday (September 25th). It happened at the end of a heated session concerning changes to the election code. Speaker Ljubisa Georgievski announced a break after a fierce verbal exchange between the leader of the Party for Democratic Prosperity (PDP), Abduladi Vejseli, and members of the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI). Immediately afterwards, Vejseli was punched by DUI member Sadula Duraku.

The PDP, an ethnic Albanian party, is a member of Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski's ruling coalition. The DUI is the largest party representing ethnic Albanians in the country.

Menduh Taci, leader of a third ethnic Albanian party, the Democratic Party of Albanians, then appeared during the break. Along with a few other members of his party, he allegedly attacked DUI member Teuta Arifi, who asked for medical assistance. By then, the halls of parliament were in chaos. A reporter from A1 Television was slapped in the face by DUI party security, and a crew from TV ALSAT was detained while filming police intervention outside the building.

The same evening, police detained nine people who were found in possession of two pistols outside parliament. Pistols, machine guns and bullets were also found in cars.

The following day, a TV ALSAT cameraman was beaten by police on the way to Tetovo. He had been filming the police as they stopped a vehicle containing two DUI members of parliament. The car with the MPs was allowed to go, but the police attacked the journalist and broke his camera. According to the City Hospital in Skopje, the man has two broken ribs and contusions on his back and chest.

The DUI has now convened an emergency meeting and decided to freeze its participation in the work of the parliament. The party also requested formation of a parliamentary commission to investigate the incidents. The opposition Social Democrats and Liberal Democrats have called for the resignations of the interior minister, deputy interior minister and parliament speaker.

Gruevski condemned the incidents and urged party leaders and MPs to resolve their disagreements peacefully and in a democratic manner. After meeting with the leaders of several parties, he said the first priority is to calm political tensions, after which an investigation should be launched.

Social Democratic leader Radmila Sekerinska, however, said the meeting with Gruevski had produced no results. She said her party had warned that the situation in parliament was escalating and that the parliamentary majority was provoking trouble. Instead of reining in those responsible, Gruevski simply complied with them, she said.

The events have drawn international condemnation. The EU warned that the situation reflects on the image of the country and shows the need for improved political dialogue. NATO said verbal and physical intimidation in institutions is unacceptable, especially at a time when agreement on reforms is within reach.

The OSCE and the Journalists' Association of Macedonia condemned the attacks on journalists. The ombudsman has begun an inquiry, and the interior ministry had pledged to conduct an internal investigation.

Number of poor people in Macedonia growing

Sofia. There are more and more poor people in Macedonia. Poverty grows among unemployed people in particular, as well as among people without university/ college education, or without any education at all, and among elderly people, the Macedonian Utrinski Vesnik writes.
According to the latest data of the State Institute of Statistics about 30% of the country’s population, or over 600,00o people, live under the poverty threshold in the period 2004-2006.
In the meantime the state strategy for fighting poverty, which was drafted a few years ago with the support of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), has given no result so far. According to the strategy the problem could find solution in decreasing the unemployment rate and increasing the level of education among the poor social layers. However, no obvious results have been achieved in this direction by any of the governments since the implementation of the strategy, the newspaper comments.

Macedonia warns of risks of partitioning Kosovo

Macedonia warned on Thursday against partitioning Kosovo in an effort to solve the impasse between the West and Russia over the breakaway Serbian province, saying it would embolden radicals across the region. The country's highest security body asked the government to follow closely fresh talks on the fate of the Albanian-majority territory "and inform us in time of the need to react". The West fears a partition of Kosovo between ethnic Albanians and Serbs could revive Albanian insurgencies in neighbouring Macedonia and Serbia's Presevo Valley. But the option remains on the table as a possible middle ground between the Kosovo Albanian demand for independence and Serbia's insistence the province remain within its borders. "Any eventual division can only be done along ethnic lines, and that would encourage the numerous radical structures in the region," President Branko Crvenkovski said after chairing a meeting of the country's National Security Council. "We cannot underestimate the risks that it would produce," he told reporters. The Council convened after the European Union's envoy to fresh Kosovo talks said this month the major powers would endorse any deal reached by Serbs and Albanians, including the previously taboo option of partition. Wolfgang Ischinger has since repeated the West's opposition to partition, but his remarks caused concern in Macedonia where a 25-percent Albanian minority dominates the north and west. An ethnic Albanian guerrilla army battled Macedonian government forces for seven months in 2001, until NATO and the EU brokered a peace accord granting Albanians greater rights. ALBANIAN QUESTION Tensions remain, and ethnic Albanian leaders in the Balkans warn any division of Kosovo to satisfy the Serbs would reopen the "Albanian Question" in the region. Partition would be likely to keep Kosovo's northern slice -- where about half of the territory's 100,000 Serbs live -- as part of Serbia. Albanians say they could claim the same right in Macedonia and the Presevo Valley of southern Serbia. Serbs and Kosovo Albanians have rejected partition, but have also offered no concessions on the bottom line -- independence. The two sides go to Vienna next week for separate meetings with a troika of envoys from the United States, Russia and the European Union, after 13 months of sterile U.N.-led talks. Russia has blocked the adoption at the U.N. Security Council of a Western-backed plan for EU-supervised independence. Kosovo has been run by the United Nations since NATO bombed in 1999 to drive out Serb forces and halt atrocities against Albanians in Belgrade's two-year war with Albanian guerrillas. The West fears major unrest if the deadlock continues much longer, potentially spilling over into Macedonia and Presevo. Kosovo has threatened to declare independence unilaterally by the end of the year, potentially splitting the 27-member EU.

Fake doctor cons many in Bitola

Bitola's police are searching for a fake doctor from Skopje, who swindled many Bitola residents in the last three months, reports Makfax correspondent.

The fake doctor, who presented himself as Dr. Vasil, physical medicine specialist, promised full recuperation from heavy diseases, brain strokes, disability and other diagnoses, charging 400 Euros per session.

The owners of the apartment that the fake doctor rented were also defrauded. He did not pay for the rent or for the costs that incurred, and also borrowed 5.000 Denars from them. At the same time, Vasil promised them employment of one family member in the alleged office he was preparing to open in Bitola.

It is not known when did the doctor leave Bitola, and none of the defrauded citizens could track him.

Some of the conned reported the case to Bitola police, and the exact number of defrauded citizens is still being determined.

It is suspected that this is the same person that in May this year conned residents of Kumanovo by promising them healing from heavy diseases.

NATO membership means solving issues related to Macedonian sovereignty

Skopje. Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski has announced that Macedonia’s NATO membership will mean finally solving all issues related to the territorial entirety and sovereignty of the country, Macedonian agency Makfax reported. That’s why Macedonia has a historic chance that should not be missed, the Head of State announced upon marking the day of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia. The president believes that Macedonia will have the right to expect NATO membership invitation in April 2008 in Bucharest.

"Ilirida" and Macedonia's federalization brought up again

Declaration of Republic of Ilirida and federalization of Macedonia was promoted today by an Albanian National Movement "Ilirida" (ANDI), an organization unknown even to the Albanian population living in Macedonia.

Violation of rights of Albanians as "third class citizens" is stated as the main reason for federalization of the country in the press release composed in a highly dilettante fashion.

Besides advocating federalization, the alleged movement claims it was founded in 2004, has president, shadow government and a senate, then a map containing internal borders as well as a constitution of the Republic of Ilirida.

The movement calls the Albanian deputies in the Macedonian parliament to resign and set up a parliament of Republic of Ilirida in Tetovo. All Albanians employed in the state administration are urged to leave their positions and come to their "parent Republic".

The announcement also appeals to all employees on the territory of the so-called Republic of Ilirida to resign from their posts until its constitution.

Until "the final showdown", the territory of the Republic of Ilirida will be defended by its own defense troops and internal control, concludes the ANDI's announcement.

Aged man ends up in coma after bandits break into his house

Bitola. An aged man ended up in coma after receiving multiple stabs, while his wife was severely beaten.
Marija and Vidan Boshevski, both aged 77, have been hospitalized in the Bitola's Clinic, after two robbers attacked them in their home in the Mariovo's village of Makovo at about 2 am last night, Makfax's correspondent reported.
The assailants left Vidan with brain hemorrhage, fractures on three ribs and a stabbing wound in the right lung lobe. He has been put at the intensive care department, while Marija, who sustained somewhat lighter injuries, is being treated at the surgery department.
Tashko Trajkovski, 25, from the village of Makovo and Nikola Todorovoski, 18, from Bitola, knocked on Boshevskis' door last night, and jumped on Vidan and Marija right after persuading them to let them in.
The thugs strapped the elderly spouses and harassed them, demanding money. They ransacked the house and enraged from finding only 600 denars, continued beating the old man and woman, stabbing Vidan several times.
Leaving the Boshevski spouses strapped, the bandits headed for the adjacent village of Oreovo to spend the night at their friend's.
At about 05:00 hrs in the morning, Tashko Trajkovski turned himself to the Police. An ambulance was dispatched to the victims' house, which ferried them immediately to the Bitola Hospital.
The Police placed the two bandits in custody pending formal accusations.

Papadopoulou: Constructive cooperation for solving the differences

The new Greek Ambassador to Macedonia, Alexandra Papadopoulou, on Wednesday in Skopje stated her hopes for "constructive cooperation" to solve the name differences between Macedonia and Greece.

"I stated my hope for constructive cooperation that will allow solving the existing differences and promoting the cooperation between the two countries", said Papadopoulou after the meeting with chief of Macedonian diplomacy, Antonio Miloshoski.

She added that "she believes all efforts should be undertaken in order to reach a solution on the name issue under UN supervision".

Papadopoulou said that this will be "within building good friendly and neighborly relations, as a basic parameter for Euro-Atlantic and European cooperation".

The Ambassador on Wednesday met minister Miloshoski and presented the letter by which chief of Greek diplomacy Dora Bakoyianni appoints her for Ambassador and Head of the Greek Liaison Office in Skopje.

Alexandra Papadopoulou - new Greek Ambassador to Macedonia

The new Greek Ambassador to Macedonia is Alexandra Papadopoulou, announced the Greek Liaison Office in Skopje.

Papadopoulou (50) is a career diplomat with prior duties in USA, Canada, Amman, and later in Pristina.

She took over the new office from the position of Greek Representative to the United Nations.

Papadopoulou is a lawyer with Master’s Degree in International Relations and speaks two languages - English and French. She is a widow and has one daughter.

Papadopoulou was appointed in place of Theodora Grosomanidou, recalled by Athens because of her statement for "Financial Times" when she said that Greece should face the reality that more than a half of the world countries have already recognized Macedonia under its constitutional name.

Ljupco Georgievski – Bulgarian Ambassador to Macedonia

Skopje/Sofia. The former Macedonian Prime Minister Ljupco Georgievski had said that in September he would be appointed Bulgaria’s Ambassador to Macedonia, the Macedonian agency Makfax reports. According to Makfax, Georgievski had said that in an announcement made to the media in Macedonia, in response to the publicity of his high activity at the local elections campaign in Bulgaria.
‘If so many comments are written about this, what should I expect them to write on September 1st, when they hear that I am appointed Ambassador of Bulgaria to Macedonia’, Georgievski had said.
None of the state institutions in Sofia confirmed or denied this information, Makfax notes.

Macedonia strives to boost IT literacy

Macedonians interested in upgrading their computer skills can get free training under a new government programme, called "Macedonia -- Country of Computer Experts". So far, the first phase of the programme has drawn 22,534 people from different age groups and professional backgrounds. The training is held twice a week for one month. Attendees are offered lessons in Windows, Word, Excel and the internet.

"The goal of the IT course is to equip the citizens with IT basics, operational systems, office applications and the internet," Information Minister Igor Ivanovski explains.

"I am unemployed and have basic computer literacy, but it is mostly theoretical because I can access a computer only in an internet café," says Goran, a trainee from Skopje. About 10,000 of the programme participants are from the capital; the rest come from different locations around Macedonia.

Six companies are providing instructors, including Algoritam Centar. The training is being held at Algoritam Centar facilities and at state-run schools in the countryside. In conjunction with the course, the government is also providing a week of free internet access.

The government has not revealed how much it will spend on the project. Some companies that bid for contracts under the initiative are complaining about a lack of transparency. In addition, the government has come under fire for using its IT initiatives for political purposes -- for example, the password for free internet access is the VMRO-DPMNE motto "Ostvaruvame" [We are accomplishing].

A recent survey, commissioned by USAID and carried out by Strategic Marketing, showed internet use in Macedonia is on the rise. Compared to last year, the number of users has increased by 5%.

However, the high cost of dial-up access and a low number of internet providers remain major obstacles, with some 20% of those surveyed citing high prices as a factor keeping them off the web.

Businesses of government ally - bleakest event in July

The involvement of a competent minister to add a company of his party chief to a public project - multipurpose project hydrosystem Zletovica - is the bleakest event in July.

The event was pinpointed by 12 chief editors of national media in Macedonia in the course of monthly survey Light-Bleak, run by independence news agency Makfax and NGO Transparency - Zero Corruption.

Editors-in-chief of 16 local media took part in the opinion poll. The toll-free telephone number, set by the Association of Journalists of Macedonia (ZNM) to report corruptive practices among journalists, tops the list of light events in the fight against corruption along with the decision of the Health Insurance Fund to repay a 26 million euro debt. These two events garnered seven votes reach as most positive events in combating corruption in July.

Government's indolence over businesses of governing coalition ally was singled out by 12 of 16 chief editors. The media singled out two events linked to the same coalition ally, indicating conflict of interests, abuse of power and possible corruption but with no appropriate response by the authorities.

The first case indicates a suspicious involvement of a competent minister to ensure that a company owned by a party chief be added to Zletovica hydropower project. The second case indicates abuse of power in the municipality of Kratovo, where Sileks plant used the drinking water thus leaving much of rural areas without water.

Apparent inaction of the authorities in both cases indicates subtle corruption i.e. misuse of power and influence for unlawful gains.

Second on the list of bleak events in July are the judiciary and prosecutors in the Makedonija Turist case and the former agriculture minister Sadula Duraku, with two votes each.

Seven years after the initial criminal charges against Makedonija Turist company, filed by former employees - shareholders, a Skopje's court has decided to open a trial. The trial was launched upon an intervention of justice minister.

State Auditor uncovered millions of denars damage caused to state budget in terms of spending public money outside legal procedures by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy during the tenure of former minister Sadula Duraku.

In the list of light events, the toll-free telephone number 080054321 to report corrupt practices of journalists, which was set up upon an initiative of the Association of Journalists of Macedonia (ZNM), won seven votes.

The same number of votes went to Health Insurance Fund, whose executives repaid a 26 million euro debt. The repayment means that the Fund has no debts to wholesale companies and health workers.

The initiative of the Public Revenues Office to train 139 inspectors to fight financial crime was ranked third on the list of light events. The training was conducted in co-operation with the Police Academy. The move received two votes.

The Light-Bleak survey, which includes respondents - chief editors of national media in Macedonia, runs from December 2004 as part of the fight against corruption.

Poll respondents include TV channels: A1, Alsat-M, Kanal 5, Sitel, Telma; daily newspapers Biznis, Vecer, Vest, Vreme, Dnevnik, Lajm, Utrinski Vesnik, online newspaper Lobi; weekly newspapers Globus, Kapital and Fokus.

Gen. Stamboliski and Petkovski will defend themselves while free

The retired General Metodi Stamboliski and the Manager of MZT FOP Mitre Petkovski will be released from police custody to prepare while free their defense in the trial relating wrongdoings in procurement of spare parts for Macedonian Army's tanks.

An investigative judge of the Skopje District Court 1 came up with this decision today.

The former Chief of Staff of ARM, Stamboliski along with Petrevski is due to be released from the Investigative Prison in Skopje tomorrow, once they provide guarantees and hand over their passports. The two have been placed under temporary detention eight days ago.

The decision came after the Court decided not to order detention to the ex-Premier Vlado Buckovski, the prime suspect in the case that took place at the time of Buckovski's tenure as a Defense Minister. Ex-State Secretary for Defense Aco Gjurchievski is also at large.

The suspects are accused of having committed embezzlement in procurement of spare parts for army tanks in 2001, causing 4 million euros damages to the State Budget.

Dramatical increase of death toll on Macedonian roads

Skopje. Eighty were killed in traffic accidents in Macedonia during the first half of the year, which is an increase of 37,9 per cent compared to the same period last year, cited by Makfax.
According to the Ministry of Interior, traffic accidents with fatalities have increased for more than 40 per cent, whereas the greatest is the number of killed drivers of passenger vehicles and motorcycles.
The most deadly month for traffic participants is April, and in the busiest period of the day, from 14 to 16 hours.
Most traffic accidents with fatalities were registered in the areas of Skopje, Tetovo and Kumanovo.
Most common causes for traffic accidents with fatalities are driving under influence, speeding, and disobeying traffic regulations.

Macedonia bans import of British meat

Macedonian Veterinary Administration banned imports of animals and animal products from Great Britain because of incidence of mouth and foot disease in this country.

In accordance to EU recommendations, the Veterinary Administration banned also imports of poultry from the countries where bird flu was registered.

The Administration urged the veterinary stations to pay special attention for timely uncovering of eventual cases of foot and mouth disease.

Information centers for tourist and cultural promotion of Macedonia

As many as ten information centers offering tourist services and presenting the cultural heritage will be set up across Macedonia in the course of this and the next year, government's spokesperson Ivica Bocevski said.

"The government is launching this campaign with an aim to boost the tourist and cultural promotion of Macedonia", Bocevski said, explaining that the project foresees mounting of prefabricated objects in all bigger cities in the country and at most frequent border crossings.

The objects will contain a mini-museum exhibition as well as authentic souvenirs and promotional audio and video materials presenting the abundant Macedonian cultural heritage in several languages.

The project will also create jobs for competent professionals, like custodians and historians.

Cocorovska on trial for cocaine smuggling

Opening statements in the trial of Stanislava Cocorovska-Poletan, accused of attempting to smuggle nearly 500 kilograms of cocaine into Macedonia, are scheduled today in Skopje Ditrsict Court 1.

Co-defendant Alija Azirovic was driving the truck carrying the cocaine hidden in paint cans. The huge cocaine shipment was seized on Blace border crossing between Macedonia and Kosovo in January this year.

Cocorovska, the suspect mastermind of the cocaine smuggling is being held in police custody in Skopje. She was arrested in Serbia and was handed over the Macedonian authorities in May. Truck driver Azirovic was detained in Skopje on 7 January.

The Anti-Organized Crime Department within Skopje Prosecutor's Office unsealed the indictment against Cocorovska in May.

The indictment alleges that two citizens of Greece were also involved in cocaine smuggling, but no arrests have been carried out thus far in Greece.

The prime suspect Cocorovska faces drug smuggling charges for allegedly masterminding the operation to transfer 483 kilograms of cocaine from Venezuela.

The cocaine, packed in paint cans and carted by a truck for Greece, has gone through customs and border checkpoints in Croatia, Montenegro and Kosovo before being uncovered by Macedonian police.

Cocorovska denies involvement in smuggling of half a ton of cocaine

Stanislava Cocorovska rejected accusation of having masterminded the operation of smuggling half a ton of cocaine that was seized in the beginning of 2007 in Macedonia.

Cocorovska, the prime suspect of the trial that began today in Skopje, said that the accusations included in the indictment were false and claimed that she never saw the persons accused of being part of her smuggling network.

She stated that the shipment of the emulsion paint in which the Macedonian Police found 493 kilograms of cocaine on 7 January, was organized by a Greek citizen she identified as Yannis.

In her testimony before the court, Cocorovska said that Yannis phoned her from Venezuela and promised her to send the emulsion shipment as a compensation for $78.000 of debt.

According to the defendant, since she had no use of the third shipment of paint in which the cocaine was found, Yannis organized sellout of the same in Greece and Cocorovska was to organize the transportation of the shipment from the Montenegrin seaport of Bar to Greece through her company Makfood.

The trial of Cocorovska and co-defendant Alija Azirovic, the driver of the truck in which the cocaine was stashed, started after six-month investigation.

The main hearing will go on until Thursday, which will be followed by taking testimonies of the witnesses and the defendants.

Department for fighting organized crime and corruption with the Skopje Prosecution Office initiated the indictment act, which involves also two Greek citizens who are wanted by the Police.

The prime suspect Cocorovska is accused of having masterminded the transportation of 483 kilograms of cocaine originating from Venezuela. The drugs arrived in the Montenegro's seaport of Bar by a Croatian freight ship, where it was stashed in emulsion containers and loaded in a truck driven by Azirovic.

10,000 tourists left Ohrid

Ohrid. The rains and sharp lowering of temperatures has reduced the number of tourists at the Ohrid Lake. Out of the record-breaking 30,000 people their number is now by 10,000 fewer, Macedonian Utrinski Vesnik writes. Mostly tourists at camping sites and private lodgings have left the area, whereas their number at hotels has reduced by some 20%.

Macedonian government building targeted in 'terrorist' act

Skopje - The Macedonia government headquarters in Skopje was the target of terrorist attack early Monday morning, cabinet spokesman Ivica Bocekski said. Bocevski said two rifle-fired grenades were shot at the building in central Skopje early Monday morning, local media reported.

"The government was a target of a terrorist attack," Bocevski said.

No one was injured in the attack and it was not immediately clear whether the missiles had hit the building.

In 2001, Macedonia was on the verge of war between government forces and ethnic Albanian rebels. Several bombs exploded in Skopje amid the conflict, but no injuries were ever inflicted.

The conflict was defused by a peace and reform deal which gave the Albanian minority more rights.