Diplomatic sources pointed that the UN envoy on the name dsipute between Greece and Macedonia Matthew Nimitz has proposed the name "North Macedonia" in five versions at the last round of the negotiations, the Macedonian daily Vecer reported.
After talks Nimitz stated that the name is a subject of negotiations. The newspaper however stresses that it was not only ideas about the name discusses, but also issues referring to the Macedonian minority in Greece and the Macedonian Orthodox Church.
In reference to including of issue about the Macedonian Orthodox Church, Macedonia's President Branko Crvenkovski pointed that this pace could be contra productive and could cause damage.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Greek citizens get "return to sender"
Greek citizens are a bit in a pickle after sending and then seeing their letters to Macedonia sent back to them. It's the 17th Olympic games between the Macedonian and Greek Government.
Greek postal service wont let their citizens write anything other than the acronym as a destination, while Macedonian postal service sends back to original sender everything that contains the acronym. Greece is the only country that forces their citizens to use the acronym to send their mail, otherwise the postal service refuses to send the mail.
Though Greek citizens are the loosers in this case, there are certain cases where Macedonian citizens struggle to get their important mail. A lady who wished to stay anonymous said she was expecting very important documents from her Greek attoney regarding property in Greece, but she didn't received it.
"My attorney from Solun called me up and told me, 'guess what, the letter I sent you with the documents, I just got it back'. I mean what is this, now I can't get letters?! I already complained to the Macedonian Postal Service, but there was no response from there. This is important documentation, I need to include my property in their Cadastral and the procedure is already in place. This is just needlesly making my job more difficult." says frustrated Macedonian citizen.
At the moment this is how it functions. It is fairly simple, actually. Mail from Greece is sent with the acronym, as shown on the image above, Macedonian postal service crosses out the acronym, writes 'Greece' underneath, and it goes back to Greece.
As Macedonia and Greece perform poorly at the Olympics, we have our own Olympic games with Airlines, Tourists, Postal Services. Lots of medals up for grabs, no need for Beijing and more importantly for the Greek side, no need for steroid use.
Greek postal service wont let their citizens write anything other than the acronym as a destination, while Macedonian postal service sends back to original sender everything that contains the acronym. Greece is the only country that forces their citizens to use the acronym to send their mail, otherwise the postal service refuses to send the mail.
Though Greek citizens are the loosers in this case, there are certain cases where Macedonian citizens struggle to get their important mail. A lady who wished to stay anonymous said she was expecting very important documents from her Greek attoney regarding property in Greece, but she didn't received it.
"My attorney from Solun called me up and told me, 'guess what, the letter I sent you with the documents, I just got it back'. I mean what is this, now I can't get letters?! I already complained to the Macedonian Postal Service, but there was no response from there. This is important documentation, I need to include my property in their Cadastral and the procedure is already in place. This is just needlesly making my job more difficult." says frustrated Macedonian citizen.
At the moment this is how it functions. It is fairly simple, actually. Mail from Greece is sent with the acronym, as shown on the image above, Macedonian postal service crosses out the acronym, writes 'Greece' underneath, and it goes back to Greece.
As Macedonia and Greece perform poorly at the Olympics, we have our own Olympic games with Airlines, Tourists, Postal Services. Lots of medals up for grabs, no need for Beijing and more importantly for the Greek side, no need for steroid use.
Macedonia’s Border Authorities Hassle “Unpatriotic” Travellers to Greece
Macedonians headed to Greece for the holidays complained that they are being singled out and harassed by Macedonian border authorities, national media reported on Thursday.
All buses with Macedonian tourists entering or exiting Greece are being stopped on the border and people’s baggage gets thoroughly checked, the Dnevnik newspaper reported. While Macedonians face delays of about three hours, Serbian and other foreign tourists entering Greece through Macedonia are being let across the border without any hassle.
Greek border authorities, according to information published in the national newspaper Express, are letting through all visitors, including Macedonians, without any problems.
The Macedonian border authorities’ move is part of the long-running dispute between Greece and Macedonia over the latter country’s constitutional name, which has been a thorn in Greece’s side since the People's Republic of Macedonia was established as part of the newly proclaimed Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia in 1946.
The dispute resurfaced again when the country became independent in the early 1990s and has gotten even more heated in the past several months. A failure to find a name that is acceptable to both Macedonia and Greece led to Greece’s veto over the Macedonian NATO candidacy earlier this year. Negotiations between the two countries recommenced in July in New York and are still on-going.
Although Macedonian authorities are in the spotlight for their actions now, Greece has also had its fair share of strong reactions against Macedonia and Macedonians. For example, as BalkanTravellers.com reported in May, the country put an embargo banning trains coming from Macedonian territory on average every other day for 80 work days.
All buses with Macedonian tourists entering or exiting Greece are being stopped on the border and people’s baggage gets thoroughly checked, the Dnevnik newspaper reported. While Macedonians face delays of about three hours, Serbian and other foreign tourists entering Greece through Macedonia are being let across the border without any hassle.
Greek border authorities, according to information published in the national newspaper Express, are letting through all visitors, including Macedonians, without any problems.
The Macedonian border authorities’ move is part of the long-running dispute between Greece and Macedonia over the latter country’s constitutional name, which has been a thorn in Greece’s side since the People's Republic of Macedonia was established as part of the newly proclaimed Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia in 1946.
The dispute resurfaced again when the country became independent in the early 1990s and has gotten even more heated in the past several months. A failure to find a name that is acceptable to both Macedonia and Greece led to Greece’s veto over the Macedonian NATO candidacy earlier this year. Negotiations between the two countries recommenced in July in New York and are still on-going.
Although Macedonian authorities are in the spotlight for their actions now, Greece has also had its fair share of strong reactions against Macedonia and Macedonians. For example, as BalkanTravellers.com reported in May, the country put an embargo banning trains coming from Macedonian territory on average every other day for 80 work days.
Gruevski raises issue of Macedonian church
Macedonia’s PM wants the mediators in the “name” dispute to address the issue of the Macedonian church.
Nikola Gruevski has sent a letter to UN mediator Mathew Nimetz asking him to include the issue of Greek recognition of the Macedonian Orthodox Church (MPC) as part of the talks.
Macedonian media report that Gruevski proposed that the matter be part of the entire package of solutions in the long-running dispute between Macedonia and Greece.
"After long discussions and negotiations, according to the information I have received from the MPC, it can be concluded that the roots of the problem again lie in the dispute that Greece has imposed, and which is linked to the Constitutional name,” he said.
"The Serbian Orthodox Church [SPC], among other things, backs the Greek Orthodox Church because a significant segment of the SPC’s leadership was educated and has spent a lot of time in Greek churches and monasteries, and has received grants from Greek Orthodox Church funds, remaining under its influence to this very day. That’s why moderate SPC bishops are known as the Greek wing,” Gruevski wrote.
The Macedonian prime minister also explained that the reason he had written the letter was that in Greece, the state and church were not divided and that they had close ties.
"Messages that the MPC will be recognized only if it changes its name clearly show that this problem has nothing to do with the church, but with politics and with the name of this country, and with the Greek refusal to acknowledge Macedonia’s identity,” Gruevski concluded.
Nikola Gruevski has sent a letter to UN mediator Mathew Nimetz asking him to include the issue of Greek recognition of the Macedonian Orthodox Church (MPC) as part of the talks.
Macedonian media report that Gruevski proposed that the matter be part of the entire package of solutions in the long-running dispute between Macedonia and Greece.
"After long discussions and negotiations, according to the information I have received from the MPC, it can be concluded that the roots of the problem again lie in the dispute that Greece has imposed, and which is linked to the Constitutional name,” he said.
"The Serbian Orthodox Church [SPC], among other things, backs the Greek Orthodox Church because a significant segment of the SPC’s leadership was educated and has spent a lot of time in Greek churches and monasteries, and has received grants from Greek Orthodox Church funds, remaining under its influence to this very day. That’s why moderate SPC bishops are known as the Greek wing,” Gruevski wrote.
The Macedonian prime minister also explained that the reason he had written the letter was that in Greece, the state and church were not divided and that they had close ties.
"Messages that the MPC will be recognized only if it changes its name clearly show that this problem has nothing to do with the church, but with politics and with the name of this country, and with the Greek refusal to acknowledge Macedonia’s identity,” Gruevski concluded.
Macedonian Wages Among the Highest in the World
"Invest in Macedonia", implored the government's campaign, because wages here are among the lowest in Europe. Are they?
The average salary in Macedonia is c. 200 euros per month and the cost to the employer - what with wage taxes and contributions to the pension and health funds thrown in - is c. 320 euros. That translates to c. 4000 euros a year.
What does the typical Macedonian worker give in return? In other words, what is the value of the goods and services that each and every Macedonian employee produces?
Easy: simply divide the country's GDP by the size of its workforce.
According to the IMF, Macedonia's GDP this year would be c. 8 billion USD (or 5 billion euros). The World Bank and the CIA largely agree with this estimate. That's 2500 euros per every Macedonian, man, woman, and child (=GDP per capita).
Of course, only 20% of Macedonia's population are employed, so GDP per employee is c. 15,000 euros (excluding the 10% of those who do not get paid).
It looks like a good business: invest 4000 euros a year in your employee and get back 15,000 euros worth of (pretax) product.
But, how does it compare to other countries?
Start with the region.
Albania's and Bosnia-Herzegovina's GDP per capita are equal to Macedonia's, but rising fast with impressive flows of FDI. Bulgaria's and Serbia's are 40% higher. Croatia's is three times Macedonia's. But, since the rate of employment in Croatia is double that of Macedonia, a Croat worker produces only 1.5 times as much GDP as a Macedonian one. Every Greek, Czech, and Slovene worker is four times as productive as a Macedonian worker (these countries' GDP per capita is 8 times Macedonia's) while the Romanians are almost twice as plentiful and the Russian workers beat the Macedonians 1.7:1 (Russia's GDP per capita is 3 times Macedonia's).
Of course, such a comparison is unfair. The Czech average salary is 722 euros and in Serbia it touches 400 euros. We should, therefore divide the GDP per capita by the cost of labor. This is known as GDP unit labor cost.
Even then, Macedonian workers are spectacularly unproductive. The Macedonian costs 4000 euros a year and produces 15,000 euros of GDP annually. The Serb costs pretty much the same (c. 5300 euros a year), but produces 20,000 euros of GDP every 12 months. The Czechs, Greeks, and Slovene employees do even better: they each cost between 9000 euros (Czech Republic) and 20,000 euros (Greece) a year, but give in return 60,000 euros of GDP!
Here's a riddle for you:
An unskilled Russian factory worker earns (gross) 1.60 euros per hour. A German - 13 euros per hour. Where is it better to open a factory?
Let's see: the Russian costs 310 euros a month and the German costs 2500 euros a month. Case closed?
Not yet. The Russian produces 2,000 euros a month. The German produces 8,000 euros a month. An investor is left with 4 times more production in Germany than in Russia. He pays more - but, he definitely gets more.
The Macedonian, by comparison, produces a paltry 1200 euros a month. This is why Macedonia is not an attractive destination for foreign direct investors. Salaries here are actually way too high. Judging by this meager output, to render it attractive, the average wage in Macedonia should not exceed 50 euros a month, all included.
Are Macedonian workers lazier or more stupid than their counterparts elsewhere? Not so. Labor productivity does depend on the existence of a work ethic (longer hours and more effort and initiative). But, more importantly, it reflects the workers' level of education and skills, the age and quality of machinery and other capital goods and equipment used in the production process, the availability of knowledge and technology, and the proliferation of better management. Macedonia needs to work hard in all these spheres merely to catch up with the rest of the region, let alone the world.
The average salary in Macedonia is c. 200 euros per month and the cost to the employer - what with wage taxes and contributions to the pension and health funds thrown in - is c. 320 euros. That translates to c. 4000 euros a year.
What does the typical Macedonian worker give in return? In other words, what is the value of the goods and services that each and every Macedonian employee produces?
Easy: simply divide the country's GDP by the size of its workforce.
According to the IMF, Macedonia's GDP this year would be c. 8 billion USD (or 5 billion euros). The World Bank and the CIA largely agree with this estimate. That's 2500 euros per every Macedonian, man, woman, and child (=GDP per capita).
Of course, only 20% of Macedonia's population are employed, so GDP per employee is c. 15,000 euros (excluding the 10% of those who do not get paid).
It looks like a good business: invest 4000 euros a year in your employee and get back 15,000 euros worth of (pretax) product.
But, how does it compare to other countries?
Start with the region.
Albania's and Bosnia-Herzegovina's GDP per capita are equal to Macedonia's, but rising fast with impressive flows of FDI. Bulgaria's and Serbia's are 40% higher. Croatia's is three times Macedonia's. But, since the rate of employment in Croatia is double that of Macedonia, a Croat worker produces only 1.5 times as much GDP as a Macedonian one. Every Greek, Czech, and Slovene worker is four times as productive as a Macedonian worker (these countries' GDP per capita is 8 times Macedonia's) while the Romanians are almost twice as plentiful and the Russian workers beat the Macedonians 1.7:1 (Russia's GDP per capita is 3 times Macedonia's).
Of course, such a comparison is unfair. The Czech average salary is 722 euros and in Serbia it touches 400 euros. We should, therefore divide the GDP per capita by the cost of labor. This is known as GDP unit labor cost.
Even then, Macedonian workers are spectacularly unproductive. The Macedonian costs 4000 euros a year and produces 15,000 euros of GDP annually. The Serb costs pretty much the same (c. 5300 euros a year), but produces 20,000 euros of GDP every 12 months. The Czechs, Greeks, and Slovene employees do even better: they each cost between 9000 euros (Czech Republic) and 20,000 euros (Greece) a year, but give in return 60,000 euros of GDP!
Here's a riddle for you:
An unskilled Russian factory worker earns (gross) 1.60 euros per hour. A German - 13 euros per hour. Where is it better to open a factory?
Let's see: the Russian costs 310 euros a month and the German costs 2500 euros a month. Case closed?
Not yet. The Russian produces 2,000 euros a month. The German produces 8,000 euros a month. An investor is left with 4 times more production in Germany than in Russia. He pays more - but, he definitely gets more.
The Macedonian, by comparison, produces a paltry 1200 euros a month. This is why Macedonia is not an attractive destination for foreign direct investors. Salaries here are actually way too high. Judging by this meager output, to render it attractive, the average wage in Macedonia should not exceed 50 euros a month, all included.
Are Macedonian workers lazier or more stupid than their counterparts elsewhere? Not so. Labor productivity does depend on the existence of a work ethic (longer hours and more effort and initiative). But, more importantly, it reflects the workers' level of education and skills, the age and quality of machinery and other capital goods and equipment used in the production process, the availability of knowledge and technology, and the proliferation of better management. Macedonia needs to work hard in all these spheres merely to catch up with the rest of the region, let alone the world.
Macedonian Minority No Threat to Greece
Greece's recognition of its ethnic Macedonian minority will not harm Greece in any way, since the Macedonians there are loyal citizens who only seek their basic rights, Macedonia’s Foreign Minister said.
If Athens sees the small Greek minority in Turkey as no threat to Turkey, how can several thousand people who declare themselves as Macedonians in Greece pose a threat to that country? Milososki asked.
The Skopje government asked Athens to grant formal recognition to its Macedonian minority in Greece in July. It also asked for the restitution of the property of Macedonians who fled the 1946-1949 Greek civil war. The government forwarded similarly worded requests to the UN, European Union and NATO, requesting their engagement. Read more: http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/11936/
Greece's position remains that no such community even exists. “There in no Macedonian minority in Greece nor ever was there,” the Greek Prime Minister, Costas Karamanlis, wrote in his answer to the letter from Skopje.
Regarding the ongoing dispute over the country's name, Miloski said Macedonia's position remained firm, adding that the chances for a compromise solution looked small, as long as Greek pressure towards Macedonia continued.
In April, Athens blocked Skopje’s NATO accession, citing the unresolved row, and Greece has threatened to repeat the same tactics over Macedonia's EU bid if Macedonia refuse to change its name. Greece says the name "Macedonia" implies a territorial claim to the northern Greek province of the same name.
Milososki’s interview came days before Greek and Macedonian negotiators were to meet on Thursday in New York to resume ongoing UN-sponsored name talks.
On Friday, the Macedonian Prime Minister, Nikola Gruevski, said that he hoped the UN mediator, Matthew Nimetz, would came up with a “much better” proposal than his last one.
Kathimerini said the compromise name “Northern Macedonia” was still in the game, however, adding that Nimetz believed a final solution to the row could still be reached by September.
Athens has “double standards” when it comes to the Macedonian minority, Antonio Milososki said, in an interview for the Greek newspaper, Kathimerini, on Sunday.
If Athens sees the small Greek minority in Turkey as no threat to Turkey, how can several thousand people who declare themselves as Macedonians in Greece pose a threat to that country? Milososki asked.
The Skopje government asked Athens to grant formal recognition to its Macedonian minority in Greece in July. It also asked for the restitution of the property of Macedonians who fled the 1946-1949 Greek civil war. The government forwarded similarly worded requests to the UN, European Union and NATO, requesting their engagement. Read more: http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/11936/
Greece's position remains that no such community even exists. “There in no Macedonian minority in Greece nor ever was there,” the Greek Prime Minister, Costas Karamanlis, wrote in his answer to the letter from Skopje.
Regarding the ongoing dispute over the country's name, Miloski said Macedonia's position remained firm, adding that the chances for a compromise solution looked small, as long as Greek pressure towards Macedonia continued.
In April, Athens blocked Skopje’s NATO accession, citing the unresolved row, and Greece has threatened to repeat the same tactics over Macedonia's EU bid if Macedonia refuse to change its name. Greece says the name "Macedonia" implies a territorial claim to the northern Greek province of the same name.
Milososki’s interview came days before Greek and Macedonian negotiators were to meet on Thursday in New York to resume ongoing UN-sponsored name talks.
On Friday, the Macedonian Prime Minister, Nikola Gruevski, said that he hoped the UN mediator, Matthew Nimetz, would came up with a “much better” proposal than his last one.
Kathimerini said the compromise name “Northern Macedonia” was still in the game, however, adding that Nimetz believed a final solution to the row could still be reached by September.
Reconstruction of Uranija House to begin in September
Reconstruction of Ohrid's Uranija House, where the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts (MANU) was established, will begin in September. MANU president, academician Georgi Stardelov said Sunday after meeting with Vice Premier Ivica Bocevski that the Government has allocated the reconstruction funds.
"This 19th-century cult building is to be put into function as of next summer, with the main task of scientific research of Macedonia's medieval period, i.e. the Ohrid literary center, where the first Slavic letter was created", said academician Stardelov.
According to him, MANU's intention is to turn Uranija House into the head office of the association of Balkan academies of sciences and arts, where institutions would focus on the region's crucial issues, along with ways towards Balkan's European integration.
Vice Premier Bocevski stressed that the Government intensively resumes with activities on enhancement of cooperation with MANU.
"The Secretariat for European Affairs will intensify MANU-related projects in several areas. Cooperation with the MANU Center for Geo-Strategic Research will focus on series of projects related to Macedonia's Euro-integration, i.e. interpretative dictionaries in Macedonian language, then in the sphere of politological, law and economic sciences", stated Bocevski.
Moreover, the Vice Premier emphasized that the cooperation with MANU on harmonization of the national legislation with the EU Acquis would intensify, whereas the Government would continue to support all projects for equipping the Academy and its centers.
The Uranija House is a building that has endured a number of interventions since 1953, but to no avail. The conservation project envisages toppling of the building to the stone walls, whereas upper parts will be entirely reconstructed in line with the authentic image.
"This 19th-century cult building is to be put into function as of next summer, with the main task of scientific research of Macedonia's medieval period, i.e. the Ohrid literary center, where the first Slavic letter was created", said academician Stardelov.
According to him, MANU's intention is to turn Uranija House into the head office of the association of Balkan academies of sciences and arts, where institutions would focus on the region's crucial issues, along with ways towards Balkan's European integration.
Vice Premier Bocevski stressed that the Government intensively resumes with activities on enhancement of cooperation with MANU.
"The Secretariat for European Affairs will intensify MANU-related projects in several areas. Cooperation with the MANU Center for Geo-Strategic Research will focus on series of projects related to Macedonia's Euro-integration, i.e. interpretative dictionaries in Macedonian language, then in the sphere of politological, law and economic sciences", stated Bocevski.
Moreover, the Vice Premier emphasized that the cooperation with MANU on harmonization of the national legislation with the EU Acquis would intensify, whereas the Government would continue to support all projects for equipping the Academy and its centers.
The Uranija House is a building that has endured a number of interventions since 1953, but to no avail. The conservation project envisages toppling of the building to the stone walls, whereas upper parts will be entirely reconstructed in line with the authentic image.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
NBC Changes Macedonian Web page Under Greek Pressure
The original text on NBC's Olympic page about Macedonia:
A small, landlocked country in the heart of the Balkans in Southeast Europe, bordering Bulgaria, Greece, Albania and Serbia. Declared its independence from Yugoslavia in September 1991.
When Macedonia became independent in 1991, Greece objected to the use of the name "Republic of Macedonia" because "Macedonia" is the name of a region in Greece. In 1993, the United Nations (followed by the European Union, NATO, the IOC and others) recognized Macedonia by the temporary name "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia," which remains the country's name according to those organizations.
However, the United States has referred to Macedonia by its constitutional name, Republic of Macedonia, since 2004. Negotiation between Greece and Macedonia to resolve the name dispute are ongoing.
Olympic Tradition:
Macedonia will be making its fourth appearance in the Olympic Games. Magomed Ibragimov is the only medalist in the nation's history - he won a bronze medal in the 85kg/187.25 lbs freestyle wrestling division at the 2000 Sydney Games.
Philip II, King of Macedon and father of Alexander the Great, won three Olympic titles at the ancient Games.
Beijing Outlook:
Macedonia is not expected to contend for a medal at the Beijing Games.
After Greek pressure (again), the content of the page was changed.
Seven athletes in five sports are trying to join freestyle wrestler Magomed Ibragimov (2000) as medal winners for the Balkan nation.
The webpage can be found here.
A small, landlocked country in the heart of the Balkans in Southeast Europe, bordering Bulgaria, Greece, Albania and Serbia. Declared its independence from Yugoslavia in September 1991.
When Macedonia became independent in 1991, Greece objected to the use of the name "Republic of Macedonia" because "Macedonia" is the name of a region in Greece. In 1993, the United Nations (followed by the European Union, NATO, the IOC and others) recognized Macedonia by the temporary name "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia," which remains the country's name according to those organizations.
However, the United States has referred to Macedonia by its constitutional name, Republic of Macedonia, since 2004. Negotiation between Greece and Macedonia to resolve the name dispute are ongoing.
Olympic Tradition:
Macedonia will be making its fourth appearance in the Olympic Games. Magomed Ibragimov is the only medalist in the nation's history - he won a bronze medal in the 85kg/187.25 lbs freestyle wrestling division at the 2000 Sydney Games.
Philip II, King of Macedon and father of Alexander the Great, won three Olympic titles at the ancient Games.
Beijing Outlook:
Macedonia is not expected to contend for a medal at the Beijing Games.
After Greek pressure (again), the content of the page was changed.
A small, landlocked country in the heart of the Balkans in Southeast Europe, bordering Bulgaria, Greece, Albania and Serbia. Declared its independence from Yugoslavia in September 1991.
When Macedonia became independent in 1991, Greece objected to the use of the name "Republic of Macedonia" because "Macedonia" is the name of a region in Greece. In 1993, the United Nations (followed by the European Union, NATO, the IOC and others) recognized Macedonia by the temporary name "Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia," which remains the country's name according to those organizations.
However, the United States has referred to Macedonia by its constitutional name, Republic of Macedonia, since 2004. Negotiation between Greece and Macedonia to resolve the name dispute are ongoing.
Olympic Tradition:
Macedonia is competing at its 4th Olympic Summer Games in Beijing as an independent nation. Magomed Ibragimov is the only medalist in the nation's history - he won a bronze medal in the 85kg/187.25 lbs freestyle wrestling division at the 2000 Sydney Games.
Seven athletes in five sports are trying to join freestyle wrestler Magomed Ibragimov (2000) as medal winners for the Balkan nation.
The webpage can be found here.
Monday, August 11, 2008
FYROM parades under official name in Beijing
The Olympic delegation of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) yesterday paraded in the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympiad under a banner with the initials of its official name FYROM, used by the United Nations and the International Olympic Committee (IOC). This followed Greek representations to the IOC and the organizers to stop the neighboring country from using its constitutional name of “Republic of Macedonia.” The Hellenic Olympic Committee also complained regarding a reference to FYROM athletes on the official Games website as “Macedonians.” Separately, FYROM Premier Nikola Gruevski snubbed a suggestion that UN mediator Matthew Nimetz might propose “New Democratic State of Macedonia” to resolve the name dispute with Greece. “It will have the same fate as his last proposal,” he said.
Greek Olympic committee protests over Macedonia name entry
Greece said Friday it had filed a complaint with the Beijing Olympic committee over the use of the name ""Macedonia"" in relation to Skopje's entry to the Olympic Games on its official website.
Greece and its northern neighbor are locked in a bitter dispute over the right to use the name ""Macedonia,"" which applies to both the former Yugoslav state and a northern Greek province.
Athens claims that Skopje's use of the name implies territorial ambitions beyond its existing borders.
""There has been an official protest to the Bocog president, Liu Qi, and the vice president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Lambis Nikolaou, has raised the issue with the IOC chief Jacques Rogge,"" Greek Olympic committee head Minos Kyriakou said in a statement.
Macedonia, which gained independence in 1991, was made a member of the United Nations in 1993 under the temporary name of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).
Subsequent negotiations on the name dispute, under UN auspices, have so far been fruitless.
In Skopje after the opening ceremony, the Macedonian government urged Athens to back off.
""The government of the Republic of Macedonia is appealing on Greece to leave politics out of sport fields,"" the Deputy Prime Minister Ivica Bocevski told reporters in Skopje.
""We appeal (to) our southern neighbor to let the spirit of Olympics and sport competitions to find its place at the Olympic Games in Beijing. The disputes we have are bilateral ones and are being solved through usual forums and dialogues,"" Bocevski said.
More than 120 states have recognized the former Yugoslav republic under the name ""The Republic of Macedonia,"" including China, Russia, the United States and Turkey, although no European Union member has.
Greece and its northern neighbor are locked in a bitter dispute over the right to use the name ""Macedonia,"" which applies to both the former Yugoslav state and a northern Greek province.
Athens claims that Skopje's use of the name implies territorial ambitions beyond its existing borders.
""There has been an official protest to the Bocog president, Liu Qi, and the vice president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Lambis Nikolaou, has raised the issue with the IOC chief Jacques Rogge,"" Greek Olympic committee head Minos Kyriakou said in a statement.
Macedonia, which gained independence in 1991, was made a member of the United Nations in 1993 under the temporary name of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).
Subsequent negotiations on the name dispute, under UN auspices, have so far been fruitless.
In Skopje after the opening ceremony, the Macedonian government urged Athens to back off.
""The government of the Republic of Macedonia is appealing on Greece to leave politics out of sport fields,"" the Deputy Prime Minister Ivica Bocevski told reporters in Skopje.
""We appeal (to) our southern neighbor to let the spirit of Olympics and sport competitions to find its place at the Olympic Games in Beijing. The disputes we have are bilateral ones and are being solved through usual forums and dialogues,"" Bocevski said.
More than 120 states have recognized the former Yugoslav republic under the name ""The Republic of Macedonia,"" including China, Russia, the United States and Turkey, although no European Union member has.
Seven-year anniversary of Karpalak attack
Seventh anniversary of the Karpalak attack, which claimed the lives of 10 army reservists from Prilep during the 2001 conflict, will be marked Friday on the Tetovo-Skopje highway at Karpalak site.
Delegations of the Ministry of Defense, led by deputy minister Emil Dimitrievski and the Macedonian Army (ARM), led by General Major Zoran Dimov, commander of the Joint Operations Command, will lay flowers nearby Karpalak commemorating this tragic event.
The reservists who survived the ambush attack, together with a delegation of the Prilep Assembly will also pay their respect in Karpalak and in the Prilep cemeteries, where they are laid to rest.
Delegations of the local self-government, Karpalak Association of Soldiers and citizens on Thursday evening laid flowers and paid respect to the killed reservists at the monuments erected in barracks "Mircev Acev" and Leniste village near Prilep. In honor of the ARM reservists, a memorial plaque will be unveiled in Prilep downtown, thus heralding the procedure for renaming 13 streets in Prilep after the town's ARM reservists.
On August 8 seven years ago, a Prilep convoy made up of five vehicles and 120 reservists was ambushed near Karpalak. Defending the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the state, Nane Naumovski, Saso Kitanoski, Branko Sekuloski, Goran Minoski, Marko Despotoski, Erdovan Sabanoski, Ljube Grujoski, Darko Veljanoski, Pece Sekuloski and Vebi Rusidoski, all ARM reservists, lost their lives in the attack.
Delegations of the Ministry of Defense, led by deputy minister Emil Dimitrievski and the Macedonian Army (ARM), led by General Major Zoran Dimov, commander of the Joint Operations Command, will lay flowers nearby Karpalak commemorating this tragic event.
The reservists who survived the ambush attack, together with a delegation of the Prilep Assembly will also pay their respect in Karpalak and in the Prilep cemeteries, where they are laid to rest.
Delegations of the local self-government, Karpalak Association of Soldiers and citizens on Thursday evening laid flowers and paid respect to the killed reservists at the monuments erected in barracks "Mircev Acev" and Leniste village near Prilep. In honor of the ARM reservists, a memorial plaque will be unveiled in Prilep downtown, thus heralding the procedure for renaming 13 streets in Prilep after the town's ARM reservists.
On August 8 seven years ago, a Prilep convoy made up of five vehicles and 120 reservists was ambushed near Karpalak. Defending the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of the state, Nane Naumovski, Saso Kitanoski, Branko Sekuloski, Goran Minoski, Marko Despotoski, Erdovan Sabanoski, Ljube Grujoski, Darko Veljanoski, Pece Sekuloski and Vebi Rusidoski, all ARM reservists, lost their lives in the attack.
Athens willing to negotiate only name dispute, not Macedonian minority
Athens doesn't accept to negotiate with Skopje for issues other than the name dispute, Greek newspapers write Wednesday, commenting the forthcoming fresh round of Macedonia-Greece talks in New York, the first one after Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski has sent letters to several international organisations and representatives in which he emphasised the existence of a Macedonian minority in Greece.
"Naftemboriki" reports the statement given by Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis that solely the name and its application is the focal point of the negotiations being led under UN auspices. The newspaper pinpoints that Gruevski has sent letters to EU, NATO, UN, OSCE, the Council of Europe and to G-8 countries. It is Skopje's planned tactics for incorporating the issue of the Macedonian minority in Greece into the UN-brokered name talks, estimates "Naftemboriki".
Athens is alarmed that Skopje could press the talks to cover the minority issue and therefore it wants to warn mediator Matthew Nimetz on time not to expand the meeting's agenda, reports "Ethnos". Greece, it adds, says no progress is expected from the new round of talks, scheduled on August 14-15.
"Ta Nea" daily, citing diplomatic sources, states "the situation is not very favourable" and the outcome of the coming meeting between Nimetz and countries' negotiators, Nikola Dimitrov and Adamantios Vassilakis, is widely anticipated.
Moreover, "Elefteros Typos" says Greece's MoFA conducts a name dispute tactics of "not even a step backwards", whilst "Kathemirini" daily stresses Greece has the backing of France, the current EU presidency holder, regarding the issue.
"Naftemboriki" reports the statement given by Greek Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyannis that solely the name and its application is the focal point of the negotiations being led under UN auspices. The newspaper pinpoints that Gruevski has sent letters to EU, NATO, UN, OSCE, the Council of Europe and to G-8 countries. It is Skopje's planned tactics for incorporating the issue of the Macedonian minority in Greece into the UN-brokered name talks, estimates "Naftemboriki".
Athens is alarmed that Skopje could press the talks to cover the minority issue and therefore it wants to warn mediator Matthew Nimetz on time not to expand the meeting's agenda, reports "Ethnos". Greece, it adds, says no progress is expected from the new round of talks, scheduled on August 14-15.
"Ta Nea" daily, citing diplomatic sources, states "the situation is not very favourable" and the outcome of the coming meeting between Nimetz and countries' negotiators, Nikola Dimitrov and Adamantios Vassilakis, is widely anticipated.
Moreover, "Elefteros Typos" says Greece's MoFA conducts a name dispute tactics of "not even a step backwards", whilst "Kathemirini" daily stresses Greece has the backing of France, the current EU presidency holder, regarding the issue.
Athens protests over use of names Macedonia, Macedonians at Olympic Games in Beijing
The Government and the Olympic Committee in Greece have sent a protest letter to the Organizational Committee of the Olympic Games in Beijing over the use of the words ‘Macedonia’ and ‘Macedonian’ during the formal presentation of the sportspeople from the Republic of Macedonia and in texts, published on the Internet page of the Olympic Games, the Macdeodnian TV channel Sitel reported.
The Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs Dora Bakoyannis said that Macedonia should be called by the name, registered in the UN as it was at the last Olympic Games in Athens and in Sydney.
The Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs Dora Bakoyannis said that Macedonia should be called by the name, registered in the UN as it was at the last Olympic Games in Athens and in Sydney.
Macedonia opposition ends Parliament boycott
Macedonia's opposition Social Democrats and allied parties have ended an 18-day boycott of Parliament after the president pardoned a party official accused of corruption.
President Branko Crvenkovski says his weekend pardon of Social Democrat deputy leader Zoran Zaev was justified because the boycott was hurting the Balkan country's prospects of joining NATO and the European Union.
The party and its allies ended their boycott on Monday.
The party maintains that Zaev's July 17 arrest on suspicion embezzling millions in public funds was politically motivated by the country's conservative government.
Macedonian Defence Minister, French Envoy Discuss Relations, Name, NATO
French Ambassador to Macedonia Bernard Valero conveyed Monday [4 August] to Defence Minister Zoran Konjanovski the messages of official Paris on strengthening of the cooperation between the countries' Defence Ministries, reiterating France's support to Macedonia's NATO accession.
"I reiterated our support to the Defence Ministry and army reforms in recent years, along with France's support to Macedonia's NATO integration," said Ambassador Valero after the meeting.
Interlocutors focused on bilateral cooperation and participation in international EU-led peacekeeping missions, where according to Valero "Macedonia sets an example through its engagement."
"France-Macedonia relations are exceptional, and in this context we referred to enhancement of several projects," added Ambassador Valero.
Minister Konjanovski voiced the ministry's commitment to continuation of the reform process. In the context of bilateral cooperation, he mentioned training of military personnel by the year- end, along with new projects and expert assistance.
"We resume in our efforts to further professionalize the military personnel, so that our forces remain a significant part of NATO's peacekeeping operations," added Konjanovski.
Moreover, Konjanovski and Valero confirmed the meeting also tackled the name dispute with Greece.
"Pertaining to the name issue, I cannot say anything new, except repeat France's expectation that a solution to the problem is found as soon as possible," said Valero.
Minister Konjanovski said the Bucharest NATO Summit events would not discourage Macedonia.
"On the contrary, this will motivate us to accelerate the reform tempo, and I am certain this injustice brought upon the Republic of Macedonia will be mended in the upcoming period," underlined Konjanovski.
Mystery surrounds Barbara's death
Eighteen years old Barbara Lazarova, died on Sunday at 22:00hrs at Skopje's Nephrology Clinic. The director of Nephrology Dr Aleksandar Sikole says doctors have a diagnosis, however are waiting for the autopsy results.
"The kidneys were damaged, the heart, blood, brain damages... It's the law to make an autopsy in this case because it is very unusual for a young woman to have such serious complications with so many of her organs." says Dr. Sikole.
Barbara had been admitted at the Skopje Clinic on July 29th with diarrhea and a fever like temperature. The doctors did not get an indication that Barbara had menninghitis. It's not clear yet, what caused the poisoning, however 'spoilt meat' is the primary suspect. Barbara had eaten meat at a Budva Restaurant, and later drank water from a fountain outside.
Monetengro Authorities have performed inspection at the restaurant where Barbara ate, however the inspection was done two days after the incident was reported!
The owner of the Restaurant says it was impossible for the food poisoning to have come from his Restaurant. Serbian Media had also written of menninghitis cases in Podgorica and Danilovgrad, but Montenegro denied this.
Barbara's parents have blamed Montenegro in part for not helping her at their Hospitals. Barbara had been charged 80 euros for her hospital visit in Budva, and later was charged 100 euros for a 30km taxi ride. This slowed down Barbara's return to Macedonia, because she had waited money from her parents so she could come back.
The Macedonian Government has issued Alert for all citizens traveling to a different country.
- Consume water from bottles only.
- Consume foods that are kept on safe temperatures
- Double wash any vegetables or fruits.Macedonian President Pardons Strumica Mayor, Opposition Back to Assembly
President Branko Crvenkovski signed decision to pardon Strumica Mayor Zoran Zaev and his five associates, suspected of misuse of official power regarding the construction of shopping mall "Global."
Cabinet [office] of President Branko Crvenkovski said in a press release that, after the consultations with the leaders of SDSM [Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia] and DPA [Democratic Party of Albanians - PDSh in Albanian] Radmila Sekerinska and Menduh Thaci, he was informed that two political parties accepted his proposal for surpassing the political crisis in the country. SDSM and DPA return in the Macedonian Parliament, in ZELS [Association of Self-Government Units], and establish normal cooperation with institutions in the country.
Also, President Crvenkovski passed decision for not signing the decrees proclaiming the Law on Use of Languages, Law on Lobbying, Law on changes and supplements to the Law on Labour Relations, Law on changes and supplements to the Law on Expropriation, Law on changes and supplements to the Law on Practice of Law, and Law on changes and supplements to the Law on Energy.
SDSM through announcement confirmed that it accepted the proposal of President Crvenkovski for return in the parliament and also accepted the decision to pardon Zaev.
VMRO-DPMNE [Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization- Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity] late Saturday [2 August] assessed the President Crvenkovski's decisions as coup d'etat against the institutions in the Republic of Macedonia.
VMRO-DPMNE considered that with this Crvenkovski maximally misused his position exclusively in the interest of the party it belongs. This is the first case in southeastern Europe of passing a decision to pardon persons suspected of crime.
Cabinet [office] of President Branko Crvenkovski said in a press release that, after the consultations with the leaders of SDSM [Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia] and DPA [Democratic Party of Albanians - PDSh in Albanian] Radmila Sekerinska and Menduh Thaci, he was informed that two political parties accepted his proposal for surpassing the political crisis in the country. SDSM and DPA return in the Macedonian Parliament, in ZELS [Association of Self-Government Units], and establish normal cooperation with institutions in the country.
Also, President Crvenkovski passed decision for not signing the decrees proclaiming the Law on Use of Languages, Law on Lobbying, Law on changes and supplements to the Law on Labour Relations, Law on changes and supplements to the Law on Expropriation, Law on changes and supplements to the Law on Practice of Law, and Law on changes and supplements to the Law on Energy.
SDSM through announcement confirmed that it accepted the proposal of President Crvenkovski for return in the parliament and also accepted the decision to pardon Zaev.
VMRO-DPMNE [Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization- Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity] late Saturday [2 August] assessed the President Crvenkovski's decisions as coup d'etat against the institutions in the Republic of Macedonia.
VMRO-DPMNE considered that with this Crvenkovski maximally misused his position exclusively in the interest of the party it belongs. This is the first case in southeastern Europe of passing a decision to pardon persons suspected of crime.
Macedonia Ministry of Justice: Decision to pardon Zoran Zaev is act against justice
Skopje. The decision of the head of state to pardon the Mayor of Strumica and the five suspected is a violent attack against the judiciary. This was announced by the Macedonian Ministry of Justice today in relation to the decision of the President of the country Branko Crvenkovski to pardon the Mayor Zoran Zaev and the other people suspected in relation to the Global trade center case in Strumica, the Macedonian agency Makfax reported.
Eleftheros Typos: For Skopje nationalism is not choice, but necessity
The nationalism is not a choice for Skopje, it is a necessity, the Greek daily Eleftheros Typos reports. Skopje is not the typical example of a nationalistic country. It is more a peculiar state formation without national uniformity, and with population without unified identity.
To be more precise, the daily notes, FYROM consists of population with different national identities, to which it is trying to assign false ‘Macedonian’ identity.
The daily concludes that ‘all this has no connection to Greece, nor the naming dispute. If FYROM stops being a ‘national country’, then a large part of the ‘Slav-speakers’ will start feeling themselves Bulgarians and will leave for Sofia – a process, which has, by the way, already started’, the article reads.
To be more precise, the daily notes, FYROM consists of population with different national identities, to which it is trying to assign false ‘Macedonian’ identity.
The daily concludes that ‘all this has no connection to Greece, nor the naming dispute. If FYROM stops being a ‘national country’, then a large part of the ‘Slav-speakers’ will start feeling themselves Bulgarians and will leave for Sofia – a process, which has, by the way, already started’, the article reads.
Controversial solutions for return of opposition
Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski warned that the country won't receive date for membership negotiations with the European Union if the opposition does not return to the Parliament, for which he offered a solution.
In order the opposition to return to the Parliament, he offers to SDSM abolition of Strumica mayor Zoran Zaev and his associates, in relation to the "Global" case.
The President guarantees to DPA that he won't sign the decree on the Law on Languages Use and that there will be repeated Parliament procedure on this issue. Otherwise, the President said this Law is good.
To bring the opposition back to the Parliament, the President also said he won't sign the laws on lobbying, on labour relations, on expropriation and on law Bar, causing them to be returned to the Parliament.
In the October report, the European Commission won't give recommendation for starting the accession negotiations with the Union", Crvenkovski said, stating that the failure to meet the eight criteria set forth by the EU and election irregularities are the cause.
However, according to the President, the most serious problem is opposition's boycott of the Parliament and other state bodies.
"We are not receiving negotiation date from the EU with this defective Parliament, and halfway democracy", Crvenkovski said.
The President also said he will try to talk with SDSM and DPA presidents, Radmila Sekerinska and Menduh Thaci. He added that if the opposition does not stop the boycott, his proposals are pointless.
Crvenkovski also pointed out that, according to him, politics is involved in crime-fighting.
"I am convinced that the combat against crime and corruption... is used for political settlements with opponents of the government", the President said.
When asked by journalists about eventual election of the President by the Parliament, Crvenkovski replied: "I have no intention to resign before the end of my term".
In order the opposition to return to the Parliament, he offers to SDSM abolition of Strumica mayor Zoran Zaev and his associates, in relation to the "Global" case.
The President guarantees to DPA that he won't sign the decree on the Law on Languages Use and that there will be repeated Parliament procedure on this issue. Otherwise, the President said this Law is good.
To bring the opposition back to the Parliament, the President also said he won't sign the laws on lobbying, on labour relations, on expropriation and on law Bar, causing them to be returned to the Parliament.
In the October report, the European Commission won't give recommendation for starting the accession negotiations with the Union", Crvenkovski said, stating that the failure to meet the eight criteria set forth by the EU and election irregularities are the cause.
However, according to the President, the most serious problem is opposition's boycott of the Parliament and other state bodies.
"We are not receiving negotiation date from the EU with this defective Parliament, and halfway democracy", Crvenkovski said.
The President also said he will try to talk with SDSM and DPA presidents, Radmila Sekerinska and Menduh Thaci. He added that if the opposition does not stop the boycott, his proposals are pointless.
Crvenkovski also pointed out that, according to him, politics is involved in crime-fighting.
"I am convinced that the combat against crime and corruption... is used for political settlements with opponents of the government", the President said.
When asked by journalists about eventual election of the President by the Parliament, Crvenkovski replied: "I have no intention to resign before the end of my term".
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