Makedonien|Mazedonien News

Makedonski Telekom's division T-Home launched Office Complete, a dual-play package for businesses which comprises fixed telephony and broadband internet access. With this offer, business customers get minutes for making calls, reduced prices for national and international traffic, calls at no extra cost between the lines included in the package, internet access, as well as hosting and e-mail addresses. In addition, Office Complete subscribers may subscribe to one of T-Home's Max TV IPTV packages. To activate a MaxTV package, customers receive equipment at no extra charge from T-Home.

Premier Nikola Gruevski and several of his ministers launched Sunday on Skopje's Klimet Ohridski boulevard the eighth campaign "Tree Day - Plant Your Future", which is to be held on November 23. On Wednesday, 5 million and 700 thousands trees will be planted at 400 sites nearby settlements, natural and artificial lakes, in national parks and along regional and local roads during the autumn campaign titled "Planting Today - Writing and Sending a Letter of Peace". 38 million trees have been planted in the previous seven campaigns. According to Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Ljupco Dimovski, this was a great step for Macedonia considering the significance of forests. Since 2009 onwards, 40,000 trees have been planted in Skopje, its mayor Koce Trajanovski said. The main motto of this year's campaign is "Letter of Love, Respect and Friendship - Plant Peace, Friendship and Love." The letter contains a clear message that by ...

Situation involving the eurozone is quite complex and its impact will be also felt in Macedonia, especially in the real sector. However, it's positive that the banking system is stable and major disturbances are not possible, economy experts argue.  "Developments in the eurozone are not favourable for our economy as well, because Macedonia's export is mainly linked to the European Union. I'm pleased that in addition to Europe's turmoil, Macedonia's monetary, banking and fiscal system is the brightest point. It is stable and no major shocks are expected. The real sector will be affected, which in Macedonia largely depends on the circumstances in Germany being country's biggest trade partner. I expect Germany to achieve high growth rates in due time, which will be beneficial for the Republic of Macedonia, university professor Ljube Trpeski stated Friday after an international conference held at the Faculty of Economy in Skopje.  In any case, Trpeski added, ...

Skopje. Macedonian Interior Minister Gordana Jankulovska has suggested for Bulgaria and Romania to exchange police officers during a tourist season, Macedonian daily Vecer writes on Friday. According to the proposal Jankulovska made at a ministerial forum in Bulgaria, Macedonian police officers will be commissioned on the Bulgarian seacoast, while Bulgarian police officers will be on duty in Ohrid in summer. In winter Macedonian police officers will go to Bansko mountain resort, while their Bulgarian counterparts will work in ski centers in Popova Sapka and Mavrovo. All police officers will have reduced rights and will be in charge of traffic safety, but not of serious crimes.  According to the plans Montenegrin police officers will be commissioned to Macedonia, too.  The Macedonian Interior Ministry proposes the same exchange of police officers to Turkey, Serbia and Greece. QUELLE

Serbian newspapers are reporting that Crvena Zvezda is showing interest in the 21-year-old Macedonian attacker Nikola Jakimovski from FK Javor. Nikola Jakimovski, who currently plays for FK Javor, is apparently drawing interest from Serbian giant Crvena Zvezda according to several Serbian newspapers. Jakimovski has caught the eye of the club with his good performances for Javor during league play and in addition, Crvena Zvezda supposedly sent a scout to watch Jakimovski during the recent U21 encounter between Macedonia and Denmark. Jakimovski was actually a late addition to the U21 squad as manager Boban Babunski only called up Jakimovski after it became clear that Ferhan Hasani would remain with the senior national team.  Jakimovski was a product of the Makedonija Gjorce Petrov youth system. In 2010, he moved abroad to Hungary with Ferencváros but he was not receiving much playing time so he then joined Tetovo based club Teteks for the second half of the season. He was...

Support to the initiative for protection and promotion of Macedonian identity "Makedonium Manifesto" can be given at social network "Facebook" as of Wednesday. Thus, the initiators expect more support to the already 65,000 signatures by citizens of all ethnicities and ages nationwide, along with over 170 organizations and associations. The campaign, which ends on Friday, will be followed by activities of informing representatives of European institutions in Macedonia and Brussels over the positions of the initiators and the country's citizens. The initiative has been promoted by a group of Macedonian athletes and artists, who reacted to the omission of adjective "Macedonian" from the European Commission Progress Report. The group's steering committee is consisted of Marin Dokuzovski (basketball coach), Indira Kastratovic (former handball star), Venko Andonovski (writer and university professor), Kaliopi Bukle (singer-songwriter), Simon Trpceski...

Former Italian policemen Luka Cerubini (37) and Daniele Saravini (33) are suspects for the killing of Macedonian businessmen Hristo Uzunov and Ekrem Salija. According to Italian police, the reason for the killing is 400,000 euros that Saravini owed to the Macedonian businessmen after they loaned him the money to finance the building of a shopping center in Skopje. Saravini had called the two Macedonians in Italy so he could return the money, however his plan had been not to return the money, but to kill the two.  Italian police has stated that Saravini had ordered the killing, while Cerubini and few others were the executioners. Police is actively searching for Cerubini. Both Macedonians were shot in the back and dumped at a nearby forest in Brescia. The bodies were discovered two and a half months later by a local villager who was picking fruits in the forest. Thanks to suitcases and cell phone with a Macedonian sim card left at the hotel, Italian police was quickly able to ...

Macedonia's Health Minister Nikola Todorov paid a surprise visit to Shtip's main Hospital. As a result, the Neurology Wing of the hospital is shut down for lacking normal operational conditions. "The cameras with me can not broadcast the unpleasant smell here. This wing is 2km away from the main clinic, and the patients here are critically ill, with brain cancers, survivors of brain hemorrhages etc. The currend conditions at this place are far below what would be considered "normal" said Todorov. There may be an alternative as the Shtip clinic does have a wing next to the "Infectious Diseases" wing which is currently not in use and is in far better condition than the current location where the "Neurology" wing is situated. Two of the Neurology nurses were fined because they were caught smoking during the health inspectors visit, while other four were moved to other areas of the clinic. The Health Minister announced his team would analyze ...

Macedonian internet and cable TV operator Blizoo said on 14 November it plans to invest around EUR 3.5 million in the development of its network in 2012. The operator invested EUR 4.2 million in the network in 2010 and EUR 3.2 million in 2011. Part of these resources are being invested in Fiber Power, a new service based on HFC technology, which will enable the operator to offer analogue and digital TV (120 channels), unlimited internet access (up to 50 Mbps in download), and digital fixed telephony (free calls to other Blizoo users). Blizoo has also introduced a package of seven HD channels (Eurosport HD, ESPN HD, MTV Live HD, Food Network HD, Viasat Nature HD/History HD, Planeta HD and Penthouse HD), with further channels to be added soon. Skopje-based Blizoo is owned by Swedish private investment fund EQT and is a result of the rebranding of Cabletel, which had been founded in May 2007.

Austrian group Steiermaerkische Sparkasse has invested fresh EUR 15 million for increase of the Sparkasse Bank Macedonia capital, which now amounts to EUR 25,4 million. According to the bank management, the investment would strengthen the bank's position on market, along with the possibility to support a number of projects. "We want to use this capital for two goals - strengthening of the bank's balance quality and enhancement of the bank's market position", said Tuesday Sparkasse Bank Macedonia board chairman Srdjan Krstic. The Steiermaerkische Sparkasse group has approximately two million clients and 6,000 employees, including the 299 in Macedonia.

Bulgarian cable operator Blizoo says that orders for its triple-play products have increased by 70% over the first week of its launch of its new Fiber Power brand and a new triple-play service. The company said it intends to launch a new DVR service with EPG search and instant recording to the 25% of its subscribers with compatible receivers via an over-the-air download. Blizoo has extended the Fiber Power service to its subsidiary in Macedonia, Cabletel, which has now been rebranded as Blizoo. In Macedonia, Blizoo is offering internet speeds of 10, 20 and 50Mbps and a TV package including seven HD services. Blizoo’s new triple-play offering in Bulgaria includes 150 digital channels including 16 HD services, 150Mbps broadband and 5,000 minutes of landline telephony for BGN59.90 (€31).

On the total tax rate, which measures the amount of taxes and mandatory contributions by a business, expressed as a share of commercial profit, Macedonia ranks in the very high 4th place in the world with a total rate of 9.7%, according to a new report by the World Bank, IFC, and PwC. Macedonia is a good practice example, according to Paying Taxes 2012 report since it has, alongside United Kingdom and China, one tax per tax base. The Paying Taxes 2012 ranks Macedonia in the 20th place, ahead of all countries in Eastern Europe. Paying Taxes 2012 measures all mandatory taxes and contributions that a midsize firm must pay in a given year. Taxes and contributions measured include the profit or corporate income tax, social contributions and labor taxes paid by the employer, property taxes, property transfer taxes, dividend tax, capital gains tax, financial transactions tax, waste collection taxes, vehicle and road taxes, and other small taxes or fees. "Macedonia's hig...

A small private plane with French aircraft registration missed the runway on Monday night as it tried to land at Skopje's Alexander the Great airport. No one is injured and the plane hasn't been damaged, except having a flat tyre, which is believed to be the main cause of the accident. The Civil Aviation Agency says the plane - which flew from Maastricht to Skopje - had a hard landing and initially touched down on the grass missing the extended asphalt of the runway. The plane was carrying three passengers. Following the incident, inspectors of the Civil Aviation Agency visited the site and launched an investigation into why the plane missed the runway.

Macedonian, Chinese Ministers of Culture, Elizabeta Kanceska-Milevska and Cai Wu, will sign Wednesday in Beijing a cooperation program for 2012-2017. The signing ceremony is part of the manifestation 'Macedonian Folklore in China', which kicks off tomorrow at Beijing Jintai Art Museum, the Ministry of Culture said in a press release on Tuesday. The exhibit 'Macedonian Folklore' - work of art of Gordana Vrencoska - will have the honor the open the event. The exhibit will display photos, items, graphics... On Thursday, prominent folk ensemble 'Tanec' will give a concert in Beijing Century hall, and another one in the city of Dalian, the press release reads.

The World Bank projects a rise of Macedonia's economy by three percent in 2011 and 2.5 percent in 2012. These projections are part of the South East Europe Regular Economic Report, released on Tuesday, which foresees a sluggish growth for regional economies. "Macedonia's growth several years prior to the crisis and afterwards is larger than the regional average. Projections range around three percent for this year and 2.5 percent for 2012, which is still higher than the Western Balkan average", said World Bank director for Macedonia, Lilia Burunciuc after the video-conference link presenting the World Bank report. According to her, the Report sends a clear message that Western Balkan countries should be prepared for the current crisis and the one coming in the European Union. "With regards to the Report, it seems that Macedonia is in a much better position compared to its neighbors. This comes as a result of the solid macroeconomic policy in the past decade a...

I have a name, I am Macedonian and wish for the world to refer to me under that name, as it is my fundamental right, Macedonian language professor Biljana Kotlar - Sakoman said Sunday after signing the 'Makedonium Manifesto' - an appeal for preventing acts of denial of the Macedonian language and the omission of the adjective "Macedonian" in European Commission's progress report on the country for 2011. Kiril Mancev from Skopje says the adjective's omission is a shame for Europe, while pensioner Bosilka Ristovska considers that nobody is entitled to deprive Macedonia from its name. Marce Hristovski from Skopje says that the move of European institutions is ridiculus. To erase one language, identity of a nation is a political genocide, he says, urging his fellow citizens to sign the manifest. Over 400 citizens turned up Sunday in Skopje Army House to sign the 'Makedonium Manifesto'. For the last few days since a group of Macedonian athletes and art...

The first modern, energy efficient shopping centre in Skopje named Skopje City Mall will be constructed by Balfin Finance B.V., through an investment funds worth EUR 70 million, secured by a consortium of European and local banks.  Fund providers European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Komercijalna Banka AD Skopje, and Raiffeisen Bank-Albania signed Friday the agreement, in the attendance of Vice Premier and Finance Minister Zoran Stavreski.  EBRD has loaned EUR 18,9 million, Reiffaisen Bank-Albania EUR 20 million, whereas Komercijalna Banka AD Skopje EUR 8 million.  This is EBRD's first investment in the emerging Macedonian property and retail sector which is looking to compete with other countries in the region in terms of modern shopping space.  The project developer, Balfin MK d.o.o. is a joint venture company with an equal shareholding between Fashion Group, the largest retail group in the country and Balfin, a leading regional retail and re...

Many cultural, humanitarian and sports events are to mark Sunday the Liberation Day - 13 November - of Macedonia's capital - Skopje. On the occasion, the '13 November' award will be presented at the cinema 'Frosina' to this year laureates: PhD Nikita Sekutovski, Prof. Ljubinka Bosotova - education; Bojku Fejzi and Dimitar Masevski - art; Boris Pop Gjorcev - journalisam; Bosko Zaborski - sports; Aleksandar Janevski - humanitarian activities; Mico Popovski - business; the Center for Environmental Reaserch and Information 'Eco-Svest'; as well as students - Ivan Antovski, Tasko Smilevski and Aleksandar Stepanovski. Early today, Skopje Mayor Koce Trajanovski met with a group of veterans, who fought for Skopje liberation in 1944. State, diplomatic delegations are also set to lay fresh flowers on the monuments of Skopje Liberators, Partisan Cemetery and General 'Mihajlo Apostolski' monument. The program also includes a Red Cross blood donation campaign...

Macedonian engineers spent months visiting Europe's best opera houses, they studied their interior and acoustics. When everything was said and done, the architects created the blue print for the future Macedonian opera house, designed in such a way to produce the best acoustic sound not just for the audience, but for the musicians as well. The capacity of the opera house is 900 seats integrated in three levels. The company tasked for the design and build is "Makedonija Proekt".

Macedonian winery Skovin, the only winery in Macedonia that exports wine to Japan, will strengthen its position on the Japanese market. The quality of Skovin’s wine was confirmed by experts from the largest Japanese winery, Santori.  The penetration of Macedonian wines in the Japanese market is even more significant if one takes into account that the Japanese market is very picky when it comes to quality. Export to Japan is expected to increase substantially in the coming period. Last year, 500,000 litres of wine was exported to Japan.  Skovin has a good quality of wines and manages the quality control well. For this reason, it has been chosen by Japanese consumers.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development will lend 65 million euros ($88.3 million) to Macedonia to build a 70 megawatt hydro power plant, the biggest such project in the former Yugoslav republic in a decade. The Boskov Most facility will be developed by state-owned power producer Elektrani Na Makedonija AD, or ELEM, near Debar in the west of the country, the London-based lender said in an e-mailed statement today. “Boskov Most will help ELEM meet Macedonian power demand, which is volatile and characterised by high peaks, the EBRD said in the statement. ‘‘The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia relies on electricity imports for almost a quarter of its consumption needs,’’ while more than 75 percent of domestic power output comes from an ageing, lignite-fired plant, it said.

Several thousand people took to the streets to protest the planned re-opening of a lead and zinc smelting factory that environmental activists say polluted the Macedonian city of Veles for three decades. Organisers hailed the turn-out for the protest late Wednesday as "the first green revolution" in Macedonia. "Our future cannot be bought," said Nenad Kocic from the Green Coalition which organised the protest, urging authorities not to repeat its mistake of 1973 when the smelter first opened. The factory in Veles, 50 kilometres (30 miles) south of the Macedonian capital Skopje, closed in 2003 but recently the private company that bought it, Metrudhem, has said it plans to resume operations in two to three years. Veles was named a pollution hot spot by the United Nations environmental programme in 2000 which said the smelter emitted large quantities of sulfur dioxide and dust bearing lead, zinc and cadmium into the atmosphere. The current mayor of Veles, also a ...

Die stagnierende EU-Annäherung Mazedoniens ist am Montag bei Gesprächen von Außenamts-Staatssekretär Wolfgang Waldner (V) mit Regierungsvertretern in Skopje im Mittelpunkt gestanden. Dreimal hat die EU-Kommission schon empfohlen, mit Mazedonien Beitrittsverhandlungen aufzunehmen. Griechenland blockiert in einem 20 Jahre alten Streit mit dem Nachbarn um den Staatsnamen „Republik Mazedonien“ aber diesen Fortschritt. Entgegen der offiziellen EU-Linie vertritt Österreich hier die Position, dass die vorherige Lösung des Namenstreits keine Voraussetzung für die Aufnahme der Beitrittsgespräche sein sollte, wie Waldner der APA sagte. „Die sollen endlich mit den Verhandlungen starten“, forderte der Staatssekretär im Einklang mit dem mazedonischen Standpunkt, den Außenminister Nikola Poposki darlegte. Die Beitrittsverhandlungen sollten allerdings mit der Perspektive geführt werden, dass der Namensstreit bis zu deren Abschluss gelöst wird. Eine ähnliche, nicht mit Brüssel deckungsgleiche Positi...

Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha, who pays Wednesday an official visit to the Republic of Macedonia, is set to meet with host Nikola Gruevski. PM Gruevski will welcome colleague Berisha with full state and military honors, followed by a tete-a-tete meeting, plenary talks of countries' delegations, and media statements. Moreover, Berisha will meet later today with President Gjorge Ivanov and Tetovo State University leadership.

Lithuanian media, the same media who predicted their nation reaching the final, even printed tickets for the Spain match before their team even played Macedonia is now claiming there were two basketball players using Steroids during the European championship in Basketball. Some people it seems, just can't take a loss ... The Lithuanian basketball federation had said nothing, but the media today claimed 'for sure' there were two basketball players using steroids. First it was two Macedonians, then corrected themselves and now is one Macedonian and one Spaniard. Though frankly, Macedonians did request a doping test for Navarro (who couldn't miss) as well as for the Greek referee who had 92% of his calls go against Macedonia. FIBA issued a quick press release slamming the Lithianian media for their speculative reporting because the international body had conducted numeros tests and all came back negative. FIBA went even as far as to say that was the 'cleanest' ...

Under motto "Hit the Target", the 6. European Day of the Entrepreneur and the European SME Week 2011 will be held November 2-10 in Macedonia, organized by the European Business Association (EBA) and the Ministry of Economy. "The goal is to promote entrepreneurship, creativity, innovation, investment in youth and inclusion of entrepreneurship in their education, as well as establishing dialogue among social partners towards supporting entrepreneurship in Macedonia", said acting EBA president Aleksandra Nakjeva Ruzin on Tuesday. Several events and workshops will be held in Skopje, Bitola and Veles within the European Day of the Entrepreneur. The first workshop "Green Policies as Factor for Development of SMEs and Entrepreneurship" is to be held in Skopje on Thursday. Moreover, a workshop with trade unions will be held in the course of next week, focusing on the most appropriate ways to train and educate workers, in order to stimulate innovation and the ...

Igor Spasov, the policemen who was in custody prior to his Court appearance for Neskovski's death claims he had nothing to do with it. To complicate things further, an emotional witness R. Radevska said she was there and never saw the policeman hitting Neskovski. She was disturbed by untruthful writings in some newspapers that the policeman had struck Neskovski. Radevska claimed not Igor Spasov, but other members of security constantly warned Martin Neskovski to stay away from the podium where Macedonia's Prime Minister was delivering a speech. Martin had attempted to climb on the podium twice. The third time Martin tried to climb he was overheard saying "now you will see what's going to happen" upon which Igor Spasev told him to stop and started chasing him.  Spasov who was one of the security team for the politicians that evening said he went out after Martin who had tripped on TV cables and fell hard on the asphalt.  Spasov says he thought Martin was pre...

The Republic of Macedonia was elected a member of the UNESCO Executive Board for the period between 2011 and 2015 in elections held Wednesday at the 36th session of the UNESCO General Conference in Paris. By being elected, Macedonia for the first time in its history becomes a member of the most important body of this crucial organisation within the United Nations system, the Foreign Ministry says. "The Republic of Macedonia's membership to the UNESCO Executive Board is a recognition of the country's significant contribution to the activities of this organisation and the United Nations. It is an additional chance to affirm the country as an active and accountable member in international organisations after it chaired the 62nd session of the UN General Assembly in 2007-2008 and the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in 2010," reads the press release.

Macedonia's banking sector and its currency - the denar - are safe and citizens can trust them, Vice PM and Finance Minister Zoran Stavreski, National Bank Governor Dimitar Bogov and President of the Banking Association Gjorgi Jancovski urged Monday on the occasion of the World Savings Day. Savings, they added, in Macedonia are mounting. Household savings accounts stand at 158 billion denars. In the past 12 months, population deposits have increased by 13% - Denar savings accounts have risen by 17% and currency accounts by 9.5%. Simultaneously with deposits, credit accounts are also on the rise. "Macedonia and its banking sector are stable and citizens can be safe about their savings accounts. The denar is a stable currency, which at the moment provides the biggest income for the citizens i.e. to save in denars is utterly beneficial," Vice PM and FinMin Stavreski said, adding that "this makes Macedonia different from other European countries facing problems with t...