Makedonien|Mazedonien News

Challenges of the modern era - global terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, international organised crime are a threat for all of us. Therefore, we invest in our and in Europe's security. The Republic of Macedonia is continuously putting its troops at disposal to safeguard the values of freedom and democracy within the ISAF mission in Afghanistan. This was stated by President Gjorge Ivanov at the fifth international conference "The role of active and reserve troops of the armed forces in supporting missions and tasks in the regional and global security environment in the 21st century", which was held Monday in Skopje. It has been concluded many times so far, Ivanov said amongst other things, that our aspiration to join NATO has been formally hindered as a result of an absurd and imposed dispute. "We are not content, but we are not discouraged either. Despite the discouragement, Macedonia won't leave the partnership. Despite the...

DIE DETAILS ZUM AUFTRAG /  Auftragsvolumen sieben Millionen Euro, Finanzierung durch einen Kredit der EBRD Alpine und das deutsche Unternehmen H.F. Wiebe GmbH (Achim/Niedersachsen) werden in der ehemaligen jugoslawischen Republik Mazedonien gemeinsam die Bahnstrecken Tabanovce-Karpos (5,7 km), Karpos-Kumanovo (5,9 km) und Miravci-Smokvica (12,5 km) sanieren. Den Auftrag haben beide Unternehmen von der staatlichen mazedonischen Gesellschaft für Bahninfrastruktur, MZ Infrastruktura (Makedonski Zeleznici Infrastruktura), erhalten. Das Auftragsvolumen umfaßt sieben Millionen Euro. Vorgesehen sind die Sanierung und Reinigung des Schotterbetts, der Ersatz der Holz- durch Betonschwellen und der Einbau neuer Schienen. Die Arbeiten sollen innerhalb der nächsten zwölf Monate abgeschlossen werden. Die Erneuerung des Bahnabschnitts wird komplett aus einem Kredit der Europäischen Bank für Wiederaufbau und Entwicklung finanziert. In der Prüfungsphase befindet sich derzeit ein wei...

Bulgaria is making its own version of the Da Vinci Code accusing the Macedonian secret police of stealing the relics of St John the Baptist from the St Dimitar Church in the Bulgarian town of Sliven, Macedonian online news edition eReporter comments. According to eReporter, the sensational news was announced by Bozhidar Dimitrov, Director of the Bulgarian National Museum of History. The relics were stolen a week ago but the news was kept secret for a while. Dimitorv, on the other hand, learned the news from a Macedonian colleague, who said that the relics will be used for a DNA test that would prove that the Macedonians are heirs apparent of God. eReporter comments further that many people think that the relics, which Dimitrov found spectacularly at a small island close to the coastal town of Sozopol, do not belong to John the Baptist. Even prominent Bulgarian archaeologists do not believe in this and accused Dimitrov of playing with the feelings of the believers and that his on...

Macedonia said it had announced a public call for awarding a 30-year concession for iron ore exploitation at the Tajmiste site in the country’s west. The bids of domestic and foreign companies have to be sent by May 2, with the opening to be held on the same day, the Economy Ministry said in a notice posted on its web site during the weekend. 

Macedonia and the Czech Republic have regulated their mutual relations in relation to international road transport with an agreement that was signed Tuesday in Skopje by the transport ministers of Macedonia and the Czech Republic, Mile Janakieski and Pavel Dobes. "The agreement aims at promoting a common favourable development of trade and economic relations and at mitigating and regulating international transportation of passengers and goods," the Ministry of Transport and Communications said in a press release. This is the first agreement signed by the Czech Republic with a non-EU member country. Earlier at a bilateral meeting, ministers Janakieski and Dobes discussed possibilities for cooperation in improving road and railroad transportation and in establishing a possible cooperation for projects focused on construction i.e. reconstruction of corridors 8 and 10. Janakieski praised the cooperation between the ministries and expressed hopes that it would be str...

Daniel Ivanovski (R) in action for Mjällby; photo: nyhetspressen.se Versatile Mjällby defender Daniel Ivanovski told a Swedish newspaper that he dreams of receiving a chance to play for the Macedonian national team. Daniel Ivanovski told Swedish newspaper Nyhetspressen that he dreams of a chance to play for the Macedonian national team. Daniel said, "I really hope that this might be my chance to play in Lisbon (the match against Portugal will actually be played in the city of Leiria) with Pandev and company. If I get a chance on the national team and play in the game against Portugal, it would be a great opportunity to showcase one's abilities to an international audience." In the first four games of the 2012 season, Ivanovski has played the maximum 360 minutes for Mjällby at right-back. In addition to RB, Ivanovski mostly played CB last season so he has shown the versatility to play several defensive positions. Daniel originally joined Mjällby in 200...

Der Internationale Handballverband IHF hat mit einer Auszeichnung "Die Leistung der makedonischen Handballfans" beim olympischen Qualifikationsturnier in Schweden gewürdigt.

Ahead of next month's NATO summit in Chicago, President Obama should lead in making clear to diplomats in Greece that Macedonia's membership is not negotiable  NATO is due to gather in Chicago next month  Last week, 54 members of Congress sent a letter to President Obama urging the administration to “make sure that NATO finally offers the Republic of Macedonia its well-deserved formal invitation to join the Alliance” during next month’s Chicago summit. As the letter states: “It is our strong belief that an invitation to Macedonia to join the Alliance will benefit U.S. national security interests and NATO’s global mission. Recently, your Administration outlined America’s new global posture. As we expand our resources away from Europe we must ensure that NATO is capable as ever to deter foreign and regional threats.” Although Macedonia’s population numbers less than three million, the Balkan nation has proven a stalwart friend of the United States and NATO all...

Bayern unterstützt mazedonische Anstrengungen gegen Asylmissbrauch Die Innenminister Bayerns und Mazedoniens, Joachim Herrmann und Gordana Jankulovska, haben eine gemeinsame Erklärung zur polizeilichen Zusammenarbeit der beiden Länder unterzeichnet. Im Mittelpunkt steht dabei der Erfahrungsaustausch auf dem Gebiet der Verbrechensbekämpfung. "Die polizeiliche Zusammenarbeit ist von zentraler Bedeutung für die Wahrnehmung Mazedoniens als Partner und Teil Europas", betonte Herrmann bei seinem zweitägigen Besuch in der Hauptstadt Skopje. Gemeinsam will man unter anderem die organisierte Kriminalität, die Computerkriminalität und die Kinderpornografie, aber auch den Drogenhandel und die Korruption bekämpfen. Die polizeiliche Zusammenarbeit soll auch gemeinsame Erkenntnisse über Polizeieinsätze, insbesondere bei Großveranstaltungen, umfassen, so Herrmann. Intensivieren wollen Bayern und Mazedonien darüber hinaus die gemeinsamen Strategien gegen Geldfälscher und Kreditkarte...

Government officials are scratching their heads how did Lidija Dimova end up representing Macedonia in Brussels. Dimova, employed at NGO Open Institute Society financed by George Soros and close friend of SDSM's Radmila Sekerinska claimed the EU should put an end to all IPA funds and any other financial form of support because Macedonia does not have a national program to use these funds. Dimova supported her misleading and negative statements with an explanation that there will be elections next year.  Contrary to her statements, the Macedonian Embassy in Brussels had already provided officials with documentation which showcased how 100% of the IPA funds have been used in that joint programs have been established between Macedonian border cities with towns in Bulgaria, Greece and Serbia. During Dimova's speech, Macedonian embassy personnel, delegates from Montenegro, Turkey, Croatia and others were stunned by her angry speech. It's not often you see so...

Despite not playing for an extended period of time, the Macedonian national team climbed 4 spots and is now back in the top 100.  In the final summation, the red and yellow 'earned' 14 points and with 342 pts total is now sitting in the 98th place. All of Macedonia's opponents for the World Cup qualifying campaign in 2014 are in the top 50. Croatia is 8th, Serbia 32nd, Wales is 41st, Belgium is 44th and Scotland is sitting in the 48th position. There are no changes at the top. Spain continues to be world's number one team, closely followed by Germany, Uruguay, Holland, Portugal, Brazil, England, Croatia, Denmark and Argentina wrap up the top 10 countries. 

Nearly hundred Russian companies were informed about Macedonia's investment opportunities through presentations by the government economic team in Russia, which wrapped up Wednesday. An possibility has been recognised at talks with businessmen for returning Macedonian construction companies on the market in Sochi, the host city of the 2014 Winter Olympic Games. "There was great interest at business forums held in Russia. I think businessmen from this region are interested. For a long time, Macedonia hasn't been present on these markets, there were no sufficient information. I expect in the coming period, direct talks to be held with businessmen and our companies to take the opportunity, the door we have opened for them, to promote Macedonian products on the Russian market, Vice PM and Finance Minister Zoran Stavreski said Wednesday after a business forum in Sochi. He added that Sochi - the city hosting the Winter Olympics - was a chance for Macedonian products...

Der 7-Mio.-Euro-Auftrag wird zu 100 % von der Europäischen Bank für Wiederaufbau und Entwicklung finanziert - gemeinsam mit H.F. Wiebe werden 24 km saniert Alpine wird in den kommenden zwölf Monaten gemeinsam mit dem deutschen Joint Venture Partner H.F. Wiebe in der Republik Mazedonien insgesamt 24 km der wichtigsten Nord-Süd-Eisenbahnverbindung sanieren. Die Bahnstrecke ist Teil des Paneuropäischen Verkehrskorridors X. Die rund sieben Millionen Euro für die Streckenerneuerung werden zur Gänze von der EBRD (Europäische Bank für Wiederaufbau und Erneuerung) finanziert.  Der Auftrag umfasst die Sanierung und Reinigung des Schotterbetts, den Austausch der bestehenden Holzschwellen durch moderne Betonschwellen und den Einbau neuer Schienen auf den jeweils 12 km langen, eingleisigen Streckenabschnitten Tabanovce–Kumanovo im Norden des Landes und Miravci–Smokvica im Süden Mazedoniens. Die Nord-Süd-Verbindung ist Teil des Paneuropäischen Verkehrskorridors X, der auf einer Länge...

When NATO countries meet for their summit in Chicago this May, four countries will be vying for membership in the transatlantic alliance. For the small Balkan country of Macedonia, the only thing holding it back is its name. Bosnia still has some constitutional reforms to enact before it can be eligible for NATO membership. Georgia, recent named an "aspirant" NATO member, has its bid tied up by the Russian occupation of two of its territories. Montenegro has been granted its NATO Membership Action Plan (MAP), the final step before membership, and is moving towards accession at a steady pace. But for Macedonia, which was granted MAP status way back in 1999, there likely won't be any formal membership invitation in Chicago because NATO member Greece is still demanding that the Republic of Macedonia change its name. " Macedonia's bid was blocked by Greece because of a 17-year row over the country's name ," theBBC reported at the time of N...

The 2012 NATO summit, set to take place in Chicago in late May, is almost upon us – and the agenda will help define the shape of transatlantic cooperation for the coming years. Important topics for discussion include a new “smart defense” strategy, terrorism, and the ongoing transformation of the allied mission in Afghanistan.  Yet a central pillar of NATO – the enlargement and strengthening of the alliance – has fallen off the agenda. This must be remedied. When countries such as Macedonia, which have met all necessary requirements and continually contribute to the alliance’s collective defense, are denied access, it weakens the core regional goals of security, stability, and prosperity. Recently, NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen gave an impassioned defense of the alliance, arguing that the key to achieving its ambitious collective goals requires “renewing the bond” between allies based on their membership in an “extended family of values”. He is right -- ...

Turkey's Pamukkale University signed a protocol with Macedonia's Tetova State University and Kosovo's Pristina University to boost cooperation in education and research.  Turkey's Pamukkale University (PAU) signed a protocol with Macedonia's Tetova State University and Kosovo's Pristina University to boost cooperation in education and research on Tuesday. A signature ceremony took place at the PAU Rector's Office for the protocol. The ceremony was attended by the Governor of the western province of Denizli, Abdulkadir Demir, PAU Rector Prof. Dr. Huseyin Bagci, Rector of Tetova State University Prof. Dr. Agron Reka, Rector of Pristina University Prof. Dr. Muje Rugova, academicians and other dignitaries. Speaking at the ceremony, PAU Rector Prof. Huseyin Bagci said that they considered it a duty to promote relations with universities in the Balkans. Touching on the Anadolu Agency's (AA) recent move in the Balkans, the Rector of Tetova...

The Macedonian women's national team picked up it's second point during the qualifying cycle with a 2:2 draw against Greece on the road. Macedonia has now compiled two points from six games in Group 1 of women's qualifying, with each point coming in draws against Greece. Macedonia drew 1:1 against Greece at home in October of last year and then played another draw today in the road encounter. Attacker Gentjana Roki scored both goals for the Macedonian women, both coming in the 1st half. Roki scored the opener in the 23rd minute and then gave Macedonia a 2:1 lead just before halftime. Greece managed to equalize in the 58th minute which proved to be the final goal of the game. Lineup for Macedonia : Kostova, Smilkovska, S. Andonova (90' Bogleva), Arsova, Mileska (46' Naceva), Roki, Brahimi, N. Andonova, Salihi (90' Angelovska), Dimkoska, Petrova. Remained on the bench : Chakmaloska, Ginovska, Arsovska, Mitrevska.

The Republic of Macedonia has granted Republic of China passport holders visa-waiver privileges, a move that began April 1, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. Macedonia is the 127th country or region to have granted Taiwanese people visa-free or landing visa status, according to a press statement released by the ministry. In Macedonia's case, however, the program will last only until March 31, 2013 in the initial stage, said ministry spokesman James Chang. “ We will strive to make the privilege a lasting one ,” he said. The country is so far one of the few countries in the world that grants Taiwan visa-wavier privileges based on a one-year term. It will apply to Taiwanese nationals with a six-month passport validity intending to enter the southeastern European country for a stay of up to 90 days within a six-month period. The visa waiver is expected to enhance bilateral exchanges in the fields of economics, culture, technology and tourism, the press stat...

EurOmax Resources ( CVE:EOX )(OTCQX:EOXFF) Wednesday unveiled an updated NI 43-101 resource estimate for its 100 percent-owned Ilovitza copper-gold porphyry project in Macedonia. Using a 0.25% copper equivalent cut-off, EurOmax said the pit-constrained indicated sulphide and mixed mineral resource of 22 million tonnes comprises 224,000 ounces ounces of gold at an average grade of 0.31 grams per tonne (g/t) and 112 million pounds copper at an average grade of 0.23%. An inferred sulphide and mixed mineral resource of 374 million tonnes comprises 3.84 million ounces gold at an average grade of 0.32 g/t and 1.74 billion pounds copper at an average grade of 0.21%. The company said that oxide resources on the near surface oxide gold deposit at the project, using a 0.25 g/t gold cut-off, were 21,000 ounces gold at an average grade of 0.35 g/t for 1.9 million tonnes in the indicated category and 361,000 ounces gold at an average grade of 0.34 g/t for 33 million tonnes. "...

The EBRD is increasing the availability of financing to private businesses in Macedonia with a local currency loan equivalent to €5 million to ProCredit Bank Macedonia for on-lending to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).  the loan is extended under the EBRD-Italy Local Enterprise Facility and will help ProCredit Bank Macedonia to diversify its funding base and maintain the access to credit for Macedonian MSMEs in the current challenging environment.  The proceeds of the loan will be used to finance investments and working capital of local businesses in rural and urban areas with long-term loans in Macedonian Denars. The local currency facility will support further development of Macedonian MSMEs and help them avoid foreign exchange risk.  “ This transaction is the EBRD’s first loan in Macedonian Denars in the country. It will reduce the foreign exchange risk for ProCredit Bank Macedonia’s clients and encourage other commercial lenders to conti...

The central pillar of NATO – the enlargement and strengthening of the alliance – has fallen off the Chicago summit agenda. This must be remedied. When countries such as Macedonia, which have met all necessary requirements and continually contribute to the alliance’s collective defense, are denied access, it weakens the core regional goals of security, stability, and prosperity, says Sally Painter, CEO at Blue Star Strategies, in an article published in U.S. congressional paper "The Hill". "With the ICJ ruling, the legal and political path is clear to complete Macedonia’s accession, and that would in itself place pressure on Greece to accept a compromise solution and put to rest a poisonous ethnic dispute. Such a step would reaffirm NATO’s commitment to strengthening the alliance – which, as the secretary general himself writes, must be “an alliance that is constantly changing to meet the security challenges of today and tomorrow.” The Summit in Chicago is the ti...

A delegation from the U.S. House of Representatives, which pays a visit to the Republic of Macedonia, is set to meet Thursday with President Gjorge Ivanov, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, and MPs. On Friday, the U.S. delegation will meet Parliament Speaker Trajko Veljanoski and visit Gazi Baba municipality, where a joint project is being implemented. The delegation includes congressmen David Dreier, David Price, Jim McDermott, Erik Paulsen and Gerry Connolly, who visit Macedonia within programme "House Democratic Partnership". Some of them were among the 54 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, who sent a bipartisan letter to President Barack Obama, strongly urging his administration "to make sure that NATO finally offers the Republic of Macedonia its well-deserved formal invitation to join the Alliance during the Chicago Summit," on May 20-21. Members of Congress called on the President to stand by his words at the 2009 NATO Summit in S...

Skopje police continues to investigate what appears to be massive criminal network in eastern Macedonia encompassing Kocani, Vinica, Kriva Palanka and Shtip. Two dozen individuals, some with ties to people in the Government, others with ties to the Opposition are already locked up and awaiting trial.  The Ministry of Interior is expectedly lacking any trust in the police in eastern Macedonia which appears to have been on mafia's payroll. Most of the heads of the police are already replaced, police stations in Kocani, Vinica, Shtip, Kriva Palanka are managed by police inspectors from Skopje. Dozens of expensive pocker and other gambling machines have been confiscated in Kocani and Kriva Palanka. According to the number of machines, MOI estimates the mafia earned 100,000 euros/month just from the machines.  The head of MoI, Gordana Jankulovska admitted to the press it is clear to everyone that policemen were protecting the mafia, adding the MoI is well a...

The United Macedonian Diaspora (UMD) announced Tuesday that fifty-four members of the U.S. House of Representatives sent a bipartisan letter to President Barack Obama, strongly urging his administration "to make sure that NATO finally offers the Republic of Macedonia its well-deserved formal invitation to join the Alliance during the Chicago Summit," on May 20-21.  "The 54 signatures represent the most Congressional support for Macedonia's NATO bid ever, almost three times more than leading up to the Lisbon Summit. This is not just a letter, but a symbol of growing support for U.S. support for Macedonia and frustration with the status quo," said UMD President Metodija A. Koloski.  He added this was a testament to the hard work of the Macedonian-American community-at-large over many years, which would not have been possible without citizen activism, such as letters, phone calls, and meetings with representatives.  According to UMD, the statement reco...

Rep. Candice Miller (R-Mich.) and a bipartisan group of 53 other House members called on President Obama late last week to ensure that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) invites Macedonia to the group during a planned May summit meeting in Chicago. "We strongly urge your Administration to make sure that NATO finally offers the Republic of Macedonia its well-deserved formal invitation to join the Alliance during the Chicago Summit," they wrote . "It is our strong belief that an invitation to Macedonia to join the Alliance will benefit U.S. national security interests and NATO's global mission." The letter noted the consensus in 2008 to have Macedonia join, and that President Obama himself declared in 2009 that, "I look forward to the day when we can welcome Macedonia to the Alliance." Members argued that Macedonia has shown its commitment to NATO as far back as 1999, when it gave refuse to thousands of Kosovars during NATO'...

Information technologies represent the foundation of modern development. They develop our possibilities, help the general development and availability of information, cut costs in means and time, enabling a world full of potential and creation. They are important for democracy, freedom, business and every social field, helping us as a community to change the world for the better, said Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski in the address at the 5. meeting of the Broadband Commission for Digital Development, held Monday in Ohrid. According to Gruevski, ICT development is on the list of the Government's priorities, whereas ambitious goals are successfully implemented by the Ministry of Information Society. "Only one percent of Macedonian households used broadband internet in 2006, with the percentage rising to 46.35 by the end of 2011", said Gruevski. Mexican businessmen Carlos Slim, the Commission's co-chair, stressed the body's commitment to promote broadband...

India wants to be an important economic player in the Balkans, and Macedonia hopes to serve as the gatekeeper for the country’s investors — opening the doors to the region, and providing access to European markets. Selling itself as a key player to open the 650 million-consumer European market, the country’s macro-economic stability and low tax regime “present a vital opportunity to explore huge business possibilities,” Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski said on the sidelines of the Emerging Investment and Trade Opportunities in Macedonia conference earlier this month. “ Macedonia seeks to open the Balkan and European market for India. The government’s visits to India and other Asian countries shows its plan for the country to become a regional investment hub ,” former Macedonian Finance Minister Zoran Vitanov told SETimes. “ The opportunities are two-way and are tremendous — Indian investments will reduce unemployment and allow greater GDP growth. Increasing the pr...

Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski has called on the Qatari government and investors to invest in his country in all fields, specifically in the energy sector, as his country plans to sell 49% of government-operated power generator company ELEM.  Macedonia looks forward to locate a partner to increase productive energy for power producing stations at ELEM through funding investment projects to support such production, Gruevski said in an exclusive interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA) during his visit to Doha last week.  The Macedonian premier praised the strength and durability of Qatar’s economy. “It is a very strong and growing economy,” he said indicating that it sets the example in allocating natural resources for the benefit of its citizens.  He expressed his country’s hopes to bolster commercial and economic co-operation with Qatar in all sectors, especially in agriculture, tourism, energy, real estate, and hydraulics.  Gruevski referred to th...

Bulgaria's President Rossen Plevneliev declared himself for a joint defense with the neighbouring countries Photo Emona TsonchevaBulgaria to have common defense system with the neighbouring countries, President Rossen Plevneliev proposed at a forum in Sofia. Serbia, Macedonia and Austria have already requested their participation in a regional centre for intelligent defense, NATO representatives announced. According to president Plevneliev the countries in the region should unite their defense systems. Several countries could integrate in the next purchase of defense equipment, Bulgarian president stated. Each country should specialize in its defense and to compliment with the neighbours, Mr. Plevneliev added. Bulgarian air crafts could protect the air space of Macedonia for example and their tanks could guard Bulgaria's land borders. QUELLE

Around 300 Alphas (members of Skopje police) rounded up 23 people in Kocani and Vinica, in the wee hours on Sunday night. Few others are on the run. Residents of these smaller eastern Macedonian towns hailed the action of the police.  "This is strange to say, but when news spread on Sunday that police arrested the individuals that everyone feared and were protected by higher ups in the police here, one could feel a joint sigh of relief by the entire city" says a Kocani resident. The Alphas are famous for their work throughout the country, and have made well over 5,000 arrests since the police unit was formed several years ago. Even the opposition was surprised to find out that police arrested the husband of a current VMRO-DPMNE MP from Kocani, Elizabeta Kuzmanovska. On her part, Kuzmanovska stated that she was not aware of what her husband was doing, however if he did something wrong that she wasn't aware of, he just like everyone else will face ...

Ajman, Apr 3: A business delegation from Macedonia headed by H E Bill Pavleski, minister for foreign investments and Viktor Mizo, economic advisor to the Prime Minister of Macedonia recently visited Gulf Medical University (GMU). The visiting delegation were taken around on the tour of the university and introduced to different medical faculties/departments and detailed about the educational pattern and the most modern and advanced equipments the university is equipped with for imparting quality education to the students. After the visit to GMU, delegation from Macedonia visited Sheikh Ammar Bin Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman UAE where the business opportunities of mutual interest was discussed. Later, the delegation visited the personnel from Ajman Chamber of Commerce which was followed by the meeting with His Highness Sheikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister for Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHESR), Government of UAE. During their meeting they di...