MDB No.

102

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Macedonia

MACEDONIAN
D i p lo m at i c B u l l e t i n

diplomatic
news

january 2016

IN FOCUS
High-ranking Government
Delegation Meets
U.S. Vice President Joe Biden
page 3

Friends of Macedonia Group

Renewed at European Parliament
page 4

International Holocaust
Remembrance Day Commemorated
page 5

DIPLOMATIC NEWS

MDB
Macedonian Diplomatic Bulletin was
founded in October 2006 by the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Macedonia.

Filip II Makedonski 7, 1000 Skopje

Republic of Macedonia
www.mfa.gov.mk
mdb@mfa.gov.mk

President Ivanov Pays Working

Visit to Italian Republic

rom 26 to 28 January, Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov paid a working visit to

the Italian Republic where he took part in the 7th High-Level Meeting of the Nizami
Ganjavi International Center and the Italian Society for International Organizations Initiative for Global Dialogue in a Multipolar World, held in Rome. At the meeting held at
the Italian Senate, President Ivanov addressed the opening session titled Responding to
Radicalization and Extremism Through Inter-Religious Dialogue.
President Ivanov was presented with a special award from the Nizami Ganjavi
International Center for his support to the Centers initiatives and for his contribution to
inter-religious dialogue.
He also attended the reception that Italian President Sergio Mattarella hosted for the
conference participants and held several meetings with conference attendees.

Editor:
Vladimir Efremovski
Editorial Board:
Zuko Rizvanski, Shaban Jashari,
Katerina Stavreska, Olga Janevska Jovanovik,
and Sejfullah Shaqiri
Adviser:
Metodija Belevski
Photo:
Ljupco Blagoevski

Published monthly by:

Macedonian Information Centre
Director: Dragan Antonov
Chief Translator: Aleksandra Ilievska

President Ivanov Hosts

Diplomatic Reception in Bitola

Naum Naumovski Borce 73,

1000 Skopje, Republic of Macedonia
www.micnews.com.mk

The articles published in Macedonian

Diplomatic Bulletin do not necessarily
represent the views of the Macedonian
Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the
Macedonian Information Centre.
2016

No. 102
January 2016

MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN No. 102 2016

n the occasion
of the New Year
and Christmas, the
President of the Republic
of Macedonia, Gjorge
Ivanov, hosted the
traditional reception
for the members of the
diplomatic corps in the
Republic of Macedonia
in Bitola on 22 January.
The reception was
addressed by President Ivanov and the doyen of the diplomatic corps, the Ambassador of
the Russian Federation, Oleg Nikolayevich Shcherbak.
As always, the diplomatic reception was hosted outside of the countrys capital. This
year, diplomats had the opportunity to learn more about the history, economy and culture
of Bitola. The natural attractions and characteristics of Pelister National Park as well as the
possibilities for investment in Bitola were presented to the diplomats.
Besides Bitola, diplomatic receptions have so far been held in Kruevo, Gevgelija and
Berovo.

DIPLOMATIC NEWS

President Ivanov Meets French Ambassadors from Region

n 18 January, Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov had

dinner with the Ambassador of the French Republic in
the Republic of Macedonia, Laurence Auer, the ambassadors of
the French Republic to the Southeast European countries (the
Republic of Bulgaria, the Republic of Serbia, the Republic of
Croatia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of
Slovenia, Hungary, the Republic of Kosovo and the Republic of
Albania), as well as with the special envoy of the French Republic
for the Balkans, Alain Richard, and Florence Mangin, Director for
Continental Europe at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The goal of the meeting was getting ready for the Paris
Conference on Southeast Europe 2016. Over the course of the
talks, views were shared on the situation in the Region, the security
risks, the refugee and migrant crisis, the process of Euro-Atlantic
integration, regional cooperation, good-neighborly relations and
the role of the French Republic in Southeast Europe.
President Ivanov confirmed Macedonias commitment to
promoting regional cooperation in all areas of shared interest and

reaffirmed the countrys foreign policy priorities, emphasizing

that Macedonia remained fully committed to EU and NATO
integration.

PM Gruevski Meets U.S. Vice President Joe Biden

acedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski met U.S. Vice

President Joe Biden in Washington DC on 12 January.
Among the issues discussed were the political agreement, the
reforms in a number of areas, the economy and economic
cooperation, the security risks and Macedonias membership of
NATO and the European Union.

Before Meeting Mr. Biden, Prime Minister Gruevski met

Congressman Pete Sessions, Chairman of the House Rules
Committee, and Alain Bersin, Assistant Secretary for International
Affairs and Chief Diplomatic Officer for the U.S. Department of
Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Policy.

No. 102 2016 MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN

DIPLOMATIC NEWS

Ministers Poposki and Besimi Meet

Foreign Ministers of EU Member States

he Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic

of Macedonia, Nikola Poposki, and the
Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs,
Fatmir Besimi, had informal working breakfast
with the foreign ministers of the European Union
member states in Brussels on 18 January. The
meeting, which was also attended by European
Commissioner Johannes Hahn, focused on the
European integration of the Republic of Macedonia
and was held at the initiative of the Ministers of
Foreign Affairs of Hungary and the Republic of
Austria, Pter Szijjrt and Sebastian Kurz.
The ministers said that it was in their interest
that the Republic of Macedonia was successful in
the process of European integration and that the
country should open accession negotiations as
soon as possible. They said Macedonia showed it
had capacity and was a professional and credible
candidate for EU membership. The positive and
responsible role of the country in coping with the
sterreichisches Auenministerium
migrant crisis was also underlined.
Foto: Dragan Tatic
A bilateral meeting between the Foreign
Ministers of the Republic of Macedonia and the
Hellenic Republic, Nikola Poposki and Nikos
Kotzias, was held on this occasion. They talked about overcoming the long-standing impediment to opening accession negotiations
between the Republic of Macedonia and the EU, removing the obstacles on that way, and the positive effects this would have on the effort to
move beyond the name row.
Over the course of the meeting, Minister Poposki held talks with several counterparts, including with the foreign ministers of the
Sovereign Military Order of Malta, the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Slovenia.

Friends of Macedonia Group

Renewed at European Parliament

n 26 January, Macedonian Foreign Minister

Nikola Poposki paid a working visit to
the European Parliament in Brussels where he
attended the inaugural event of reestablishing
the group Friends of Macedonia at the European
Parliament. The group chaired by Marijana Petir,
a Croatian Member of the European Parliament,
consists of 26 MEPs. Minister Poposki said the
event was a step forward in the achievement of the
paramount goalopening accession negotiations
between the Republic of Macedonia and the EU.
Minister Poposki also held several bilateral
meetings with MEPs, friends of Macedonia, at
which it was emphasized that opening membership
negotiations with the EU remained a key priority
for the Republic of Macedonia.

MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN No. 102 2016

DIPLOMATIC NEWS

Deputy FM Kiprijanovska Pays Visit to Austria

acedonian Deputy Foreign Minister Dragana Kiprijanovska

paid a working visit to Austria on 29 January and met
with the Secretary-General at the Federal Ministry for Europe,
Integration and Foreign Affairs, Michael Linhart.
The excellent bilateral cooperation was confirmed at the meeting
and views were also shared on the situation in the Western Balkans
and the latest developments in the region of Central Europe.
The political situation in the Republic of Macedonia, regional
cooperation in the Western Balkans and Macedonias successful

Presidency of the Central European Initiative were also discussed.

Opinions were exchanged on the migrant crisis and emphasis
was laid on the continued constructive role that the Republic of
Macedonia plays in dealing with the migrant flow.
During her working visit to Austria, Kiprijanovska also had a
meeting with the Deputy Director of the Diplomatic Academy of
Vienna, Dr. Gerhard Sailler, at which they tabled the opportunities
for cooperation of the two Diplomatic Academies and the Institute
for Geostrategic Research of the Macedonian Foreign Ministry.

Meeting of Global Counterterrorism Forum

and Global Coalition Against ISIS

n 11 January, the Secretary of State at the Ministry of

Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Macedonia, Elena
Kuzmanovska, attended the joint meeting of the Global
Counterterrorism Forum and the Global Coalition Against
ISIS in The Hague, organized by the ministers of foreign
affairs of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Kingdom
of Morocco and the Republic of Turkey. The measures and
activities to be taken under Resolution 2178 of the UN

Security Council and the measures to improve and speed

up the implementation of the plans for dealing with foreign
terrorist fighters were tabled at the meeting.
Kuzmanovska underlined in her address that the Republic
of Macedonia as part of the anti-terrorist coalition led by
the U.S.A. closely followed global trends in countering and
containing terrorism.

International Holocaust
Remembrance Day Commemorated

n the occasion of 27 January, International Holocaust

Remembrance Day, a commemoration was held at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs at which tribute was paid to all the
Holocaust victims including the 7,144 Jews from the Republic of
Macedonia deported to the Treblinka concentration camp in 1943.
The commemoration was opened by Culture Minister Elizabeta
Kaneska-Milevska and Deputy Foreign Minister Dragana
Kiprijanovska.

As part of the ceremony, in the hall of the Ministry of Foreign

Affairs, the exhibit Anne Frank a History for Today was
opened, organized in cooperation with the Anne Frank House
museum from Amsterdam and the Youth Educational Forum
of Skopje. As part of the activities held to mark International
Holocaust Remembrance Day, History Professor Leah DabbyChaki delivered a lecture titled Stages in the Final Solution at the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 28 January.

No. 102 2016 MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN

macedonia in focus

There is no more time to waste

n my capacity as Chair of the International Holocaust

Remembrance Alliance, it is a great honor to be able to address
the readers of the Macedonian Diplomatic Bulletin.
Macedonian Government is a very active observer of the
IHRA and is making consistent achievements in Holocaust
remembrance. And it matters. Everything that is related
to Holocaust remembrance takes on a strikingly vigorous
importance that goes beyond even its legacy and historical
meaning. In 2005 the United Nations General Assembly
designated 27 January as an annual International Day of
Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust. It is
a fundamental and important event. Holocaust remembrance has
become a vital, driving force of our constant vigilance against the
dangers of the present and the future.
Allow me to draw your kind attention to the mission of the
IHRA and the program of the Hungarian Chairmanship.
In January 2000, the representatives of 46 governments
came together in Stockholm at the International Forum on
the Holocaust to commit themselves to further international
cooperation on Holocaust education, remembrance and research.
The IHRA has grown to an inter-governmental body of 31 full
members which functions as a political network of policy-makers,
academics, educators, curators and experts. Our membership is
growing and we now have ten observer countries which we hope
will in due time advance to full membership, as well as seven
International Partner institutions.
The foundation of the IHRA sent a clear signal to the world
that it was not only the responsibility of Jewish communities

MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN No. 102 2016

and civil society to remember the murdered. It was and is also a

responsibility of governments. Of the whole humanity.
The Holocaust is a national tragedy for the Hungarians and
Auschwitz is more than just a symbol for us: it is a national
cemetery where we face the memory and the legacy of the past,
what has been done and what has been lost.
The present and future generations of Hungary, as well as the
government are aware of that historical burden on us. This gives
us the duty and responsibly to keep the memory alive, to reflect
appropriately on the past, so that the Holocaust will and can
never happen again.
It is for this reason that we are grateful for the trust of holding
the Chair of the IHRA with consensual support of the member
states. The priorities of the Hungarian IHRA Chairmanship are
Holocaust education, the fight against antisemitism, education
on the genocide of the Roma, enhancing the visibility of the
IHRA and further outreach of the IHRA (Ukraine, Vatican).
Close to the end of the Hungarian Chairmanship I am pleased
to inform you that during our Chairmanship we hosted two
plenary sessions, and an IHRA-conference on the use and abuse
of Holocaust-related imagery and discourse. In order to raise
the visibility of the IHRA, more than 100 events were organised
by our diplomatic and cultural missions all over the world.
Skopje was and is a very important host of some great events of
commemoration.
In our daily lives we are faced with the fact that different
forms of radicalism are on the rise in many European countries
and societies. Violent physical attacks on Jews in Paris, Brussels,
Copenhagen and other atrocities throughout Europe indicate
that antisemitism poses a threat to democracy, the values of
civilisation and to the overall security in societies. Antisemitism
appears in many forms, some are less obvious, and some are very
aggressive. As you know, combatting Holocaust denial or the
distortion of the Holocaust is one of the IHRAs main objectives.
The link between Holocaust denial and antisemitism is even more
obvious if we realize that radical Islamists, radical right-wing
extremists deny or distort the Holocaust in order to justify their
assault on Jews and Western democracy. At the same time, far-left
extremist instead of denying the Holocaust, trivialize it in the
light of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The IHRA has been successfully in mobilizing more and
more political, diplomatic, civil and cultural actors to combat
antisemitism, racism and xenophobia. The experience of the
IHRA demonstrates that words are important, but not enough.
For the sake of our security it is imminent to tackle both internal
and external challenges in Europe. There is no more time to
waste. Coping with the migration crisis would and should be a
test of our commitment to fundamental rights and we must act
resolutely. Step by step: we have to help those who are in need, and
we must cooperate at a European and on an international level in
order to adequately deal with the crisis wherever and whenever it
is necessary. Doing all this we, however, must not forget our past.

Szabolcs Takcs, Chair of IHRA

macedonia in focus

State of play in the implementation of

the June/July political agreement 1

n 15 July 2015 the leaders of the four main political parties

in the Republic of Macedonia finalized a comprehensive
agreement to end the political crisis. The agreement envisaged,
inter alia, return of the opposition to Parliament, conduct of early
parliamentary elections on 24 April 2016, election of new interim
government to organize the elections, appointment of a Special
Prosecutor with full autonomy to lead the investigations surrounding and arising from the interception of communications.
Following oppositions return to Parliament (1 September),
appointment of the Special Prosecutor (15 September), revision
of Electoral Code (10 November), appointment of new government ministers and additional deputy ministers (11 November),
establishment of Parliamentary Inquiry Committee to investigate
the allegations of wrongdoing implied by the illegal wiretap disclosures (11 November), revision of Criminal Code with modifications of article 151 Unauthorised Wiretapping and Audiorecording (11 November), adoption of the laws on protection of
privacy and on whistle-blowers (11 November), groups comprised
of political parties representatives continued working on the implementation package, which led to the following new outcomes:
Interim Government was sworn in with mandate limited to organization of early parliamentary elections
- Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski resigned and a new interim
government mandated to organize the early parliamentary elections was elected by the Parliament on 18 January, with Mr. Emil
Dimitriev as Prime Minister. At the same session, a Parliamentary Decision was adopted to dissolve the Parliament, effective 24
February, with a view to holding the early parliamentary elections
on 24 April, as concluded in the June/July political agreement
and endorsed with the cross-party parliamentary adoption of the
revised Electoral Code. The parliamentary decision was adopted
without the votes of opposition SDSM MPs who were not present
at the session. Opposition ministers for Interior and for Labor
and Social Policy remained in the interim government, but conditioned their participation after 24 February with new election
date.
The Special Prosecutors Office (SPO) is operational, activities are
underway
- Parliament adopted amendments to the Law on Public Prosecutors Services, regulating, inter alia, the rights and duties, salaries
and bonuses of the employees of the SPO (30 December). Amendments ensure full functionality of the SPO, including further
staffing with investigators, experts/advisors and other administrative personnel as necessary.
- To ensure unhindered and autonomous functioning of the
SPO, a budget of approx. 4 MEUR has been allocated to the SPO
for 2016 with a parliamentary decision adopted in January 2016.
Previously, in November 2015, parliamentary decision was adopted allocating approx. 1.1 MEUR to cover the needs of the Office in
the last quarter of 2015.
- On 30 December, opposition party SDSM handed over the
illegal wiretap materials to the SPO.
1

- The SPO received the first transfer of cases and as per the legal deadlines established subject matter jurisdiction for 34 cases.
On 12 February, the SPO initiated its first investigation procedure
for a criminal case related to electoral process.
The parliamentary inquiry and oversight bodies commenced their
activities
- The Parliamentary Inquiry Committee established to investigate
the allegations of wrongdoing implied by the illegal wiretap disclosures held several sessions. Prime Minister Gruevski testified
before the Committee on 14 December 2015 in a closed hearing.
The Committee should draft and submit a report with its findings
to the National Assembly. Finance Minister responded to the invitation to give testimony to the Committee in a closed hearing.
- The two parliamentary oversight committees (on the work of
the Directorate for Security and Counter Intelligence and on implementation of the Special Investigative Measure Interception of
Communications) held sessions and hearings, also with the support of the DCAF Center for security, development and justice.
Reforms in the field of Interception of Communications
- Strategic partnership agreement was reached with an EU Member State in December 2015 to assist Macedonia in the process of
reforms in the area of intelligence. An expert visit took place on
18 January 2016 with the purpose of considering the possibilities
for developing the Strategic plan for the next five years.
- Inter-ministerial working group was established in January 2016, with a decision of the Minister of Interior, to prepare
amendments to the law on interception of communications. The
European Commission through TAIEX will assist in preparation
of amendments.
Organization of elections and electoral bodies - the Parliament
elects the President, Deputy President and members of the State
Election Commission (SEC)
- On 16 December 2015, with 102 votes in favour and none against
or sustained, the Parliament adopted the Decision on the election
of the SEC members and its composition.
- The new Prime Minister held several meetings with the SEC
and reaffirmed government commitment to provide the required
logistics (additional vehicles, office space, etc.), staffing and funding including those for field work and field checkups.
- The SEC adopted on 2 February the methodology for revision
of the electoral list after obtaining written consent from the four
largest political parties. IT companies and experts were selected
via public call to conduct the cross-check of state institutional
databases. The SEC obtains data from the following institutions:
Health Insurance Fund, Employment Agency, Cadastre, Agriculture Ministry, Public Revenue Office, Pension and Disability
Insurance Fund, Civil Registry Office, Labour Ministry and the
National Bank of Macedonia. The analysts working on the revision need to cross-reference all institutional databases while
respecting privacy rights and providing protection from possible
data misuse. After the check-up of computer data, field inspection
is to be conducted for problematic data.

Encompassing the Agreement of 2 June, the Annex of 19 June and the Protocol of 15 July
No. 102 2016 MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN

macedonia in focus
Reporting by the media throughout the
elections discussions among political
parties are ongoing on the amendments of
the Law on Media and the Law on Audio
and Audio-visual Media Services with the
involvement of journalistic associations to
assure for objective and balanced report-

ing not only in the pre-elections period,

but also during elections and thereafter.
Implementation of the governments Action Plan on the key reform priorities
continues. It covers measures in the areas
of rule of law and judiciary, public administration, media, electoral reform, inter-

ethnic relations and economic governance.

There is inclusive dialogue and regular
deliberations with the stakeholders on the
key reform priorities, organized by the
Secretariat for European Affairs, National
EU Integration Council and the Parliamentary Committee on EU Affairs.

MACEDONIA AND THE Migrant/REFUGEE CRISES

Border Management
As of 1 January 2016, 80.176 persons in
need of international protection transited
through Macedonia (32.014 man, 17.363
women, 30.631 accompanied children, 168
unaccompanied children) and were all issued certificates for expressed intent to
file an application recognizing the right
to asylum, while 10 applications were filed
seeking right to asylum.
- The persons in need of international
protection that were issued certificates were
nationals of Syria (38.752), Afghanistan
(25.222) and Iraq (16.199).
Still a high number of people continue
to arrive despite weather conditions, with
daily figure ranging from 2.000 to 3.000
arrivals.
- Between 19 June 2015 and 12 February
2016, 520.787 migrants were registered to
have entered and transited through Macedonia.
- Since January 2015, there is an estimate of around 800.000 migrants to have
transited through Macedonia.
- Expectations of an increase in the
number of refugees and migrants in the
coming months with the improvement of
weather conditions.
To discourage illegal entries, control the
flow and channel the migrants towards
legal entry and registration checkpoints,
security fence is erected / reinforced on sections of the green border suspected vulnerable to illegal crossing.
- Macedonian security forces prevented
17.727 persons from crossing the southern
state border illegally since 21 August 2015
(1.334 in December 2015; 2037 in January,
421 in February). 240 damages of the border security fence were documented.
- 16.310 economic migrants have been
returned to Greece, out of which 6.888 in
January 2016.
Following decisions of other transit and
destination countries of the migration
route, as of 20 January 2016, Macedonia

MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN No. 102 2016

introduced new registration documents

that include the final destination of the refugees. Only refugees that express intention
to seek asylum in Austria and Germany are
allowed to transit through Macedonia.
There is a documented increase in counterfeited documents - mainly with false
Syrian, Iraqi and Afghanistan passports
and identity cards, but also counterfeited
FRONTEX and Greek registration certificates. Macedonian authorities strengthened
the screening procedures.
- Till now a total of 8.668 counterfeited
documents have been detected, out of
which 2.979 in January 2016.
Cooperation
Macedonian authorities requested bilateral assistance from EU member states with
border surveillance equipment and secondment of border guards to assist Macedonian border police with patrols, registration and identification, and security checks.
Thus far, several countries decided to
second border guards and equipment:
Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia, Czech
Republic, Slovakia and Austria.
- A total of 152 foreign border guards
have thus far been seconded and deployed
on rotational basis together with Macedonian security forces at the border region,
while their current number is 83.
Coordination and cooperation with the
Greek police authorities has continued at
different levels.
Macedonia welcomed the decison of early
December 2015 to deploy Frontex border
guards at GreekMacedonian border. It is
expected to contribute to strengthening
border control and alleviating security
risks.
Additional assistance is needed and has
been requested, both at bilateral and EU
level, to improve registration and identification capacity and border surveillance. EU
member states experts and Frontex experts
were in Skopje on scoping missions to scan
needs assessment.

Humanitarian Response
The Transit Relief Centers near Gevgelija
(southern border with Greece) and Kumanovo (northern border with Serbia) are
equipped and operate in winter conditions.
They are adapted to provide temporary
transit relief capacity for short-term stay
(several hours) for 2.000 people. These
facilities are not suited for extended stay.
Macedonia does not have extended accomodation facilities.
The good cooperation with UNHCR, the
Red Cross, IOM and other relevant organizations continues.
The Ministry of Health through its
respective bodies continiously provides
services to prevent diseases and provides
health treatment to the refugees accomodated at the transit centers (and other
persons in need). Such services/activities
include medical treatment at the on-site
field hospital and the general hospitals in
the surrounding municipalities, desinfection of the transit centers, trains and other
vehicles and facilities, etc.
- In February health services were provided to 210 persons in need.
The Ministry of Labor and Social Policy
continues to undertake concrete measures
on regular basis, also in cooperation with
the relevant humanitarian organizations
active on the ground. Such services/activities include: provision and distribution of
food and water, clothing, blankets and other necessities to the refugees accomodated
at the transit centers, regular maintainance
of the facilities of the transit centers, etc.
To prevent possible trafficking or violence
against minors, the Center for Social Work
continued the praxis to designate guardians (adult refugees) to minors accompanying them to Serbia.
- In February, the Center for Social
Work interviewed 69 minors, out of which
3 were held in the Reception Center Vizbegovo. The remaining were allowed to proceed to Serbia.

macedonia in focus
INTERVIEW

H.E. Mr. Fatos Reka, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the

Republic of Albania to the Republic of Macedonia

NATO and EU Have Unfinished

Work in Our Region

our Excellency, the Albanian foreign

policy is oriented, above all, toward
promotion of peace, security and prosperity in our region. The Republic of
Macedonia and the Republic of Albania
established diplomatic relations 23 years
ago and have since built good relations
and cooperation confirmed by numerous
bilateral visits and meetings on all levels.
What does the common need for closer
cooperation mean?
As you rightly stated the Albanian foreign
policy is fully oriented toward promoting
peace, security and stability in the region,
which of course does not come easy and
without serious engagements. In todays
world we have to accept that we are interconnected and interdependent on each
other, instability in one of the countries in
our region will inevitably destabilize the
whole region and beyond. On the other
hand, positive trends and developments
in one of our countries serve as a good
example and model which the countries
in the region will for sure follow. One of
the tools in achieving peace and stability
in the long run is the fostering of friendly
relations not only between countries but
also between people. More significant is
the fact that our two countries have so
far signed 71 agreements. But I would
like to emphasize that friendly relations
should not and could not be taken for
granted. Friendship among nations and
people is not a mere product of rhetoric
or even goodwill; it is not a static product
that you could achieve once and forever,
instead I see it more as a living organism

that evolves constantly. As such, there is a

constant need to nourish it, foster it and
deepen it further. Friendship in itself is an
experience that happens between two entities or subjects that share similarities with
each other, and it definitely is a two-way
resultant. Therefore, to deepen this friendship we need to work on both sides of the
border in order to expand the spectrum
of common objectives, endeavors, initiatives and projects, supporting each other
in multilateral organizations, implementing mutual agreements and signing new
ones in all aspects of life such as economy,
culture, education and art, implementing
cross-border projects especially those related to the environment and the life of the
communities living by the border between
two countries, and above all keeping the
door open to constant communication and
exchange that builds reciprocal trust and
understanding of each other.
In this context, I would like to emphasize my determination to contribute,
together with my team, to the further development of long-term friendly relations
between Albania and Macedonia.

he deepening of trade and economic

cooperation, as well as the promotion of the economic potentials of both
countries is high on the agenda for further development of cooperation. How do
you assess our cooperation in using the
European funds, especially regarding the
ongoing projects and the joint participation in projects within the framework of
the IPA component?
Well, things are definitely related to each
other, a good and friendly relationship between neighbors is crucial in boosting economic cooperation as well as in promoting
the economic potential not only of our two
countries but also of the entire region. To
this end, the cooperation between our two
countries in current IPA projects is good,
and there are good examples in support
of this like the Lake Ohrid or Drim Valley
project. However, there is definitely more
room for better cooperation especially
when it comes to joint participation in

interconnection projects. It is also in this

regard that Albania has been from the
very beginning a fervent supporter of the
Berlin Process initiated by Chancellor Angela Merkel, as the right platform for connecting the Balkans states with each other
and with the EU further, resolving the
pending issues and supporting each other
in Euro-Atlantic integration processes.

he good relations are confirmed

with the continued Macedonian
support for the European aspirations
of the Republic of Albania and with the
unconditional Albanian support for the
Macedonian NATO membership aspirations. What is your view on the completed
activities of the Adriatic Charter (joint
medical team in ISAF, Afghanistan) and
the SEE process?
Albania is understandingly an active supporter of NATOs open door policy, given
that two (Macedonia and Bosnia) of the
current three NATO aspirant countries
(Macedonia, Bosnia and Georgia) are
from our region. Moreover, in view of
the strategic importance of the Western
Balkans for NATO, as reconfirmed by the
Alliance at the Wales summit (September
2014), we believe that both NATO and the
EU have unfinished work in the region. In
this context, we actively support neighboring Macedonias NATO membership as
soon as the Bucharest condition on the
name issue is met. At the same time, we
encourage and support the continuation
of reform efforts within the country, particularly with a view to ensuring effective
democratic dialogue, media freedom, judicial independence, and a fully functioning
multi-ethnic society based on full implementation of the Ohrid Framework Agreement, as clearly stipulated by the Allied
countries at the NATO Summit in Wales.
All A-5 member countries, alongside
other NATO allies and partner countries,
are offering their important contribution
to the Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan. Such engagement, besides contributing to a stable Afghanistan, further
demonstrates our strong engagement to
No. 102 2016 MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN

macedonia in focus
contribute in protecting our fundamental
values and principles.
I would like to mention in particular
Albanias recent political decision to continue, alongside other NATO nations, with
its current level of engagement in the Resolute Support Mission beyond 2016.
The A-5 continues to play an important
role in further strengthening regional
cooperation in the security domain. Such
cooperation is currently a precondition to
successfully counter the evolving serious
threats and challenges to regional and wider security. In this context, all countries of
the region have to be included in and respectively contribute to this cooperation.
The practical activities of our Charter,
including joint exercises, also play an important and complementary role in the
context of preparatory work of the aspirant
countries towards NATO membership.

ince the early 1990s, the Balkan region

has faced many political, security and
economic challenges, but our two countries have demonstrated that their partnership is indeed strong in order to persist
and thrive despite all ordeals. What security implications could the Balkan region
face in view of the ongoing refugee surge
from countries affected by conflict?

INTERVIEW

The emigration wave of refugees escaping the horrors of war has been indeed of
unseen proportions for decades not only in
our region but also on the entire continent.
As such it surely represents probably the
greatest political, economic and security
challenge for the entire continent. In this
regard cross-border cooperation is crucial
especially in terms of security. We are well
aware that extremists could penetrate the
region taking advantage of this surge of
refugees. On the other hand, we could never impede the application of the humanitarian law based on the above-mentioned
risk. Hence, again cross-border cooperation in information sharing, and police
and intelligence cooperation will provide
a sound basis for preventive measures
without keeping us from providing the
necessary help and protection to refugees.
As you rightly mention, our region not
long ago was affected by massive migration
of people fleeing the horrors and atrocities
in Bosnia and Kosovo, and it is exactly for
this reason that we empathize more than
anyone else with the plight of the people
escaping war.

or the Republic of Albania, 2015 was a

year of successful diplomatic interaction, during which a lot of dynamic for-

eign policy activities have been conducted

within the Euro-Atlantic framework. Your
Excellency, in this regard, how important
is the Joint Declaration on U.S.-Albania
Strategic Partnership signed last year?
The Declaration on Strategic Partnership
with the United States is of paramount importance for Albania and Albanian people.
In fact, the strategic partnership with the
U.S., although different in form and shape,
dates further back to the beginning of the
20th century. Indeed, all Albanians, wherever they are, cherish and value this strong
alliance which bonds our two nations, and
even more so we treasure the assistance of
the United States throughout the political
process of our nation-building. Albania
and the entire Albanian nation are and
will always remain a grateful and trusted
ally to the United States in the Balkans.
The signing of the Strategic Partnership
Declaration with the U.S. was rightly considered a highlight of our foreign policy
in 2015 and now we are moving to a new
phase of implementation across a very
broad spectrum of priorities such as security, rule of law and energy. As Ms. Nuland
told our Foreign Minister Bushati the day
this Partnership was signed in Washington
D.C., Albania and the U.S. are kicking
their relationship into a higher gear.

H.E. Ms. Margot Klestil-Lffler, CEI Alternate Secretary General

Macedonia Demonstrated
Outstanding Leadership
and Diplomatic
Professionalism
During CEI Presidency

our Excellency, as the Alternate

Secretary General of the Central
European Initiative (CEI) and a longserving diplomat, can you tell us
something more about the activities and
achievements of this regional European
initiative?

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MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN No. 102 2016

The CEI is a unique organisation with a

big potential for future development. Ever
since its establishment more than 26 years
ago, the CEI became the largest regional
intergovernmental organisation in Europe
comprising 18 countries of Central,
Eastern and South-Eastern Europe with
different status versus the European
Union: 10 EU members; 4 candidates;

macedonia in focus
1 potential candidate; and 3 countries
involved in the European Neighbourhood
Policy. CEI covers a vast and diversified
geographical area connecting the Baltic,
the Alps, the Adriatic-Ionian and the Black
Seas, with the Danube River as its natural
backbone.
The CEI is committed to supporting
European integration through the
promotion of regional cooperation
between and among its Member States and
with the European Union, other public
and private institutions, international and
regional organisations. The CEI mission,
working methodology, objectives and
priorities for cooperation are outlined in
the CEI Plan of Action, adopted by the
Heads of Government on a plurennial
basis. In accomplishing its mission, it may
count on its long-lasting experience, strong
structures, flexible funds, creative projects
and above all on its commitment to use its
great potential in the context of the new
challenges.
Last but not least, the CEI has an
observer status in the UN General
Assembly and has a link with numerous
other Regional and International
Organisations as well as with International
Financial Institutions. The CEI has a
strong link with the EBRD where it also
has an Office for the CEI Fund, financed
by Italy.

ince 1993, when it joined the CEI, the

Republic of Macedonia has been taking
an active part in all regional initiatives.
How do you assess the cooperation that
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has so far
maintained with the Central European
Initiative?
We had an excellent cooperation with the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs during last
years Presidency. Macedonia provided
many new inputs and fresh ideas that will
serve as guidelines for the future work
of the organization. The meetings of the
Ministers for Foreign Affairs held in June
2015 in Ohrid and in October 2015 in
New York, where Commissioner Hahn
was also present, were very successful in
terms of both participation and content.
The Presidency also undertook numerous
important initiatives and organized a
number of events on important issues,
which produced significant results. Just to
name a few, the International conference
European Integration through Regional

CooperationPerspectives of MacroRegional Strategies, the Ministerial

conference Towards Climate Summit
in Paris 2015 and the International
Conference Migration and Refugee
Flows in Transit Countries: Security
Implications.
The Macedonian Presidency has
also stepped up the cooperation in the
framework of the CEI Business and
Parliamentary Dimensions, providing
important impetus on the occasion
of the very successfully organized
Business Forum and the meetings of the
Parliamentary Committees and Assembly.
Furthermore, the Macedonian Presidency
strengthened the role of the Enlarged CEI
Troika, composed of the Chairman-inoffice, the former and the next Chairman
and the host country, which is a very useful
instrument particular in challenging times
ahead.
Last but not least, Macedonia has
contributed to the enhancement of the
global visibility of the CEI, increasing
further the cooperation with the UN.
Indeed, on the occasion of the United
Nations Sustainable Development Summit
2015, a Joint Statement of the CEI Member
States to support the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development, initiated by
the Macedonian Presidency, was presented
and published as an official document
of the 70th Session of the UN General
Assembly. The Macedonian Presidency
also reinforced the regularity of the
networking meetings, initiated by the
previous Austrian Presidency, between the
CEI and other international and regional
organisations in Vienna.

he conference titled Migration and

Refugee Flows in Transit Countries:
Security Implications was held in
Skopje in December last year as part
of the Macedonian CEI Presidency in
2015. What are your impressions of this
conference, especially in regard to the
measures taken to address the refugee
crisis?
The Middle East and Africa refugee
and migrant crisis is one of the fastest
growing humanitarian emergencies
in the world. Some even predict that it
may become the worst humanitarian
disaster of our time and the scale of the
crisis has put huge pressure especially
on migrant route countries. In view of

this unprecedented crisis, European and

international solidarity is now the order
of the day. International cooperation is
crucial and requires a differentiated and at
the same time comprehensive approach. A
support to the transit countries in tackling
the crisis and combating its broader
repercussions such as radicalisation,
violent extremism, terrorism and the
foreign terrorist fighters phenomena is of
utmost importance.
We need to address the root causes for
migration and forced displacement. We
also need to continue preventing the loss of
life at sea by continued search and rescue
efforts, while at the same time effectively
fighting human trafficking and smuggling
networks.
In this context, the cooperation with
Western Balkan States is crucial. No
state can address these challenges alone.
The role of regional cooperation in this
endeavour is of paramount importance.
In fact, the immediate reaction by the
CEI Executive Secretariat, in agreement
with the Macedonian CEI Presidency, in
launching a-first-of-its-kind Extraordinary
Call for Proposals of the CEI Cooperation
Fund for supporting activities aimed at
tackling the migrant crisis and the related
security issues should be underlined.
This being said, I really believe that
joint efforts among the EU states, all our
countries and the regional cooperation
organisations is of the highest importance
to cope with the new challenges, which was
also underlined during the Conference.

s a long-serving career diplomat,

what is your view on the achievements
and ambitions of the Republic Macedonia
in regard to its bid for joining the EuroAtlantic structures?
Macedonia demonstrated outstanding
leadership and diplomatic professionalism
during its CEI Presidency. As I have
previously stressed, the priorities
formulated by the Presidency and the
activities undertaken throughout the
year, brought about a strong impetus
to the work of our Organisation. I am
confident that, notwithstanding the
internal situation, with this positive
trend in increasing its visibility at a
global level and vigorous commitment to
regional cooperation, Macedonia deserves
to be part of the larger European and
international family.
No. 102 2016 MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN

11

macedonia in focus
Macedonian Young Diplomats

I accepted the
challenges
The first time I stepped into the old building of the Ministry of
Foreign Affairs (MFA) of the Republic of Macedonia, on the one
hand I felt anxiety, but on the other hand I was eager to tackle
the challenges that this work post was going to present. Although
this was not my first employment, the feeling was special given
that working for the MFA was my biggest wish since I was in
college, studying political sciences at the Ss. Cyril and Methodius
University Faculty of Law in Skopje. As a graduate student, I
focused on public opinion and mass communications under the
mentorship of then professor and now head of state Gjorge Ivanov,
which was a good preparation for what was expecting me.

started my career as a diplomat in the Ministrys public diplomacy department, working on the Ministrys publications,
Macedonian Diplomatic Bulletin and Crossroads the Macedonian Foreign Policy Journal. The experience I gained was extraordinary and therefore it is my pleasure now to pen again a few lines
for the MFAs Bulletin.
As a diplomat, both then and now, I believe the challenges and
opportunities that come along should be embraced, because one
should always strive to improve, which is especially true of diplomats. I accepted the challenges with marked enthusiasm and,
to my great satisfaction, I was part of all the Sectors of the Directorate for Analytics, Public Diplomacy and Diplomatic Archive.
Moreover, for two years, I was an assistant to the former National
Coordinator for Regional Initiatives and once we moved to the
Ministrys new building I also accepted to be part of the Secretariat of the South East European Cooperation Process (SEECP)
during the Macedonian Chairmanship-in-Office. My personal
improvement continues on a daily basis also through learning
foreign languages, attending seminars and trainings, learning
from the more experienced diplomats and, first and foremost,
through my own experience.
Diplomats as representatives of their country should do everything in their power to take their country as close to its goals
as possible and the easiest way to do that is by nurturing friendly
relations with diplomats of other countries and by presenting

their country before the peoples of other countries. In this regard,

the uninterrupted flow of confirmed and checked information between the MFA and the countrys diplomatic missions is particularly important. Good relations need to be promoted further and
in doing so the earlier laid foundations and past cooperation are
very significant. In this process, significant are also the various
means of mass communication through which friendly relations
among nations are furthered seeing that the reputation of a country depends on the reports of foreign correspondents whether in
or out of the country. Media are the chief public opinion creators
and it is the people that influence politicians the most in taking
a decision. Diplomats I believe come second in this respect. The
new technological discoveries, particularly in the field of telecommunications and transport, impact the traditional responsibilities of a diplomat to report, communicate and negotiate outside
of their countrys borders. These responsibilities are increasingly
often performed by non-diplomats as a general trend. Due to all
of this as well as due to the growing influence of domestic factors
and business circles, diplomats have to readapt. Good diplomats
know how to bring their countries closer to others but also ensure
that their fellow citizens perceive other countries just as favorably
and friendly. We are all representatives of our countries, diplomats, however, being some of the most prominent.
Aleksandar Trajkoski

MDB would like to extend a warm welcome and wish a successful mission in the Republic of Macedonia to:
H.E. Mr. Perti Ikonen, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Finland
H.E. Mrs. Sybille Suter Tejada, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Swiss Confederation
H.E. Mr. Daniel Erik Schaer, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Estonia
H.E. Mr. Derek Fili, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ireland
H.E. Mr. Patrick John Rata, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of New Zealand
.. Mr. Cha Kon Il, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea

12

MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN No. 102 2016

diplomacy and community

Russian Center Opened in Skopje

he Russian Center in Skopje as

part of Ss. Cyril and Methodius
University was opened on 11 January
in cooperation with the Embassy of the
Russian Federation and the Russian
Peace Foundation. This institution opens
up new possibilities for studying the

Russian language, reading Russian books,

newspapers and magazines, watching TV
shows, hosting exhibitions, educational
and scholarly meetings, and creative
discussions, and socializing.
The opening ceremony was attended
by the Ambassador of the Russian

Federation to the Republic of Macedonia,

Oleg Nikolayevich Shcherbak, Culture
Minister Elizabeta Kaneska-Milevska,
the Rector of Ss. Cyril and Methodius
University, Velimir Stojkovski, and His
Beatitude Stefan, the Archbishop of Ohrid
and Macedonia.

400 Years of Shakespeares Death Marked

Shakespeare Lives is the name of the

global initiative of the British Council
with which the jubilee400 years of the
death of the greatest British poet and
playwrightwill be marked this whole
year. In the Republic of Macedonia,
activities began in the middle of January

and will last all through the end of the

year.
Shakespeares work is continuously
recreated and reinterpreted in all the
languages and societies around the
globe. We have the fantastic opportunity
this year together with the whole world

to organize a first-class celebration

of Shakespeares work, to present the
modern, dynamic culture that is Britain
today, said the Ambassador of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland to the Republic of Macedonia,
Charles Garrett.

Diplomacy Screened to Mark lyse Treaty Anniversary

n the occasion of the 53rd anniversary

of the signing of the lyse Treaty,
the Embassies of the Federal Republic
of Germany and the French Republic
in Skopje, hosted the screening of the

film Diplomacy at the Cinematheque of

Macedonia on 21 January. Ambassadors
Christine Althauser and Laurence Auer
addressed the audience on this occasion.

Volker Schlndorffs film, starring

Andr Dussollier, Niels Arestrup and
Burghart Klauner, was shot in 2014 and
last year it won the Csar Award for best
adaptation.

MFA Hosts Sixth Blood Donation Drive

he staff at the Ministry of Foreign

Affairs of the Republic of Macedonia
donated blood on 22 January during the
6th blood donation drive that took place

on the premises of the Ministry. This

humane initiative was staged as part of the
traditional cooperation that the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of

Macedonia maintains with the Institute

of Transfusion Medicine. By the foreseen
timetable, the MFA staff hosts blood
donation drives twice a year.
No. 102 2016 MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN

13

EXPERIENCE MACEDONIA

Mariovo As I walk
I ask for directions for Mariovo

Panorama of Mariovo, near Manastir village.

Photo: Dzvonko Petrovski

ariovo is in the central part of the Republic of Macedonia.

It is in the middle of the Crna Reka basin and is a specific
natural entity surrounded by the sprawling massifs of Nide and
Kouf to the south, Mt. Seleka to the west, Mt. Dren to the north
and Kozjak together with Koufs branches to the east. Mariovo,
according to some authors, covers 1,000 sq. kilometers and
according to others 1,390 sq. kilometers, which is four percent of
Macedonias territory, at an altitude of a thousand meters above
sea level. Considering it is surrounded by mountains, it may be
regarded as a valley. However, bearing in mind the manner in
which its relief forms are arranged it is considered a plateau. In
it is the longest gorge in Macedonia, the 100-km long Skoivir
Gorge along the Crna Reka river.
Because of its geographic location and its being surrounded by
very high mountains, Mariovo is not easy to reach by road, which
is probably how the famous traditional song As I walk I ask for
directions for Mariovo came to existence.
Archaeologists say that in the distant past Mariovo was
inhabited by Thracians and Illyrians, who were later assimilated

Photo: Off Road Macedonia

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MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN No. 102 2016

by the South-Slavic tribe Brsjaci and, according to some

archaeologists, the names of the places and geographic features
date from the time of the Slavic invasion.
In Mariovo it seems as if time has stopped. The region is not
yet fully explored. It has a thousand inhabitants populating the
villages of Vitolite, Veprani, Beite, ivovo, Dunje, Kalen,
Kokre, Kruevica, Manastir, Petani, Polite, anite, Brnik,
Budimirci, Gradenica, Zovik, Iveni, Makovo, Staravina, Rape,
Orle, Grunita, Rode, Galite and Majden.
Aside from its geography and natural attractions, Mariovo
is also well known by the ethnographic characteristics of its
inhabitants, their local dialect and customs.

The legends about Mariovo

There are many legends about the origin of the word Mariovo.
One of them says that it derived from the name of a very beautiful
girl Marija. She agreed to live in the Turkish harem on condition

EXPERIENCE MACEDONIA
that the local bey did not Islamize the population of that region.
She has thus saved her people from forced conversion into Islam
and from building of mosques. In her honor, the place was called
Mariovo.
Another legend says that the name Mariovo comes from
the belief that many centuries ago the place was under water as
evidenced by the numerous rocks in the form of a mussel shell.
The region of Mariovo captures its visitors with its simplicity
and mesmerizing nature. It is a trove of secrets, legends and
cultural legacy. It is also the birthplace of one of the greatest
Macedonian heroines Kales Angja. It is in Mariovo that the
most beautiful Macedonian traditional costume and the most
beautiful traditional songs, myths and legends can be found. A
curiosity is that the bridal traditional costume weighs as many as
48 kg.
When speaking about natural rarities, there is another legend,
regarded to be the most interesting and most memorable despite
the fact that there are no written records of it. It is the legend of
the elusive grass of which a magic potion was made that gave
heroes the strength to deal with temptation and go through the
hardship of their personal initiation. According to the locals,
the magic herb was called the elusive grass because only a select
few were able to pluck it. The elusive grass, which looks quite
mundane to the uneducated eye, was the ingredient of which
charms were made that helped fend off the evil. The charms were
worn by soldiers in all the wars fought in Mariovo and many of
them escaped death thanks to the magic herb.
It is a popular belief that the people of Mariovo are very
resourceful, strong and hard-headed fighters against injustice.
When speaking about their wisdom and perseverance, it is
inevitable to mention one of the most memorable figures, the
clever Itar Pejo. There are legends dating back to his time,
according to which Pejo lived in the village of Gradenica. He
enriched the Macedonian cultural legacy with his shrewdness
and clever tricks to which nobody has remained indifferent.
Although he is a synonym of sagacity, in the region of Mariovo,
no initiative has yet been launched for building a memorial in
his honor, which would also be a tourist attraction. Everything
that is of value needs to be recognized and honored so it could be
imprinted forever in the memory of the future generations.
With all its attractions and historical figures, as a symbol of
resistance, Mariovo could grow into a museum in which many old
and valuable manuscripts, artifacts from the period of Antiquity,
helmets, and flasks from World War I would also be exhibited.
The region is also significant because it was crossed by the Via
Egnatia, the road that the Romans built in the 2nd century BC.
In Mariovo there are magnificent churches and monasteries.
Only in Gradenica they count ten and the Church of St. Dimitrija
from the 14th century is considered the oldest. In Staravina there
is a church of an unusual name Donkeys Church. It was built
by Bulgarians but because the locals refused to help them build it,
the church was never finished and later became a shelter for the
village donkeys.
Marko Cepenkov wrote down many of the traditional songs,
folk-tales, myths and legends that Mariovo is famous for. The
typical local life and customs are also a recurrent theme in the
works of the Macedonian writer Stale Popov, a native of Mariovo.

Mariovos economy and

business opportunities

Mariovos geography, climate and abundance of raw materials

have made the place a fertile soil for stock-breeding, farming,
forestry and mining. Mariovo has always been famous for its
artisanal cheese (bieno sirenje) also known locally as beaten
cheese. Also, delicious and top-quality cheese, types of yellow
cheese known as kakaval and whey cheese (urda) are made of
sheep and goat milk. Mariovos terrain and waterway network
proved conducive to the development of hill and mountain
farming, dominant crops being wheat, rye, barley and oat, and
corn being less present. Dominant vegetable crops are potatoes
and beans. Small farmers for their own needs also grow onion,
garlic, cucumbers, peppers and tomatoes.
Of the industrial crops, tobacco is also grown in a small area,
in the Prilep villages of Kruevica, Vitolite, Dunje and anite.
The soil and climate are also ideal for orchards. Dominant fruits
are plums, sour cherries, quinces, apricots, peaches and walnuts.
The many floral and grassy meadows, as well as the black pine,
cornel tree, hazel and juniper woods make Mariovo the ideal spot
for bee farming. The renowned Mariovo honey was awarded a
gold medal at an exhibition in Bucharest in the late 1980s.
Forests in Mariovo cover 230,208 hectares, which is 26 percent
of all the forests in Macedonia. Woods in Mariovo consist mostly
of black and white pine molika, especially on Mt. Nide, beech,
fir, oak (blagun), hornbeam, hazel, and Turkey oak trees. Molika,
Macedonian oak, wild hazelnut and Persian juniper are endemic
species.
The intensive geological development and the massive residues
of the volcanic relief in Mariovo made the region rich in various
ore, which triggered the growth of mining ever since the period of
Antiquity and the early Middle Ages.
Mariovo has a huge hydro potential, too, thanks to the Crna
Reka river with its tributaries Konjarka, Gradenica, Vitolika
and Blanica. The high water potential coupled with the region
being scarcely populated stand behind the idea of constructing
the ebren and Galite hydroelectric power stations. However,
all the Macedonian governments international calls for bids
from investors have so far failed. The business opportunities that
Mariovo offers in terms of ore deposits and natural attractions are
a good foundation for helping this region spring to life again and
improve its catastrophic demographic trends. They also contribute
considerably to the overall economic growth and progress of the
Republic of Macedonia.

The Church of St. Nikola in the village of Manastir,

built in 1095 and reconstructed in 1271 (11th13th centuries).
Photo: Stefan Petrovski
No. 102 2016 MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN

15

EXPERIENCE MACEDONIA

Gustavus
Symphony
Orchestra
Performs in Bitola

Dojran - City of
Culture 2016

Modern Poetry
in Translation
Publishes Poem By
Madirov
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MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN No. 102 2016

he Symphony Orchestra of the Gustavus Adolphus College of the U.S.A. opened the
concert season in the Bitola Center of Culture.
The beginning of the new year could not have been more beautiful given that in Bitola,
on 30 January, the Gustavus Symphony Orchestra of the U.S.A. performed on our stage.
We organized this event together with St. Clement of Ohrid University of Bitola and with it
we started our concert season, said Bore Dimitrovski, Director of the Center of Culture
National Institution - Bitola.

ojran has been proclaimed the City of Culture 2016, said the Ministry of Culture on 25
January after the competition in which Bitola, Berovo, Strumica, Dojran and Tetovo
raced for the title closed.
Dojrans program is a broad spectrum of concrete, quality and varied cultural events
of all kinds, projects that promote culture and cultural achievements with the young
generation, activities that promote domestic works of art and domestic authors, projects
that are products of cooperation with top artists and that present works of diverse styles
and genres. The program is also enriched with all the traditional festivals and events to be
organized this year under City of Culture 2016 flag.

he latest issue of the oldest British magazine for translated literature Modern Poetry in
Translation of January this year closes with Nikola Madirovs poem Silence Comes
from Somewhere Else, a tribute to the distinguished translators of Macedonian into English,
Peggy and Graham Reid, who passed away in Edinburgh last year.
The magazine was established in 1965 by the laureate of the Struga Poetry Evenings, Ted
Hughes, and specializes in translation of contemporary world poetry.
Graham and Peggy Reid, Professors of English at Ss. Cyril and Methodius University and
prolific translators, promoted Macedonian literature for many years through their English
translations. For their translation work, they received recognition and numerous awards.