MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA MDB No.

63/64

MACEDONIAN
D I P LO M AT I C B U L L E T I N
POPOSKI: The leaderships of all member countries need to be committed to enlargement. Only in this way can the European idea be strengthened in a time of crisis. The shared interests must be above the individual reflexes of setting obstacles.
Page 6

JULY - AUGUST 2012

IN FOCUS
INDIAN MINISTER PRENEE T KAUR DISCUSSES CLOSER ECONOMIC COOPERATION WITH MACEDONIA ................................................................................................................. IN THE PRESS: THE MACEDONIAN COMMUNIT Y IN AUSTRALIA ...................................................................... DIPLOMACY AND COMMUNIT Y: BOTH ILINDENS CELEBRATED ....................................................................... EXPERIENCE MACEDONIA: 60 YEARS OF THE FIRST MACEDONIAN FILM FROSINA .................
Page 9 Page 10 Page 14 Page 21

DIPLOMATIC NEWS

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

UN SEC GEN BAN KI-MOON TABLES WAYS OF RESOLVING NAME ISSUE

Within the framework of his Balkan tour, Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary General, accompanied by Matthew Nimetz, UN-appointed name issue mediator between the Republic of Macedonia and Greece, paid an official visit to the Republic of Macedonia on 2425 July. In the course of his stay, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon met Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov in Ohrid on 24 July, and Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, Parliament Speaker Trajko Veljanoski and Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki in Skopje on 25 July. A number of issues were tabled at the meetings, as stress was laid on the name issue with Macedonias southern neighbor. Prime Minister Gruevski also underlined the Report of 2008 by Gay McDougall, independent UN expert on minority issues, drafted at Secretary General Ban Ki-moons request and appealed for recognition and honoring of the rights of the Macedonian minority in Greece, in particular the educational and cultural ones, as well as the rights of the ethnic Macedonians displaced after the Greek Civil War, including the right to reclaiming their confiscated properties, dual citizenship and free movement. At Foreign Minister Poposkis working meeting with Secretary General Ban Kimoon and mediator Nimetz, possible ways of intensifying the UN-sponsored talks for the purpose of resolving the long-standing name issue as soon as possible were discussed. Minister Poposki underlined the Macedonian constructiveness in the process, expressing both his hope and his expectation that the other party in the talks would also approach the process employing good will and preparedness to make a significant step forward in finally finding a mutually acceptable solution to the dispute. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon also addressed the Macedonian Parliament and the School for Young Leaders organized under President Ivanovs auspices.

Dame Gruev 6, 1000 Skopje Republic of Macedonia www.mfa.gov.mk mdb@mfa.gov.mk Editor: Vladimir Efremovski Editorial Board: Saso Markovski, Zuko Rizvanski, Katerina Stavreska, Elena Georgievska, Shaban Jashari, Dragan Todorovski, Borce Stamov, Nikola Gjorcev, Boris Mircevski, Ivan Karanfilovski, Kristina Todorovska, Bojana Jovanoska, and Goce Karajanov Photo: Dragan Todorovski and Ljubco Blagoevski Published monthly by: Macedonian Information Centre Director: Dragan Antonov Chief Translator: Aleksandra Ilievska

Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in Skopje.

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. 2012

No. 63/64 July - August 2012

MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN No. 63/64 2012

DIPLOMATIC NEWS

PARTNER RELATIONS BETWEEN MACEDONIA AND USA CONFIRMED

At the invitation of Gjorge Ivanov, President of the Republic of Macedonia, Philip Reeker, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, paid a visit to the Republic of Macedonia on 19-25 August. Macedonias strategic goals, its membership of NATO and the European Union as top priorities, as well as the possibility of unblocking the countrys integration were the talking points of the two highranking officials. They agreed that there was no sustainable alternative for either the region or the Republic of Macedonia to complete integration into the European Union and NATO. The partnership between Macedonia and the United States of America and the commitment to further promotion of cooperation in all areas of shared interest were confirmed at the meeting. At the meeting between the highranking US official and Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, special stress was laid on the High-Level Accession Dialogue between the Republic of Macedonia and the European Union. Prime Minister Gruevski said the Macedonian Government was strongly committed to carrying out reforms that would improve the situation in the country at all levels. At the meeting with Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki, views were shared about issues of shared interest with an accent being put on the expectations for a continued and enhanced support from the United State of America for the Euro-Atlantic integration of the Republic of Macedonia. In the context of the name issue, Minister Poposki emphasized that the Republic of Macedonia remained open to dialogue with its southern neighbor and tried to overcome the only, imposed obstacle to its European and Euro-Atlantic integration with a proactive and constructive approach. Mr. Reeker underlined at the meeting that UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moons recent visit to the Republic of Macedonia and his messages may contribute to seeking out a mutually acceptable solution to the name issue very soon.

During his stay in Macedonia, Mr. Reeker also met Defense Minister Fatmir Besimi, Transport Minister Mile Janakieski, with whom he signed the agreement on air traffic between the two countries, which represents a legal framework for establishing direct regular and charter flights between Macedonia and the USA, as well as the leaders of BDI, PDSH and SDSM, Ali Ahmeti, Menduh Thaci and Branko Crvenkovski respectively. In addition, he addressed the opening of the Conference of the School for Young Leaders.

MINISTER POPOSKI CO-CHAIRS 9TH MEETING OF STABILIZATION AND ASSOCIATION COUNCIL

Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki paid a working visit to Brussels on 23-24 July. In the capacity of a cochairman, he led the Macedonian delegation to the 9th Meeting of the Council for Stabilization and Association between the Republic of Macedonia and the European Union, held on 24 July. The delegation also included Teuta Arifi, Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs. On behalf of Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the Meeting was chaired by Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU. The meeting was also attended by EU Enlargement Commissioner tefan Fle. Bilateral relations between the Republic of Macedonia and the EU within the framework of the Process of Stabilization and Association, meeting political and economic criteria, harmonization of the Macedonian laws with the EU acquis communautaire, the financial cooperation, the implementation of the Stabilization and Association The Council welcomed the opening of the High-Level Accession Dialogue Agreement, the between the Republic of Macedonia and the EU, as well as the new impetus situation in the region that the Dialogue provided in the implementation of the reforms relating to of the Western Balkans the process of European integration. and other international issues of shared David Lidington, British Minister for interest were all tabled at the Meeting. Europe, tefan Fle, EU Enlargement On the sidelines of the Meeting, Commissioner, Nicolai Wammen, Danish Minister Poposki held meetings with Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Tonio Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis, Minister of Borg, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malta. Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus,
No. 63/64 2012 MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN

DIPLOMATIC NEWS

IVANOV AND NAZARBAYEV PROMOTE ECONOMIC COOPERATION BETWEEN MACEDONIA AND KAZAKHSTAN
The economic boom that Kazakhstan has made, as well as the status it has as one of the fastest growing economies in the world, is an additional incentive for Macedonia to maximize economic cooperation and attract Kazakh investments, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, President of the Republic of Macedonia, said at the joint press conference with the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, in Astana on 2 July 2012. Both Macedonia and Kazakhstan are a bridge of civilization and cultural cooperation between the East and the West. Both countries play an important and crucial role in their respective regions, President Ivanov stressed. The Macedonian head of state underlined during his two-day official visit that Macedonia was practically implementing the dialogue among civilizations as its regional project to promote ethnic, cultural, linguistic and religious diversity, and invited President Nazarbayev to attend the next Summit of this initiative. President Nazarbayev stressed that Macedonia was probably one of the most important friends of Kazakhstan, emphasizing the interest of the country in strengthening economic cooperation and relations. The Kazakh president stressed that there was interest on their part in promoting cooperation in the fields of energy, textile, pharmaceuticals, construction and agriculture. During his first official visit to Kazakhstan, President Ivanov also met Karim Massimov, Prime Minister of

Kazakhstan, and Kairat Mami, Chairman of the Kazakh Senate, and addressed the Macedonian-Kazakh business forum, at which Macedonias investment opportunities were presented to Kazakh businessmen.

FM POPOSKI ADDRESSES POSITIVE IMPACT OF EU MEMBERSHIP PROSPECT AT CROATIA SUMMIT 2012

Nikola Poposki, Macedonian Minister of Foreign Affairs, participated in the 7th international conference of prime ministers and ministers of foreign affairs Croatia Summit 2012 held in Dubrovnik on 6-7 July. The Summits topic this year was state building and the EU experience. In his address at the first panel discussion entitled EU Perspective as a Driving Force for Social and Political Change, Minister Poposki discussed the positive impact of the prospect of European membership on the social and political change in the Macedonian society and the reforms implemented in this regard. He also addressed the HighLevel Accession Dialogue (HLAD) with the European Union as a bridge toward opening membership negotiations between the Republic of Macedonia and the European Union. In addition, Minister Poposki had a number of fringe bilateral meetings with summit participants, including Croatian Prime Minister Zoran Milanovi, ministers of foreign affairs of participant countries, representatives of the EU, and Philip Gordon, US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs. During his visit to Croatia, Minister Poposki also held meetings with representatives of the community of the Macedonian national minority in the Republic of Croatia.

Minister Poposki: The European Council should act upon the recommendation as soon as possible and set a date for opening the negotiations.

MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN No. 63/64 2012

SUMMER CAMP FOR MACEDONIAN CHILDREN

Nikola Poposki, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Macedonia, opened the first Summer Camp for children from the Macedonian national minorities living in the neighboring countries in Ohrid on 13 August. The Summer Camp represents part of the project of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia Far Away, Yet Close, whose main objective is raising the level of

proficiency in the Macedonian language of the Macedonian national minorities in the neighboring countries and the Macedonian communities in the diaspora. Aside from learning the language, participants also had an opportunity to learn more about Ohrids cultural and historical legacy, attend a theater performance within the framework of the Ohrid Summer Festival and see screenings

of documentaries about the history of Macedonia and its people. The Summer Camp is expected to grow into a traditional event in the future taking place every a year as a meeting point of the best students having attended the various modalities for learning the Macedonian language in the neighborhood and the diaspora.

THE SUMMER CAMP IS EXPECTED TO GROW INTO A TRADITIONAL EVENT

No. 63/64 2012 MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN

MACEDONIA IN FOCUS
INTERVIEW

No one has the right to gamble with the aspirations for a better future of all citizens in this region.

GOOD-NEIGHBORLY RELATIONS MOTTO OF THE MACEDONIAN CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE SEECP

Minister Poposki, the month of September is always associated with a new beginning and new activities. What are yours and also the priorities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the coming period? Intensive communication with the countries from our region. We are chairing the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) and wish to change the perception about the Balkans of those outside of it. This depends on our mutual relations. We are promoting projects and initiatives that connect us in the future. We want the diversity of our region to be our trump card. In order to succeed on that road, prejudice should be overcome and we should establish better road, railway, energy and port links, also increase the communication and remove physical borders together with mental barriers. At the same time, the economic crisis in Europe imposes on us certain priorities, too. We are going to make additional effort to promote Macedonia. In circumstance of a crisis in Europe, we are going to promote the country even more outside of Europe. Spreading contacts and capturing new markets is a must and we cannot afford to miss the wave. This is by all means something companies should be doing, yet diplomacy, too, can prove very helpful in creating opportunities. For three successive years, the Republic of Macedonia received a recommendation from the EC to open membership negotiations and has recently begun the High-Level Accession Dialogue (HLAD) as well. Do you expect another positive recommendation and a date for launching accession talks? Macedonia is by all criteria more prepared today than ever before to formally open negotiations with the EU. This is also to be credited to the HLAD. The fact that we are tackling the hardest part of the reforms is a great benefit. At the same time, the awareness that we are doing every improvement for our own sake, rather than fulfilling someones wishes is rising. Only in this way can we be certain that we are on the right track. The benefit for the EU is the brave attempt at renewing the tainted trust in European integration principles and institutions. Will a new chapter be open with Macedonia on its path toward the EU? That depends on the political leaderships in the member states. They have an opportunity to decide whether a more stable and prosperous Balkans in a Europe that inspires trust and honors its values of a peace project is worth the investment. A decision for opening negotiations would be a confirmation that credibility still matters. We are going to do all in our power to make sure the decision is supported by all. Over the past 12 months, we have put an enormous and unprecedented effort in making sure all parties are well aware of the advantages of such a decision and we are going to continue with the same zeal. Taking into consideration the open support that the Republic of Macedonia received from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Austria and the Slovak Republic, and previously from the Baltic countries, can we except in the future a similar message from the

Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mr. Nikola Poposki

MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN No. 63/64 2012

MACEDONIA IN FOCUS
countries of the Visegard Group and the Scandinavian countries? What will that support mean for the integration of the Republic of Macedonia? There are people truly striving to make Macedonias progress sustainable. Many are capable of perceiving the importance of two decades invested in the stabilization and prosperity of the Balkans. They also know how valuable it is to protect this investment. Our friends from Austria and Slovakia sincerely wish to see us in the EU as soon as possible. The Baltic countries, despite the distance, are working just as hard to integrate the Balkans into Europe. They have felt the benefits of membership and wish to expand them. We are working very hard to make those countries of the region that are already member states open up in the same way. This is critically important in our approach. We wish to be inspired by the Visegrad and the Scandinavian cooperation and their way of supporting each other as neighbors and acting regionally. The leaderships of all member countries need to be committed to enlargement. Only in this way can the European idea be strengthened in a time of crisis. The shared interests must be above the individual reflexes of setting obstacles. Europe needs more connections and integrations. It is with these ideas that we have taken over the Chairmanship of the SEECP. Aside from being dedicated to the Euro-Atlantic priorities, the Republic of Macedonia has recently been visited by high-ranking delegations of the Peoples Republic of China and India, as Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski paid visits to Japan, China, India and Russia. What are the other priorities that the Macedonian diplomacy is working on? During the visits of our Chinese and Indian friends, we stressed that we are all committed to nurturing excellent relations. Those were also the messages voiced during Prime Minister Nikola Gruevskis visit to Russia and Japan, as well as China and India. The ongoing regional crisis in Europe is teaching us that we should be working on global connections, too. The modern-day challenges are often of a similar nature everywhere in the developed world and the fast-growing economies. It is for this reason that establishing closer cooperation has become a necessity. We are conducting principled policies and are arguing for downright openness. We are a small country yet in reality we are part of the largest common market in the world, within the framework of which we are offering some of the best conditions for doing business, according to the World Bank. Making our presence more visible and creating opportunities for cooperation is part of the Macedonian diplomatic vision. To this effect, we plan to open an embassy in Tokyo soon. And we are not stopping there. After more than ten years, Macedonia is chairing the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) for the second time. What has changed in this framework of cooperation in a decade? A lot of things have changed. A number of countries in the region have joined NATO and the EU. Ten years ago, it was quite enough to sit at the same table in as many formats as possible. Today, what matters is the content. At the same time, Europe is pressed by debts and a lack of growth. Hence, greater integration is in the best interest of all so the market can expand and sound competition can be fostered. What are the biggest political challenges during the Macedonian Chairmanship of the Process which began in June of this year? The main challenge of the Macedonian Chairmanship will be promoting the interest of the region into a single voice, in which the European prospects will be pronounced. Our region has already been largely recognized as a geographic and economic entity. We need to continue building and strengthening the political will and dialogue for cooperation as a prerequisite for stronger growth. Now, there is an overall strategic commitment of the countries from the region to EU and NATO membership. Still, it will take certain effort to overcome the burdening leftovers of mistrust. They are primarily a product of prejudices, related to bilateral issues. In this regard, as SEECP, we are going to encourage the future rapprochement between Belgrade and Pristina and the rapprochement between

All together, the member states of the Cooperation Process and our partners, we need to show that we can move ahead when the true, real problems of the people living in this region are addressed. Solidarity, as an expression of the commitment to comprehensive and longterm cooperation and goodneighborliness will be the motto of the Macedonian Chairmanship of the SEECP.

No. 63/64 2012 MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN

MACEDONIA IN FOCUS

GOOD-NEIGHBORLY RELATIONS MOTTO OF THE MACEDONIAN CHAIRMANSHIP OF THE SEECP

other countries that have differences, and we are going to demonstrate, in a number of fields and via concrete projects, a policy of good-neighborly relations and cooperation, emphasizing that signals of rapprochement rather than division are needed. In other words, our goal is making sure that all countries in the region are dedicated to the path of reform and prosperity and that the open issues are not obstacles to cooperation. Our aim is enhancing the credibility of the Process, as well as its relations with Brussels. All together, the member states of the Cooperation Process and our partners, we need to show that we can move ahead when the true, real problems of the people living in this region are addressed. Solidarity, as an expression of the commitment to comprehensive and long-term cooperation and goodneighborliness will be the motto of the Macedonian Chairmanship of the SEECP. At a time when our neighbor is unilaterally attributing more relevance to other priorities relegating the name issue to a subordinate position, do you believe that after almost two decades of making effort in seeking out a solution to the name issue all possibilities for finding a final solution have been exhausted? Macedonia has not benefited from the debt drama in Greece. It is an indisputable fact. However, the fact that the bilateral issue is not ranking high on the Greek political menu is perhaps a positive thing. Over the past twenty years, we have heard all kinds of nonsense about Macedonia being a threat to Greece. Any intelligent human being can see that Greeces opening toward Macedonia is an advantage rather than a threat. The crisis has made this even more prominent: Macedonian citizens are massively supporting the Greek tourism; Greek firms have very successful businesses in Macedonia; Macedonian firms do business via Thessaloniki; as people cross the border in both directions at an increased rate. What should happen so we can break this stalemate is the crucial question. First, positive actions at a political level, greater mutual exposure, mutual respect and respect of the values that Europe is virtually associated with: basic human rights, democracy and the rule of law! That also means meeting the legally undertaken responsibilities towards one another. It is very important for the bilateral differences not to be misused against regional integration. The higher goal must not be held hostage by petty games. This situation is a serious test to the whole European idea of peace and prosperity. No one has the right to gamble with the aspirations for a better future of all citizens in this region. We are working and will continue working

on the full integration of all, based on mutual trust and by building bridges toward the future. Finally, after twenty years, we can conclude with certainty that the imposed dispute is absolutely unnecessary. When both Macedonia and Greece are NATO members, neither country will have any ground any longer to feel threatened.

MINISTER POPOSKI AMONG MACEDONIANS IN GOLO BRDO, ALBANIA

Nikola Poposki, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Macedonia, visited the border region of Golo Brdo in the Republic of Albania, populated largely with members of the Macedonian national minority in this country, on 29 August. Within the framework of his visit, he met representatives of the local Macedonian population, including activists of the Macedonian political party in the Republic of Albania Macedonian Alliance for European Integration (MAEI) and the non-governmental organizations Ilinden and Most. He was informed about the activities of the aforementioned associations for nurturing the Macedonian national, linguistic and cultural identity in the region of Golo Brdo. Minister Poposki completed his visit to Golo Brdo by meeting the students of the village of Trebiste who attend extracurricular Macedonian language courses. The need for making the Macedonian language an integral part of the regular education system of the region was emphasized on that occasion.

MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN No. 63/64 2012

MACEDONIA IN FOCUS

INDIAN MINISTER PRENEET KAUR DISCUSSES CLOSER ECONOMIC COOPERATION WITH MACEDONIA
Multilateral cooperation, current international issues and regional events, as well as the necessity of signing agreements in areas of interest to both countries were tabled at the meeting with Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki.
Mrs. Preneet Kaur, Minister of State for External Affairs of the Republic of India, paid a visit to Republic of Macedonia on 10-11 July. The bilateral relations between the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of India and their promotion in fields of shared interest, particularly economy, trade and raising Indian investments in the Republic of Macedonia, were discussed at her meeting with Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki. Multilateral cooperation, current international issues and regional events, as well as the necessity of signing agreements in areas of interest to both countries were also tabled at the meeting. The Memorandum of Understanding between the three Economic Chambers of the Republic of Macedonia on the one hand and the Confederation of Indian Industry on the other was signed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the attendance of both ministers. Minister Kaur was accompanied during her visit by an economic delegation made up of distinguished Indian businessmen that established contacts with the Agency for Foreign Investments and Export Promotion of the Republic of Macedonia and with representatives of the three Economic Chambers.

Ministers Kaur and Poposki in Skopje, July 2012.

No. 63/64 2012 MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN

MACEDONIA IN FOCUS
IN THE PRESS:
The Macedonian community in Australia has made significant contributions to business, sport, education and industry. Australian society has been enriched by Macedonian culture, heritage and traditions. Senator Bob Carr, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Australia. http://bobcarrblog.wordpress. com/2012/07/25 This year we opened a high-level dialogue and I am impressed by the authorities, particularly by Prime Minister Gruevskis commitment to making sure reforms are carried out in key areas. I see certain things change. I see a renewed intention on the part of Macedonians to come closer to the European Union. tefan Fle, EU Enlargement Commissioner, for Radio Free Europe. http://www.slobodnaevropa.mk/ content/article/24651480.html The beauty of your country is stupendous and I am sure that there is a big potential for tourism between India and Macedonia. My visit is an indication of Indias keenness to continue and deepen the political and economic interaction between our two countries. Smt. Preneet Kaur, Minister of State for External Affairs of India, during her visit to the Republic of Macedonia, press statement, 11.07.2012. The Macedonia name issue is unique. I cant think of another situation, current or historical, in which a country wants a neighbor to change its name. It is also a zero sum problem: if Athens gains, Skopje loses, and vice versa. Daniel Serwer, Professor of Conflict Management, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, 29.07.2012. http://www.peacefare.net http://www.peacefare.net/?p=10083

SPINDELEGGER AND LAJK VISIT SKOPJE TO EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR MACEDONIAS EU INTEGRATION
Michael Spindelgger, Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister for European and International Affairs of the Republic of Austria, and Miroslav Lajk, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Slovak Republic, paid a joint working visit to the Republic of Macedonia on 10 July. At the meeting with their host, Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki, the high-ranking guests voiced unambiguous and open messages underlining that Austria and Slovakia were true friends to Macedonia and that they had come to welcome and encourage the future process of integration of the Republic of Macedonia and to express hope and argue for opening EU membership negotiations with the Republic of Macedonia. In their view, their visit represents a forceful signal that there is interest in making joint progress in the process of integration of the Republic of Macedonia into the European Union. They emphasized that the name dispute should not hinder Macedonias European integration. Also, they welcomed the launch of the High-Level Accession Dialogue between the Republic of Macedonia and the European Union. Minister Poposki underscored that he highly appreciated the unequivocal and resolute support from Austria and Slovakia, reiterating that the Republic of Macedonia remained firmly committed to the European and Euro-Atlantic processes and to promoting regional cooperation.

10

MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN No. 63/64 2012

DIPLOMACY AND COMMUNITY

European Affairs, informed in regard to the first priority - freedom of expression and professional standards - that an agreement on decriminalization of slander and insult had been reached and that a draft law on civil accountability for slander and insult had been developed. As regards rule of law and fundamental rights, progress has been made in reducing the number of unresolved cases and in enhancing the capacities of the Basic Public Prosecution. With respect to the administration reform, Arifi stressed that with the passing of the new Law on Civil Servants, the legal framework for civil servants and public administration would be blended and certain changes would be introduced to better the administration system. Regarding the fourth priority pertaining to the election reform, working versions of the modifications to the Election Code and the Law on Financing Political Parties have been drafted as the voters' lits is being simultaneously revised. In view of the fifth priority strengthening the market economy Mrs. Arifi said that activities had been launched in order to improve the labor market, education and business climate and enhance the development and implementation of the economic policy.

Arifi and Fle in Brussels, July 2012.

REPORT ON REALIZATION OF PRIORITY GOALS OF HIGH-LEVEL ACCESSION DIALOGUE PRESENTED

The report of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia to the European Commission about the status of the realization of the five priority goals of the High-Level Accession Dialogue was presented at the joint meeting of the National Council and the Committee on European Affairs held on 31 July. Presenting the report, Teuta Arifi, Macedonian Deputy Prime Minister for

HIGH-LEVEL ACCESSION DIALOGUE YIELDS POSITIVE RESULTS

Nearly a month before completing the report on the progress that the Republic of Macedonia has made in the process of European integration, it may be concluded that the Republic of Macedonia has confirmed again it is successfully approaching the EU and that the established new pace in its relations with the EU through the High-Level Accession Dialogue is yielding the expected results. The progress in attaining the reform objectives agreed upon in the five priority areas was also confirmed by the member countries of the European Commission at the last meeting of the Stabilization and Association Council (24 July 2012). The drafting of the law on civil responsibility for slander and insult regulating important issues in adherence with the best European practices was singled out as a significant achievement. In addition, trainings are continuously being conducted for the judges working in this field with the aim of improving their performance and make sure it is in compliance with the policies of the European Court of Human Rights. The adoption of the comprehensive report on the implementation of the Framework Agreement by the Government of the Republic of Macedonia was also pointed out as a valuable accomplishment as far as promoting interethnic relations goes, while regarding the rule of law, in partnership with the European Commission, modifications have been drafted to the law on following communications. In order to improve professionalism in the judiciary, modifications to the law on courts, which accelerate the application of the new professional conditions for electing judges to higher courts beginning from 1 January 2013, have been provided to Parliament. As for the inclusion of Roma and Roma refugees, despite the economic crisis, with the budget rebalance 2012, the total allocation for supporting the implementation of the Decade of Roma Inclusion has been increased. Furthermore, the Government of the Republic of Macedonia decided to daft a new law on general administrative procedure with the aim of building a service-oriented administration. The activities pertaining to the election reform are expected to finish by September 2012. With respect to the strengthening of the market economy, short-term and long-term activities have been projected. In this regard, the Government of the Republic of Macedonia is making considerable effort to improve the business environment and meet the economic criteria for EU membership. At the same time, the continuous monitoring of the fulfillment of the five criteria for a functional market economy by developing a pre-accession economic program is going to continue.
Jovan ANDONOVSKI, State Secretary for European Affairs Government of the Republic of Macedonia
No. 63/64 2012 MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN

11

DIPLOMACY AND COMMUNITY

INTERVIEW

H.E. Mr. Lars Wahlund, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to the Republic of Macedonia
Your Excellency, how do you assess the relations between the Republic of Macedonia and the Kingdom of Sweden and what issues, over the following period, in your view, deserve greater attention? I think the bilateral relations are excellent. PM Nikola Gruevski was recently in Stockholm and both prime ministers said there were no bilateral issues. There is a huge Macedonian Diaspora in Stockholm. Actually, there is a village close to Resen, a Turkish village, and the whole village lives in Sweden. The relations are excellent. What I would like to do more in the coming period is to increase the business promotion. I think that this has been neglected a little bit. I am also ambassador to Kosovo and Albania and I try to see these countries as a region, which is also what the Swedish business would like to do, because Macedonia is not a big market. Kosovo is not a big market either but together they could be. So I would like to focus more on the business promotion. The wider Macedonian public highly values the commitment of the Kingdom of Sweden to the EU enlargement process. At the meetings of high state representatives of our two countries (Prime Minister Nikola Gruevskis meeting with his Swedish counterpart Fredrik Reinfeldt in Stockholm being one of them), Sweden regularly stresses the support for setting a date for launching negotiations for Macedonias full-fledged EU membership. Could you tell us what the concrete support of the Kingdom of Sweden on the one hand and the support of the EU countries and institutions on the other for setting a date for launching membership negotiations consists of? Well, you know, the EU is like a big Turkish bazaar. There are discussions going on all the time and together with a couple of other countries Sweden has a very principled view in these discussions. We support the EU enlargement but it is not that easy nowadays. The EU has a financial crisis and it is inward looking. We uphold the EU enlargement, it is important to continue. We also uphold that bilateral issues should be solved during the negotiation process. That is why we say it is important that Macedonia is allowed to start the EU negotiations. Then, of course, in order to become a member, you must sort out the name issue but that can be done during the process. The possibility to solve the issue is bigger during the process than by blocking. The same, if I am allowed to draw a parallel, goes for Serbia. Serbia will not become a member without sorting out Kosovo. And its better to think that we have a process with Serbia that will sort of ease the possibility. The same thing is with Macedonia. You should be allowed to start negotiations and solve the name issue during the process. At the last ministerial meeting in Brussels, Sweden raised Macedonias issue and argued for opening negotiations with Macedonia considering the present state is not good for the country or the region. We also mentioned the court case in The Hague and how strange it was that it had had no impact. Certain respectable international financial institutions have ranked the Republic of Macedonia high as a serious destination for foreign direct investments. What is your view on the government delegations Road Show for promotion of the Macedonian investment capacities, held in Stockholm in June? Where do you see the opportunity for enhancement of the cooperation between the two countries in the segment of sharing experiences in attracting foreign direct investments, in what spheres and sectors could the economic exchange between the Republic of Macedonia and the Kingdom of Sweden be boosted and is there any concrete interest of Swedish companies in making investments in the Republic of Macedonia? First, as I said, one should not look at Macedonia as an isolated country. It is part of a region. When Swedish companies look, for instance, at China, India and the Balkans, they consider them as regions and the same applies for other countries. If I do something in Macedonia, would I be able to sell it in Kosovo? I think that

IT IS IMPORTANT FOR MACEDONIA TO START EU NEGOTIATIONS

12

MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN No. 63/64 2012

DIPLOMACY AND COMMUNITY

the Macedonian Road Show in Stockholm was quite successful. The Macedonian Embassy had managed to gather a huge number of Swedish companies at this meeting. I know there will be some investments in the IT sector coming in. There should be more interest from Swedish companies. Macedonia is close to the European market, the salaries here are very low and people are fairly welleducated. These three factors are going to bring more Swedish investments here. One big obstacle is the poor flight connections. Representatives of big businesses want to come in the morning, do business and fly out in the evening. What Macedonia needs is connections with big cities like London, Amsterdam and Frankfurt. There should be more contacts with the Turkish ownership of the airport, as they are interested in developing their business. In my personal view, apart from hardcore investments and industries, there could be a possibility for housing the aging population in Europe and the middle class. People born in the 1940s are now retiring. I think, as you have good doctors, plenty of sun, cheap living for foreigners, there could be a fine industry to provide nice retirement here in Macedonia. The Swedish economy, within the frames of the EU countries, notes a high growth in GDP and it is ranked as the most competitive in Europe and the world. Even though the Kingdom of Sweden is not part of the Euro-zone, it is a rare example of a country successfully tackling the global financial crisis. To what do you owe the outstanding economic success and could certain lessons be learned from Swedens tiger economy that could be applied to other national economies? Could you share them with us? I am not an expert but I think that one important thing is to control the books. I mean you cannot spend more than you earn, it is a simple thing, something that applies for your private economy. There must be a certain correlation between how much you earn and how much you spend. Some countries have not followed this simple rule. The Swedish Finance Minister and the person in charge of the Swedish National Debt Office (Riksgldskontoret), Bo Lundgren, discussed this. Lundgren was invited to the United States Congress and gave a lot of lectures on how we tackled the on this issue. This has been one very important activity. The other one is the commemoration of 100 years of the death of August Strindberg, one of the most famous Swedish authors, with an exhibition of his paintings and photos. We have translated a lot of books into Macedonian and they were all at the Book Fair. In August, a famous Swedish actress is going to act in a production of Miss Julie in Ohrid. The crown jewel is our translation of one of Strindbergs latest plays Pelican into Macedonian, Albanian and Turkish. As I am also the ambassador to Albania and Kosovo, we are going to invite the theatres from Tirana and Pristina to Skopje in November. Also, Swedish theatre students are coming to Skopje and each of them is going to play the Pelican in the way they understand it. Vladimir Milcin, the artistic leader of this project, is going to put together one play in four languages on the last day. A leading Strindberg scholar, who has just published a book, will give a lecture, too. Some people from the Royal Theatre in Stockholm, who are scenographers, are also going to come. So that will be like a Strindberg Festival in November. This year the Manaki Brothers Festival in Bitola will have a Swedish theme and we will be screening four Swedish films (15 to 21 September). Some very famous people are going to attend the festival in Bitola. I managed to connect the music school that my oldest son goes to in Stockholm with the Ilija NikolovskiLuj music school in Skopje. Both schools are going to write a symphony together through a computer program. Next year the Swedish students are going to come to Skopje during the Skopje Summer Festival and play the symphony together with the Macedonian students in the square. Some of the Macedonian students will then visit Sweden. The biggest youth tournament in football in Gothenburg, Gothia Kup, is held each year in July. Around 60,00070,000 young people participate in this gathering by playing football with their peers from Africa, Asia and all across the world. The Skopje-based Swedish Embassy has had plenty of work issuing visas to Kosovar citizens who want to attend this tournament. Unlike Kosovo, which is sending 30 football teams, Macedonia is only sending one team, which I think is very sad.

We uphold the EU enlargement, it is important to continue. We also uphold that bilateral issues should be solved during the negotiation process.

huge crisis in the beginning of the 1990s and, not entirely different from Spain, we had a sort of a real-estate bubble that burst and we then injected a lot of money into the banking system because the confidentiality and credibility of the banking system is crucial. We have also been criticizing the way the US did it because by injecting money into the banking system you also have to have ownership. The state took over a couple of banks, made them healthy again and then sold them, actually earning money in the end. Bo Lundgren was critical of how they did it in Great Britain and the United States, injecting a lot of money into the banking system without ownership. There must be fair distribution of the risk in an economy. So that is one lesson, to inject money in the banking system and to also take responsibility for the banking system because after all what you are injecting is taxpayers money. Macedonians recognize the Kingdom of Sweden as the homeland of high artistic and scientific achievements. The Kingdom of Sweden is perceived as a country that invests in promotion of these values and has in this way made many friends across the world. Does your Embassy, in the upcoming period, plan any activities and exchange in the sphere of culture, sport, education, science and art that would be presented to the Macedonian public? This year is the 100th anniversary of the birth of Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, who saved tens of thousands of Jews in Budapest. There was an exhibition at the Holocaust Museum. Also, we organized concerts and lectures

No. 63/64 2012 MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN

13

DIPLOMACY AND COMMUNITY

BOTH ILINDENS CELEBRATED

With massive rallies at Meckin Kamen in Krusevo and at the ASNOM Memorial Center in the Kumanovo village of Pelince, Macedonia celebrated both historic Ilindens: 109 years of the Ilinden Uprising and 68 years of the First Meeting of ASNOM. President Gjorge Ivanov attended the central celebration in Krusevo. The delegation laid flowers at Nikola Karev's grave, at the monument to the heroes of Sliva and at the monument of the defenders of the Krusevo Republic at Meckin Kamen. The celebration in Krusevo was also attended by Members of Parliament, representatives of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia and the General Staff led by Goranco Kotevski, Chief of the Macedonian Army General Staff, Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki, Environment Minister Abdilaqim Ademi and Deputy Agriculture Minister Zoran Konjanovski. We are Macedonians and we speak the Macedonian language, President Gjorge Ivanov said at Meckin Kamen. He added that "although they divided us and displaced us, the language has remained the fundamental and strongest living tie that bonds us and unites us." Therefore no one has the right to talk about let alone negotiate renaming our Macedonian language, President Ivanov stressed. As, in fact, every year, the horsemen came too, having begun their traditional Ilinden march in the Skopje village of Gorno Lisice. Service was held at the Church of St Nikola in honor of the Ilinden insurgents and the residents of Krusevo who laid down their lives during the Ilinden Uprising. A delegation of the Parliament, led by Speaker Trajko Veljanoski, laid flowers at the ASNOM Memorial Center in Pelince. Veljanoski emphasized that our generation must not hand down to those who come after us a land and people robbed of their identity and root. After facing numerous challenges and hardships, in the end, he said, honor, respect of principles and dignity is what remained. In Skopje, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski laid flowers at the ASNOM monument in the Woman Fighter Park, at the monument to Nikola Karev outside the Parliament and at the monument to Metodija Andonov-Cento, President of the Presidium of ASNOM. Macedonia marches ahead and the road has been traced out. It is a long and blistering journey, filled with challenges, but we are going to prevail just as the Ilinden insurgents and the members of the National Liberation Movement did. The battle for Macedonia is neverending. We continue fighting for our name, identity and dignified life. We need to stay committed and united. The Euro-Atlantic integration remains to be our strategic goal, Prime Minister Gruevski underscored in his address at the monument to Metodija Andonov-Cento in the center of Skopje.

14

MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN No. 63/64 2012

DIPLOMACY AND COMMUNITY

EXHIBITION "THRESHOLDS" ON DISPLAY IN SKOPJE

British Embassy in Skopje, the exhibition represents a contribution of the British Council in Macedonia to the celebration of the Queens Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics and Paralympics in London. The exhibition focuses on drawings, prints and photographs, including certain rarely seen early photographs, by distinguished modern artists. Most artists being part of this exhibition have never before exhibited in Macedonia. Lucian Freud is considered one of the greatest painters of the 20th century and his works are currently on display at the National Portrait Gallery in London. David Hockney is also staging a massive exhibition at the prestigious Royal Academy this year. The exhibition Thresholds was previously staged at the Whitechapel Gallery in London in 2010 and at the St James Cavalier Center for Creativity in Valletta, Malta, in 2012, from where it transferred to Skopje.

FIFTH EDITION OF FRENCH FILM FESTIVAL TAKES PLACE IN OHRID

The fifth edition of the French Film Festival took place in Ohrid from 30 June to 5 July. The jubilee of this remarkable French-Macedonian event went with a success and helped solidify the festivals standing on the home culture scene. About ten latest films of French production were screened at the festival, as film director Jacques Doillon was presented with a life achievement award. The festival was opened by Elizabeta Kanceska-Milevska, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Macedonia, and JeanClaude Schlumberger, French Ambassador to the Republic of Macedonia. Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov hosted a reception for the delegation of French guests at the closing of the festival. The French Film Festival in Ohrid was founded with the aim of marking the opening of the University of Audiovisual Arts, European Film and Theater Academy, ESRA Paris-Skopje-New York.

The exhibition Thresholds, being a rare opportunity to enjoy world class modern art in Macedonia, was staged at the Museum of Modern Art in Skopje from 22 June to 22 August 2012. Thresholds, whose curator is Paula Rego, represents a selection of 73 works of art by 39 modern British artists from the collection of the British Council. Together with the campaign GREAT of the

MARATHON RACE OF CULTURES CONNECTING DRESDEN AND SKOPJE

Sixty-three marathon runners from Germany passed through the Triumphal Arch in Skopje on 4 July marking the end of the traditional Marathon Race of Cultures. The runners started the race on 23 June in Dresden and via Ostrava in the Czech Republic continued toward Dresdens sister city of Skopje as their final destination. Their mission is making token contribution to better understanding of peoples in Europe and unification of the continent. They stayed in the Republic of Macedonia until 7 July and aside from Skopje also visited Ohrid and Struga. The oldest one among them is 80 years old.
No. 63/64 2012 MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN

15

DIPLOMACY AND COMMUNITY

RECEPTIONS BY EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES IN THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA CELEBRATING NATIONAL HOLIDAYS
Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, and other Macedonian government ministers and representatives attended the annual celebration of America's independence. Ambassador Wohlers' remarks highlighted the strengths of the U.S. relationship with Macedonia over the years and stressed the importance of continued support and cooperation with Macedonia in the future. With the Macedonian and American Flags flying above the stage, both the Macedonian and U.S. National Anthems, performed in a cappella, could be heard through the evening skies as the sun set over the ar Mountain. This year's Independence Day celebration culminated in a spectacular fireworks display visible from most of the city. The U.S. Embassy in Skopje stated it was honored to have celebrated its country's birthday in the Republic of Macedonia.

United States of America

Nearly 800 guests joined Ambassador Wohlers at the United States Embassy in Skopje to commemorate American Independence Day. This Fourth of July was the 236th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Americans honor the Declaration for the human values that it describes and defends life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness which are viewed as universal values belonging not only to American citizens but to all citizens of the world. A large number of guests including Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov,

Republic of Montenegro
On the occasion of 13 July, Montenegros National Day, the Embassy of Montenegro hosted a reception at the Aleksandar Palace Hotel in Skopje, attended by numerous guests including Parliament Speaker Trajko Veljanoski, Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki, and representatives of the diplomatic corps, government institutions and the economic, cultural and public life of the Republic of Macedonia. After the playing of the national anthems, the Montenegrin Ambassador, H.E. Mr. Duan Mrdovi, had the pleasure of welcoming his honored guests, underlining that another important date 29 June was simultaneously celebrated as a day marking Montenegros democratic and civilization progress toward the family of European peoples and states considering that on this day Montenegro was officially set a date for opening membership negotiations with the European Union. In the course of the celebration, Montenegros wines, natural attractions and potentials were presented and promotional tourist materials were handed out.

MDB would like to thank H.E. Mr. ALAIN BRIAN BERGANT, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Slovenia, for his completed diplomatic mission in the Republic of Macedonia, wishing him success in his future career.

16

MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN No. 63/64 2012

EXPERIENCE MACEDONIA
INTERVIEW

Anna Kondratenko, concertmaster at the Macedonian Philharmonic Orchestra and at F.A.M.E. (Film Orchestra of the Macedonian Radio and Television)

REPRESENTING MACEDONIA IS GREAT RESPONSIBILITY

You come from Russia, the cradle of world culture and art. How much is Macedonia your everyday inspiration? I came to Macedonia for the first time with my would-be husband at the time, Oleg, who took me straight to Ohrid. He showed me around the most beautiful places in that region and I fell in love with the country, which, despite its tender age yet difficult past, kept its centuries-long history, culture, cuisine and very warm, hospitable, wise and joyous mentality. To this very day, Ohrid represents to me love at first sight. There is one spot there that I find to be most inspirational to me in all of Macedonia a stone under a tree in Kaneo. There I can commune with nature and God You have been part of numerous performances of the Macedonian Philharmonic Orchestra outside Macedonia. What is the feeling to represent Macedonian culture in the world? I have had performances in many countries for a long time as a representative of Russia, too. However, I have to say that I am honored to represent Macedonia because I consider it as an even greater responsibility. Russia is an enormous country with a very high population and there are many artists there representing the country across the world at the highest level in the fields of culture, science, sport, etc. Also, Russia is a much older country than Macedonia with much older traditions in the aforementioned areas. So when I represented Russia, I was one of many and when I represent Macedonia (on the stage I mean) I am either at the head of a national institution or part of the duet with my husband, Oleg Kondratenko, with whom I have already represented Macedonia in Bulgaria, Poland, France, Italy, Russia, etc.

What do you find to be most appealing to you in Macedonia? Do you have a favorite city, a village, a place? How often do you travel in Macedonia and can you single out and recommend a place for a visit? As I already said earlier, I have one favorite spot in Ohrid. Unfortunately, as a result of our hectic lives, I have not yet seen many popular destinations in Macedonia, such as Berovo, Galicnik, Stobi, Pelister and many others. This year, during our winter holiday, we went to Popova Sapka for the first time.

Previously, we used to go to Mavrovo where we had a truly great time, but Sapka was an amazing discovery. The mountain charmed me with its beauty, nature, vast slopes on which children learn to ski, simplicity and coziness. I also have to mention Matka, which is my favorite getaway from the city noise and pollution. However, there are many undiscovered places for me out there that I wish to visit one day and tell my relatives and friends in Russia and all over the world about them.

No. 63/64 2012 MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN

17

EXPERIENCE MACEDONIA

THE SPLENDOR OF THE OHRID PEARLS

tradition handed down from generation to generation, from father to son. It is in the mystery of the substance, the recipe of which has been jealously guarded for decades, that the charm of the Ohrid pearl rests. The mysticism of the Ohrid pearls has best been embodied in a score of legends and stories about them, retold from generation to generation by the locals. One of the most beautiful and best-known is the legend of the misfortunate lovers Marko and Biljana. Although being apart, at the two opposite ends of the world, they find a way to reunite through the magic of the pearl ring. The beauty of the nacre shine is recognized by many around the world and the privilege to have this unique and elite souvenir from Ohrid in their private jewelry collections also belongs, among others, to British Queen Elizabeth II, Queen Silvia of Sweden and Queen Margrethe II of Denmark. Everyone who comes to visit Ohrid or just happens to be passing by is afforded the opportunity to take a piece of the riches hidden in Lake Ohrid whereby the story of the Ohrid pearls continues.

Every necklace, bracelet or a pair of earrings with Ohrid pearls comes with a certificate attesting to its quality and authenticity.
Covered in the mysticism of the bygone times, the Ohrid pearls represent a reflection of the beauty of this amazing city. And while natural pearls are a result of the defense mechanisms that seashells use to protect themselves from curious grits of sand, around which they secret concentric layers of nacre, the Ohrid pearls are the fruit of the symbiosis of nature, art and tradition. The fact they are man-made detracts nothing from their value. On the contrary, the entire craft of their making that does not permit mass production makes the Ohrid pearls unique and exceptional. Just as the seashell takes a year to produce a pearl, the Ohrid pearl takes a patient hand, and a great deal of attention and precision. It all begins with the fish plasica, an endemic species in Lake Ohrid. Its scales are used to obtain a natural emulsion very similar to the organic protective substance that seashells secret. Every pearl bead is put on a toothpick, then they are all lined on a meter-long wooden plank and coated with the emulsion with a little brush made of natural fibers of a squirrel or a horse five or six times at least. However, the details of how the Ohrid pearls are actually made remain a well-kept secret of two Ohrid families Talev and Filev who have remained loyal to the century-long

NATURAL PEARLS LAST 150 YEARS, AS OHRID PEARLS LAST

FOREVER, THEIR MAKERS SAY.

45TH INTERNATIONAL MACEDONIAN LANGUAGE, LITERATURE AND CULTURE SEMINAR

The 45th edition of the International Macedonian Language, Literature and Culture Seminar, at which the Macedonian language, literature and culture are studied and promoted worldwide, took place in Ohrid from 22 June to 5 July, organized by the Skopje University of Ss Cyril and Methodius. The Seminar was opened by its sponsor, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, President of the Republic of Macedonia, who said in his address that the obligation to keep and nurture our language is not just something we owe to our ancestors and our successors and is not only an obligation to all presentday Macedonians. It is an obligation and a debt to all participants in this Summer School and to all those who love, respect and nurture the Macedonian language. In fact, it is an obligation and a debt to the cultural heritage of the human civilization, to the essential meaning of human existence. The 2-day International Scholarly Conference on the Macedonian Language was held during the Seminar, at which scholars from a number of countries shared their views on the situation of the Macedonian language. Gane Todorovskis output and The Macedonian literature and the other literatures were the main topics of the literary section, while the linguistic section focused on the Macedonian language in relation to the other languages, with stress being laid on its syntactic variations and characteristics. When the Conference ended, the 45th Summer School of the International Macedonian Language, Literature and Culture Seminar began with more than 80 participants from 20 countries.

18

MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN No. 63/64 2012

EXPERIENCE MACEDONIA

FRIEND OF THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA PRESENTED TO WOLF OSCHLIES

German Slavist and Macedonist Wolf Oschlies was presented with the award Friend of the Republic of Macedonia for his effort in promoting the Macedonian language, literature and culture worldwide on 16 August by Macedonian Culture Minister Elizabeta Kanceska-Milevska. Oschlies is a Slavist, a Macedonian language expert, a political scholar, a journalist and an expert on Eastern Europe, who has been publishing articles on Macedonia for years. He is recipient of an honoris causa degree from the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje and of the Spiritual Warrior Award presented by the international

event Macedonian Spiritual Inns. He authored and coauthored numerous books in the Macedonian language, including the translation of On the Macedonian Matters by Krste Petkov Misirkov from Macedonian into German, published by Makedonika Litera, in which he also included an extensive preface as a study on Macedonia. The German language has thus become the sixth language, in addition to English, Russian, Czech, Greek and French, in which this milestone work by Krste Petkov Misirkov has been translated. He has also penned the recently published GerMacedonia dedicated to the Macedonian-German relations, in which

he describes Macedonia from all aspects on some 30 pages. The German translation of On the Macedonian Matters was promoted in the picturesque landscape of the Lesok Monastery during this years gathering of literary translators on 22 and 23 August, attended by 40 translators from Macedonia and abroad, including Mr. Oschlies, who also took part in the work of Symposium. The translator awards 2012, at the recommendation of the International Federation of Translators (FIT) and UNESCO, were presented in Skopje on 30 September, International Translator Day.

No. 63/64 2012 MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN

19

EXPERIENCE MACEDONIA

Ohrid Summer Festival 2012

Over the past 51 years, the Ohrid Summer Festival has established itself as one of the most significant cultural events in the Republic of Macedonia.
Ohrid, the city of UNESCO, was the center of top achievements in the world of art at an international level this year, too, from 12 July to 20 August. With its longstanding tradition, the Festival realized its 52nd edition with an exceptionally rich and varied art program. This years edition of the Ohrid Summer Festival opened with an international multimedia project based on William Shakespeares Romeo and Juliette, within the framework of which a large international team made up of actors, musicians, ballet dancers, choir singers, acrobats from a number of national institutions and guests from Saint Petersburg appeared on the stage of the Ancient Theater. In the course of the 40 days of the festival, on the stages of the Ancient Theater, Dolni Saraj, the courtyard of the Church of St Sofia, etc, a wealth of events that drew huge public interest, especially with the fans of music, theater and other forms of art, took place. This years festival program boasted such illustrious names as Michel Camilo, the Dominican piano virtuoso, Cyprien Katsaris, the best known pianist of Cyprus, Ilya Gringolts, the young Russian violinist, Maestro Enrico Dindo, the famous Italian violoncellist, and many other prominent figures from the very pinnacle of the world classical music. A true spectacle was the birthday concert on 4 August of the attractive vocal ensemble Perpetuum Jazzile of Slovenia. Over the past 51 years, the Ohrid Summer Festival has established itself as one of the most significant cultural events in the Republic of Macedonia. Also, it has successfully been keeping pace with the European and world cultural trends and has become part of the elite of the worlds grandest and most important festivals, which has also been confirmed with the Festivals membership of the association of elite European festivals 16 years ago. The Festival has persevered for so long also thanks to its privilege to result from the centuries-long cultural history of the host city, which is Macedonias cultural cradle, a city in which the values of the ancient civilization were nurtured, a city of the first Slav university in Europe, a city of Samoils kingdom and finally a city that embodies the entire Macedonian cultural and spiritual history.

20

MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN No. 63/64 2012

EXPERIENCE MACEDONIA

60 YEARS OF THE FIRST MACEDONIAN FILM FROSINA

The jubilee 60 years of the first Macedonian film Frosina was also celebrated within the framework of this years Ohrid Summer Festival, with a screening of the film at the Grigor Prlicev Center of Culture, in the attendance of the doyens of the Macedonian film, Aco Jovanovski and Ljupka Dzundeva, and many notable public figures and figures from the world of culture. The event proved overwhelmingly emotional, bringing back memories and causing tears of joy. The Festivals management said on this occasion that film as a form of art would hereafter be an integral part of the Ohrid Summer Festival.

No. 63/64 2012 MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN

21

EXPERIENCE MACEDONIA
IN TOUCH WITH TRADITION

The Galicnik Wedding event began modestly back in 1963 as a local event.

Galicnik Wedding Marks 50th Anniversary

In Galicnik, on 14 and 15 July this year, a golden jubilee was marked 50 years of the folklore and tourist event, the Galicnik Wedding also attended by Gjorge Ivanov, President of the Republic of Macedonia, and Nikola Poposki, Minister of Foreign Affairs, accompanied by representatives of the diplomatic corps. The Galicnik Wedding event began modestly back in 1963 as a local event with the only goal of making people remember at least once a year the cultural and material values that their ancestors had been creating for centuries. The objective was protecting from oblivion the elaborate wedding customs and rituals, unique and unseen elsewhere, keeping the original Galicnik traditional costumes abundant in detail and embroidery, singing the wedding songs and other authentic tunes that the people who lived in this territory created, and dancing the dances, all which would help Galicnik live forever. The weddings in Galicnik, by tradition, have always taken place around the religious holiday of Petrovden when the economic migrants from the region scattered all over the world made sure to return home at any cost and be amongst their own. Today like in the past, the residents of Galicnik are in Galicnik with their own people on this festive day. Every year, during the ceremony, a great many customs typical for the wedding are honored, sometimes even for days: waiting for the drums, the mother-in-laws dance, the taking of the bride to the local spring, the mounting of the wedding flag, the inviting of the dead, the shaving of the bridegroom, the taking of the bride clothed in a costume made up of 46 pieces and weighing 25 kg, the making of the bread, the wedding ceremony in the church of Ss Petar and Paul and other customs that reveal a lot of details of the life in Galicnik as it once was but that are gradually getting extinct. The Galicnik wedding, as one of he most complex ritual performances of the Macedonian cultural legacy, has grown over the course of the past five decades into a genuine Macedonian brand and has also become part of the cultural values of mankind protected by UNESCO. This attractive and unique event is attended every year by 5,000-10,000 visitors from around the world. The Galicnik Wedding is followed every year by the Galicnik Cultural Summer that lasts until 18 August.
The Galicnik Wedding, 1939.

22

MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN No. 63/64 2012

EXPERIENCE MACEDONIA

The blend of the past and the present

SKOPJE SUMMER FESTIVAL 2012

This years edition of the Skopje Summer Festival, the event that has imbued urban living with freshness and has built the cultural spirit of Skopje for thirty-three years, opened on 21 June World Music Day - under the motto Urban Art. The Festival was opened by the Philharmonic Orchestra of Sofia, the oldest and largest symphony orchestra, who performed in front of the audience in Skopje with 70 distinguished instrumentalists. The soloist of the performance was Anna Kondratenko, concertmaster of the Macedonian Philharmonic Orchestra. Over 60 cultural events international concerts, theater and ballet performances, numerous exhibitions, etc were part of the Skopje Summer Festivals agenda, helping take a closer look at the cultures of the Region and beyond through an ambitious program from the immediate neighborhood (Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Bulgaria and Hungary), Central Europe (Germany, Italy, Spain, Czech Republic, Denmark), as well as the USA and Canada. A Leb i Sol Symphony concert, a joint project of the legendary Macedonian band Leb I Sol and the chamber orchestra of the Music Youth of Macedonia, Jeunesse Moving Orchestra, marked the end of the Festival.

Krusevo Ethno City

Traditionally, this year, too, on Ilinden (2 August) and the days receding it, the event Krusevo Ethno-City took place in Krusevo. It opened on 26 July at the Ilinden Monument with the performances of a number of folklore companies. Krusevo-Ethno-City represents a sort of a travel back in time to 1903, during the Krusevo Republic. The locals walked the streets of their town dressed in uniforms of Macedonian insurgents and Turkish soldiers. Juzbasi Ali Efendi, the chief of the Krusevo garrison, vojvoda Stavre of Dolno Divjaci, the komitas, the wealthy towns people and young girls all evoked the spirit of the city of before and after the Ilinden Uprising. The blend of the past and the present was rendered even more vibrant with the sounds of the ethno band Calgija Sound System and the local food specialties, which as a prelude to the event, were all set on a massive city table in the park of the Krusevo Republic. The specialties included the famous Krusevo pie and lokum (Turkish delight), diverse Vlach delicacies and the traditional Turkish baklava.

INTERNATIONAL FOLKLORE FESTIVAL HELD IN KRIVA PALANKA

On the occasion of the Christian holidays of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God and St. Joakim Osogovski, the patron saint of Kriva Palanka, the eighth edition of the St. Joakim Osogovski International Folklore Festival took place in Kriva Palanka on 25-27 August 2012. The Festival was opened with a procession through Kriva Palanka and over the following three days, ensembles from Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, Northern Cyprus and Serbia performed traditional songs, dances, customs and choreographies typical for their countries and regions.
No. 63/64 2012 MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN

23

MY DIARY

D
PROMOTION OF GOOD NEIGHBORLY RELATIONS

uring this warm summer day I had the privilege to attend the official opening of the Days of Bulgarian culture as part of the festival Shtip Summer 2012. Twelve different events were organized by our participants, showing the various aspects of Bulgarian arts and social life. I was not surprised by the wonderful reception from the local community, particularly for the exhibition Bulgarian monuments under the protection of UNESCO and the concert by the musical group Tochka.BG. Such events reinforce the bonds of fellowship and understanding between citizens on both sides of the border and create a positive impulse for further developing the friendship between Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia. While visiting Shtip for the festival, I had a working dinner with the mayor of the town Mr. Zoran Aleksov. We discussed the opportunities for cooperation between local and Bulgarian municipalities in using EU funds in development projects, especially between Shtip and its sister towns of Kyustendil and Varna. It was the common

understanding, that if the European ideal is to benefit the citizens of our two countries, we must all be as active as possible in the promotion of good neighborly relations and economic cooperation. For that reason we looked at various avenues for increasing the exchange of ideas, experience, arts, goods and services across the border and shared several concrete ideas how to broaden the trans-border cooperation under the auspices of the EU. Late in the evening, as I was regretfully leaving the wonderful people of Shtip on my way back to Skopje, I reflected than in just a single day, through goodwill and a mutual constructive approach, together we established a firm basis for continued cooperation, on which we will surely build upon. Days like these reinforce my belief, that the European future of our region is not solely based on the political decisions between the national capitals. It is in fact deeply rooted in the understanding and enduring friendship between the people of the different countries on our continent. It rests upon their existing and the US Marine Forces undertook an airborne parachute landing, secured the terrain and ensured conditions for landing of a US military plane KC-130, and performed aircraft refueling operations for two Bulgarian Cougar helicopters, in conditions of activated engines. This manoeuvre, undertaken for the first time in Bulgaria, was completed in an impeccable manner. The second part of the exercise on the Novo Selo Training Ground, with the participation of the Macedonian soldiers - airborne activities for neutralization of a terrorist group which attacked a convoy, as well as a medical airlift of a wounded soldier - was similarly completed to the utmost satisfaction. Following the completion of the exercises, Bulgarian MOD Anyu Angelov held a press conference together with us, the Ambassadors. Expressing his great satisfaction with the results, Mr. Angelov stated that the joint training has achieved its goals, as it set a clear example for intelligent defence with the participation of units from Bulgaria, the USA, Macedonia and Ukraine. Ambassador Warlick emphasized his satisfaction that the joint collaboration of the four military forces had been concluded smoothly and flawlessly. I emphasised the contribution that this joint exercise made to strengthening our interoperability and our further preparation for successful joint operations in the peacekeeping missions. In this respect, I also

H.E. Mr. Ivan VELIKOV PETKOV, Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria to the Republic of Macedonia

cultural and social ties, the efforts to further develop them, the ability to travel and experience the life of their friendly neighbors, their desire to create mutual economic endeavors for the benefit of all. These are the elements, which make me confident for the future of my country, my friends in the Republic of Macedonia and the region as a whole.

n this day I had the pleasant duty to attend the final exercise of the multinational joint preparation Black Sea Rotational Force 12 (BSRF-12), which brought together, for the first time, military units from Bulgaria, Macedonia, Ukraine and the USA. The mission of the BSRF, established in 2010, aims to integrate the armed forces of twelve nations in the Balkans, the Black Sea region and the Caucasus through NATO, and to organize multinational joint preparation for successful operations in the peace-keeping missions. The Macedonian military units, participants and organizers of numerous military NATO and PfP exercises, are regular participants in BSRF ever since its second exercise organized in June 2010 in Romania. Despite their successful participation thus far, I was continuously beset by the thought as to whether everything will be completed in the best order and as to whether our soldiers will stand up to the assigned tasks. It was the same anxious feeling I sensed back in 1997, when, as the Ministry of Defence, we organized the first multinational PfP exercise Rescuer 97 at the Krivolak training area. When I arrived at the training area Bezmer Air Base, the location of the BSRF12 exercise, I could likewise observe the anxiety of my colleagues: James Warlick, the Ambassador of the USA, and Mykola Baltazhy, the Ambassador of Ukraine. It was here that two units of the Bulgarian

H.E. Mr. Blagoj HANDZISKI, Ambassador of the Republic of Macedonia to the Republic of Bulgaria, 30 July 2012

underlined the particularly high rating of Macedonia with regards to troops contribution to the NATO missions on per capita basis. In the end, we visited the units and congratulated them on the successful exercise. Our soldiers were particularly highly commended in this respect. It was them who demonstrated that the Macedonian Army, shoulder to shoulder with the other peacekeeping forces, incessantly contributes towards the maintenance of world peace and security. It was them and the successful exercises such as these ones that proved a lucid reminder that Macedonias place unquestionably is within NATO. In this way they also took part in the marking of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of our Army.

24

MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN No. 63/64 2012