Macedonia Daily.org: August 2009

Friday, August 28, 2009

ON THE WAY TO POLAND

Sports.

Macedonian national basketball team is preparing for Eurobasket 2009, which will start on the 7th of september with the historic game against Greece. They players of coach Jovica Arsic have joined the Efes world cup in Turkey as a prepare tournament before Eurobasket. Yesterday Macedonia played latvia and won with a huge difference, 95-74. Excellent start by the Macedonians.

Experienced Vrbica Stefanov and newcomer Darius Washington were the leaders of the game. Especially Darius meant much for the win, who managed to score 2 threepointers in the last minute of the first quarter and made the biggest lead over latvia. His second threepointer was scored from the half of the court.

Jovica Arsic is still trying out who of the both 2 naturalized American-Macedonians will join the squad to Eurobasket. Jeremiah Massey or Darius Washington. Darius Washington has been doing nothing but great in these test games before the start of Eurobasket, so we don't think the decision will be hard anymore.

Interesting fact: Macedonia beat Poland last week. Yesterday Israel played Poland and they lost. Israel is in our Eurobasket 2009 group.

Today Macedonia will take on Great Brittain @ 18.30 . Can do something glorious this time at Eurobasket? Let's hope so!

[basketball.org.mk]

Posted by Macedonia Daily at 9:32 am | Permalink | Comments

US AND MACEDONIAN SOLDIERS TRAIN TOGETHER

National.

Troopers of the Macedonian and US army will start a joint training, which will be realized at the Ilinden barracks and Krivolak's boot camp.

Troopers from the regiment for special operations (RSO), the battalion of ARM’s police and representatives from Vermont National guard will participate in the training.

The training’s purpose, which will be realized in the next few days, is enriching and building battle skills of both armies.

[mina]

Posted by Macedonia Daily at 12:17 am | Permalink | Comments

ARMED MEN KIDNAP FORESTRY WORKERS

National.

One worker, employed in the Forestry organization “Karadzica”, has been kidnapped of unknown reasons by armed people at Kitka mountain near Skopje, Alsat TV reported.

According to the same source, 4 workers have been kept hostages from 1 a.m till 4 a.m on Thursday.
One of the workers remained hostage and the other three were released.

The kidnappers are believed to be ethnic Albanians. Police secured and investigated the area early this morning.

[mina]

Posted by Macedonia Daily at 12:15 am | Permalink | Comments

Friday, August 21, 2009

PANDEV VS LAZIO

Sports.

Lazio legal chief Gianmichele Gentile has warned Goran Pandev's minders over complaints about the player's contract.

“The bullying I have heard them talk about has nothing to do with Pandev’s situation,” assured Gentile.
“If the Macedonian and his lawyers wanted to flex their muscles, then Lazio will certainly do the same.

“Everything we will do from now on is going to be unfortunate and we take no joy from this, but this diatribe risks damaging everyone involved.”

Pandev is taking legal action against Lazio over their contract dispute.
Lawyer Mattia Grassani told Sky Italia television that he had sent a telegram warning Lazio to put Pandev back in the side within three days.

“If this situation were to continue and Pandev left out not because of physical issues nor a decision by the Coach, then this behaviour could be considered a case of bullying.

“It is like a musician who takes part in all the rehearsals and yet is never invited to the theatre to play.”

[Mina]

Posted by Macedonia Daily at 12:18 am | Permalink | Comments

STRUGA POETRY EVENINGS

National.

48th Struga Poetry Evenings (SPE) - the most prestigious international poetry manifestation in Macedonia - will be opened Thursday evening in Struga at a ceremony, which will include a traditional recital of the poem T'ga za jug (Longing for The South), concert by pianist Simon Trpceski and the international poetry recital named "Poetry Meridians".

This year's SPE laureate is Slovene poet Tomaz Salamun, who has already arrived in Struga and is scheduled on Thursday to plant a tree in the Park of Poetry and to hold a press conference.

The formal opening will be followed by the annual Nights without Punctuation multimedia artistic event featuring experimental forms of poetic presentations, where Senegal author Ousmane Sarr-Sarrouss will be presented. He is the winner of this year SPE and UNESCO award Bridges of Struga for the best first poetry book by young author.

The Struga poetry festival, which will run till Aug. 23, will be attended by 75 foreign poets from 50 countries worldwide. SPE's activities were kicked off yesterday when flowers were laid in front of the Miladinovci brothers' memorial house.

This year's symposium, dedicated to "Poetry and Music", is scheduled for August 21. SEP will in addition mark the 100 anniversary of the birth of Nikola Jonko Vapcarov (1909-2009). The festival's programme also includes an "Evening of Norwegian Poetry", promotion of 10 books of Macedonian poets, translated in English language.

The closing ceremony "Mostovi" (Bridges), held at the Bridge of Poetry on the river Drim in Struga including poetry readings and the awarding ceremony, will be held on August 23.

Another event in the so called Caravan of Poetry, which consists of poetry performances around the country. Usually, after the end of the Festival, poetry readings are being organized in several cities across Macedonia. The last event takes place in the country's capital, Skopje, where 2009 laureate Salamun will be declared as an honorary member of the Macedonian Poetry Association.

Tomaz Salamun is a Slovenian poet. He was born in 1941 in Zagreb, Croatia, and raised in Koper, Slovenia. He has published 30 collections of poetry in his native Slovenian language. Salamun spent two years at the University of Iowa Writer's Workshop in the 1970s and has lived for periods of time in the United States since then. For a time, he served as Cultural Attaché to the Slovenian Embassy in New York. He has had ten collections of poetry published in English, including The Selected Poems of Tomaz Salamun (Ecco Press, 1998); The Shepherd, the Hunter (Pedernal, 1992); The Four Questions of Melancholy (White Pine, 1997); Feast (Harcourt, 2000), "Poker" (Ugly Duckling), "Row!" (Arc Publications), "The Book for My Brother" (Harcourt), and "Woods and Chalices" (Harcourt). He lives in Ljubljana, Slovenia, and is married to the painter Metka Krasovec.

SEP was launched in 1962 with a series of readings by a number of Macedonian poets in honor of the two brothers, Konstantin and Dimitar Miladinov, great intellectuals, teachers, and writers, born in Struga in the beginning of 19th century. Konstantin Miladinov has been considered the founder of modern Macedonian poetry and each year the festival officially opens with his memorable poem "Longing for the South" (T'ga za jug) written during his student days in Moscow. For the last 47 years the festival has welcomed about 4,000 poets, translators, essayists and literary critics from 95 countries.

[Mina]

Posted by Macedonia Daily at 12:17 am | Permalink | Comments

MACEDONIAN NEGOTIATOR MEETS NIMETZ

National.

Macedonia remains active in the talks over the name and expects a mutually acceptable solution, which should preserve the identity, dignity and integrity of the Macedonian citizens.

This is the keynote of the statement given by the Macedonian negotiator, Zoran Jolevski, after his meeting with the UN mediator Matthew Nimetz in New York today. The meeting was aimed at presentation of the Macedonian stances relating the latest set of ideas for finding a solution, after Greece did the same yesterday.

"At today’s meeting, I presented Macedonia’s positions to the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General, Matthew Nimetz, relating the modified set of ideas he presented in Skopje on 7 July, 2009."

“At this meeting, we took advantage of the opportunity to present our stances in a way that will enable pushing ahead with this continuous dialogue. Macedonia is committed to active participation in the talks over the name and we expect a mutually acceptable solution, which will ensure preserving of the identity, dignity and integrity of the Macedonian citizens on the basis of Euro-Atlantic values and democratic principles,” Jolevski said.

Ambassador Jolevski underlined that "Macedonia has fulfilled all criteria for becoming a member of NATO, which is why its citizens rightfully expect for timely integration of their country. Moreover, the Macedonian citizens have already proved their acceptance of the Euro-Atlantic institutions' values."

Negotiator Jolevski now expects from the mediator to brief him on his plans relating the next steps in the talks

[Mina]

Posted by Macedonia Daily at 12:17 am | Permalink | Comments

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

STIP AIRPORT REMAINS PART OF THE TAV DEAL

National.

The cargo airport in Stip is part of the concession agreement with the Turkish TAV and its construction will not be cancelled, said Macedonian transport minister Mile Janakievski.

According to him, provisions of the annex to the agreement for concession of the airports in Macedonia signed last year in September remain valid.

At the end of last year, TAV requested that the takeover of airports be postponed, explaining that the company was unable to close the financial construction because of the financial crisis. In the meantime, they denied giving up the investment several times.

Ten days before the expiry of the deadline, there is still no official confirmation that they would adhere to the annex to the agreement. For that purpose, TAV requested a loan from EBRD in the amount of EUR 45 million and from EIB in the amount of EUR 80 million. The banks are expected to make the decision about the loans in October when the boards of directors convene

[Mina]

Posted by Macedonia Daily at 12:17 am | Permalink | Comments

ECONOMY RISING UP

National.

igher revenues in July are a sign for a beginning of economic recuperation following the global downturn, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski told reporters on Sunday after the cornerstone-laying ceremony that marked the start of a construction of Memorial House of Kemal Ataturk - the founder of modern Turkey.

The collection of budget revenues in July was the best in comparison to previous months, while the State Statistical Office announced that the unemployment rate in Macedonia registered a downward trend in the first quarter of this year, the Prime Minister said, pointing out that both indicators were rather positive in a period of global economic crisis.

He expressed hope for the favorable trend to continue, adding that it is too early to say that the crisis is coming to its end in the world and at home.

If everything develops as planned the foreign investments in Macedonia for this year may reach about EUR 200-250 million, which is more than expected in a period of crisis, Gruevski said, adding that FDI amount for the first five months was at EUR 100 million.

- Our expectations are higher, as the amount of foreign investments in 2007, 2008 has been the best thus far, unusual for Macedonia - at about EUR 400-500 million. Now we are expecting more. But considering the fact that we shall have about EUR 200-300 million in a period of global economic crisis and compare this amount with the years before 2006, we may say that it is not that bad. I wish to however remind that the crisis is still powerful, having strong impact across the globe and naturally in our country, hence the fight against its mitigation in Macedonia should resume, Gruevski said.

[Mina]

Posted by Macedonia Daily at 12:16 am | Permalink | Comments

Monday, August 17, 2009

MEMORIAL FOR ATATURK

National.

A corner stone was laid Sunday in the village of Kodzadzik - Centar Zupa municipality - marking the start of a construction of Memorial House of Kemal Ataturk - the founder of modern Turkey.

The greatness of Ataturk's deeds, a man who was the founder and first President of the Republic of Turkey, is being recognized in Turkey and beyond its borders, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski said.

Many memories connect Ataturk with Macedonia, including the fact that the house of his parents is located exactly here in the village of Kodzadzik. This memorial is of special significance for the Turkish state, Turkish community in our country and for Macedonia, Gruevski said at the ceremony.

Culture Minister Elizabeta Kanceska-Milevska and Turkish Deputy Culture Minister Nihat Gul also addressed the event, referring to the good cultural cooperation and friendly relations between the two countries.

The memorial will be build on the foundations of the old residence of Ataturk's father - Ali Riza. The project - worth about EUR 650,000 - will be realized by the local authorities of Centar Zupa municipality and the Government of Macedonia.

[Mina]

Posted by Macedonia Daily at 12:17 am | Permalink | Comments

4 MACEDONIAN SOLDIERS INJURED IN AFGHANISTAN

National.

Four Macedonian soldiers sustained light injuries on their faces after a suicide car bomb exploded outside the main gate of the NATO-led military mission Saturday in Kabul, the Ministry of Defense says in a press release.

The car bomb went off at 08:40 a.m. local time while the soldiers were conducting their regular activities within the ISAF mission in Afghanistan.

The soldiers, who sustained face scratches, were immediately treated for their injuries. Due to their stable health condition, the Macedonian Army (ARM) troops were released to resume their activities.

- According to latest official information obtained from an ARM representative serving in the ISAF mission, an estimated 300 kilograms of explosives in a motor vehicle - suicide car bomb - were activated. Initially it has been reported that the explosives were detonated by a suicide bomber, reads Ministry's press release.

Currently, the Kabul-based ISAF main command is guarded by 148 ARM troops of the second mechanised infantry company. A total of 164 ARM soldiers are deployed in this mission.

[Mina]

Posted by Macedonia Daily at 12:15 am | Permalink | Comments

REGISTRATIONS AT STATE UNIVERSITIES START

National.

The first registration date for the state universities for the school year 2009/2010 started on Monday, the Ministry of Education and science said.

This year, the state faculties in Macedonia have room for registarion of 23.558 freshmens. On all 63 faculties at 5 state universities 14.578 positions for full-time students are available, in the quote for co-financing 6208 positons are available and another 2772 positions for part-time students are avialable.

The Ministry of Education informs that the state university “St. Kiril and Metodij” has 10.626 available positions. On 21 faculties at the state universities 7017 positions are available for full-time students and in the quote for co-financing 2659 positions are available. For part-time students the programme has 950 available positions.

The University “St. Kliment Ohridski” Bitola has 3507 available positions at 11 faculties. The University “Goce Delcev” Stip has 4940 available positions. The state University in Tetovo has 4360 available positons. On 12 faculties at this university there are 2338 available positions for full-time students and1402 available positons for students witn co-financing.

[Mina]

Posted by Macedonia Daily at 12:14 am | Permalink | Comments

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

FORMER SEC. OF STATE TELLS GREECE TO 'GROW UP'

National.

Former U.S. Secretary of State Lawrence Eagleburger said that Greece "must grow up" and recognize that Macedonia has the right to whatever name it wants.

In an interview with a Macedonian television station, Eagleburger said that Greece does not have any right to get involved, block, or condition Macedonia in calling itself whatever it wants to.

“That would be like Mexico telling the United States of America that it cannot call itself that because they are the United States of Mexico. That is crazy. It is pure stupidity. I stress: Macedonia has the right to call itself whatever it wants, therefore, you should tell Greece to mind its own business,” he said.

Eagleburger said that the announcements that Greece will block Macedonia’s European future are bad because these moves do not guarantee peace in the Balkans.

“I think that it is wrong for Greece to get involved in Macedonia’s internal affairs. If it is doing that, then it should stop right away. That is not the best way to maintain peace between neighbors and is not a way that neighborly relations should be defined,” Eagleburger said.

[MD]

Posted by Macedonia Daily at 12:17 am | Permalink | Comments

VRELO MAYBE DEEPEST UNDERWATER CAVE IN THE WORLD

National.

Italian diver Luigi Casati, who is part of the international diving expedition that has been exploring underwater Vrelo cave of the Canyon of Matka, reached yesterday the depth of 190 meters, the 'Vrelo' Diving Club said Monday in a press release.

The international expedition will explore Vrelo cave by August 15 and will try to prove the theory that it is the deepest one in Europe and maybe in the world.

Vrelo, which was nominated for the new Seven World Wonders, has been researched for several times. Its horizontal length is 450 meters and 98 meters in vertical, where from a new gap opens whose bottom has not been reached yet.

According to speleologists' assessments, Vrelo's depth is 330m, thus being the deepest underwater cave in the world, surpassing the Bushman Hole in South Africa, which holds the Guinness Record with 282 meters.

[Mina]

Posted by Macedonia Daily at 12:15 am | Permalink | Comments

CONCESSIONS FOR 7 NEW ROADS

National.

Macedonian Government is not giving up on the project of giving concessions for seven new roads which the concession-holder will have to build first. Ministry of Transport says that the tender for the concession-holder will be published in late August or early in September.

Currently, all details regarding the project are under review. The aim of the project is to improve and develop road infrastructure and form modern transport sector, which includes construction, reconstruction, maintenance, toll collection and use of a part of state-owned roads, the Ministry pointed out.

The project has been underway for three years now, and 48 companies and financial institutions from Germany, France, Spain and many other countries are interested in the project.

[Mina]

Posted by Macedonia Daily at 12:13 am | Permalink | Comments

Saturday, August 08, 2009

MACEDONIAN BASKETBALL TEAM TRAINING FOR POLAND 2009

Sports.

The Macedonian national basketball team arrived in Ohrid where they will play twice against Slovakia to get ready for the Eurobasket 2009 tournament in Poland next month.

Interesting fact is that the NT now has 2 American-Macedonian players on their squad. Jeremiah Massey (Real Madrid) who has been playing a while for our country and today 23 years old, Darius Washington, former NBA player (San Antonio Spurs) joined the squad at the training of this morning. He got the opportunity to get used to the team a little and train with the rest of the players. Tonight Macedonia will take on Slovakia at 20.00 local time @ Biljanini Izvori hall in Ohrid.

MD was @ Biljanini izvori, check out the vid below -

[Darius Washington @ Wiki]

[MD]

Posted by Macedonia Daily at 12:17 am | Permalink | Comments

Thursday, August 06, 2009

STRUGA POETRY EVENINGS PRAISED IN MONGOLIAN PRESS

Culture.

I was almost two when the tree in honour to Neruda was planted; I touched it and felt the pulse of His Excellency, reads a text that Mongolian poet Gunaajav Ayurzana published in his country last year.

Not more than the fingers on one hand are the nations that have given fundamental contributions to the history of mankind as it has Macedonia, Mongolian News reports citing Ayurzana, a Mongolian poet that took part in the Struga Poetry Evenings last year. In a text headlined “Poetry Days in Macedonia, the Country of Alexander the Great” which he published in his country last year, Ayurzana describes our country, Struga and the international festival dedicated to poetry. The four-page text says Macedonia is a country of kavals, monasteries and Alexander the Great. And the Struga Poetry Evenings is a supreme poetry event in a town, “the garden of world modern poetry.”

“Macedonia is a country of wonderful nature. It will take time and space to tell everything about that country but in short, I can say that Macedonia builds successfully its future. It is the crossroads of the West and the East.

People there are educated and are sheer poetry lovers.” Ayurzana describes where our country is situated, and describes our nature, Lake Ohrid, people, old trades, cities. He speaks about history, Slav educators Cyril and Methodius and the name dispute of our country with Greece. Most of the text is dedicated to the Struga Poetry evenings, the winners of Golden Wreath, last year’s participants and the importance of the festival in the world poetry and culture.

[Culture.in.mk]

Posted by Macedonia Daily at 12:18 am | Permalink | Comments

MACEDONIA ANSWERS BULGARIAN NOTE

National.

Macedonia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) responded Wednesday to the verbal note of protest conveyed yesterday by Bulgarian authorities to Macedonian acting ambassador Divna Trickovska involving the case of Gevgelija-native Spaska Mitrova, "a Bulgarian citizen".

- Both counties must not allow citizenship and passports to be abused as an alibi in connection to divorce issues or tax evasion, such as the case of ex-minister of health Vlado Dimov. We expect the Bulgarian authorities to distance themselves from this classic manipulation of human fates, because relations between the two friendly countries must not be held hostage by people seeking justification for their family quarrels and crimes, reads a statement by MoFA.

Authorities in Sofia yesterday sent a verbal note due to the three-month jail sentence of 23-year old Mitrova. According to them, the court has sentenced Mitrova only due to the fact that she is Bulgarian. They claim they "have found other facts raising suspicion that Bulgarian citizens as well as Macedonian citizens proclaiming to be Bulgarian are under administrative and police pressure only because of their national self-awareness". In the note, Sofia goes further by warning it will "review Macedonia's treatment of this and other similar cases as one of the criteria, which are crucial for assessing country's readiness to change and kick-start its Euro-integration."

The Gevgelija-native Spaska Mitreva is sentenced to three months in jail for not allowing her ex-husband to visit their 2-year old daughter, thus failing to observe a ruling of relevant judicial and social institutions.

[Mina]

Posted by Macedonia Daily at 12:17 am | Permalink | Comments

SKOPJE WITH HIGHEST CRIME RATE

National.

Over one half of criminal acts registered in the first half of 2009 took place in Skopje municipal area. To be exact, there were 6,285 criminal acts in the first six months of the year registered in Skopje.

Tetovo follows with 1,229, Kumanovo with 1,063, Bitola with 957, Strumica with 922, Stip with 609, Ohrid with 593, and Veles with 557 criminal acts registered. There were 492 grand larcenies with violence.

Out of that, there were17 murders, 13 attempted murders, 115 grave assaults, 20 extortions, two blackmails, 15 illegal arrests, eight kidnappings and 302 robberies.

[Mina]

Posted by Macedonia Daily at 12:16 am | Permalink | Comments

Friday, August 28, 2009

ON THE WAY TO POLAND

US AND MACEDONIAN SOLDIERS TRAIN TOGETHER

ARMED MEN KIDNAP FORESTRY WORKERS

Friday, August 21, 2009

PANDEV VS LAZIO

STRUGA POETRY EVENINGS

MACEDONIAN NEGOTIATOR MEETS NIMETZ

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

STIP AIRPORT REMAINS PART OF THE TAV DEAL

ECONOMY RISING UP

Monday, August 17, 2009

MEMORIAL FOR ATATURK

4 MACEDONIAN SOLDIERS INJURED IN AFGHANISTAN

REGISTRATIONS AT STATE UNIVERSITIES START

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

FORMER SEC. OF STATE TELLS GREECE TO 'GROW UP'

VRELO MAYBE DEEPEST UNDERWATER CAVE IN THE WORLD

CONCESSIONS FOR 7 NEW ROADS

Saturday, August 08, 2009

MACEDONIAN BASKETBALL TEAM TRAINING FOR POLAND 2009

Thursday, August 06, 2009

STRUGA POETRY EVENINGS PRAISED IN MONGOLIAN PRESS

MACEDONIA ANSWERS BULGARIAN NOTE

SKOPJE WITH HIGHEST CRIME RATE

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