Macedonian Diplomatic Bullletin 79

D i p l o m a t i c B u l l e t i nMACEDONIAN

INFOCUSCrOAtIAN PrESIDENt JOSIPOvIć:

euRopean union is neitheR Whole noR

complete Without WesteRn Balkans

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FrOM My ANglE: ElizabEta KančEsKa-MilEvsKa,

MinistEr of CulturE

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AMbASSADOr lAlAkOS: thE GrEEK PrEsidEnCy’s aMbition is

to aChiEvE ProGrEss in thE EnlarGEMEnt dossiEr

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AMbASSADOr IlIOSkI: an oriGinal ConCEPt for an authEntiC Country

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MaCEdonian forEiGn MinistEr niKola PoPosKi Pays an offiCial visit to india on 16-17 dECEMbEr invitEd by

his indian CountErPart Mr. salMan Khurshid

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9ministRy of foReign affaiRs of the RepuBlic of maceDonia

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MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN No. 79 – 20132

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

Filip II Makedonski 7, 1000 Skopje Republic of Macedonia

[email protected]

Editor:Vladimir Efremovski

Editorial Board:Zuko Rizvanski, Shaban Jashari, Katerina Stavreska, Olga Janevska Jovanovik, and Sejfullah Shaqiri

Photo: Ljupco Blagoevski

Published monthly by:Macedonian Information Centre

Director: Dragan Antonov

Chief Translator: Aleksandra Ilievska

mDB

No. 79December 2013

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.

© 2013

Naum Naumovski Borce 73, 1000 Skopje, Republic of Macedonia www.micnews.com.mk

Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov paid a working visit to the Republic

of Austria on 3 an 4 December. At the meeting with his host, Austrian President Heinz Fischer, both officials agreed that the primary goal, interest and direction of the European Union should be the shared values and the policy that would integrate the entire Western Balkans into the Union.

Bilateral relations, multilateral cooperation and economic issues that European countries face were also tabled at the meeting. According to both presidents, Austria is very supportive of the Republic of Macedonia in its process of European integration both politically and

economically. During his visit to Austria, President

Ivanov also addressed the 3rd Annual Meeting of the Center for Global Dialogue and Cooperation. On the sidelines of the CGDC Meeting, the Macedonian head of state had an informal meeting with José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission.

PrESIDENt IvANOv ADDrESSES 3rd AnnuAl CGdC MeetinG

Trajko Veljanoski, Speaker of the Parliament of the Republic of

Macedonia, paid an official visit to the Republic of Albania on 12 December. During his visit, aside from meeting his Albanian counterpart Ilir Meta, he also had separate meetings with Albanian President Bujar Nishani and Deputy Prime Minister Niko Peleshi.

Veljanoski and Meta said they were pleased with the cooperation between the

two Parliaments both at the level of speakers and at the level of groups for cooperation and committees. Mr. Meta stressed the open support for the Republic of Macedonia saying the country deserved to join NATO and open membership negotiations with the EU. If it had been up to Albania, he said, the Republic of Macedonia would have long been a member of both organizations.

Speaker Veljanoski also addressed the Parliament of the Republic of Albania.

The World Academy of Art and Science Macedonian presented President

Gjorge Ivanov with a certificate of fellowship in recognition of his outstanding scientific and social achievements and his

dedication to the goals of global human welfare, peace and sustainable growth.

He was awarded the certificate by Prof. Dr. Ivo Šlaus, President of the World Academy of Art and Science.

PArlIAMENt SPEAkEr vElJANOSkI Visits AlbAniA

PrESIDENt IvANOv JOINS World ACAdeMy of Art And sCienCe

No. 79 – 2013 MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN 3

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán paid an official visit to the Republic of Macedonia on 5 December. At his meeting

with Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov, he was presented with the 8 September Order for his outstanding contribution to developing and strengthening friendly relations and close cooperation between Macedonia and Hungary, for promoting the international position and credibility of the Republic of Macedonia and for his contribution to the recognition of Macedonia’s constitutional name by Hungary in December 2012.

Prime Minister Orbán was also received by Parliament Speaker Trajko Veljanoski and had a meeting with Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, at which Macedonia’s bid for joining the EU and NATO and the possibilities for establishing closer economic relations between the two countries were tabled. The two prime ministers voiced their views at the Macedonian-Hungarian Business Forum organized by both countries’ agencies for foreign investments.

During Prime Minister Orbán’s visit to Macedonia, the Action Plan for Education 2014-2016, the Action Plan for Culture and the Agreement on Environmental Protection were also signed.

Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski paid a one-day working visit to Brussels on 9 December and met on that occasion with

Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Council. This visit was carried out ten days prior to the Summit of the

Heads of State and Government of the European Union, at which the European Commission’s latest reports on enlargement were discussed. Aside from Meeting Van Rompuy, Prime Minister Gruevski also addressed the forum organized by the European Office of the German Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, met the ambassadors of the European Union member states and visited the University Hospitals Leuven.

HUNgArIAN PrESIDENt OrbáN PrESENtED WItH 8 septeMber order

PM grUEvSkI MEEtS EUrOPEAN CounCil president VAn roMpuy

The possibilities for investment in the Republic of Macedonia

were presented at a business forum in London on 3 December. Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Zoran Stavreski, Minister without Portfolio Vele Samak and Viktor Mizo, Director of the Directorate for Technological

and Industrial Development Zones, addressed more than 80 British businessmen on that occasion.

Presentations of Macedonia’s investment climate were also held by representatives of Johnson Matthey and Kemet Electronics Corporation, which have already invested in the Republic of Macedonia.

The forum was organized in cooperation with the renowned Financial Times Group.

One day prior to the business forum in London, Prime Minister Gruevski had a meeting with Suma Chakrabarti, President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and visited the Royal London Hospital.

MACEDONIAN INvEStMENt CONDItIONS proMoted in london

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The Macedonian Government in cooperation with the Financial

Times organized a business forum in Paris on 5 December, at which the possibilities for investment in the Republic of Macedonia were presented before a great many

representatives of targeted companies of diverse profiles.

Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, who attended the forum, talked about the political and economic situation in the country, the process of EU and NATO integration, the advantages

of the free economic zones and other incentives of interest to potential French investors.

During his visit, he also met representatives of the Macedonian community in France.

PM grUEvSkI AttENDS business foruM in pAris

Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and the government economic team presented in Berlin on 11 December the possibilities for

investment in the Republic of Macedonia at a conference organized by the East and Central Europe Association, whose member companies invest in 29 countries.

Germany is Macedonia’s most important trade partner and also a significant investor, Prime Minister Gruevski stressed, citing Kromberg & Schubert and Dräxlmaier, which have recently started doing business in Macedonia, as examples.

Aside from their participation in the conference, Prime Minister Gruevski and the government economic team met representatives of several renowned German companies and investors from the fields of banking, consulting services, automotive industry and civil engineering.

Prime Minister Gruevski also had a fringe meeting with Ulrich Grillo, President of the Federation of German Industries, whose members are the largest German companies, the driving force of the German economy.

gOvErNMENt DElEgAtION PAyS eConoMiC Visit to berlin

Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki paid a working visit to the Republic of Bulgaria on 13 December. At the

meeting with his host, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Kristian Vigenin, bilateral issues, the situation in the region and the possibilities for promoting relations by way of implementing agreed projects were all discussed.

During his visit to Bulgaria, Minister Poposki also met the Committee for Friendship with the Republic of Macedonia of the Parliament of the Republic of Bulgaria at which promoting bilateral cooperation at the parliamentary level was tabled and delivered a lecture before the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria on “Before and After Accession – Lessons Learnt and Good Practices to Be Used by Current EU Candidate Countries.”

MINIStEr POPOSkI HOlDS lECtUrE At bulGAriAn diploMAtiC ACAdeMy


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Nikola Poposki, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic

of Macedonia, participated in the annual meeting of the ministers of foreign affairs of the North-Atlantic Council with non-NATO countries participating in the ISAF Mission in Afghanistan at the NATO HQ in

Brussels on 4 December, at which he reiterated the readiness of the Republic of Macedonia, within its powers and capabilities, to take active part in building a stable and safe future for Afghanistan.

“The Republic of Macedonia is one of the largest contributors per capita to

Afghanistan’s security within the ISAF Mission despite not being a NATO member state,” he said.

Minister Poposki also held a number of fringe bilateral meetings, including with Afghan Foreign Minister Zarar Ahmad Osmani.

FM POPOSkI AttENDS ANNUAl MEEtINg OF nAto foreiGn Ministers in brussels

Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki paid an official visit to India

on 16-17 December invited by his Indian counterpart Mr. Salman Khurshid. At their meeting in New Delhi, they shared opin-ions on matters of shared interest, agreed that the bilateral cooperation was good and pledged mutual support at multilateral forums.

As part of the efforts to promote eco-nomic cooperation and foster investments, the two ministers signed the Agreement

between the Government of the Republic of Macedonia and the Government of the Re-public of India on the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Eva-sion with Respect to Taxes on Income. Also, with the aim of promoting educational co-operation by away of awarding government scholarships, the Memorandum of Under-standing was signed between the Director-ate of Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Mace-donia and the Foreign Service Institute of the Ministry of External Affairs of India.

Minister Poposki also met Ms. Preneet Kaur, Minister of State for External Affairs and proven friend to Macedonia, who called upon Macedonia to offer its support for her country’s ambitions within the UN and its bid to become a member state of the UN Human Rights Council, as well as the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

During his stay in New Delhi, Minister Poposki also had a meeting with Mr. Sudar-sana Natchiappan, Indian Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, at which using

the incentives offered to foreign investors and organizing business forums in both countries were discussed.

Minister Poposki addressed one of the most influential Indian chambers of com-merce on the possibilities of promoting eco-nomic cooperation, presenting Macedonia’s business climate and economic capacities. He also laid flowers at the Raj Ghat Memo-rial preserving the memory of the Father of the Indian Nation, Mahatma Ghandi.

Macedonian Foreign Minister Poposki took part in the high-

level Conference on the Western Balkan organized by the Friends of Europe think tank and the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung in Brussels on 3 December.

The Conference was also attended by Enlargement Commissioner Štefan Füle, the ministers of foreign affairs of the Slovak Republic, Albania and Montenegro,

and distinguished figures from the business community.

Within the framework of the second panel centering on “Getting Economic Recovery Back on Course,” Minister Poposki presented the positive trends and priorities of the Macedonian Government in the field of economy. He stressed on that occasion that opening membership negotiations between the Republic of

Macedonia and the European Union was going to have a strong positive effect on the country’s economic growth.

He also had a fringe meeting with Elmar Brok, Chairman of AFET (the European Parliament Committee on Foreign Affairs), at which the process of enlargement and the Eastern Partnership were tabled.

MINIStEr POPOSkI PAyS OFFICIAl vISIt tO INDIA

MINIStEr POPOSkI AttENDS Western bAlkAn ConferenCe

© OSCE/Sergey Gladkevich


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Gjorge Ivanov, President of the Republic of Macedonia, stressed in his annual address at the Macedonian Parliament on 23

December, the last one in his 5-year term of office, Macedonia’s strengthened international position. He emphasized that the number of partners, friends and supporters of the Republic of Macedonia in the European Union, NATO and the world had been rising.

President Ivanov added that in the past five years his greatest commitment was keeping peace and stability in the country, values

that Macedonia proved committed to as part of international peacekeeping missions as well.

In regard to the economic situation of the past five years in the course of which the country and the world were troubled by a grave financial crisis, he said that despite the slow economic growth the country managed to open up great economic opportunities, to draw foreign investments and to ensure the presence of Macedonian manufacturers in foreign markets.

On the occasion of the New Year and Christmas holidays, Foreign Minister

Nikola Poposki addressed the representatives of the diplomatic corps at the Macedonian National Theater on 13 December, focusing

on the commitments and accomplishments of the Macedonian diplomatic service. He underlined in his speech that dedication to universal values and honoring European values and commitments were part of the agenda of the Republic of Macedonia.

He also stressed that as a loyal partner to NATO, the Republic of Macedonia was going to help the Alliance strengthen institutions in Afghanistan and that the Government of the Republic of Macedonia was going to continue conducting a constructive dialogue in good faith with the European countries with the aim of joining the Euro-Atlantic organizations. Nurturing and promoting good neighborly relations remains one of the priorities that

characterize the Republic of Macedonia as a constructive partner in the region. A reception and the performance of the play The Eternal House by Jordan Plevneš were also part of the event.

PrESIDENt gJOrgE IvANOv HOlDS AnnuAl pArliAMentAry Address

MINIStEr POPOSkI’S NEW yEAr AND CHrIStMAS Address to diploMAtiC Corps

Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki participated in the 20th meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council in Kiev on 5-6

December, attended by some 40 ministers from 57 member states. In his address to the participants, Minister Poposki raised

the more important issues treated by the OSCE, including the importance of the Helsinki Final Act and the values arising from it and the multidimensional threats and the necessity of strengthening capacities for dealing with them efficiently, stressing

in that regard that the Republic of Macedonia supported the OSCE concept of full and cooperative security.

He also highlighted the membership of the Republic of Macedonia of the UN Human Rights Council and the necessity of strengthening and modernizing the measures of building security and safety, emphasizing Macedonia’s commitment to the values and principles of the OSCE.

On the sidelines of the Ministerial Council, Minister Poposki had bilateral meetings with the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, Iceland and Norway, Frans Timmermans , Gunnar Sveinsson and Børge Brende, as well as with Astrid Thors, the OCSE High Commissioner on National Minorities, and the Representative for the Freedom of Media, Dunja Mijatović. The political situation in the country and Macedonia’ bid to join NATO and the EU were discussed at these meetings.

MINIStEr POPOSkI PArtICIPAtES IN osCe MinisteriAl CounCil in kieV


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The regular annual meeting of the heads of the diplomatic missions and consular posts of the Republic of Macedonia

abroad was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 26-27 December.

At the meeting with Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki, an overview was made of the most important events of the year—the enactment of the new law on foreign affairs, the membership of the UN Human Rights Council, the 20th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with 22 countries and the fifth recommendations for opening EU membership negotiations from the European Commission.

The heads of the diplomatic missions and consular posts also had separate meetings with President Gjorge Ivanov, Parliament Speaker Trajko Veljanoski, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and a number of government ministers from the departments of economy and health.

The importance of the economic diplomacy as a segment that is equally significant as the political diplomacy was emphasized at the meetings. In the same context, a session focusing on the economic diplomacy and particularly the country’s investment, export and tourism promotion was also held.

HEADS OF DIPlOMAtIC MISSIONS AND CONSUlAr POStS At WorkinG MeetinGs in skopje

Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov was decorated with the Order of St George of the House of Habsburg-Lothringen.

He was presented with the Oder by Archduke Karl von Habsburg at a ceremony on 11 December.

The Order is presented for strengthening cooperation with the countries of Central and Southeast Europe as a very

important political interest. It is also recognition for the Republic of Macedonia as an important part of Europe and is awarded with the aim of accelerating the country’s European integration.

PrESIDENt IvANOv DECOrAtED WItH OrDEr OF st GeorGe of House of HAbsburG-lotHrinGen


maceDonia in focus

Dr. ElizabEta KančEsKa-MilEvsKa, Minister of Culture

tHE rEPUblIC OF MACEDONIA DESErvES to HAVe suCH A tHeAter

fRom My AnGle

Shakespeare’s Hamlet said that theatre is a mirror in which we see our virtues and vices reflected back to us in their true shape.

Today we can see ourselves in this mirror and rejoice that we have reached our goal with concerted effort. Seven decades of the establishment of the Macedonian drama institution, we have built our new Macedonian Theater.

Reaching this goal was no easy task. However, we did not undertake all this because it was easy but because it was hard and we are proud of it. A great deal of commitment, energy, love, tremendous know-how from many people, great support from the citizens, immense understanding from the political structures and, most importantly, great love from all of us together has been invested in the construction of this theater. Allow me to emphasize with pride that the Republic of Macedonia succeeded in building its national theater and will continue building many more theaters. Macedonia is seen today as a happy theater country.

The long journey to this great goal was commenced by the people that will stay remembered forever: Vojdan Černodrinski, Petre Prličko, Ilija Džuvalekovski, Meri Boškova, Ana Lipša Tofovikj, Todor Skalovski, Natka Penušliska, Vasil Iljoski, Kole Čašule, Gjorgji and Kiril Makedonski, Toma Vladimirski and many others. Their dreams and achievements bound us to complete

this great mission of ours and to continue developing the Macedonian theater the way they imagined it—straight toward the stars.

I am proud to say that the Republic of Macedonia has an outstanding theater, powerful artistic potential and sublime actors that have created remarkable theater performances and won numerous prizes and awards.

It is of great significance that after many years spent in makeshift facilities, as of today Macedonian theater actors are going to live and create by the highest world standards and reach for even higher goals. In Skopje and Macedonia, theater will be created and seen in the same technical and technological conditions as in New York, London, Paris or Moscow. All that is regarded as the state of the art in stage technology and audiovisual equipment has been incorporated in this theater and its most sophisticated technical performances.

The new theater is also a museum because its ornaments depict our rich cultural heritage, with authentic motives dating back to the late antiquity, the medieval and the post-medieval artistic heritage from the realms of mosaic production, fresco and icon painting, decorative plastic and wood carving. The ornaments on the boxes and throughout the building portray various themes—details from our most beautiful woodcarving in the Church of St Spas (Holy Savior), the mosaics of Heraclea, the terracotta icons of Vinica, masks, reliefs, maenads, muses, etc. On the ceiling of the theater’s main hall, Macedonian artists showcased our rich cultural legacy while the lobby, as in fact the entire interior, abounds in sculptures invoking the atmosphere of drama, comedy and tragedy, symbolizing the idea of theater and art in general.

One particularly important segment in the operations of the new theater is the first theater museum collection created and presented in Macedonia, conceived by the highest museum standards.

With great support from our citizens who donated many objects and exhibits, we have created a rare collection of posters,


In the press"We are proud to call Macedonia our friend and ally and we want to see this wonderful country live up to its potential as a strong, dynamic and prosperous democracy fully integrated with the Euro-Atlantic community… Just as in the past and the present, we are going to stay together in the future as well," said Paul Wohlers, US Ambassador to Macedonia.

"If it were up to Albania, Macedonia would have joined NATO by now; I can't say the EU, too, since we are not part of the Union. Macedonia enjoys all the support from Albania, including respect for its

sovereignty as an independent and democratic country," said Albanian Parliament Speaker Ilir Meta.

"It is true that enlargement is not on the agenda of Greece as a chair of the Union. Yet if I were you, I would not give up the effort and endeavor to seek out a solution to the name issue as soon as possible. In my opinion, the right thing to do would be if Greece as chair of the Union, ten years after the Summit in Thessaloniki and the largest enlargement in Europe's history, reached a compromise with Macedonia. That would be a positive sign for the whole enlargement and for the feeling and relations of the citizens of the country. Yet everything depends on the political leaders," MEP Tanja Fajon told Deutsche Welle.

"I really regret that due to Greece's objection, Macedonia can still not be set a date for opening

membership negotiations. I have great understanding for the Macedonian people who watch with concern how the other countries of the Western Balkans are being set dates for opening accession talks one by one, as their own country is kept out of the process despite the reforms conducted in recent years," said Peter Weiss, representative of the Christian-Democratic Union (CDU) to the Bundestag, of which he has been a member since 1998.

"I still hope that under the Greek Presidency of the EU, we are going to succeed in showing Greece that its conduct is not at all European and that it is in its own interest to help its neighbor improve its situation," said Doris Pack, German MEP from the Group of the European People's Party.

maceDonia in focus

photographs, set decoration and costume design drafts, scores, personal items and documents, and other valuable paraphernalia that will undoubtedly promote the 70-year history of the Macedonian national theater. I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to all citizens for their help and support in the making of this collection, which makes a notable contribution to the preservation of our collective memory.

The Republic of Macedonia deserves to have such a theater. We thank all those who helped us reach our goal—the architects, all the firms that participated in the construction of the building in various segments, all their subcontractors and all the workers who invested a lot of effort in the creation of the new theater, all the professors that participated in the selection of the valuable cultural heritage depicted trough the gold-plated ornaments, the supervision board, all the commissions of designers and reviewers, all the painters and sculptors and all the artists that made the gold-plated ornaments of the building. We also wish to express gratitude to the authors of the museum exhibition, the employees of the Ministry of Culture and all ministers in the Government of the Republic of Macedonia. I am personally thankful to Finance

Minister Zoran Stavreski who supported us financially in every stage of the process. Finally, let me express my gratitude to Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski without whose dedication, energy and vision none of this would have been possible.

Vojdan Pop Georgiev Černodrinski argued over a century ago that theater should be a weapon. Today, after so much time has passed, we have proven that theater can truly be a weapon that triumphs over every evil thought, every doubt and every intrigue. We are going to forget all that and with a positive thought and energy are going to continue creating in the best interest of our country and citizens.


Diplomacy anD community

The Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Macedonia are

developing excellent friendly relations, with no open issues, through open and intensive high-level dialogue. In fact, this was confirmed with your recent visit to the Republic of Macedonia. Your Excellency, how do you assess the opportunities for further enhancement of bilateral relations?

My recent visit to the Republic of Macedonia has indeed reconfirmed the excellent, friendly and very open relations between our countries as well as between our people. We know and understand each other, we share a common history, our people-to-people links are very strong and all of this represents a solid foundation for further enhancement of our bilateral relations. There are many opportunities before us. During my visit we put special emphasis on the economic ones and I am certain we will seize them for the benefit of both our countries. Furthermore, I am strongly convinced that our common future within the European Union framework will serve as a further impetus for us to work together and cooperate even more closely.

With its full-fledged membership of the European Union, your country opened a new chapter in its history and with this it undertook the obligation to help the countries in the region realize their

Euro-integration aspirations. Do you expect advancement in the European integration processes of the countries in the region in 2014?

There have been many positive developments within the region in the last months and those developments have been recognized and rightfully “rewarded” by the European Union. The EU conditionality approach, as hard and demanding it may be, really pays off. That was our experience as well as the experience of all the countries in the accession process. Thus, the “recipe” on how to move the European integration process within the region is rather obvious; its most important “ingredient” being the continuous implementation of the reforms regardless of the current stage of the relationship with the EU. In 2014 I see the continuation of that reform process in the region. Having said that, one has to realistically acknowledge that the atmosphere surrounding further enlargement is not very favorable at this particular moment. However, this should not discourage you. There are firm believers within the European Union, Croatia among them, that Europe/the European Union without the Western Balkans is neither whole nor complete.

The Republic of Croatia is a strong supporter of Macedonia’s European integration aspirations. Do you believe that the Republic of Macedonia will soon be set a date for opening accession talks with the European Union? In this regard, what is your stance on having the culture of consensus through compromise become a rational practice or rule in the process of joining the European Union?

It is very hard to speculate on exact dates. In particular, since any EU decision has to be the result of a consensus among Member States. What I can say with all certainty is that Croatia has been, and will do so in the future, advocating the start of negotiations for the Republic of Macedonia at the earliest possible date. As for your following question, our brief experience as an EU Member State has thought us that every EU decision is a product of open and frank dialogue, respect for each other’s views, willing concessions and agreed compromise – that means consensus which is the very essence of the EU functioning. Reaching certain common positions and decisions, however, requires more time and patience. And we just have to accept that.

As a result of the excellent political relations and strong friendship, the need for enhanced bilateral economic cooperation is imposed. The common goal in the next five years is to make the Republic of Croatia Macedonia’s fifth largest trade partner. Is it possible to attain the optimistic projections of the business communities in our countries and to achieve more prominent presence of Croatian direct investments in the Republic of Macedonia?

There is a strong interest and will on both sides to upgrade our economic relations and that fact gives me confidence that we will be successful in doing so.

The book Macedonian-Croatian Tangent written by Macedonian political scientist Saso Georgievski, a Croatia-based correspondent of the newspaper Nova Makedonija, focusing on the development of bilateral ties,

EUROPEAN UNION IS NEITHER WHOLE NOR COMPLETE WITHOUT WESTERN BALKANS

H.E. Mr. Ivo Josipović, President of the Republic of CroatiaINTERVIEW



has recently been promoted in Šibenik and Zagreb. During the month of November, a group of Croatian editors paid a visit to our country and published affirmative articles on the Republic of Macedonia. This presents a successful example of conducting public diplomacy in the modern diplomatic practice. Mr. President, what is your opinion on the activities of the Croatian community in Macedonia and the activities of the Macedonian community in Croatia in promoting relations between our two countries?

Both the Croatian community in Macedonia and the Macedonian community in Croatia are a vibrant and most valuable link/bridge between our two countries. Their contribution to society, culture, and overall development of their second homelands is extremely appreciated on both sides. I am always very supportive of any activity that can bring us even closer.

Croatia’s pro-European policy in the region primarily involves openness, mutual respect and turning to the future. Mr. President, is this strategy going to

produce any functional solutions for the use of the Cyrillic alphabet in the Republic of Croatia?

I have always been clear and vocal about the recent developments regarding the use of the Cyrillic alphabet in Croatia. Croatia has adopted high standards and has introduced legal guarantees regarding minority rights. I firmly believe we should preserve, cultivate and protect those achievements. Also, in my honest opinion we should focus all our creative efforts on resolving present and acute economic problems that are pressing our societies.

At the Davila International Theater Festival in the Romanian city of

Pitești, the Small Drama Theater of Bitola performed Beans by Elin Rahnev directed by Ljupčo Gjorgievski and competing against 17 productions of theater companies and groups from Hungary, Bulgaria, Serbia, Kosovo and Romania

won the top-three awards—the Grand Prix for best production, the special award for supreme actor’s achievement for Joana Popovska and the award for best actor for Anastas Popdimitrov.

Beans is a coproduction of the Bitola Small Drama Theater and the Dramatic Puppet Theater of Vratsa, Bulgaria.

Christina E. Kramer, professor at the Department for Slavic Languages

and Literatures at the University of Toronto, Canada, collected the special Lois Roth Award for her translation of Goce Smilevski’s novel Freud’s Sister. The Lois Roth Award of the Modern Language

Association of America headquartered in New York is presented once in two years for works of literature translated into English. The English translation of Freud’s Sister was published by Penguin of New York in 2012.

bItOlA SMAll DrAMA tHEAtEr

AWArded in roMAniA

lOIS rOtH trANSlAtION

AWArD presented to

CHristinA e. krAMer

On 29 November 2013, the Embassy of Romania in Macedonia in

cooperation with local partners hosted a reception at the Aleksandar Palace Hotel in Skopje to mark 1 December, Romania’s National Day.

The event was attended by numerous guests including Macedonian

government officials, representatives of the diplomatic corps and the academic circles, businessmen, church officials, as well as representatives of the Romanian community in Macedonia.

H.E. Mr. Iustinian Focsa, Romanian Ambassador to Macedonia, delivered a short address focusing on the political significance of 1 December 1918 in the history of the Romanian people and the democratic transformation of Romania after the fall of communism in 1989. He also emphasized the general profile of his country on the international stage as full member of the EU and NATO, highlighting in that regard Romania’s

support for the Republic of Macedonia in attaining its strategic objectives of integration into the North Atlantic Alliance and the European Union.

rOMANIA CElEbrAtES

nAtionAl dAy



Your Excellency, your country, the Hellenic Republic, is to preside over

the Council of the European Union as of 1 January 2014 in conditions of economic and financial crisis in your country as well as in the Euro-zone countries. What will the Presidency’s main priorities be and is the Hellenic Republic prepared, despite the consequences of the economic crisis, to undertake and affirm the Pan-European role, as in 2003, thus confirming and reinforcing its international political position?

Our intention as Presidency is to respond, as best we can, to the pressing needs and problems currently faced in the EU: the debt crisis and the associated recession and unemployment, as well as the problems with the social cohesion, which has suffered enormously, in particular in the countries where the effects of the crisis have been more pronounced. The idea is that in these areas we need more European integration, not less. Moreover, we need new jobs and sustainable growth, and we must ensure that our policies are aligned with popular demands. Furthermore, the precarious situation in the immediate vicinity of the EU external borders, in conjunction with developments that are

fueling migration flows, is adding to the pressure on Member States at a time when there is an urgent need for stability and growth. In this context, the Greek Presidency will focus on four main thematic priorities. First, the promotion of growth-oriented policies in order to boost employment and cohesion. Second, the deepening of the economic and monetary union (EMU), including the establishment of a banking union in order

to streamline the monetary policy and to safeguard the common currency. Third, a comprehensive review of immigration, border and mobility policies in order to reflect the needs of Member States, in particular those who bear a disproportionate share of the burden. And fourth, the implementation of a comprehensive initiative on maritime policies to ensure sustainable growth and security. Your question alludes to possible other priorities relating to EU enlargement in our neighborhood. Indeed, enlargement in the Western Balkans may not be among the most visible political priorities of the incoming Greek Presidency, as it was ten years ago, but it still is a priority. Let us not forget that the EU’s political commitment to the European perspective of the Western Balkans is a given fact and is reflected in the Thessaloniki Agenda of 2003, which remains relevant. Today any idea of a similar new initiative or project of the same caliber in the EU would be considered redundant by many. Our wish, instead, would be to contribute in a meaningful way to the already existing framework for the European integration of our region, through targeted moves that have a clear added value. Reflecting the first thematic priority of the Presidency,

we would like to contribute to growth, job creation and competitiveness in the Western Balkans, based on ideas that have recently been presented by the Commission. The idea of “connectivity”, i.e. the creation of a framework sponsoring infrastructure projects in key sectors, such as transport and energy, with a view to connecting the region with the EU better, would promote, in practice, the European integration of the Western Balkans, while having a positive impact on the lives of the region’s citizens. We are reflecting on the best way to develop and promote these ideas during our Presidency.

Greek officials announced that the Euro-skepticism, particularly ahead of the European Parliament elections, and intensifying talks on Europe’s future will be among the priorities. There were also announcements that Greece will be in a position to propose alternative initiatives for economic development instead of a policy led by the bailout measures. Are such alternative initiatives feasible, without the accordance and support of the large European forces, Germany in particular?

The first point to be made is that there is no conflict between growth and fiscal consolidation. The Greek Presidency aims to build upon important existing tools with a view to easing financing for SMEs in the EU (the Commission-EIB “Investment Plan”), as well as effectively addressing youth unemployment (the Youth Guarantee Initiative).We also expect to witness the agreement on the Single Resolution Mechanism for the Eurozone banks, which will complement the already agreed supervisory framework. This will help create stability and restore normal lending conditions, especially in the EU periphery. Furthermore, the Greek Presidency will promote and monitor the development of alternative, long-term financing tools, aiming to

H.E. Mr. Theoharis Lalakos, Head of the Greek Liaison Office in the Republic of Macedonia

INTERVIEW

OUr POtENtIAl tO DEvElOP AND EXPAND CooperAtion furtHer is enorMous



enhance sustainable growth and promote the creation of new jobs. All these and many other Single Market enhancement priorities are jointly agreed and discussed European initiatives and, while promoting a job-creating growth, they have nothing to do with incurring fresh debt and deficits.

The confirmation of the European dimension of Greece’s politics is among the main objectives of the EU Presidency. The European integration of all countries from the Western Balkan presents a long-term and strategic choice of the Hellenic Republic. Do you expect the European integration of the countries in the region to intensify during your presidency over the EU?

There are three elements to consider here: First, the Presidency’s ambition is to achieve progress in the enlargement dossier. Indeed, the Greek Presidency’s intention is to do everything it can to promote the European integration of all enlargement countries. There are two ways of going about it: Through the day-to-day handling of the dossier and through activities of a more strategic character, like convening a conference that would have added value for the EU’s enlargement efforts. Second, the other Member States’ views on a potential acceleration of the process. As you know, on the EU side, the enlargement process is based on consensus. Accelerating the enlargement process, at a time of internal economic crisis — and while there is an ongoing effort to promote difficult internal reforms — is not politically tenable in some Member States. In any case, it should be noted that the EU has agreed on a rigorous methodological approach with regard to specific areas of the acquis (fundamental rights, rule of law, justice and home affairs). This involves an emphasis on the relevant conditionality and a very thorough assessment of its fulfillment. Which brings up the third and most important element: The enlargement countries’ own progress. It is this progress that ultimately determines the pace of the process. Progress involves a real understanding of the process and a deep commitment to pursuing it, even when the cost seems high. I believe that, in practice, the combination of the third and first elements can help persuade even the

most cautious or reluctant Member State within the EU and bring about a drastic intensification of the process.

In his recent appearance before the parliamentary committee on defense policy and foreign affairs, Greek Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos stressed that the only way for the Republic of Macedonia to join the Euro-Atlantic institutions is through Greece. Our country expects support from the Hellenic Republic in unblocking its Euro-Atlantic aspirations. Is the culture of compromise missing and is it necessary to accept and practice the culture of consensus through compromise in the EU accession process?

I would say that the path towards EU membership goes, among other things, through good neighborly relations with Greece and with all other neighbors. This is something that should be clear by now. There is a very obvious logic to this: No one can partake of the European project, which involves pooling together resources and sovereignty and pursuing common objectives, without first having achieved — at the very least — good neighborly relations. The coexistence within the EU of countries whose relations, as neighbors, are strained or burdened by serious issues would reduce the value of membership and ultimately weaken the EU. We all have to keep this point in mind. The culture of compromise is indeed very relevant. Within the EU and in the context of relations within the Council and between the EU institutions, compromise is crucial. Without it, the EU, as we know it, would not exist. The zero-sum game philosophy, the tough maximalist approach to negotiations and their extreme politicization, the blame-game tactics and the public, disparaging statements about the other side are all diametrically opposed to this ethos of compromise. They also weaken the credibility of any potential interlocutor or negotiator who subscribes to them. It is obvious what their impact is on the prospect of building good neighborly relations. Indeed this has always been part of our message.

In the absence of official working visits at a high and the highest level, our country recently reaffirmed the initiatives for enhancing the overall cooperation

between the two countries. How do you assess the bilateral relations so far and the possibilities to intensify them?

In the past couple of years there have been numerous meetings and contacts between our countries at different levels and on a wide range of issues. There have been many high-level meetings. There have also been many contacts at the officials/experts’ level, which have yielded substantive results. They have been guided by pragmatism and a clear willingness to find workable solutions to everyday issues. Cooperation in various fields (economy and trade, police and customs cooperation, military cooperation, etc) has been good. Of course, our potential for developing and expanding our cooperation further is enormous, and our limitations have been defined by issues relating to good neighborly relations, including the pending name issue. Recently, actions and statements that negatively affect good neighborly relations, including the chances of reaching a solution to the name issue, have increased in number and intensified. This is hardly an encouraging sign as regards our chances of moving forward. Of course cooperation continues. We have recently decided to extend cooperation to EU-related issues, sharing views and relevant know-how. Obviously, any idea for cooperation or promotion of common projects must have added value and be financially viable. Needless to say, tabling or discussing relevant proposals should not aim merely at creating a positive impression among third parties or at hiding the lack of progress in taking those steps that matter more.

Your Excellency, the Hellenic Republic, as our neighbor, represents a traditional strategic trade partner and is one of the biggest investors in our country. Is there any interest with Greek companies, despite the economic crisis, to directly invest in our country in the future?

Despite the prolonged economic recession, which continues to affect Greek companies, there is still strong interest for future investment in this country. Of course, the existing investments are significant and have been considered successful and mutually beneficial. Some 250 companies have invested more than €400 million in a wide range of activities.


eXpeRience maceDoniaeXpeRience maceDonia

The 26-km long Kočani Basin, stretching on an area of 1,020 sq. km in the eastern

part of Macedonia along the Bregalnica River, is considered the largest high-temperature thermal water basin in the Balkan Peninsula. In its central flat part of 115 sq. km is the Field of Kočani.

The Field of Kočani with its relief, fertile soil and auspicious water network combined with the favorable climate is very suitable for growing grain crops, rice in particular.

The Field of Kočani in which top-quality rice, the most important grain crop in the region, has been grown for centuries is also known for its unique breath-taking landscape that has been the landmark of the region.

The rice is about 5,000 years old and is considered to have originated from India and China from where it spread to Syria and eastern Africa. Although Alexander the Great brought it to Europe in the 4th century BC, massive cultivation of rice in Europe began in the 8th century. In the mythology of the Far East (China, Japan), rice holds a special place. It is regarded as a gift from the Gods and in some lands the ruler was considered the God of the ripening of rice. In its long history, rice has fed many people, more than any other grain crop. Today it is grown the world over but mostly in the warm regions of Asia, Africa and Central and South America. Aside from wheat, rice is the most valuable cereal in the world and a produce that is used in almost every corner of the planet. In comparison to

other cereals, it has the highest nutritional value.

Legend has it that growing rice in this region began six centuries ago, before the Ottomans came. A wealthy local tradesman named Kočo went all the way to China selling and buying goods. He saw how the people there grew rice, tasted it, liked it very much and tried to bring it back home. However, taking unhusked rice across the border was strictly forbidden. Kočo pondered for a while what do and finally came up with a solution: he bought a flock of geese, tied their throats so they could not swallow and right before they reached the border, he feed them with rice. On crossing the border, he killed the birds, collected the

rice and brought it to Kočani where rice production began. It is also believed that his home town was named Kočani in his honor.

Bearing in mind how valuable it is for the Macedonian economy, the Macedonian rice is also called the white gold of Kočani. Rice is grown on about 4,000 hectares and the yield is about 6,000 kg per hectare. Dominants varieties are Monticelli, San Andrea, Montesa, Kočani Pearl, etc. A confirmation of the top quality of the Macedonian rice is the Grand Prix Award at the annual Eureka 2000 in Brussels.

Since 1992 Kočani has organized the Kočani Rice Days event for the purpose of promoting rice as the symbol of the city.

tHE rICE FIElDS of kočAni

Photo: Robert Atanasovski


MACEDONIAN FIlMS SCrEENED

in frAnCe

bOOk ON bAlkAN CUltUrAl HErItAgE

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PErFOrMS At CArneGie HAll

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SIMON trPčESkI PErFOrMS in london

Three Macedonian films were shown at the fifth edition of the European Film

Festival in the French winter ski resort of Arque on 14-21 December within the framework of the special selection of films from the Balkan countries.

The feature films I am From Titov Veles by Teona Strugar Mitevska and Punk’s Not

Dead by Vladimir Blaževski were screened within the unofficial selection, while Alerik by Vuk Mitevski was shown within the spe-cial selection of short films. Alerik was also included in the special DVD compilation of the specialized French short-film magazine Bref dedicated to the countries of former Yugoslavia.

A book on the cultural heritage of the Balkans by Dr. Fabio Cotifava, a Mace-

donia fan and one of the founders and an honorary president of Balkania, the Balkan Association of Alternative Tourism, was promoted at the Faculty of Tourism and Management in Skopje on 17 December.

Through photographs and text, the book presents places protected by UNESCO in

11 Balkan countries—Bulgaria, Macedonia, Albania, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Slovenia, Croatia, Kosovo, Greece and Romania—thanks to which the Balkans holds a special place on the global tourist map.

Macedonian pianist Nikola Paskalov staged a concert at the prestigious

Carnegie Hall in New York on 14 Decem-ber playing works by Chopin, Glasl and Scriabin. Paskalov graduated in 1995 in the class of Professor Romanov and went on to complete his education at the European Mozart Academy in Krakow, Poland. Cur-rently he teaches piano at the Ilija Nikolovs-ki-Luj Secondary School of Music in Skopje.

An exhibition of 22 legendary photographs by Tomislav Peternek

taken in Skopje immediately after the earthquake of 26 July 1963 opened at the Cultural and Information Center of the Republic of Macedonia in Sofia on 12 December. The opening of the exhibition,

named Half a Century of Memories—Forever and held in honor of the 50th anniversary of the earthquake, was attended by numerous guests, including distinguished artists and representatives of the diplomatic corps in Bulgaria.

Simon Trpčeski, the Macedonian pianist with international career, has once

again confirmed his reputation as a favorite of the London audience performing with the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican Centre. Conductor was Michael Tilson Thomas from the USA, who is also a renowned pianist and composer, winner of 11 GRAMMY Awards, recipient of the National Medal of Arts presented by President Obama, music director of the San Francisco Symphony and artistic director of the New World Symphony Orchestra.

eXpeRience maceDonia

Representing the Republic of Macedonia in the Kingdom of Sweden and the Republic of Finland, both of which are highly

developed democracies where mutual respect and cooperation is fundamental for successful regional representation on the international stage and countries that are leaders in research, new technology and eco solutions as top priority for economic growth, was a big challenge but also a privilege at the beginning of my term, during which I initiated and carried out numerous activities and projects aimed at intensifying the bilateral cooperation, thanks to which over the past three years the Republic of Macedonia managed to become an important partner to these two friendly countries in the fields of foreign cooperation, economic relations, education, technology, culture and art.

The Kingdom of Sweden and the Republic of Finland were and remained staunch supporters of the process of European

integration of the Republic of Macedonia, emphasizing on the international political stage that opening EU membership negotiations with the Republic of Macedonia should and must not be conditioned with issues falling outside the required criteria for EU membership. This support grew particularly strong following Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski’s visit to the Kingdom of Sweden and the Republic of Finland and his bilateral meetings with Swedish Prime Minister Reiffeld and Finnish President Niinisto, the first business forums in Stockholm and Helsinki, the visits of Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki and a number of other Macedonian ministers and the formation of the first parliamentary groups of friendship at the Swedish and Finnish Parliaments.

While serving as ambassador to the Kingdom of Sweden and the Republic of Finland, I attributed great significance to the promotion of Macedonia’s economic potentials, presenting our country’s investment, export and tourist potentials during my visits to numerous regions and cities and at my meetings with regional governors, mayors and representatives of the business sector, and introducing an original concept of diplomatic representation, which was accepted and saluted at the highest level by my hosts and the diplomatic corps.

At the end of my term, I am glad to underline that the Republic of Macedonia has positioned itself successfully on the business and tourist maps of the Kingdom of Sweden and the Republic of Finland, establishing cooperation with Scandinavian businessmen, promoting Macedonian products and services and extending support for their sale in the Scandinavian market, making its winter and summer resorts part of the offer of the Swedish and Finnish tour operators and raising considerably the number of foreign tourists. By way of presenting the Republic of Macedonia as a leader of regional cooperation by the model of the Scandinavian countries and presenting the Macedonian culture through Macedonian film, art and folklore, we succeeded in promoting the Republic of Macedonia in the Kingdom of Sweden and the Republic of Finland in an authentic way, in recognition of which I was presented with the Marshal Mannerheim Medal from the Republic of Finland. With this Medal, which is also recognition for the excellent bilateral cooperation between Macedonia and Finland, I rounded off my term as ambassador to Sweden and Finland in the best possible way.

Dr. Kire IlIoSKI,Ambassador of the Republic of Macedonia to the Kingdom

of Sweden and the Republic of Finland

my DiaRy

AN OrIgINAl CONCEPt FOr An AutHentiC Country

Kire Ilioski, Ambassador of the Republic of Macedonia to the Republic of Finland, has been decorated with the Finnish

Marshal Mannerheim Commemorative Medal in recognition of his contribution to the excellent relations between the two countries.

He was presented with the Medal at a ceremony at the House of Nobility in Helsinki by the Chairman of the Marshal Mannerheim Commemorative Medal Committee, Emei Kanninen.

Ambassador Ilioski is the first non-resident ambassador having been presented with a medal of the Republic of Finland.

AMbASSADOr IlIOSkI DECOrAtED WItH MArsHAl MAnnerHeiM CoMMeMorAtiVe MedAl


Documents

Macedonian Diplomatic Bullletin 79