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MACEDONIAND I P L O M A T I C B U L L E T I N

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIASE

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I N F O C U SMINISTER POPOSKI MEE TS SEECP COUNTERPARTS IN NEW YORK .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 5

IN THE PRESS: THE EU REMAINS FULLY COMMIT TED TO THE FUTURE OF MACEDONIA .. . . . . . . Page 5

DIPLOMACY AND COMMUNIT Y: GRANT FOR ST. ARHANGEL MIHAIL MONASTERY .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

EXPERIENCE MACEDONIA: MACEDONIAN CULTURE DAYS IN KIEV .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 14

IVANOV :

“I expressed my expectation from the Secretary General to make use of his authority and engage in unblocking the talks taking place under his auspices in regard to the name issue. The respect of the ICJ judgment will mean respect of international law and rule of law in practice. I believe in this process.”

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MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN No. 65 – 20122

DIPLOMATIC NEWS

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

Dame Gruev 6, 1000 Skopje Republic of Macedonia

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Editor:Vladimir Efremovski

Editorial Board:Saso Markovski, Zuko Rizvanski, Katerina Stavreska, Elena Georgievska, Shaban Jashari, Dragan Todorovski, Natasha Hroneska, 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

MDB

No. 65September 2012

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

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

A Macedonian delegation led by President Gjorge Ivanov attended the 67th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York on 21-29 September.

In his address at the Session’s General Debate on 24 September, President Ivanov called for more effort on the part of the United Nations in resolving the name issue.

“Today, in the 21st century, it is absurd for

a country to be referred to as a former state or a former colony,” President Ivanov said, elaborating Macedonia’s position to the name issue.

Underlining that relations between the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Greece should be built based on good-neighborliness, President Ivanov stressed: “We wish to be more than neighbors. We wish to be partners, allies and friends so we can build together the future of our nations, our countries and our region.”

On the sidelines of the 67th Session of the UN General Assembly, President Ivanov accompanied by Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki met UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and the UN-appointed name issue mediator, Mr. Matthew Nimetz. Their talks centered around the resolution of the name issue, as President Ivanov reiterated the appeal for unblocking Macedonia’s integration into the EU and NATO.

President Ivanov also had a few fringe meetings with heads of state and government and attended the reception hosted by US President Barack Obama in honor of the chiefs of delegations and the reception organized on the occasion of opening the new offices of the European Union at the UN.

During his stay in New York, at the invitation of Harvard University, President Ivanov delivered a lecture at Harvard Law School and met representatives of the Macedonian community in New Jersey.

MACEDONIAN DELEGATION ATTENDS 67TH SESSION OF UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

No. 65 – 2012 MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN 3

DIPLOMATIC NEWS

The third round of the High-Level Accession Dialogue (HLAD) between the Republic of Macedonia and the European Commission co-chaired by Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and EU Enlargement Commissioner Štefan Füle took place in Skopje on 17 September. It was concluded at the meeting that HLAD provided notable support for the process of Macedonia’s accession to the EU by focusing on key areas of the reform process and that it did not represent substitution for the membership negotiations, the opening of which remains a primary goal.

The Commission welcomed the adoption of the comprehensive report on the implementation of the Ohrid Framework Agreement by the Government. The proposals for passing a new Law on Civil Liability for Insult and Defamation and for modifying the Criminal Code and the Election Code, taking into consideration the recommendations of the ODIHR, were adopted, while the undertaken measures in regard to the rule of law in keeping with the new approach within the framework of the enlargement process, as well as the preparations for significant reforms in the public administration were highlighted. In view of the enhancement of the market economy, it was emphasized that the modifications to the law on foreign citizens aim to enable issuing of working permits to foreign citizens and removing market access barriers. It was also underlined that in the implementation of the aforementioned reforms, the inclusivity and transparent approach had been retained.

Prime Minister Gruevski and Commissioner Füle reiterated the significance of the good-neighborly relations with all neighbors and of promoting further the extant relations and cooperation, including regional cooperation initiatives. In that context, the Commission welcomed Macedonia’s ongoing Chairmanship of the South-East European Cooperation Process. In addition, it was pointed out that the talks for seeking out a mutually acceptable solution to the name issue under UN auspices and holding direct bilateral meetings and contacts should continue with greater intensity.

During his stay in Skopje, EU Commissioner Füle met Parliament

Speaker Trajko Veljanoski, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, and Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Teuta Arifi. He also addressed the National European Integration Council.

THIRD ROUND OF MACEDONIA-EU HIGH-LEVEL ACCESSION DIALOGUE

PRESIDENT IVANOV AND MINISTER POPOSKI MEET TOP EU OFFICIALS IN BRUSSELS

Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov, accompanied by Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki, paid a working visit to the European Union in Brussels on 3-4 September. The visit was realized in a highly important period for the Republic of Macedonia, immediately before holding the third round of the High-Level

Accession Dialogue between the Republic of Macedonia and the European Union in Skopje on 17 September and the release of the European Commission’s Progress Report on the Republic of Macedonia on 10 October.

President Ivanov and Minister Poposki met Herman Van Rompuy, President of

the European Council, Martin Schulz, President of the European Parliament, and EU Enlargement Commissioner Štefan Füle. Talks focused on Macedonia’s process of European integration and meeting reforms in key areas. During his visit to Brussels, President Ivanov also met NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

COMMISSIONER FÜLE:

“A few times before, the European Commission, based on the report on realized responsibilities, recommended the member states to set Macedonia a date for opening membership negotiations. This year undoubtedly a lot has been done in the implementation of reforms within the framework of the High-Level Accession Dialogue between Macedonia and the European Union. However, it is fair to say that the decisions for opening negotiations are taken by all members of the European Union and they are political decisions. Therefore, I stress that the implementation of what has so far been passed should continue until December of this year. And therefore I say that the High-Level Accession Dialogue between Macedonia and the EU and all the issues we have so far covered and the results we have achieved are going to help the EU member states approach this issue constructively. The process of implementing reforms in five areas within the framework of the High-Level Accession Dialogue is truly successful.”


DIPLOMATIC NEWS

A government delegation led by Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, including Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Zoran Stavreski, Foreign Investment Minister Bill Pavleski and Viktor Mizo, Director of the Directorate for Technological Industrial Development Zones, paid a political and economic visit to the United States of America and Canada from 26 August to 6 September.

In the course of the visit, Prime Minister Gruevski attended the Conventions of the Republican and Democratic Parties in the lead-up to the presidential elections in the USA and met representatives of both political parties.

The government delegation also attended business forums in Montreal and Toronto in Canada, and in the US cities of Tampa, Miami, Detroit and Atlanta, at which the opportunities for making

investments in the Republic of Macedonia were presented. Within the framework of the economic part of the government delegation’s visit, presentations were held before representatives of more than 300 US and Canadian companies and direct meetings were held with the managements of more than 50 potential investors.

During his visit to the USA, Prime Minister Gruevski gave an interview to the economic magazine of one of the world’s best known TV channels, CNN, and underlined on that occasion that Macedonia offered appealing taxes and the lowest costs for starting business in Europe.

The government delegation also visited a few organizations and church communities of the Macedonian diaspora in the USA and Canada and attended events organized by Macedonians living in these two countries.

GOVERNMENT DELEGATION HOLDS TALKS AND ATTENDS BUSINESS FORUMS IN USA AND CANADA

IVANOV DISCUSSES EUROPEAN INTEGRATION WITH ALBANIAN COUNTERPART NISHANIGjorge Ivanov, the President of the Republic of Macedonia, met his Albanian counterpart Bujar Nishani in Ohrid on 14 September. The two officials said at their meeting that the bilateral relations were at a level that enabled further promotion in all areas of shared interest. President Ivanov confirmed the commitment of the Republic of Macedonia to further advancement of the good-neighborly relations by way of an open dialogue. Concerning the shared strategic goal – membership of the European Union – the two presidents agreed that the European integration of the countries of the Western Balkans was vitally important for regional stability and development and confirmed their mutual support in this regard. They also tabled the present situation in the region, sharing the view that all disputes and open issues should be resolved through dialogue and mutual respect.

PRESIDENT IVANOV MEETS TUSKON LEADERS IN ISTANBUL

Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, President of the Republic of Macedonia, had a working lunch with the leadership of TUSKON - Confederation of Turkish Businessmen and Industrialists - in Istanbul on 12 September.

At the working lunch organized in his honor, President Ivanov informed the businessmen about the reform process in the Republic of Macedonia and the country’s efforts to create a more favorable business environment, and called on the TUSKON members to invest in the Republic of Macedonia, underlining the country’s foreign investment incentives.

During his visit to the Patriarchate of Constantinople, President Ivanov met with His All Holiness, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew.


MACEDONIA IN FOCUS

IN THE PRESS:

Within the framework of the General Debate of the 67th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki addressed the high level meeting on the rule of law organized by UN

Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. Also, he attended the High Level Roundtable on Water, Peace and Security organized by the UN, the EU and the USA, the high level reception of the Open Government Partnership Initiative organized by the Governments of Great Britain and Brazil, the Transatlantic Dinner at the invitation of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the reception hosted on the occasion of opening the new EU offices at the UN and the working breakfast of the CEI member states.

In addition, Minister Poposki held a number of bilateral meetings, including meetings with his counterparts from Greece, Serbia, Albania and Singapore and with representatives of the American Jewish Committee.

MINISTER POPOSKI ADDRESSES UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY “The European Union remains fully

committed to the European future of the Republic of Macedonia. I welcome the strong public support for the EU in the country and I am confident that success is achievable, once the remaining issues have been resolved.” – a press statement by the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, following his meeting with the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Gjorge Ivanov, Brussels, 5 September 2012. http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_data/docs/pressdata/en/ec/132272.pdf

“[About Macedonia] It is wonderful… That little I have seen, considering how long my journey to get here was, is truly wonderful. Yesterday, I was in the amazing city of Ohrid, by the lake, and it was really an incredible afternoon…” – an interview with Catherine Deneuve during the 33rd Manaki Brothers Film Festival, with ALFA TV, 15 September 2012. http://vesti.alfa.mk/default.aspx?mId=40&eventId=55079

“The support from Denmark for the strategic aspirations of the Western Balkan countries, including the Republic of Macedonia, for full integration into the European and Euro-Atlantic structures, is going to continue until the ultimate goal is reached. It is in the interest of both the European Union and Denmark as its member state.” – a statement by Klaus Carsten Pedersen, Executive Director of the Danish Foreign Policy Society, during his visit to the Republic of Macedonia, Skopje, 20 September 2012.

Organized by the Ministry of Foreign Af-fairs, within the framework of the Macedo-nian Chairmanship of the South-East Euro-pean Cooperation Process (SEECP), an in-formal meeting of the ministers of foreign affairs of the member states of this regional initiative was held in New York on 27 Sep-tember. Views were shared on that occasion on promoting good neighborly relations, on concrete initiatives for promoting regional cooperation and on the European and

Euro-Atlantic integration of the countries of the Region. In his address as Chairman of the SEECP, Minister Poposki argued that the informal ministerial meetings within the framework of the UN General Assem-bly should become a tradition and appealed for greater consolidation of the regional initiatives and strengthening of the role of the national coordinators of the SEECP with the aim of promoting communication among regional stakeholders.

The meeting was attended by the ministers of foreign affairs of the SEECP member states, apart from Greece, Moldova and Serbia, which were represented by their ambas-sadors, Hido Biščević, Secretary General of the Regional Cooperation Council, and Vuk Jeremić, President of the 67th Session of the UN General Assembly.

SEECP FOREIGN MINISTERS HOLD INFORMAL MEETING IN NEW YORK

“EU is our common denominator!” concluded the Ministers at the meeting.

UN Photo/Jennifer S Altman


MACEDONIA IN FOCUS

Professor Paul Demaret, Rector of the College of Europe

EU NEEDS STRONGER INTEGRATION TO OVERCOME CRISIS

INTERVIEW

Rector Demaret, you have come to Macedonia at the invitation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Please tell us more about the aim of your visit and your connection with Macedonia?

This is my first time to Macedonia. I am very glad to be here and I am honoured that I was invited by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Nikola Poposki. The purpose of my visit is to make the College of Europe better known in Macedonia and at the same time to meet Alumni from the College of Europe, of Macedonian nationality, but also from other countries working in Macedonia. Something which I feel warm about is the fact that wherever I go in Europe, and in cities beyond Europe, I meet Alumni from the College of Europe. That is something that shows that the College is able to recruit Alumni which get involved in European affairs, not only in Western Europe, but all over Europe, including many countries that are aspiring to become part of the European Union.

The College of Europe has developed over the years, now having two campuses, in Bruges and in Natolin, and it has estab-lished new academic programmes. What is and what has been the role of the College of Europe in training young European lead-ers for more than half a century?

The College of Europe is the first institute of postgraduate Studies focusing entirely on European Affairs. Today, there are many in-stitutes of European Studies all over Europe and in the world at large. But we remain the most European among them. The College of Europe was created a few years after the Second World War, before the start of the European integration process. If you look today, you will see that probably we are the leading institute of European studies. First, we have two campuses. One in Western Europe, in Bruges, the other one in Central Europe, in Warsaw, which we opened in the early 90s, just after the fall of communism

in Central and Eastern Europe. Second, our students are recruited from many different countries. This year, 56 nationalities are rep-resented among our students. And most of the students come from Europe in the broad meaning of the term. Not only from the Member States of the EU, but also from Eu-ropean countries that are not yet EU mem-bers, or from countries which are engaged in partnerships with the EU. Third, when you look at our faculty, our professors come from all over Europe as well. They come from 25-30 different nationalities. If you look at our governing body, you will find different coun-tries and regions that support the College of Europe. In particular, we benefit from the support of: the EU, the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Polish authorities, who provide a magnificent free of charge campus in Natolin (Warsaw). Next to them, you will find many other European countries, which provide scholarships for the students. Also, if you look at the content of the programmes, you will see that most aspects of the Euro-pean integration process are covered. Our academic departments are all focused on European affairs, some specialized, other of more general nature. The particularity of the College is that we have always tried not only to adjust to the developments in the EU, but we have also at times anticipated develop-ments in the EU integration process.

Perhaps, one of the most important features of the College is the fact that our students approach European issues from a European perspective and, at the same time, experience Europe at the human level. They live and work together; they interact during a full academic year. They engage in simulation games, organise national weeks, national parties, which form part of their European experience.

Is the College shaping the future EU leaders?

Yes, but perhaps not in the deliberate man-ner. А large number of former students occupy positions in Europe, either in Eu-ropean Institutions, or in the MFAs, the

As part of his stay in Skopje, College of Europe Rector Demaret delivered a lecture to the attendees of the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the ALUMNI OF THE COLLEGE OF EUROPE and a number of representatives of the Macedonian Universities


MACEDONIA IN FOCUS

ministries for European Affairs, but also in international organizations, in the pri-vate sector, in European universities, or in NGOs. The College helps students broaden their perspectives. However, many of our students already have an international outlook when they apply for the College. The College is proud that it is able to attract ambitious students. At the College, they realise that not all Europeans think and approach issues in the same way, and that it is important to understand the positions and the opinions of the others. When you acquire that kind of understanding and sen-sitivity, you will be able to cooperate better in your professional life with people coming from different countries, cultures and back-grounds.

For the College to remain successful, it is indispensable that it continues to attract good students and continues to attract top professors. The two go together. Good students will not apply for the College if they do not think that the College will offer an added value to their education that they can use in their professional life. Many colleagues have told me that they do not come to the College because of the money, but because they know that they will find a challenging student audience.

Could you share with us your experience of using European funds for education and training, and the cooperation with EU institutions and national governments in this process? What is the know-how that our universities can acquire in this respect, when using IPA and other European funds?

A distinction should be made between the academic programmes which the College organises, and which are master’s programmes of one-year duration, and the activities of the College “Development Offices”.

Our academic programmes are, in part, financed by a subsidy from the European Union. That subsidy is granted for the whole duration of the EU budgetary framework and does not depend on yearly decisions. As already mentioned, our academic programmes also benefit from the support of Belgian and Polish authorities and from that of many countries or regions in Europe, and some private foundations which offer scholarships to students. The support we receive is directly linked to our truly European character. Thus, it is in that

regard difficult to compare the College and national universities.

Our Development Office, on the other hand, is in charge of the College’s external activities, which are not part of our regular academic programmes. The financing of the activities carried out by the Develop-ment Office is entirely separate from the financing of the academic programmes. Actually, the Development Office does not receive any subsidy from external sources, public or private. Its financing depends entirely on whether or not the College can successfully sell its expertise in Eu-ropean affairs to the outside world, more precisely for the organisation of training programmes. Thus, the Development Office will, for instance, alone or in competition with other institutes, respond to call for tenders launched by European institutions, Governments or other public entities. For instance, together with the European Insti-tute of Public Administration (EIPA), the College has won a multi-year contract from the European Union for the training of European civil servants. Another example, two years ago, the College was the leader of a consortium, comprising the Clingendael Institute for International Relations and the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna, which was selected by the Polish Government for the purpose of training Polish civil servants ahead of the Polish Presidency.

Next to answering calls for tenders or to responding to demands from third parties (governments or private entities), the Development Office also offers training programmes of its own. For example, the College organises summer programmes of up to three-week duration for people who wish to update their knowledge in the field of European affairs.

Of course, the know-how the College uses in order to organise training pro-grammes is the direct result of its academic specialisation in the field of European af-fairs. Other universities and institutes may have acquired other types of know-how, which they could put to similar good use.

How do you see the current state of the European Union? Can the Union grow stronger from the crisis? Do you think that there is a lack of strong and visionary leadership in the Union?

If the EU does not grow stronger, it will not be able to overcome the crisis. Basically, the EU created the monetary union as the result

of the Maastricht Treaty, but without estab-lishing a true economic union and a true political union. And now, we see that we need to move in those directions if we want the EU to become stronger, not only to over-come the crisis, but to be better “armed” in order to face another possible crisis in the future. If we look at the current situation, I have a certain degree of concern, but also a certain degree of hope, because, at last, most European politicians have come to recog-nize the fact that we need to progress down the road towards more integration.

And measures are being taken under the leadership of the ECB. Countries of the Eurozone seem also to agree on the need to complete the monetary union by a banking union and to move in the directions of a fiscal union, and a form of economic governance.

The main question is how to set up a true political union? The accountability gap that is present in the EU and rooted in the democrat deficit of the EU decision-making process can be filled only by a Treaty change. Now, there is some disagreement regarding that. Some say we need to move towards a political union before certain steps can be taken towards an economic and fiscal union. Others say that first we should make progress in those areas before moving towards a political union.

I think that Mr Dragi put things right when he said that “we need these processes to go in parallel”. We cannot say first a political union, as some German leaders say, or first an economic union as some French leaders say. Of course, it will not be easy, because at a certain point, we will need to change the Treaty. Until then, we should do everything we can on the basis of the existing Treaty. We have witnessed how difficult it is to get new treaties ratified by all Member States. However, if we want to create a true political union, such as the one

“In the case of Macedonia, the

name dispute is the main reason for the political veto in the Council

of the European Union. Cyprus joined the EU without the Cyprus

issue having been resolved, but there was no Member State at the

time to oppose its entry.”


A Macedonian delegation led by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence, Nikola Poposki and Fatmir Besimi, took part in the Annual Meeting between the Republic of Macedonia and the North-Atlantic Council in Brussels on 15 September. Speaking of the importance of the Alliance’s open door policy, Minister Poposki stressed the unfortunate fact that the Republic of Macedonia had still been

left waiting in front of the Alliance’s open doors. In that respect, he called upon the NATO member states to reach a consensus on prompt accession of the country to NATO membership, which, in his view, would ensure long-term stability, security and prosperity of the Region.

The Ambassadors of the NATO member states were unanimous in their positive assessment of the results that

Macedonia had achieved in regard to the implementation of the overall reforms in the country, particularly underlining the significant contribution that the country had made to the NATO-led international missions.

In addition to taking part in the Meeting, Ministers Poposki and Besimi had a separate meeting with NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.

REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA AND NORTH-ATLANTIC COUNCIL HOLD ANNUAL MEETING

MACEDONIA IN FOCUS

sketched by Chancellor Merkel, we will need a major Treaty change.

In order to be able to succeed, if we ever try to make a Treaty change, the public opinion of the Member States should be better informed and should also realize that they have a stake in the progress of the EU. The EU needs to integrate much more forcefully if it wants to successfully come out of the current crisis.

On the other hand, there is no true European political body before which one can submit proposals, projects, at the level of the EU as such. We have national political bodies and decisions concerning the future of the EU will have to be accepted first by each national political body.

There is a leadership issue in the European Union because national elections in the Member States produce national leaders who normally take care first of national interests.

As part of its enlargement policy, the European Union sets applicant countries rigorous conditions and criteria. Macedonia has implemented all the necessary criteria, and has not yet started accession negotiations. Is there an issue of EU credibility in regard to Macedonia?

EU integration will not be complete unless it integrates all Balkan countries, in geographical terms. The EU perspective is essential for the stability and democracy in the Balkans.

Regarding the accession of Macedonia to the EU, there are two issues to be considered. Conditionality and the name dispute between Greece and Macedonia.

After the last enlargement, the EU realized that allowing in countries that are not fully prepared to enter the EU causes problems, as in the case of Romania and Bulgaria. Therefore, the good-neighbourly relations condition which you mention results from the increased importance that Member States put on conditionality and the increased role of the latter in the EU enlargement policy.

Second, in the case of Macedonia, the name dispute is the main reason for the political veto in the Council of the European Union. Cyprus joined the EU without the Cyprus issue having been resolved, but there was no Member State at the time to oppose its entry.

The admission of new members is de-cided by unanimous voting. Any initiative regarding the EU enlargement policy that would involve a change in that decision-making process would also require a Treaty change, not an easy matter, to say the least.

Thus, in my opinion, the most important thing for Macedonia is to work on the resolution of the name dispute before opening negotiations with the EU.

Rector Demaret, this is your last year as Rector of the College of Europe. It must be difficult to end a long and successful career in EU affairs, first as professor and later as Rector of one of the most prominent universities for EU studies. What will you take with you from your rich professional experience?

I have had a long career in EU affairs, as an academic for the most part, as an academic manager these last nine years,

and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. In democratic societies at least, academics enjoy a margin of freedom which not many other professions offer, or at least not to the same degree. If academics do not use their freedom of speech, if they never express critical views, they lose their “raison d’être”. Also as teachers, academics should be demanding and not try to court short term popularity: they should try to improve students’ analytical skills and at the same time broaden their outlook. Of course, teachers who are demanding should expect students to be demanding too. This actually may help teachers to improve their performance. To strive constantly for quality is essential for the success of an academic institution. I hope that as rector of the College of Europe, I have been able to maintain its academic reputation and, hopefully, to improve that reputation in some aspects, but this is for other people to judge. What I want to stress is that the success of an institution depends on the cooperation of a great many people, working as a real team, each one realising that he or she, acting in whatever capacity, can do something for the benefit of the institution, he or she being respected for that. I have been fortunate as rector to be able to work with a great many people sharing that spirit and this I have felt as a privilege.

After completing my second and last mandate as rector of the College of Europe, I intend to remain active in the field of European affairs. However, I have also other interests, among others, in the field of nature conservation, which I hope I will find more time then to cultivate.

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MACEDONIA IN FOCUS

Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki participated in the 7th Bled Strate-gic Forum on 2-3 September. In his address at the panel discussion entitled “The Chal-lenges of the European Union in Southeast Europe,” Minister Poposki stressed that the integration of the countries of the region into the European Union was an irrevers-ible process and that the process of enlarge-ment had to maintain its credibility with an

appropriate and just evaluation of the indi-vidual achievements of every country.

The Republic of Macedonia has been an EU candidate member state for seven years. It is ready for membership negotiations but is at the same time prevented from opening that process. Focusing on the region, Min-ister Poposki said that an upward trend was evident in strengthening regional coopera-tion through initiation and realization of

projects of regional interest, establishing infrastructure connections, sharing expe-riences and building mutual trust, as all major prerequisites for full and fast integra-tion into the European Union and NATO, which remained to be the guiding motive and top priority of all countries of the re-gion, had been met.

On the sidelines of the Forum, Minister Poposki had a number of bilateral meet-ings, including meetings with his coun-terparts from Montenegro, Slovenia, the Slovak Republic and Kosovo, as well as with the Secretary General of CEI.

FOREIGN MINISTER POPOSKI ATTENDS BLED STRATEGIC FORUM

The Republic of Macedonia officially assumed the Chairmanship of the OSCE Forum for Security Cooperation in Vienna on 13 September. The majority of the OSCE participating state delegations, as well as the Delegation of the European Union to the OSCE welcomed the priorities and the operative framework of the Macedonian FSC Chairmanship for the last trimester of 2012 that Ambassador Zoran Dabik

presented in his address at the Forum’s inaugural plenary session.

The representatives of the EU Delegation to the OSCE underlined that the Macedonian FSC Chairmanship came at a crucial moment in the Forum’s working cycle, which focused on successfully conducting the preparations for the OSCE Ministerial Council to be held in Dublin, Ireland, in December.

MACEDONIA OFFICIALLY ASSUMES OSCE SECURITY COOPERATION FORUM CHAIRMANSHIP

Photo: STA

In Minister Poposki’s view,

by fulfilling its enlargement commitments, the European Union could only strengthen

its capacity for addressing the ongoing challenges such as its economic growth, the growing

unemployment and the increased competitiveness of various

global markets, while also being instrumental in securing the future of the European idea.

Ambassador Zoran Dabik, Permanent Representative of the

Republic of Macedonia to the OSCE and Chairperson of the

OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation, Vienna.

Photo: OSCE/Sonya Yee.


Your Excellency, the Republic of Croatia is on the threshold of obtaining a full-fledged membership in the European Union. What is your experience of the Euro-integration process? What were the biggest challenges of the process and what are the views of the authorities, and generally in society, in relation to the already finished but extensive process of negotiations?

Each Croatian Government, depending on the political circumstances, was dedicated to this strategic aim. However, it should be noted that, especially in the 1990’s, the vast majority of citizens in Croatia were European oriented. In fact, at the time many of them believed that Croatia’s accession into the EU would resolve a lot of problems (political, public safety, economic, cultural, etc) with which our “young” country was being faced with.

All those circumstances – the dissolu-tion of the former state, the aggression, the bloody war – were not ideal for starting the integration process of the Republic of Croa-tia into the European family although at the time public support was unquestionable. Regardless of the actual circumstances, the most important is the way in which the Government presents the significance of adopting European and liberal-democratic values. It is necessary to explain to the citizens in a clear and understandable way that social reforms (in the spheres of justice, economy and public sector) are not carried out because they are expected of us but because establishing harmonious and just relations in society are in the best interest of the citizens of the Republic of Croatia. It turned out that in the process of European integration, one of the hardest tasks was the education of our own citizens.

Do you consider that launching membership negotiations between the EU and the Republic of Macedonia as soon as possible will be the most suitable response to everything that the citizens and the political leadership of the Republic of Macedonia have done and are still doing?

I think it is high time to allow the Republic of Macedonia to formally launch negotiations for EU membership. The citizens of the Republic of Macedonia undoubtedly deserve it. Transition in this region lasts too long and I think it benefits no one if this agony is prolonged indefinitely. EU membership is an integral part of the political agenda of all relevant political parties in the Republic of Macedonia. It is good that on such an important issue there exists a national consensus, which is the best guarantee that no one will obstruct the necessary reforms considering their implementation is in the interest of all citizens of the Republic of Macedonia.

Where do you see the opportunity for bolstering economic cooperation and investment in the Republic of Macedonia, particularly after Croatia’s accession into the EU?

Unfortunately, in the past we gave up certain well-known and already captured markets too easily and we had to learn firsthand that capturing new markets was no easy task. In my opinion, the global financial crisis will help us understand that our economies are compatible and now it is the turn of politics and diplomacy to create a positive legal environment, which I believe our economic authorities will be

able to make use of! Our politicians and economies will need to respond quickly to their first challenge: when the Republic of Croatia becomes a full member of the EU on 1 July 2013, the current CEFTA regime will have to be substituted by a new one. However, the scope of possible trade between our countries is truly diverse offering a great many opportunities to all industries (agriculture, food, construction, chemical industry, etc)!

What are your expectations from the Macedonian Chairmanship of the South-East European Cooperation Process, bearing in mind the significance of regional cooperation for the Euro-Atlantic integration of the countries of the region?

The Republic of Croatia expects the Republic of Macedonia, during its Chairmanship of the SEECP, to work on strengthening the influence of this regional process in the international context in order to promote important common interests in the region - security, prosperity, and stability! Initiatives that foster cooperation between member states in all fields are most welcome, especially on issues important for intensification and finalization of the process of European integration.

It is expected that during the upcoming formal and thematic meetings of the SEECP the main topics will be better transport infrastructure between the countries of the region, which is an important prerequisite for promoting trade and economic cooperation so as to effectively overcome the impact of the European economic debt crisis.

H.E. Mr. Zlatko Kramarić, Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to the Republic of Macedonia

INTERVIEW

DIPLOMACY AND COMMUNITY

PROCESS OF EU INTEGRATION IS EDUCATION OF OUR OWN CITIZENS



MDB would like to thank

H.E. Mr. Јozef BRAUN, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the

Czech Republic

H.E. Mr. Jean-Claude SCHLUMBERGER, Ambassador Extraordinary and

Plenipotentiary of the French Republic

for their completed diplomatic mission in the Republic of Macedonia

and would like to extend a warm welcome and wish a successful mission in

the Republic of Macedonia to

H.E. Mr. Arti HILPUS, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the

Republic of Estonia

H.E. Mr. Josef AMRANI, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the

State of Israel

H.E. Mr. Miroslav RAMEŠ, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the

Czech Republic

H.E. Mr. Branko RAKOVEC, Ambassador Extraordinary and

Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Slovenia

The 21st anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Macedonia was celebrated with a series of events on 8 September.

On the occasion of the National Day, organized by the Government, a spectacular concert of Tavitjan Brothers featuring a number of Macedonian and Balkan music stars was held at the Phillip II Arena on 8 September. Previously, a formal meeting was held at the Macedonian Opera and Ballet. The embassies and consulates of the

Republic of Macedonia in the world joined the honouring of Independence Day by staging a wealth of events on this occasion.

MACEDONIAN DAY OF INDEPENDENCE OBSERVEDMr. Ambassador, your biography points out that you are a Macedonist, an expert on the Macedonian language and culture and a great friend of the Republic of Macedonia. Have the two countries exploited all opportunities for further promotion of cooperation in the field of culture?

Allow me one small correction – I am not an expert on the Macedonian language. By vocation, I am a literary theoretician and culturologist. The Macedonian literature and the Macedonian culture, in general, have been an obsession of mine. Until 1990, I was a professor of Macedonian literature at the Faculty of Philosophy in Osijek and I still hold courses in anthropology and culturology at the Department for Cultural Research of the University of J.J. Strossmayer in Osijek. In my lectures I address the relations between the Macedonian culture and other European cultures.

In the last four years, beside my diplomatic duties, I managed to write two books on recent Macedonian issues (Macedonia’s identity, the name issue, the Macedonian politics and culture in today’s world relations, etc). The first book was published in Macedonian in 2010, and my second book will be published soon in Croatian and Macedonian (this book will also be signed by Angelina Banović-Markovska, professor at the Faculty of Philology in Skopje). I am very eager to hear the first reactions of the Macedonian academic and political circles to some of the theories presented in the book. I am also very interested in the readers’ critical opinion on my thesis that with transparent exercise of “constitutional patriotism” some of the most pressing problems in Macedonian society, such as interethnic relations, can be overcome.

My attitude towards the Macedonian culture/literature is at once critical, objective and rational, but it is always impregnated with immense love. Finally, I consider myself a logical successor of Bishop J.J. Strossmayer (as me, he was born in Osijek) and his extraordinary political and other views, which stood the test of time. I have learned a lot from him, especially the need for constant nurturing of the cult of Cyril and Methodius, the brothers from Salonica, regardless of the existence of certain ambiguities in our ethno-geneses.

H.E. Cui Zhiwei, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China, hosted a reception at the Aleksandar Palace Hotel in Skopje on 27 September 2012 to celebrate 1 October, China’s National Day. The reception was attended by Macedonian Parliament Speaker Trajko Veljanoski, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, Defense Minister Fatmir Besimi and other ministers, numerous representatives of the diplomatic corps in the country,

representatives of political parties and non-governmental organizations, distinguished guests from the cultural community, businessmen and other public figures.

NATIONAL DAY OF PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA CELEBRATED


US Ambassador Paul Wohlers and Elizabeta Kanceska-Milevska, Minister of Culture of the Republic of Macedonia, signed on 19 September an agreement on awarding a grant of 98,000 dollars for preservation of the old quarters of the Monastery of St. Arhangel Mihail of the 17th century, situated near the Skopje village of Kuceviste.

This is the 11th grant awarded for protection of Macedonian cultural heritage through the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation, a program funded by the US Department of State.

A new French international school (for preschool and elementary school children) was opened in Skopje on 15 September. Jean-Claude Schlumberger, French Ambassador to the Republic of Macedonia, officially declared the school open at the ceremony organized on that occasion. Also, he stressed in his address

that the opening of a new French international school was a significant stage in marking the French presence in the Republic of Macedonia. The school operates by the official curriculum of the French Ministry of Education and is intended for all children who wish to follow it.

GRANT AWARDED FOR PRESERVATION OF ST. ARHANGEL MIHAIL MONASTERY

Within the framework of the project for promotion of the Macedonian export capacities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs organized in Kavadarci on 18 September presentation of the

production capacities and export potentials of the winery Tikves to representatives of the diplomatic corps in the Republic of Macedonia, who had the opportunity to learn firsthand about the winery’s production process.

Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki stressed in his address at the presentation the commitment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to conducting economic diplomacy with the aim of promoting the Macedonian economic potentials in other countries and emphasized that organizing meetings between representatives of renowned Macedonian companies and the diplomatic corps in the country would help establish contacts between Macedonian and foreign companies. Minister Poposki also talked about the history of Macedonia’s wine making and vine growing, explaining that, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Macedonia is ranked 22nd in wine production globally.

The presentation of the winery Tikves was second in the series of planed events organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in cooperation with export-oriented Macedonian companies with a view to promoting Macedonia’s potential and export capacities.

NEW FRENCH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OPENS IN SKOPJE

MFA ORGANIZES VISIT TO TIKVES WINERY FOR DIPLOMATS IN MACEDONIA



EXPERIENCE MACEDONIA

The dream of generations of Macedonian athletes following Macedonia’s independence has become reality for you at the London Paralympics. You participated side by side with the best in your category and proved by far more successful. What is the feeling of being a Macedonian standing on the winner’s podium?

Being the best among of the best and standing on the podium under the flag of the Republic of Macedonia listening

to sounds of the national anthem is a wonderful feeling, a feeling of pride.

You have become Macedonia’s national pride. You have won medals at European and World Championships yet the Olympic gold is of historical importance for the Republic of Macedonia. How big a challenge will this gold medal be for you in your future competitions?

It is by all means a good motive for me to continue my sports career. My coach, Branimir Jovanovski, has always told me that after winning a major title, it is important for the athletes to realize that they should continue practicing not in order to defend the title but to win new medals and new titles. That is the formula that I am going to apply in my future career.

In the most critical moments, you demonstrated peace, a strong spirit and a desire to win, all of which resulted not just in a gold medal but also in a world record. To what extent is the gold medal a fruit of hard work and dedication? What is the sacrifice of your profession?

The gold medal is the absolute result of hard work and dedication through several

Olympic cycles. We are talking about many years of practice stretching over 10 months a year, 5-6 days a week, 3-5 hours a day. All of this requires sacrifice. The sacrifice is my private life considering I have no spare time, my family because I am frequently away from home due to practice and participation in various competitions, my relatives and friends, my professional advancement… Many things are sacrificed but when such a trophy is won, they are easier to bear and are utterly justified.

The gold medal and the world record have changed your private life. Who is Olivera Nakovska-Bikova in her private life? What does your ordinary day look like?

These days, my private life has truly changed. Every day I receive invitations for various receptions, TV shows, interviews, etc. However, I am aware that all of it is soon going to end and I am going to return to my everyday life and dedicate myself entirely to my family, my husband Zlatko, my daughter Viktorija, my responsibilities and my practice in order to get ready for my next competitions at home and abroad.

Olivera Nakovska-Bikova, world record holder and gold medalist in Women’s Air Pistol Shooting at the Paralympic Games

INTERVIEW

OLYMPIC GOLD MAKES ALL SACRIFICES EASIER TO BEAR

Ambassador Paul Wohlers opened the concert “Music for Tolerance” in the Macedonia Square in Skopje on 21 September. Guests had the opportunity to delight in various music genres, including the music of the children’s choir of the Hristijan Todorovski-Karpos primary school, and the popular bands Bla Bla Bla, Toni Kitanovski & Cherkezi Orchestra and IQ.

Ambassador Wohlers stressed on that occasion the importance of tolerance and diversity, as well as the significant of 21 September, International Day of Peace.

MUSIC FOR TOLERANCE CONCERT


The World Gallery of Drawing – Osten Biennial of Drawing, Skopje 2012, opened this year for the 40th time on 20 September. There were 400 participants from 46 countries, who competed with 990 individual works, as the international jury presented the first award in three areas: for best drawing to Montenegrin author Zlatko Glamočak, for painting on paper to Robert Dandarov, a Macedonian

artist living in New York, and for art made of paper to Yeong Min Suh. A special award for an original expression was also presented to Kristel Andrea Stier of Germany.

The award for world cultural heritage went to Macedonian artist Dimitar Avramovski Pandilov, who left indelible traces in the laying of foundations of visual arts in Macedonia, while the Grand Prix

for life achievements went to the world-renowned artist Hristo Javasev-Christo, an American artist of Bulgarian descent.

Within the framework of this year’s edition of the Osten Biennial of Drawing, creation of a Museum of Drawings was also announced as a foundation for further collection, protection, preservation, studying and presentation of works by authors from around the world.

The event “Days of the Macedonian Culture in Ukraine” took place at the renowned National Opera and Ballet Theater in Kiev on 26-27 September. Within the framework of the event, opened by Deputy Culture Minister Dragan Nedeljkovik, the Macedonian cultural heritage - folklore, music and drama – were presented to the Ukrainian public.

In the course of the 2-day cultural event, an exhibition of 27 terracotta icons with 12 themes of the Vinica Fortress opened at the National Society of Photo Artists of Ukraine, as violinist Sihana Badiviku and pianist Maja Kastratovik, as well as the national ensemble Tanec held concerts at the National Opera and Ballet Theater. Also, the Drama Theater (Dramski teatar) of Skopje staged its production of “Aleksandar” by playwright Ljubisa Georgievski.

The subject Macedonian Language with Elements of National Culture became part of the curriculum of the Goce Delcev primary school in Jabuka, Republic of Serbia, on 17 September 2012 for the first time. This has completed the years-long process of securing the right to education

in the native language for the Macedonian national minority in the Republic of Serbia.

The introduction of the Macedonian language into the educational system of the Republic of Serbia represents an important act and a huge step ahead in

preserving and nurturing the Macedonian language, culture and identity in Serbia, which was also welcomed by the representatives of the Embassy of the Republic of Macedonia in Belgrade, led by Ambassador Ljubisa Georgievski.

MACEDONIAN LANGUAGE SUBJECT INTRODUCED AT PRIMARY SCHOOL IN JABUKA, SERBIA

40TH WORLD BIENNIAL OF DRAWING OSTEN

EXPERIENCE MACEDONIA

MACEDONIAN CULTURE DAYS IN KIEV


I believe that unless filled with the most specific diplomatic issues of the host country, every workday of every

Macedonian ambassador is immersed in our country’s chief problem imposed by Greece...

The notes that follow are memories of a working lunch of the group of ambassadors, who discuss the issues of the Balkans once a month.

... Imagine the xenophobia of Greece, which refuses to recognize any of the national minorities on its territory. Serbia, on the other hand, recognizes and funds

nineteen non-Serb ethnic communities. Is this the reason why Greece is an EU member state and Serbia is not?

... The Balkans is unfortunately being treated as a can, whose expiry date has passed and which is being kept in case someone wishes to poison the other. The damage that Macedonia suffers because of Greece is immense despite the satisfaction that came with the Judgment of the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

... The Greek diplomacy keeps repeating the same old trite words: Our position is

clear. As though a clear position necessarily implied quality. Hitler had perfectly clear positions when he set the world on fire. Un-fortunately, the Greek governments fail to learn the historical lessons about the demise of nationalism.

... Here is one more example: The official Greek negotiator in the name issue talks is called Adamantios and this is no coinci-dence! In Old Greek and in English, ada-mant means inflexible, stubborn. Our only fault is that many of us speak Old Greek and almost all of us speak English.

... You say Greece was the cradle of de-mocracy and that in that cradle there was a consensus with regard to our name, as there was none in Macedonia? Mussolini used to say that democracy was expensive. Con-sidering Greece’s financial bankruptcy, he appears to have been right?! As consensus is a sheer euphemism. For example, when the “Great Leader” of North Korea died, all his subjects sobbed as one. Have you seen a greater consensus?

... How long we are going to wait for you to give in, you ask. I am going to answer you with a quotation from the novel “Cap-tain Michalis” by Kazantzakis, the bril-liant Greek fiction writer. He says: We, the Cretans, drink wine from clay pots and eat meat as an appetizer. When we finish the appetizer, just for spite, we break the pots and eat the pieces of pottery.

FROM MY ANGLEAmbassador Ljubisa GEORGIEVSKI

MY DIARY

Since the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Macedonia have very dynamic relations, which cannot be

summarized on one sheet of paper, I shall try to give you just a short overview of my monthly activities.

After the long and extremely warm summer, the month of September has brought new obligations. One of my first duties was to attend the celebration for the Macedonian Independence Day, on September 8, 2012. Besides the reception at the Macedonian Parliament and the formal meeting at MOB, the Macedonian Government organized a big concert at the Philip II National Arena, at which Brothers Tavitjan and many Macedonian and Balkan music stars performed and which my colleagues and I enjoyed very much.

Bearing in mind the interests of our countries, as friends and neighbors, the priority of the Embassy of the Republic of Serbia in the Republic of Macedonia is to do all in its power to improve relations in all domains, especially our bilateral cooperation and mutual support in the process of European integration.

In my contacts with Macedonian authorities and institutions, I always tend to contribute to better mutual understanding and continuous improvement of the good neighborly and traditionally friendly relations and cooperation between our two countries. Such a meeting with the Minister of Economy, Mr. Valon Saraqini, once again confirmed the compatibility of our economies, with Serbia being one of Macedonia’s top partners as far as trade

H.E. Mr. Tomislav Djurin, Ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to the Republic of Macedonia

BOTH STATES PAY GREAT ATTENTION TO THE MINORITY ISSUES

MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN No. 65 – 201216 MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN No. 65 – 201216

The highest cultural award in Macedonia, the National Artist title, was presented this year to the world-acclaimed director and screenwriter Milcho Manchevski. He is the second winner of this prestigious title presented by Gjorge Ivanov, President of the Republic of Macedonia. Last year it went to piano virtuoso Simon Trpceski.

Manchevski is undoubtedly one of Macedonia’s best film directors. His films have been screened and awarded at numerous festivals around the world. His 1994 feature film “Before the Rain” won

the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival, the oldest and most prestigious film festival in the world. The film then went on to tour the world winning many more awards and being nominated for Oscar in 1995 for best foreign-language film. The New York Times included it in its list of the best 1,000 movies ever made. His other feature-length credits include “Dust” (2001), “Shadows” (2007) and “Mothers” (2010). Manchevski

is also the author of the first Macedonia Timeless video.

Manchevski is the recipient of the 11 October State Award for his film work and the Mother Teresa Award for his humanitarian effort and was declared Ambassador of Culture of the Republic of Macedonia in 2007.

MILCHO MANCHEVSKI AWARDED NATIONAL ARTIST OF MACEDONIA 2012 TITLE

is concerned. Naturally, there is always room left for further improvement of our economic cooperation, which is one of my priorities as Ambassador here. In that regard, it was a valuable experience to attend the event organized by the Economic Chamber of Macedonia, where the Macedonian Prime Minister, Mr. Nikola Gruevski, addressed representatives of the Macedonian companies speaking about the current situation in the economy and the projections of the Macedonian Government for 2013. I am currently working on the preparations for official visits of the Serbian Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Serbian Minister of Energy and the Serbian Minister of Agriculture to the Republic of Macedonia, and of the Macedonian Minister of Local Self-Government to the Republic of Serbia. Also, I am glad to say that the President of the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Macedonia is going to visit his Serbian counterpart at the beginning of October 2012.

In the light of the economic cooperation, I find the visit to Tikveš Winery in Kavadarci, organized by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Nikola Poposki, for the Diplomatic Corps in order to promote the possibilities of Macedonian economy very useful and inspiring.

The diverse cultural events organized between the two friendly countries have been received by the citizens of both countries with utmost satisfaction: Serbian and Macedonian artists and cultural

representatives are frequent participants in numerous cultural events on both bilateral and international level. The latest example is the Annual Award of the distinguished Macedonian publishing house Tabernakul presented to Serbian writer Mr. Ljubivoje Ršumović.

The activities within the Diplomatic Corps resumed after the summer break. We bade farewell to the Ambassadors of Israel and France upon the completion of their diplomatic missions in the Republic of Macedonia, wishing them success in their future careers. Also, my colleagues from the Embassy and I attended the charity event organized by the USA Embassy in Skopje as a part of the worldwide initiative proposed by US President Barack Obama to honor the victims of 9/11 with a global day of service. We made our donation and we hope that this event helped the Skopje Red Cross replenish their food supplies for the coming winter. I also attended several receptions hosted by the Embassies of Ukraine, the Slovak Republic and the People’s Republic of China celebrating their respective National Days. The OSCE Mission to Macedonia also hosted its Annual Reception at the Aleksandar Palace Hotel in Skopje, on which occasion we also bade farewell to Mrs. Natalya Drozd, Deputy Head of the OSCE Mission.

The Serbian Embassy hosted an appropriate reception for the first-graders to attend school in the Serbian language. The pupils from the elementary schools in

Tabanovce, Staro Nagoričane and Kučevište were given a small token of the Embassy’s appreciation in school supplies. I am proud to say that the Embassy organized a very successful two-day excursion to Belgrade for fifty pupils and their teachers from these towns.

This brings me to a very important field of the Embassy’s activities - protecting the interests of the Republic of Serbia and its citizens in the Republic of Macedonia. A part of those activities center around our compatriots who have been living in this region for ages and the protection of the Serbian national identity. The sensitivity of these matters requires close cooperation with our Macedonian friends and hosts, that is, the state institutions of the Republic of Macedonia, which I have to say is at a high level. Both states pay great attention to the minority issues and, through mutual cooperation in all domains, strive to contribute to the preservation of their national identity. The latest activity of the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Macedonia and the Serbian Embassy is organizing the commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Kumanovo Battle, on the Zebrnjak hill near Kumanovo, at the end of October this year. With joint efforts, the Memorial on the Zebrnjak hill is being prepared to welcome Serbian and Macedonian state officials, as well as a great number of Serbs and Macedonians from both countries, who wish to attend this solemn ceremony.

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