INSIDE: INTERVIEW WITH THE MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, H.E. MR.

NIKOLA POPOSKI

MACEDONIA CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

The celebration commenced outside the Parliament of the republic of Macedonia where Parliament Speaker Trajko Veljanoski handed the Declaration of Independence of 1991 to the Guard of the Republic of Macedonia.

No. 53 / 2011

EDITORIAL

MACEDONIA IS EUROPE, EUROPE IS MACEDONIA

All nations and countries have their own big, historic dates and events. They shape the peoples awareness and project the roads we take. They are also a monument to the bygone times and the largest reminder of the responsibility the nations bear looking to the future. The beginning and end of all of them are the homeland and the people! In the past century Macedonia had three such dates: the first in the beginning, the second in the middle and the third in the end of the 20th century. Ilinden 1903, ASNOM 1944 and 8 September 1991 are the milestones on our path toward freedom. These pinnacles are part of our history written with our name and honor! The third Ilinden, 8 September, is the last in the series of glimmering events in the Macedonian national consciousness and selfsacrifice when the people of Macedonia decided in a historic referendum that their country should be constituted as sovereign and independent. This day is only one in the series of steps taken to complete the Macedonian statehood. Three declarations marked the historic 1991. Immediately after the constitution of the first democratic Parliament, this institution passed the Declaration of Sovereignty on 25 January. On 17 September, right after the successfully held 8 September referendum, the Declaration of Independence passed Parliament. And finally, upon adopting the Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia, Parliament passed the Declaration of International Recognition of the Republic of Macedonia on 25 December. These are the documents with which the foundations of independent and democratic Republic of Macedonia were laid. The citizens, as stated in the Declarations, turned a new page in the Macedonian centuries-long history to complete their independence and sovereignty. At the same time, they emphasized our countrys vital interest in embarking on the process of European integration. Arguing for honoring territorial integrity and sovereignty, Macedonia called for peaceful resolution of problems by way of negotiations and based on mutual respect. In short, the Declarations projected Macedonia as a modern and democratic country, which after freeing itself from the repression of Communism and fake Yugoslav loyalty, took the road of political pluralism and market economy! Over the past 20 years, we have achieved a lot! We have climbed up high peaks! We have resolved many pivotal issues, some successfully, others less so. We have overcome many hurdles. We have faced many challenges when resolute steps had to be taken. As a result of that policy of the foundingfathers of our sovereignty, Macedonia has joined nearly all important international organizations. Macedonia has also become a respected partner cooperating with many countries in the world. Twenty years after the historic 8 September, we have come up against major challenges again. Today, when our fate does not depend on anyone else but ourselves, we bear ever greater responsibility and have even greater expectations! I am confident that we are going to overcome all challenges and hardship. We have to complete our European integration. Macedonia is Europe and Europe is Macedonia! Naturally, we belong to the European family in the best sense of the word. It is in our best interest to implement the European standards and round off our reform. Our indisputable priority is adapting the Macedonian economy to be even more competitive in the

European markets. Finally, our unquestionable commitment remains promoting interethnic relations and understanding. Memorable historic victories happen to the brave and united. We have been handed down a testament from the generations of heroes, revolutionaries and authors before us, who have committed the fruit of their work to the cornerstone of free Macedonia, to never again work against one another and make historic mistakes. The remarkable events and victories in our history are a shared pledge and sacrifice. They are a monument for all our citizens, ethnic communities and political options. In the spirit of the motto marking this key historic event, I would like to once again appeal for unity, reconciliation and dedication to the accomplishment of Macedonias key strategic goals. Therefore, on behalf of the future generations and the testament of all those who sacrificed their lives for modern Macedonia, let us make our biblical land even more worthy of their sacrifice, more enduring than they hoped for, and more beautiful than they dreamed of. Finally, let me congratulate the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia who took responsibility in the referendum for our independence in great numbers and with high consciousness. Happy Independence Day! God bless the Republic of Macedonia! Macedonian Parliament Speaker Trajko VELJANOSKIS address on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of Macedonias independence
DIPLOMATIC NEWS

PRESIDENT IVANOV DECORATED

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Gjorge Ivanov, was decorated with the highest order of the Military and Hospitaller Order of Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem. He received the order from Don Carlos Gereda y de Borbon, a representative of the Order of Saint Lazarus. President Ivanov extended gratitude saying he considered the act as a great honor. Macedonia is an ancient country dedicated to God in which true values are nurtured, he added. The Order of Saint Lazarus is one of the oldest orders in Christianity whose members include heads of state and government, royal families, and intellectuals from around the world.

MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN

No. 53 (September - October 2011)
Founded by the MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS of the Republic of Macedonia. Dame Gruev 6, 1000 Skopje, Republic of Macedonia / www.mfa.gov.mk mdb@mfa.gov.mk Previous editors: Pajo Avirovik, October 2006-April 2008; Zvonimir Popovik, May 2008-January 2010

Editor: Vladimir Efremovski

Editorial Board: Agneza Rusi; Lina Ognenova; Zuko Rizvanski; Shaban Jashari; Aleksandar Trajkoski; Katerina Stavreska; Eli Bojadjieska Ristovski; Edvard Mitevski; Maciej Kaczorowski; Elena Georgievska; Mircela Dzuvalekovska Casule Photo: Dragan Todorovski

Published monthly by: MACEDONIAN INFORMATION CENTRE Director: Dragan Antonov Chief Translator: Aleksandra Ilievska Address: Naum Naumovski Borce 73, 1000 Skopje, Republic of Macedonia www.micnews.com.mk

MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN No. 53 2011

TURKISH PM ERDOAN VISITS MACEDONIA

The Macedonian and Serbian officials said they were pleased with the positive development of the bilateral relations and the commitment to their further promotion in all areas of shared interest, particularly in the area of economic cooperation. The European integration process and the cooperation in this regard, as well as the cultural cooperation and the interest in signing an agreement on protection of cultural values in both countries were also discussed. During this visit, Minister Poposki also met representatives of the Macedonian community in the Republic of Serbia.

EU COMMISSIONER FLE PAYS OFFICIAL VISIT TO MACEDONIA

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoan paid an official visit to the Republic of Macedonia on 29-30 September. Apart for meeting his host, Macedonian PM Nikola Gruevski, he also met Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov and Parliament Speaker Trajko Veljanoski. The positive development of relations and cooperation between the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Turkey was confirmed during the meetings, and opinions were also shared on a number of issues important for the promotion of the bilateral cooperation, especially the economic one. Emphasizing the importance of the Turkish direct investments in the Republic of Macedonia, the officials pointed out the interest and possibilities for their increase, underlining also the untapped potential for raising trade between Macedonia and Turkey. The Turkish prime minister reiterated once again the support that the Republic of Turkey gives and will continue giving Macedonia as far as the use of its constitutional name is concerned.

At the end of his stay in Macedonia, PM Erdoan visited Tetovo and Gostivar, meeting representatives of the local Turkish community.

On the occasion of the commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Framework Agreement and the 20th anniversary of Macedonias independence, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy tefan Fle paid a one-day official visit to the Republic of Macedonia on 5 September. He was the honorary guest of and participant in the Conference Decentralization and Multiculturalism in Macedonia, as part of the series of events marking the jubilee. In his address at the Conference, Commissioner Fle deemed the Ohrid Framework Agreement as a positive example that should show the world how leaders can overcome differences and reach a compromise in the interest of their countries future. Commissioner Fle met with Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and also had separate meetings with Deputy Prime Minister for Framework Agreement Musa Xhaferi and Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Teuta Arifi. Their talks focused on meeting the priorities of the European agenda of the Republic of Macedonia and the future reforms in the run-up to the release of the European Commission report on Macedonias progress 2011. The importance of continuing the European integration process and opening talks for full-fledged membership of the EU, as a strategic commitment of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia, was confirmed once again.

RICHARD HOWITT IN MACEDONIA

During his visit to Macedonia on 18-20 September, the rapporteur on Macedonia in the European Parliament, Richard Howitt, said he was confident that this year too Macedonia would be given a recommendation for opening EU membership negotiations, primarily because of the progress achieved in conducting reforms and the successfully held early parliamentary elections. According to Howitt, more progress is needed in reforming the public administration, the freedom of media and fighting corruption. During his visit, Mr. Howitt met high representatives of the Government and Parliament of the Republic of Macedonia.
No. 53 2011 MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN

FM NIKOLA POPOSKI VISITS SERBIA

At the invitation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, Vuk Jeremi, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Macedonia, Nikola Poposki, paid his first official one-day visit to the Republic of Serbia on 13 September. Apart from meeting his Serbian counterpart, Minister Poposki also met Parliament Speaker Slavica uki-Dejanovi, Prime Minister Mirko Cvetkovi and Parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Dragoljub Miunovi.

Interview with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, H.E. Mr. Nikola Poposki

WE DEMONSTRATE MACEDONIA IS FUTURE NATO AND EU MEMBER STATE WITH PROFESSIONALISM AND QUALITY
to the EU. Nevertheless, what Our message to are your initial impressions? our neighbors is that How do you see the Ministry on Dame Gruev 6 Street from we have numerous your current standpoint? While serving as ambassa- reasons to act together dor, I had the opportunity to and we must have conclude that in the Ministry of to intensify projects Foreign Affairs there are capable professionals who love their jobs. of shared interest. That is a key prerequisite so we can hope for progress. Now, as minister, my responsibility, of course, is to establish how we can promote the diplomatic service continuously. One of the first things one can spot on Dame Gruev 6 St is that there is not enough room for all the staff. I hope we are soon going to overcome this problem once we move to the new building on Kej Dimitar Vlahov bb. From what I can hear from the staff, making sure the work is better organized and the institutional memory is upgraded is particularly significant. This is especially important for the younger generations of diplomats. We have to provide conditions so they can be motivated and can progress. Frankly, there are not enough instruments for positive motivation. At the MFA, it all comes down to the prospect of one being appointed to an embassy or a consulate. Considering the challenges the Republic of Macedonia faces, as far as its foreign policy goes, I believe that the MFA has to give precedence to the professionalism and quality of its staff. In that way, we practically confirm that we are representatives of a future member state of NATO and the EU. You paid your first visits to the neighboring countries. The importance Macedonia attributes to the relations and cooperation

Minister Poposki, once again let us congratulate you on your election to this important and highly responsible office. You have been Minister of Foreign Affairs for a few months but you were familiar with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs when you took office. You had been Ambassador of the Republic of Macedonia

European Challenges of the Western Balkans.

MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN No. 53 2011

promoting the ties that are natural to Macedonia, whether relating to infrastructure, commerce, energy or security. Since ancient times, it has been indisputably true that without good connections you cannot prosper. This is perhaps ever more relevant today. Our message to our neighbors is that we have numerous reasons to act together and we must have to intensify projects of shared interest. With that approach, we are nearing our goal of safe, integrated and economically prosperous Republic of Macedonia. That is, in fact, what our regional policy focuses on. As for the priorities, they reflect the massive support that the Macedonian citizens give to Macedonias bid for joining NATO and the EU. Our actions are aiming exactly in that direction. We are highly committed to keeping the credibility of that process. Can we expect a date for opening EU membership negotiations soon? The European Commission has recommended it three times. We were, in fact, blocked twice. The negotiations are merely a follow-up to the effort for harmonization with the European legislation. However, the discontinuation of the process challenges the credibility of the entire system. All those who are truly dedicated to the promotion of the European project for peace and economic prosperity will have an excellent opportunity to confirm their dedication later this year. What are our positions as regards NATO? Our attitude has long been as though we are de facto a NATO member state. Macedonias contribution to providing security and training in Afghanistan illustrates it best. We have long been fulfilling the responsibilities arising from a full-fledged membership. Unfortunately, we have not yet benefited from it because of the Greek resistance. That approach is doing harm to the interests not only of the Republic of Macedonia but also of the region and the Alliance itself. It is also in contravention to the Interim Accord, which made us file the application before the International Court of Justice in The Hague. In any case, we remain fully committed to attaining our strategic objective that will surely contribute to safer and more prosperous Balkans.

Visit of EU journalists to Macedonia.

with these countries is obvious. However, we would very much appreciate if you told us what the foreign policy priorities are in the period to come. Has anything changed? How do you see the regional cooperation? What are the goals of our foreign policy? I often say that we must fight hard the stereotypes related to our region. The perception is that the countries, peoples or communities of the Balkans are more prone to conflicts than the rest of the continent. There are probably a number of reasons for that. However, in reality, in this territory there are many more binding elements. The interests of the region today converge toward NATO and the EU. How successful we are in the implementation of this project, in view of the debt crisis and the global challenges, depends also on our capacity to cooperate. Being centrally positioned in the Balkans and landlocked, Macedonias strategic interest is to maintain good relations with all its neighbors, directly and indirectly, thus

Visit to NATO HQ.

No. 53 2011 MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN

MACEDONIA CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE

With a series of events, the Republic of Macedonia celebrated on 8 September the 20th anniversary of the successfully conducted referendum in which an overwhelming majority of the Macedonian citizens, or more than 95 percent, voted for independent and sovereign Macedonia. The referendum of 8 September 1991 was preceded by a Declaration of Independence that the first democratic Parliament of the Republic of Macedonia adopted on 25 January 1991. Formally the peoples will for independence was confirmed by a Declaration on acceptance of the referendum results of 18 September 1991 passed in the Parliament of the Republic of Macedonia. The next important step in strengthening the country was the adoption of the new Constitution on 17 November 1991. The 20th anniversary of the proclamation of Macedonias independence was celebrated in Skopje under the slogan 20 Years of Independent Macedonia Together Under One Sun. The program that illustrated the past, the present and the future and presented the national characteristics and artistic capacity of the country, had a cosmopolitan dimension and a mission to unite all people regardless of their affiliations. The celebration commenced outside the Parliament of the Republic of Macedonia where Parliament Speaker Trajko Veljanoski handed the Declaration of Independence of 1991 to the Guard of the Republic of Macedonia. In his ceremonial address, Speaker Veljanoski reiterated the commitment to and appeal for unification, reconciliation and dedication to accomplishing Macedonias key strategic goals. The declaration was carried under the Macedonia Triumphal Arch and over the Stone Bridge, to new Museum of the Macedonian Struggle. First to pass under the Triumphal Arch were a thousand children symbolizing the future of the country. The Declaration was taken inside the Museum by the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Gjorge

Ivanov. He stressed in his address that the wishes of our ancestors and revolutionaries became true and that he deposited the citizens freely expressed will, conveyed by those who voted through the Declaration of Independence, in the Museum as a symbol of the desires and craving of those who fought for it. The fulfilled oath came to those having died for independent Macedonia. Things have fallen into place. May Macedonia live forever, President Ivanov stressed. With the theater oratorio Struggle outside the Museum scenes from the past were recreated by actors from all Macedonian theaters, while the Army paid respect to all perished heroes by firing honorary salutes. At the same time, actors in costumes from the period in which the historic figures lived (from Justinian I to Metodija Andonov Cento) stood by the monuments in the Macedonia Square. On the 40-meter stage in the square, the celebration reached its culmination with the performance spectacle Makedonium in which over 300 artists took part. Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski said in his address that although small by territory our country has foundations as big as any European country and that those foundations encapsulate the bravery, resolve and sacrifice of generations that gave their country everything they had. Emphasizing that our future depends only on us and that independence and sovereignty which we bow to today is a great civilization right that we acquired, Prime Minister Gruevski appealed to all to accept national unification in the defense of the civilization and natural right to a name and identity. The Constitution will not change with the aim of changing the constitutional name Republic of Macedonia. We are not going to accept ideas and proposals that would threaten the Macedonian national identity, and the distinction of the Macedonian nation and language, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski said.

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After the prime ministers address, the grandiose fountain with the monument Warrior on a Horse was put into use and the celebration was completed with a massive music happening. The 8 September celebration started with laying of flowers at the graves of first Prime Minister Nikola Kljusev and President Boris Trajkovski at the Tree Lined Path of the Greats at the Butel cemetery. Within the framework of the celebration, the Kumanovo-Tabanovce highway was put into practice and the edition 130 Volumes of Macedonian Literature translated into English was promoted at the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts. Parliament Speaker Trajko Veljanoski met the president and members of the Commission for the Holding of the Referendum of 1991 in which Macedonias independence was voted through. The Parliament of the Republic of Macedonia held a ceremony session on 7 September, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski met the former prime ministers of the Republic of Macedonia, while President Gjorge Ivanov addressed the ceremony at the Macedonian Opera and Ballet. On

the occasion of Macedonias jubilee birthday, the reconstructed airport Alexander the Great and the new public transport buses in the capital were put into use. A new postal stamp depicting the state flag was promoted as well. Macedonias Independence Day was celebrated with receptions and a variety of events also in the Macedonian embassies and consulates abroad. As a reminder, according to the official statistics, in the referendum for independence of 8 September 1991, from 1,495,626 eligible voters, 1,132,981, or 71.85 percent, cast ballots, and 1,079,308, or 95.09 percent of them (72.16 percent of the total number of eligible voters) voted for independence. Following the successfully conducted referendum, the Parliament of the Republic of Macedonia passed a Declaration on International Recognition of the Republic of Macedonia as independent and sovereign country on 19 December 1991. Macedonias independence was recognized first by the Republic of Bulgaria, followed by Turkey, Slovenia, Croatia, Russia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, etc. With the introduction of the national currency, the denar, on 26 April 1992, the Republic of Macedonia declared its monetary independence too and on 18 August 1992 the Army of the Republic of Macedonia was founded. The international and legal sovereignty of the country was definitely confirmed on 8 April 1993 when Macedonia became the 181st full-fledged member state of the United Nations with acclamation at the General Assembly. The Republic of Macedonia has so far established diplomatic relations with 168 countries in the world and has been recognized under its constitutional name by 132 countries, three of which are permanent members of the UN Security Council the USA, the Russian Federation and the Peoples Republic of China. The Republic of Macedonia was granted the status of an EU candidate member state in 2005 and was given a recommendation by the EC for opening EU membership negotiations in 2009.

20 YEARS OF MACEDONIAN INDEPENDENCE CONFERENCE

Within the framework of the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Macedonia, a one-day Conference 20 Years of Independent Republic of Macedonia Achievements and Perspectives of the Modern Macedonian State was organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Skopje on 9 September under the motto Together Under One Sun. At the opening of the Conference, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski addressed the participants saying the Macedonian independence was a patriotic achievement and expressing hope that the following 20 years would be years of development and progress for the Republic of Macedonia. In the capacity of a host, Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki addressed the Conference as well, highlighting the accomplishments of the Macedonian diplomacy in the past 20 years. Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Pesevski addressed the guests too. The conference participants included also British Ambassador Christopher Yvon, Turkish Ambassador Grol Skmenser, MEP Alojz Peterle and Dr. Srgjan Kerim, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Macedonia.

No. 53 2011 MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN

66TH SESSION OF UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

A Macedonian delegation led by Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski participated in the 66th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on 21-24 September. Prime Minister Gruevski addressed the general debate alongside 15 other chiefs of delegation, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and US President Barack Obama. We know who we are and how we are going to live. We are Macedonians, speak Macedonian and our countrys name is Republic of Macedonia, Prime Minister Gruevski said in his address on 24 September. He addressed also the Economic Forum and the Summit of Balkan Leaders and attended the reception hosted by US President Obama, which was an excellent opportunity for discussion with other distinguished heads of state and government. On the sidelines of the Session of the General Assembly, at the prestigious New York

Business Club Harvard, the Macedonian Government staged a business forum presenting the Macedonian economic policies and possibilities for investment in the Republic of Macedonia Republic of Macedonia the Most Competitive European Business Destination attended by representatives of more than a hundred US companies. While in New York, Prime Minister Gruevski, accompanied by Foreign Minister Poposki, had a meeting with mediator Matthew Nimetz, at which Macedonians interest in, wish for and commitment to seeking out a mutually acceptable solution to the name issue imposed by Greece was reaffirmed. The Macedonian delegation led by Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski visited Detroit too and had meetings with representatives of Detroit-based US companies at which the possibility for making investment in the Republic of Macedonia was discussed.

ACTIVITIES OF MINISTER NIKOLA POPOSKI AT 66TH SESSION OF UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Within the framework of the 66th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Macedonia, Nikola Poposki, participated in the informal ministerial meeting of la Francophonie, the launching ceremony of the Open Government Partnership initiative, and the high-level meeting about nuclear security and safety. At the invitation of US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Minister Poposki talked about the situation in the Balkans at the Transatlantic Dinner attended by the Foreign Ministers of EU and NATO member countries, Switzerland and Macedonia. The situation in Northern Africa and the Arab countries, as well as the latest developments in the Balkans were debated at the Dinner. Minister Poposki took active part in the ministerial meeting of the member states of the A5 Charter of Partnership between Macedonia, Albania, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and the USA, at which the ministers talked about the future joint activities within the framework of the Charter directed toward faster integration of the Region into NATO and the EU. Minister Poposki also addressed the 7th Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CBTB) arguing for accelerated ratification of the Treaty. He also emphasized Macedonias commitment to full implementation of the provisions of the Treaty and its universal validity and implementation.

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INFORMAL MEETING OF EU MEMBER STATES FOREIGN MINISTERS (GYMNICH)

At the invitation of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland, Radoslaw Sikorski, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Macedonia, Nikola Poposki, participated in the informal meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the EU member states, Gymnich, in Sopot, Poland, on 2-3 September. The Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the candidate member states Macedonia, Turkey, Croatia, Iceland and Montenegro participated in the working sessions of Gymnich on 3 September 2011, at which the situation in the southern and eastern neighborhood of the European Union and the EU initiatives in regard to these regions were discussed.

8TH MEETING OF MACEDONIA-EU SUBCOMMITTEE FOR JUSTICE, FREEDOM AND SECURITY

The 8th meeting of the Subcommittee for Justice, Freedom and Security between the European Union and the Republic of Macedonia took place in Skopje on 14 September. It was assessed at the meeting that in keeping with the general assessments of the European Commission, Macedonia continued meeting political criteria for EU membership and that more effort should be made in the fields of judiciary, public administration reform, anticorruption and freedom of media.

REGIONAL SUMMIT OF HEADS OF STATE OF SEE

The Ninth Regional Summit of the Heads of State of South East Europe on the theme Contemporary Art and Reconciliation, took place on 1 and 2 September at the archaeological site Viminacium near Kostolac, Republic of Serbia. Apart from the host, the President of the Republic of Serbia, Boris Tadi, the summit was attended by the heads of state of the region Gjorge Ivanov, Ivo Josipovi, Georgi Parvanov, Bakir Izetbegovi, Filip Vujanovi and Bamir Topi, who welcomed and backed the new global initiative of UNESCO Building Cultural Bridges for Development and adopted a closing Declaration, which contains the commitment to peaceful and prosperous European future in the region. President Ivanov stressed in his address that a challenge to all is living and materializing Goce Delcevs dream: I understand the world only as a field for cultural contest among peoples. During the summit, President Ivanov had separate meetings with the Presidents of Serbia, Albania, EU Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism, Sport, Media and Youth Androulla Vassiliou and other participants. During his stay in Serbia, President Ivanov also met representatives of the Macedonian community in Serbia.

MINISTER POPOSKI AT 4TH SEMINAR OF FOREIGN MINISTERS IN BORDEAUX

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Macedonia, Nikola Poposki, participated in the 4th Seminar of Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the European Peoples Parties in Bordeaux, France, on 30 September and 1 October. The main issues at the seminar were the European initiatives toward the Eastern partnership, the Mediterranean politics, the Balkans and the situation of the religious minorities in the world. The seminar was organized for the fourth time by the European Peoples Parties.

No. 53 2011 MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN

MINISTER NIKOLA POPOSKI PAYS WORKING VISIT TO GERMANY

Within the framework of his 2-day visit to Berlin, the Federal Republic of Germany (5-6 September), Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki met his German counterpart Guido Westerwelle, the Advisor on Foreign and Security Policy to the Federal Chancellor, Christoph Heusgen, and members of the Parliamentary Group for Cooperation with the Countries of Southeast Europe of the German Bundestag. The regional cooperation, Macedonias Euro-Atlantic integration, the political and economic situation and the cooperation between the Republic of Macedonia and the Federal Republic of Germany were discussed at the meeting. It was said that the relations and cooperation between the two countries were characterized by friendship and understanding, as well as commitment to promoting them further in all areas of shared interest.

with stress on the cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, education, science, culture and attracting Japanese investments in the Republic of Macedonia were also discussed.

FIRST PRESIDENT KIRO GLIGOROV AWARDED

MACEDONIAN-RUSSIAN COOPERATION
At the International Fair of Farming Produces, Food and Beverages, World Food Moscow 2011 staged at the Expo Center in Moscow on 13-16 September, the Republic of Macedonia was represented by 15 companies from the food industry, and the production of healthy food and wine. Within the framework of the fair, a business forum was held in which in addition to Macedonian, representatives of 17 Russian companies also took part. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Zoran Stavreski assessed the holding of a joint MacedonianRussian business forum as an important practice with immense importance for intensifying contacts between businessmen of both countries and for expanding the overall economic cooperation, trade in particular. It was concluded at the forum that the presence of Macedonian firms at events of this type in the Russian Federation should continue with the aim of raising the offer of the Macedonian food industry in the Russian market. The visit of Finance Minister Stavreski and Agriculture Minister Dimovski to Moscow was used also for separate meetings with the Russian Deputy Minister for Regional Development, Maximr Travnikov, with the aim of preparing the fifth meeting of the intergovernmental Macedonian-Russian commission on commercial, economic, scientific and technical cooperation. The ascending cooperation trend, particularly in the economic cooperation, was confirmed also at the fifth meeting of the intergovernmental Macedonian-Russian commission in Ohrid on 6-7 October, at which special attention was paid to the effectuation of the Russian clearing debt toward the Republic of Macedonia, the modalities of signing the free trade agreement between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Macedonia, and the possibilities of making Macedonia part of the South Stream gas pipeline, which seems ever more certain. The first President of the Republic of Macedonia, Kiro Gligorov, was handed on 5 September the Life Achievements Award by the United Macedonian Diaspora (UMD) for his commitment to the Macedonian cause. He was declared recipient of the award at the Global Macedonian Conference of UMD in Washington, D.C. on 23-25 June. President Gligorov was handed the award within the framework of the celebration of the 20th anniversary of Macedonias independence.

MACEDONIAN BASKETBALL PLAYERS DECORATED

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Gjorge Ivanov decorated the Macedonian national basketball team, selector Marin Dokuzovski and the technical staff, who won the fourth place at the European Basketball Championship in Lithuania on 20 September for the promotion of the Republic of Macedonia in the world and for their contribution to the development and popularization of basketball in Macedonia. Macedonia received the most desired sport gift for the 20th anniversary of its independence. The success you achieved is contagious and I am convinced that it will continue in all fields - sport, culture and economy. You put the Macedonian basketball on the European basketball map, President Ivanov said at the presentation of the awards.

POLITICAL CONSULTATIONS BETWEEN FOREIGN MINISTRIES OF MACEDONIA AND JAPAN

Political consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Macedonia and Japan were held in Skopje on 26-27 September. The two delegations said they were pleased with the achieved level of cooperation between the two countries multilaterally, and views were shared about current international issues as well as about regional topics. The possibilities for further development of the overall relations between the two countries,

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DIPLOMATICS CORPS SOCIAL EVENTS

SLOVAKIA CELEBRATES CONSTITUTION DAY
On the occasion of 1 September, Constitution Day of the Slovak Republic, the Embassy of the Slovak Republic in the Republic of Macedonia hosted a reception at the Raguza Restaurant on 21 September. The reception was attended by high-ranking Macedonian officials including the Parliament Speaker Members of Parliament, Ministers and other representatives of a number of government ministries, representatives of the diplomatic corps in the Republic of Macedonia, etc. The guests were welcomed by Charge dAffaires Dr. Rbert Kirng. sions in the Republic of Macedonia, as well as staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Macedonia competed, took place on the courts of the Tennis Club ABC on 1 October 2011. In the mens competition, the winner was the representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dragan Petkovski. The second and third places went to Bruno Morel from the EU Delegation in Skopje and Osvit Rosoklija from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In the womens competition, the first three places were won by Gozde Dogrukol from the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey, Sandra Ismailovic from the Embassy of the Slovak Republic and Danica Boceva from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
MDB would like to extend a warm welcome and wish a successful diplomatic mission in the Republic of Macedonia to the Ambassadors H.E. Mr. Paul D. WOHLERS Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Macedonia H.E. Mr. Cui ZHIWEI Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Peoples Republic of China to the Republic of Macedonia H.E. Archbishop Janusz BOLONEK Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See to the Republic of Macedonia H.E. Mr. Guillermo Salvador AZRAK Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Argentine Republic to the Republic of Macedonia H.E. Mr. Roman WASCHUK Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Canada to the Republic of Macedonia, resident in Belgrade H.E. Mr. Faig BAGHIROV Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Republic of Macedonia, resident in Ankara H.E. Mr. Jozsef BENCZE Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Hungary to the Republic of Macedonia MDB would like to wish a successful mission to our colleagues Mile PRANGOVSKI, Counselor, Embassy of the Republic of Macedonia in London Valentin MITROVSKI, Counselor, Embassy of the Republic of Macedonia in Sarajevo Serdjim MUHAMED, Counselor, Embassy of the Republic of Macedonia in Washington, D.C. Borislav HCIEV, First Secretary, Embassy of the Republic of Macedonia in Doha Marjan JOVANOVSKI, Counselor, Embassy of the Republic of Macedonia in Belgrade Marjan SOFRONIEVSKI, Second Secretary, Consulate General of the Republic of Macedonia in Istanbul
No. 53 2011 MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN

COLLECTION PROMOTED
The Collection published on the occasion of the 1,100th anniversary of the death of the Saint and Slav missionary Naum of Ohrid was promoted at the Cathedral Church of St. Sofia in Ohrid on 4 September. The Collection consists of 18 articles by renowned academicians, professors and scholars from Macedonia and abroad. Speaking about the significance of St. Naums achievements, His Beatitude Stefan, Archbishop of Macedonia and Ohrid, said among other things that thanks to Clement and Naum today there is Macedonian literacy, literature, Macedonian Orthodox Church, priesthood and monkhood.

BALKAN FILM AND FOOD FESTIVAL

The Balkan Film and Food Festival within whose framework a Macedonian Day took place was held in Podgradec, Albania, from 29 August to 4 September. The film Across the Lake directed by Antonio Mitrikeski was shown at the Festival and some of the Macedonian traditional cuisine was presented after the showing.

MACEDONIAN ARCHITECTS EXHIBIT IN NEW YORK

On the occasion of Independence Day, a collective exhibition of sketches, projects and photographs by a group of architects from the Republic of Macedonia opened at Gallery MC in New York on 14 September within the Project entitled Imprints, Manual for Making Architecture. Some 39 sketches and photographs by eminent Macedonian architects were on display. The project has been carried out actively since the early 1990s. The group of architects scored a notable success also at the 54th Venetian Biennial where they won the second prize for best creation.

ART EXHIBITION IN MONTENEGRO

On the premises of the Art Colony Red Municipality in Petrovac, Montenegro, an exhibition of paintings from the last Art Colony De Niro in Bitola opened on 10 September. Thirteen distinguished authors from the Republic of Macedonia, as well as authors from Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Sweden, the USA, Vietnam, Germany, England and France exhibited their works.

DIPLOMATIC TENNIS TOURNAMENT 2011

The 15th jubilee edition of the Diplomatic Tennis Tournament, in which representatives of the embassies, consulates and foreign mis-

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150 Years of Miladinov Brothers Collection of Folk Songs

On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the publication of the Miladinov Brothers Collection of Folk Songs, an international conference on the subject The Miladinov Brothers and the Macedonian Revival of the 19th Century took place in the Miladinov Brothers Memorial House in Struga on 16 and 17 September. The conference was attended by some 30 home and foreign scholars studying the achievements of the Miladinov Brothers. President Ivanov, the sponsor of the event, addressed the conference on 16 September and stressed among other things that with the seed the Mladinov Brothers sowed they drew the borders of our spiritual and cultural homeland a homeland in which we live today, for which we are endlessly thankful to them. The Miladinov Brothers Collection of Folk Song was published in 1861 in Gakovo, Croatia, with the support of Croatian Bishop Josip Juraj Strossmayer.

A FRIENDLY ATMOSPHERE
I will say nothing new with the statement that being a diplomat in another country is a very serious professional challenge, especially here, in the Balkans. And our diplomatic mission implies, among other things, knowing how to handle challenges, which I find to be very motivating. Here I am, at the end of the third year of my term of office in neighboring Bulgaria able to share that finally, after all the ups and downs in the bilateral relations, a clear perspective opened up solely for concrete projects and engagements expected to bring us closer together and help us look to the future shared and Euro-Atlantic. If I have to single out an event from my overall engagement here in Bulgaria, I would say that I was pleased most by my modest contribution to the realization of the culture projects. And they are many exhibitions, promotions, concerts. And believe me, although not being very far from home, the feeling of tingling pride becomes much stronger when standing in front of the marvelous achievements and performances of the Macedonian culture. The pride is even more profound once you see the reaction of the guests, their interest and wish to learn more about our culture. In this regard, Bulgarian Culture Minister Vezhdi Rashidov said something very true at his last meeting with Macedonian Culture Minister Elizabeta Kanceska-Milevska that, culture is something precious that opens up people toward each other and always paces ahead of politics. As part of the team at the Macedonian diplomatic mission in Sofia, in addition to my usual responsibilities toward the host country, everyday I have the privilege to cooperate closely with 12 more diplomatic missions accredited for Macedonia from Sofia. Yes, the work is enormous and frequently exhausting yet I consider it a privilege for I have the chance to learn firsthand about the specifics of those countries and follow the growth of the bilateral relations with the Republic of Macedonia, which, I hope, contributes to the improvement of my professional qualities. I trust that one of every diplomats responsibilities is learning as much as possible about the country in which they serve from its history and modern day to the mentality of the people to its cultural values to its tourist destinations. Frankly, I undertook this job very seriously, in my spare time of course, considering my knowledge of the country was at a very modest level before I came to Bulgaria. In recent years, the Republic of Bulgaria has invested a lot in tourism. In addition to the well known European ski centers, the country has highly developed spa tourism, church and monastery tourism, wine tourism, and mountain tourism for various levels. The old quarters of Nesebar, Sozopol, Burgas, Varna, Plovdiv, Veliko Trnovo and Koprivstica are the destinations that made a huge impression on me with their beauty and authenticity and which I highly recommend to anyone who decides to learn more about Bulgaria. This helped me a lot establish contact with the largest Bulgarian tour operators and promote their cooperation with the Macedonian tour operators. As for the mentality, there is an unresolved dilemma over which a heated discussion is lead whenever you are in a laid-back and friendly atmosphere: whose rakija is better the Macedonian or the Bulgarian? Last but not least, diplomats can represent their countries wherever in the world, close or far away, provided they work as part of a professional and coordinated team, as our diplomatic mission in Sofia is. Jadranka CAUSEVSKA DIMOV, Minister Counselor

Academician Serafimovski Exhibits in Sofia

Within the framework of the Program for Cooperation in the Field of Culture between the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Bulgaria, an exhibition by Macedonian sculptor and academician Tome Serafimovski opened in Sofia on 1 October. Twenty-four sculptures of important figures for the civilization, culture, literacy, literature and spirituality of ten Balkan countries made of bronze, marble and onyx were displayed at the exhibition entitled Balkan Constellations. The celebration was attended also by the Ministers of Culture of the two countries, Elizabeta Kanceska-Milevska and Vezhdi Rashidov, who expressed content with the bilateral cooperation in the field of culture. The opening of the exhibition was attended also by the President of the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Georgi Stardelov, and the President of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Nikola Sabotinov.

Simon Trpceski Awarded Title National Artist of the Republic of Macedonia

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, decorated pianist Simon Trpceski with the title National Artist of the Republic of Macedonia, being awarded in Macedonia for the first time, on 23 September.

Art recognizes no divisions and is the greatest architect of coexistence and shared future of peoples and communities. Artists have always been and will always be the most significant promoters of peace, tolerance and understanding. Through art they overcome all barriers and misunderstandings and make the impossible possible, President Ivanov stressed, adding that by declaring Trpceski a national artist, we are in fact sending him in a mission of bringing people closer together and striking up friendships in Macedonia and also between the country and the world. Culture Minister Elizabeta Kanceska-Milevska attended the ceremony as well.

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MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATIC BULLETIN No. 53 2011