diplomatic bulletin december 2015

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DIPLOMATIC NEWS

Macedonian Diplomatic Bulletin wasounded in October 2006 by the Ministry oForeign Affairs o the Republic o Macedonia.

Filip II Makedonski 7, 1000 SkopjeRepublic o Macedonia

[email protected]

Editor:Vladimir Eremovski

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

Adviser:Metodija Belevski

Photo:Ljupco Blagoevski

Published monthly by:

Macedonian Inormation Centre

Director: Dragan Antonov

Chief Translator: Aleksandra Ilievska

MDB

No. 101

December 2015

Te articles published in MacedonianDiplomatic Bulletin do not necessarilyrepresent the views o the MacedonianMinistry o Foreign Affairs or theMacedonian Inormation Centre.

2015

Naum Naumovski Borce 73,1000 Skopje, Republic o Macedoniawww.micnews.com.mk

Macedonian PresidentGjorge Ivanov and thePresident o the Republic oSerbia, omislav Nikoli, helda meeting with the President othe European Council, Donald

usk, in Brussels on 16 December.Te meeting was also attendedby the Commissioner orEuropean Neighborhood Policyand Enlargement Negotiations,Johannes Hahn. Te Macedoniandelegation also included ForeignMinister Nikola Poposki. Te meeting took place at President Ivanovs initiative or thepurpose o discussing the management o the migrant and reugee crisis given that theRepublic o Macedonia and the Republic o Serbia are transit countries that are not EUmember states and do not participate in the EUs decision-making process and crisismanagement.

President Ivanov reiterated on this occasion, too, that the Republic o Macedonia had thecapacity to offer temporary stay to only 2,000 reugees on their way to the EU.

In his annual addressin the Parliamento the Republic oMacedonia on 22December, MacedonianPresident Gjorge Ivanovstressed that in 2015 theRepublic o Macedoniaaced serious challengesboth globally and athome.

As President o theRepublic o Macedoniaand supreme commander o our armed orces, as ar as our oreign policy is concerned, Ihad a very active year under very difficult circumstances, whether internally, regionally orglobally. I ocused on accomplishing our strategic prioritiesMacedonias membership o

NAO and the European Union. I dedicated mysel to promoting cooperation and closingopens issues with our neighbors. I continued with the policy o openness towards all in ouroreign relations, especially in the service o our economic and cultural diplomacy, saidPresident Ivanov.

He addressed the political relations in the country as well as the global challengesthreatening national security. Te main priority in 2016, according to President Ivanov, ishaving a unctional state that maintains public law and order, takes care o its security anddeense, and creates conditions or rule o law, which is a guarantee o reedom, democracy,and economic prosperity.

President Ivanov said he was confident that responsible, united and ready, we can aceanything that the uncertain uture might bring.

PRESIDENTS OF MACEDONIAAND SERBIA MEET EUROPEANCOUNCIL PRESIDENT TUSK

PRESIDENT IVANOV HOLDS ANNUALADDRESS IN MACEDONIAN PARLIAMENT


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CHAIRMAN OF CZECH CHAMBER OF DEPUTIESHAMEK PAYS OFFICIAL VISIT TO MACEDONIA

he Chairman o the Chamber o Deputies o the Parliament othe Czech Republic, Jan Hamek, paid an official visit to theRepublic o Macedonia on 4 December. At the meeting with hishost, Macedonian Parliament Speaker rajko Veljanoski, emphasiswas put on the excellent parliamentary cooperation the twocountries had maintained thus ar. Speaker Veljanoski thankedhim or the principled policy o extending unwavering supportthat the Czech Republic conducted in regard to Macedonias bid tojoin the European Union and NAO.

Mr. Hamek also addressed the Members o the MacedonianParliament, underlining the Czech support that the Republic oMacedonia received in the process o EU and NAO integration.

Te guest rom the Czech Republic was also received by thePresident o the Republic o Macedonia, Gjorge Ivanov.

Agovernment delegation consisting o Macedonias PrimeMinister Nikola Gruevski, Foreign Minister NikolaPoposki and the Minister without Portolio responsibleor attracting oreign investments, Jerry Naumoff, paid aworking visit to the State o Israel on 9 December.

In Jerusalem, Prime Minister Gruevski had a meetingwith his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu, at whichthe excellent bilateral relations marked by mutual riendshipand understanding were confirmed. Te two officials alsosigned the Declaration o Friendship between the Republic oMacedonia and the State o Israel as a document o strategicimportance, the agreement on double taxation avoidance andthe agreement on promotion and protection o investments.

Among the issues tabled were also cooperation inagriculture and green energy, the possibilities or tapping thehydro and tourism potential, the combat against terrorismand the migrant crisis.

During his visit to the State o Israel, Macedonias PrimeMinister Gruevski also visited the Hadassah Medical Centerin Jerusalem where he held meetings with the managementand signed a memorandum o cooperation.

A business orum was also held in Jerusalem attendedby representatives o Israeli companies rom the fields oagriculture, energy, tourism and medicine. Te governmentdelegation presented on this occasion the conditions orinvestment and doing business in the Republic o Macedonia.

PRIME MINISTER GRUEVSKI PAYSWORKING VISIT TO STATE OF ISRAEL


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On 18 December, the Macedonian Minister oForeign Affairs, Nikola Poposki, took partin the Western Balkans Ministerial Conerencein Stockholm together with the Minister orForeign Affairs o the Kingdom o Sweden,Margot Wallstrm, and the Commissioner orEuropean Neighborhood Policy and EnlargementNegotiations, Johannes Hahn. Te main topic atthe conerence was EU Integration o the Western

Balkans: Mission o Be Accomplished. MinisterPoposki underlined in his address that the reormsthe Republic o Macedonia was carrying out wereimportant above all or the state and its citizensand that the EU membership was important orboth economic and strategic reasons. MinisterWallstrm reiterated her countrys commitmentto the process o EU enlargement and its resolveto see this process complete as soon as possibleor all the countries meeting the EU criteria.Commissioner Hahn said that in the process o EU enlargement, it was not the speed but the quality o the process that mattered.

During his stay in Stockholm, Minister Poposki had a bilateral meeting with Swedish Foreign Minister Wallstrm as well as meetingswith members o the Swedish Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee and the Secretary General o the intergovernmental organizationInternational IDEA, Yves Leterm.

FM POPOSKI ATTENDS MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE

ON WESTERN BALKANS IN STOCKHOLM

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Invited by his Greek counterpart Nikos Kotzias,Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Poposkipaid an official visit to the Hellenic Republic on 17December. Te two ministers emphasized the needor promoting cooperation urther in a numbero areas o shared interest, first and oremost atthe level o the ministries o oreign affairs or thepurpose o implementing confidence-buildingmeasures and addressing problems arising romthe ongoing migrant crisis.

In regard to the talks with his host, MinisterPoposki said these meetings were brought inconnection with the imposed bilateral dispute,stressing that the two countries had similarstrategic interests. It is in Macedonias interestto maintain excellent relations with Greece. Teconfidence-building measures may be symbolic yet

they are highly significant in many areas. He alsosaid that both parties positions to the name issuewere well known but there were also benefits rom the act that the climate between the two countries had improved.

During his visit to Athens, Minister Poposki also met Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos, the First Deputy Speaker o the HellenicParliament, Anastasios Kourakis, and the Alternate Minister o Public Order and Citizen Protection, Nikolaos oskas. It was said at themeetings that the strengthening o the high political dialogue, the revival o the parliamentary cooperation, the implementation o theconfidence-building measures and the migrant crisis cooperation were o interest to both countries. It was also assessed that the HellenicRepublic was an important economic and trade partner to the Republic o Macedonia and an important investor, which presentedopportunities or strengthening economic cooperation urther.

FOREIGN MINISTER POPOSKI PAYS OFFICIAL VISIT TO GREECE


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Macedonias Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki paid an officialvisit to the Kingdom o Norway on 8 December, at hisNorwegian counterpart Brge Brendes invitation. Aside romtalking with his host, Minister Poposki also met the Ministero Deense, Ine Eriksen Sreide, representatives o the StandingCommittee on Foreign Affairs and Deense o the NorwegianParliament, and Knut Vollebk, ormer Minister o ForeignAffairs o the Kingdom o Norway and sitting member o theInternational Commission on Missing Persons.

Te possibilities or promoting bilateral relations andcooperation in a number o areas o shared interest were tabledat the meetings and the good political relations and ruitulcooperation in deense and security were confirmed. TeNorwegian officials reiterated their principled support or the opendoor policy o the Alliance toward the Republic o Macedonia as animportant prerequisite or lasting stability and security in the entire

region and or EU enlargement. Te migrant and reugee crisis wasalso tabled.

FM POPOSKI PAYS OFFICIAL VISIT TO KINGDOM OF NORWAY

Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki paid a working visit to Brusselson 7 December, where he held meetings with the permanentrepresentatives o the EU member states and the Commissioner orEuropean Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations,Johannes Hahn.

Te implementation o the reorm priorities and the migrantcrisis were tabled at his meeting with the permanent representativeso the EU member states. Minister Poposki said on this occasionthat the Republic o Macedonia implemented most o the politicalpriorities and that the EU membership goal should thereore be realand motivating. Te migrant crisis was also discussed. It was saidin this regard that the Republic o Macedonia continued to take allthe necessary measures to provide humane and sae treatment omigrants.

Minister Poposki also met Commissioner Hahn with whomhe addressed the reorm priorities, the regional issues and thecoping with the migrant crisis. It was said, among other things,that successully completing the set reorms and holding electionsin April 2016 were the most important arguments in winningsupport rom the European Commission and the Council o the

EU or opening accession negotiations between the EU and the

Republic o Macedonia in the period ahead. In this context, theGreek-Macedonian relations were also tabled in the light o theconfidence-building measures, the Balkan migrant route and thename dispute.

FM POPOSKI PAYS WORKING VISIT TO BRUSSELS

On 4 December, the Minister o Foreign Affairs o the Republico Macedonia, Nikola Poposki, received the Secretary Generalo the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, Michael Tielen, who paida visit to the Republic o Macedonia on the occasion o markingthe 15th anniversary o the opening o the Foundations Skopje-based office. Minister Poposki thanked Mr. Tielen or the long-

standing support rom and cooperation with the Foundation inthe development o the Macedonian civil society and democraticprocesses and in the preparations or the integration o theRepublic o Macedonia into the EU and NAO. Te reugee andmigrant crisis and the situation along the Western Balkan migrantroute were also tabled at the meeting.

MINISTER POPOSKI RECEIVES KONRAD ADENAUERFOUNDATION SECRETARY GENERAL THIELEN

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he Minister o Foreign Affairs o the Republic o Macedonia,Nikola Poposki, addressed the Foreign Affairs Committeeo the Macedonian Parliament on 24 December. He took theoccasion to highlight the most significant oreign policy activitiesin 2015 including the process o European and Euro-Atlanticintegration, the relations with the neighboring countries andbeyond, the economic and public diplomacy, and the care or theMacedonian citizens and interests abroad. Regarding Macedonias

EU membership, he stressed that it remained a undamentalnational priority and that the dialogue continued uninterruptedwhich was very important or the sustainability o the process.Te continued political and social consensus over MacedoniasNAO membership is still the driving orce behind MacedoniasEuro-Atlantic aspirations. In 2015, too, the Republic o Macedoniacontinued to develop good-neighborly relations with al l itsneighbors and to promote regional cooperation including withinthe ramework o regional organizations and initiatives as was itssuccessul chairmanship o the Central European Initiative.

Minister Poposki also addressed Macedonias bilateral relationswith the European and non-European countries, with some owhich 20 years o diplomatic relations were marked, and themultilateral activities.

Stress was laid on the economic diplomacy as an importantaspect o the process o attracting oreign investments andpromoting the Republic o Macedonia as an attractive traveldestination. Regarding the Ministrys consular responsibilities,emphasis was put on the activities or protecting the interests o theMacedonian citizens abroad.

FM POPOSKI HOLDS ANNUAL ADDRESS BEFORE MACEDONIANPARLIAMENT FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

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Adelegation led by the Minister o Foreign Affairs, NikolaPoposki, participated in the 22nd annual Ministerial Councilo the Organization or Security and Co-operation in Europe(OSCE) in Belgrade, the Republic o Serbia, on 3 and 4 December.Te oreign ministers o the OSCE member states sharedopinions on the OSCEs activities in the past year, during SerbiasChairmanship o the OSCE, and adopted a number o decisionsreerring to the organizations three dimensions: the politico-military, the economic and environmental, and the human.

Foreign Minister Poposki presented in his address the positionso the Republic o Macedonia on the implementation o the OSCEgoals, especially the ones o combating terrorism. In the context othe migrant crisis, he stressed that this was a major humanitarian,social and security challenge that most o Europe was aced with.

Minister Poposki also held bilateral meetings with the Ministerso Foreign Affairs o the Kingdom o the Netherlands and theRepublic o Finland, Bert Koenders and imo Soini, OSCE SecretaryGeneral Lamberto Zannier and ODIHR Director Michael Link.

OSCE MINISTERIAL COUNCIL HELD IN BELGRADE


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At the Ministry o Foreign Affairs o the Republic o Macedonia, aninternational conerence titled Migrations and Reugee Influx inransit Countries: Security Implications was held on 17 December aspart o the Macedonian Presidency o the Central European Initiative(CEI) 2015.

High-ranking representatives o all the important regional, Europeanand international institutions, actively involved in the coping with themigrant and reugee crisis, such as the UN, the OSCE, the CEI, IOM,and MARRI, took part in the conerence.

Macedonian Deputy Foreign Minister Dragana Kiprijanovska,Interior Minister Oliver Spasovski, CEI Alternate Secretary GeneralMargot Klestil-Lffler, and the Minister o Security o Bosniaand Herzegovina, Dragan Mekti, addressed the conerence. AMemorandum o Cooperation between the CEI and MARRI (Te Migration, Asylum, Reugees Regional Initiative) was also signed.

During his visit to the Republic o Macedonia, the Minister o Security o Bosnia and Herzegovina, Dragan Mekti, was received byMacedonian President Gjorge Ivanov and Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki.

On 14 December, Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki hosted thetraditional New Years reception or the diplomatic corps in theRepublic o Macedonia. He took the occasion to highlight the mostsignificant oreign policy activities in 2015 including the process oEuropean and Euro-Atlantic integration, the relations with Europeanand non-European partners, regional cooperation, and the multilateral,public and economic diplomacy through which the Republic oMacedonia promotes itsel as an attractive destination to oreigninvestors and as an attractive travel destination. Te minister alsoinormed about Macedonias successul Presidency o the CentralEuropean Initiative and addressed the challenges which the countries oEurope and beyond aced in 2015, such as the terrorist attacks and themigrant crisis.

On behal o the diplomatic corps, the reception was addressed by theAmbassador o the Russian Federation to the Republic o Macedonia, Oleg Nikolayevich Shcherbak, the doyen o the diplomatic corps.

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE MIGRATIONSAND REFUGEE INFLUX IN TRANSIT COUNTRIES:SECURITY IMPLICATIONS HOSTED IN SKOPJE

FM POPOSKI HOLDS NEW YEARS ADDRESSBEFORE DIPLOMATIC CORPS

On 24 December, in his New Years address, Minister Poposkithanked the staff o the Ministry o Foreign Affairs or all theirhard work in 2015 and wished them an even more successul 2016.

You are the oundation o our institution and thereore you alwayshave to be prepared or all the impediments emerging over the course oyour everyday work. You are part o the team creating the internationalimage o the Republic o Macedonia. We all stand together beore therisks that the world and hence the Republic o Macedonia ace. We areall one amily that works painstakingly to become part o even greateramiliesthose o the EU and NAO, he said.

FM POPOSKI HOLDS NEW YEAR'S ADDRESS BEFORE MFA STAFF

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his year Israel and Macedoniacelebrate 20 years o diplomaticrelations. Israel sees Macedonia as anally and a partner. Israel considersMacedonia a bridge between Israel andthe Balkans and Europe. Israel supportsthe aspirations o Macedonia to jointhe European Union and to become aull member o NAO. Israel is surethat Macedonia will be an asset to theseorganizations. Israel finds Macedonia

a reliable partner in the internationalarena and works with Macedonia inull cooperation and harmony. Tecooperation between the two countries isgrowing ast in many fields.

Both countries are willing to learn,share and strengthen their relations evenurther.

A ew weeks ago I was sitting next toPresident Ivanov, discussing our specialrelations, as we were waiting or theIsraeli theaters to perorm the play OurClass on the stage o the national theatero Skopje.

It was a very special evening and thepresident told me he would be happyto participate in a special event tocommemorate the Jews o Bitola that didnot survive. I am sure that it will happensoon.

One thing that is very clear andthat I have heard again and again romthe leaders o the ruling coalition andthe opposition, as well as rom almosteveryone else is that relations with Israel

are important. Tey all see in Israel arole model and are eager to cooperate.I thought about the past year and whatI have seen with my own eyes in therelations developing:

In the agricultural field the Israelidrop by drop system o NEAFIM ischanging the agricultural map andgiving an additional push to Macedonianagriculture with the support o theirministry o agriculture and USAID.Te Israeli company Elbit created andoperates a school or pilots, which is alsoa place or neighboring countries to get

expertise. Israeli high-tech companiesare reviewing the possibility o openingbranches in Macedonia, as the countryoffers special conditions and has quality

young people that are capable and areready to be engaged. During a special

visit o the Minister o Investments, JerryNaumoff, many Israeli companies wereable to hear firsthand about the optionsand possibilities.

In the field o health, cooperation is in

progress with the leading Israeli hospitalHadassah, and young doctors will becoming to Israel to undergo trainingor short periods o time. Many o yourleading hospitals are already in directcontact with Israeli experts and we hopeto widen the scope o cooperation. enso young people rom Macedonia havecome in the last ew years and are comingthis year as well to participate in specialcourses in many fields starting romleadership and management throughhigh-tech and marketing in Israel, and

all the way to empowering women, andtreating children with disabilities. Eachone o them will be a uture partner orprojects and promotion o cooperation, aswas the case with many other projects inthe past.

We are trying to get people who caninspire others by sharing their know-howand knowledge with Macedonians. Suchwas the case with the visits o the Israelirepresentative o the school or leadership,Grani Barkat, and o the education expert

bringing new ways to teach science,Oren Farber. Such was the visit o JacobFass who spoke with young businesspeople and with ministers and heads oorganizations about how to create undsor high-tech and what the next stages orsuccess in this field should be. Such wasthe visit o Dr. Grie who spoke about thepast and the research o the Second WorldWar and how it can be taught to youngpeople.

I am sure that many more will comeand inspire others. In the cultural fieldthe list o events and projects is very long

and diverse. Here are some examples:

During this year we had the two leadingIsraeli theaters touring the big estivalso Ohrid, Bitola and Skopje. Our Class,a play that deals with the Holocaust, wason stage and was very successul. So wasthe joint photo exhibition An IsraeliEye on Macedonia, a Macedonian Eye onIsrael, where two photographers traveledto each others countries and shared whatthey experienced. Carrie Hart and LjupoBlagoevski recently spoke at the openingin Skopje. Te Macedonian Minister oCulture opened the exhibition with the

two mayors o Skopje and Ohrid, joiningthe celebration a ew months ago inSkopje.

Tere is no doubt, AmbassadorPajo Avirovik wrote (a very activeambassador I should mention), thatit is an open invitation to the people oour two countries not only to join butto take the lead in the journey. Teexhibition will be shown in Novemberin el Aviv. Te Israeli leading moderndance perormance was shown in March

on the stage o the national theater inSkopje (OYSER) and got a standingovation. I hope to have the pleasure oseeing leading Israeli dance perormancescoming again soon to Skopje. Israeliactors and dancers have visited many othe major events over the past year andI hope this will become a tradition. Aspecial exhibition o Israeli illustrators,I Am From Here, was recently staged inBitola, showing 70 leading illustrators tothe Macedonian people.

Tree new Israeli childrens books

were published and a ew more are on

ISRAEL FINDS MACEDONIA A RELIABLE

PARTNER IN THE INTERNATIONAL ARENA

H. E. Mr. Dan ORYAN, Israeli Ambassador to theRepublic of Macedonia

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MACEDONIA AND ISRAEL CONFIRMATION OF FRIENDSHIP

he Republic of Macedonia and theState of Israel mark 20 years ofestablishing diplomatic relations thisyear. Tese anniversaries are usually anoccasion to look back at the years pastand ahead at the prospects of wherebilateral relations can go from here. Weare happy to say that in the past twentyyears the foundations for friendship,mutual understanding and cooperationin all areas have been laid down. Politicaldialogue is carried out permanently

through a regular exchange of high-levelvisits. Economic cooperation can by allmeans improve and in this regard thepresence of several important Israelicompanies in Macedonia is a goodimpetus for the future.

Tere is an intense cultural exchangebetween Macedonia and Israel. Aspart of the activities marking the 20thanniversary of diplomatic relations,

several cultural events in both counterswere held, including the joint exhibitA Macedonian Eye on Israel, an IsraeliEye on Macedonia, the performancesof the Cameri Teater from el Avivin Macedonia and those of the BitolaNational Teater in Israel, and the concertof the Skopje Quintet in el Aviv.

Te Jewish Community in theRepublic of Macedonia and the Israelisof Macedonian descent form a specialbridge connecting the two countries.Te Republic of Macedonia has done agreat deal to keep Jewish culture and

tradition alive, to honor the memory ofthe Holocaust and to teach the younggenerations about it. In this regard,an important role is also played by theHolocaust Memorial Center for the Jewsof Macedonia, whose great many activitiesgive a special dimension to the relationsbetween the two countries.

Relations between the Republicof Macedonia and the State of Israel

in the past twenty years have beenconfirmation of the mutual commitmentto comprehensive cooperation as a follow-up to the long historic ties between theMacedonian and Jewish peoples. Tis timeof continuous changes and challengesfacing the international communitymakes it highly necessary for countriesto strengthen cooperation and mutualsolidarity. Macedonia and Israel are readyto promote relations further in the bestinterest of their citizens and as somesort of contribution to the overall efforttowards peace and prosperity.

H. E. Mr. Pajo AVIROVIK, Ambassador of theRepublic of Macedonia to the State of Israel

the way. Israeli poets and cinema expertsvisited and started to create partnerships.Te amous Israeli artist Ruslan Sergeevtook part in the artists colony andtogether with local riends created a littlesculpture o the symbol o the city o Bitol the lynx.

In October, a Macedonian version

o an Israeli play will be perormed at aestival in the north o Israel and in elAviv by a theater in Bitola. Te play waswritten by the amous Israeli playwrightIdo Netanyahu.

Later this year we plan to have anIsraeli week o films to continue last yearssuccessul film estival.

During these 20 years we have hadthe Jewish issue on our agenda. Israelgreatly appreciates the efforts made by theMacedonian government to commemorate

the past and to tell about the Jews whowere sent to their death during WorldWar II. Te legislation that led to theestablishment o the Holocaust oundationis important and we plan to continuethe wonderul joint work between theJewish community and the Holocaust

oundation, as well as with the Holocaustmuseum. We want to inorm the youngergeneration in Macedonia o the tragicreality o the 7144 Jews who were deportedand executed by the Nazis and theircollaborators, and to make sure that theuture exhibitions to be presented in themuseum will tell the wide and tragic story

o the past community. In the uture,we hope to join orces and correct themistakes made by not taking into accountthe Jews and their amilies who were notcompensated or their properties thoseliving in Israel and other countries tothis day. We plan to continue workingtogether with organizations in Macedoniaand Jewish people worldwide to assistin the efforts to clean and document thecemetery in Bitola, one o the oldest in theregion, where Jews have been buried since

1492. We hope to join orces with localorganizers and to plant a tree in memoryo every amily rom Bitola. Te trees willbe planted by Israeli and Macedonian

youth.At a later stage, we would be more than

happy to see Bitola becoming a amous

attraction or visitors interested in Jewishhistory. We will be happy to be part o thisprocess. Tere is still so much to do, andafer one year in office, I believe that weindeed have excellent partners and thatwe are going down the right path. Tereis ull cooperation with the Ministry oForeign Affairs where I ound not only

valuable working partnerships but alsotrue riends.

On a personal note, it is a privilegeto serve in Macedonia. I find theMacedonians to be a warm and riendlypeople. Te hospitality I receiveeverywhere has really touched my heart.I am amazed by the cuisine and by thetaste o the fish and vegetables. I love thelandscapes and Im especially amazedby Lake Ohrid. Without a doubt, thereis huge potential or tourism. I see in

Macedonia a second home or me nowand a welcoming home or many Israelis.I hope that in the coming 20 years wewill know how to use the vast resourcesavailable to us. Tere is huge potential orgreater cooperation that lies ahead o us.

With sincere appreciation.

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In January 2016, the Kingdom o the Netherlands takes

over rom Luxemburg the Presidency o the Council o theEuropean Union or a hal-year period. Your Excellency, whatare the main priorities o the Dutch EU Presidency?In the first hal o 2016 the Netherlands will hold the Presidencyo the European Union or the 12th time, and the last time was12 years ago, in 2004. Tings have changed since then, because inorder to enhance efficiency the Brussels institutions have assumedsome o the unctions on a permanent basis that in 2004 were stilldone by the rotating presidency.

Te main theme o the Dutch 2016 presidency is Makingconnections. Tis means that the Netherlands will try to be areliable and effective chair promoting compromises. I think, thisrole fits my country, because compromise is one o our strengthswithout which the Netherlands would literally not exist.

Te our key priorities o our presidency wil l be to orge acomprehensive and coherent approach to the migration and reugeecrisis as well as to the international security challenges; to promoteEurope as an economic innovator and creator o jobs; to ensuresound and uture-proo European finances and robust eurozone;and to guide a orward-looking policy on climate and energy.

As you can see, all our priorities are directly connected withthe citizens and their prosperity, reedom and security issues thattruly affect us all. Tese priorities also show that there are ar morethings that connect us than those that divide us, and that the EUmakes the countries stronger.

In his recent speech outlining the strategy and objectiveso the orthcoming Dutch EU Presidency, H.E. Mr. BertKoenders, Foreign Minister o the Kingdom o the Netherlands,said that Europe aces many difficult challenges, adding thatthe Netherlands will play the role o an Honest Broker withambitions. Is there unity and solidarity among the Europeancountries in order to successully resolve the current issues, suchas the migration crisis and terrorism?In his State o the European Union letter to the Dutchparliament, Mr Koenders reiterated that the EU was ounded on theundamental values o reedom, democracy, rule o law, equalityand solidarity and that people fleeing war or oppression shouldnot be orced to put their lives in the hands o people smugglers.

Nevertheless, Europe is aced with one o the biggest challengeso its history that can only be overcome by a joint effort o allmember countries, as well as the countries that are candidates ormembership, such as the Republic o Macedonia.

While globalisation has greatly empowered citizens byincreasing their prosperity and reedom o movement, it has alsodecreased some o the state power, making individual countriesmore vulnerable. Te current migration and reugee crisis as wellas the fight against terrorism require a joint approach, and the EUplays a crucial role in this. Minister Koenders clearly stated thatthis involves addressing the political and economic root causeso migration, finding the right approach to people smuggling andborder control, improving reception and protection in the regionand providing uture prospects or reugees so they can return to

their country o origin.

Also, in line with the Juncker agenda, the second Dutchpriority should be an Innovative Union ocused on growthand jobs. What steps are needed to remove barriers to innovationin the internal market, to ocus EU unds on innovation research,to support the digital single market strategy, and to keep pushingor economic reorm at member state level?As so many people, and especially young people, are without jobs,this presents itsel as an obvious priority. Our approach is not thatgovernments themselves should create jobs and start hiring peoplesince that will not be sustainable in the long run. We would liketo promote job creation through economic innovation by smallcompanies and entrepreneurs, like those in Skopje during the Start-up weekend that we supported. o encourage this, Europe needsnot more but smarter rules. Tat will reduce bureaucracy and costsor citizens, companies and public authorities alike.

he European Unions Enlargement Policy remains ostrategic importance and a undamental tool to promotepeace, democracy and security in Europe. Do you expect theprocess o Macedonians EU and NAO integration to intensiyduring the Dutch Presidency o the Council o the EuropeanUnion?Tis year is a very important year or Macedonia as well, since it

celebrates 25 years o independence. Te Netherlands has beensupporting the country rom the very beginning and will continueto do so in the uture. Previously through our Development andco-operation programme with over 200 million euros o technicalassistance and now through our Matra programme we aresupporting the progress and reorms in the country. Tereore weare directly helping it achieve the criteria or membership both inthe EU and NAO. Te steering-wheel on this road is however inthe hands o the government, institutions and people o Macedonia.

Your Excellency, the Republic o Macedonia and the Kingdomo the Netherlands maintain very close bilateral relations. Inyour view, what are the possibilities or urther promotion o therelations between our two riendly countries?

WE HAVE A LOT TO LEARN FROM EACH OTHER

H.E. Mr. Wouter PLOMP, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary o theKingdom o Netherlands to the Republic o Macedonia

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In spite o some obvious differences, ourtwo countries are very similar and I thinkwe have a lot to learn rom each other.Apart rom the support and exchange oexperiences in the area o human rights,rule o law and media reedom, I see abig potential in the economic relations

between Macedonia and the Netherlands.Te Embassy is very active in promotingtools or business support. For instance,over 300 Macedonian companies receivedsome technical assistance, because thereare great opportunities in agriculture,services and tourism. Already 30,000 Dutch

tourists have come this year to enjoy thebeautiul landscape, culture and unrivalledhospitality o Macedonia. In line with theDutch EU Presidency theme, it is aboutconnecting Macedonian and Dutch people.

Mr. Kostovski, Australia opened theAustralian Consulate in Skopje in

1998. How were you appointed honoraryconsul and would you tell us somethingmore about yoursel?Under the special program APEA othe Australian Government, I was givenan opportunity to study a postgraduateprogram at Swinburne University oechnology, one o the best Australianuniversities. Afer finishing the studiesin Melbourne and gaining short workexperience, I returned to Skopje where I

established the Macedonian-AustralianFriendship Association with a mission tostrengthen the riendship o the people andbusinesses rom both countries. It was thenthat I was approached by the AustralianEmbassy in Belgrade and appointed asAustralias Honorary Consul. Te largenumber o dual citizenship residentshere provides a regular flow o consularand passport work. Consular cases areofen very challenging, requiring strongcoordination with amily members andlocal authorities. I am always ocusing onthe client needs in order to provide the

best possible service. Tese efforts wererecognized when I was awarded the Ordero Australia - Honorary Member in theGeneral Division (AM) or service to theAustralian Government as HonoraryConsul.

Mr. Kostovski, this year we mark 20years o Macedonian-Australiandiplomatic relations. How do you assessthe overall relations between our twocountries and, in your opinion, what arethe priority areas o bilateral cooperation?

Tis year we have marked the 20thanniversary o establishing Australian-Macedonian diplomatic relations. Ourtwo countries have warm and riendlyrelations. We have established cooperationin a number o areas, at the level o bothparliaments and governments witharranged mutual visits on different levels.Our cooperation and good relations arebased, among other things, on excellentpeople to people ties. Te Macedoniancommunity is very well integrated in the

Australian society. Tere is a strong desireto engage in business and proessionalopportunities. Afer the passing o manyyears we now see increasing numbers oMacedonian diaspora interested in comingback home and investing into Macedonianeconomy, utilizing the knowledge andproessional experience gained in Australia.Although we are geographically distant,there is a growing interest o someAustralian companies, or example romthe mining sector and road construction, toinvest here.

In your opinion, how could wecontribute to the promotion, aboveall, o the economic cooperation and thecooperation in the fields o education,culture, science, and other fields omutual concern?Te Australian Embassy in Belgradeis organizing and supporting differentevents to strengthen our relations. Lastyear the embassy increased its Direct AidProgram budget and I enjoy working withthe embassy to identiy good grass-rootsprojects. Tereore I liaise with the NGOsand people in the community to betterunderstand their needs. RepresentingAustralia at various events and theresulting network o contacts enables meto provide strong support to the embassy,especially when hosting businessmen andhigh-level visitors. Keeping the embassyup-to-date on domestic issues relatingto the political and economic situationis an important part o my role. I wouldlike to thank the Macedonian Ministryor Foreign Affairs or our excellent

cooperation in organizing different eventsand high-level visits. Tere are numerousopportunities and considerable potentialor strengthening cultural links andenhancing business and proessional ties.Te Australian Embassy is planning aheadmany activities in 2016 which will urtherstrengthen our cultural, economic andtrade cooperation, with direct presentationo the cultural, educational and otherpotentials o the two countries enrichingthe uture bilateral cooperation with neworms and contents.

Mr. Zoran Kostovski, Honorary Consul o Australia in Skopje

THERE IS CONSIDERABLE POTENTIAL FOR

STRENGTHENING CULTURAL LINKS AND ENHANCING

BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL TIES

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MACEDONIA IN FOCUS


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THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

IS THE HEART OF THE COUNTRY AND

THE DIPLOMATIC MISSIONS ARE

ITS BLOOD VESSELS

I was certain that I was predestined forpursuing a career abroad, but in a way inwhich the results of my work would benefitmy homeland from afar. Diplomatic servicewas an opportunity for which I knewwould be hard to say NO, but I never regretsaying YES. In fact, this job perfectly fusesmy professional goals with the realisticprospects for achieving professionalgratification as a woman in Macedoniatoday.

Marion Howard said, a diplomat is aman who always thinks twice before sayingnothing. I actually disagree with thatbecause not everyone understands or is ableto interpret the language of diplomacy. I

believe that a diplomat is one who knowshow to precisely decipher even the mostcomplicated of situations, calm the watersand always act in a composed and confidentmanner. Typically, diplomats are people whoare steeped in cosmopolitan spirit, they areknowledgeable and witty, as well as preparedto defend their countrys strategic prioritieson the international stage. In fact, I believethat all wars are results of bad diplomacy.

My recent master studies on womensrights in politics have cemented my will toroot even louder for the gentler genderto show greater interest for this profession,seeing as history has proven that women arenot only good diplomats, but what sets themapart from men in this respect is their striveto seek out win-win, instead of win-losesolutions.

What irks me most about thisoccupation is the fact that before the

emergence of on-going trends in moderndiplomacy, it seemed that women werefacing insurmountable difficulties in tryingto combine marriage with a diplomaticcareer. 1971 is the key year when diplomaticservices of most developed countries waivedthe obligatory requirement for women to beunmarried when applying for a diplomaticpost abroad. However, the issues of spousalreluctance to switch jobs and overallintolerance for moving residence stil l persistto this very day.

In other words, successful womencontinue to be faced with the dilemmaof making a choice between family anddiplomatic life. However, this issue shouldnot be seen as an obstacle to womensinclusion in diplomacy.

Dana NIKOLOV

While working with the Foreign Ministry or several years, Dana Nikolov has gainedextensive experience in several areas o diplomatic practice. Afer completing a short trainingat the Macedonian Embassy in Washington, she has spent the largest part o her career at theMinistry working as a Desk Officer or the US, Canada and the Middle East countries. Hercurrent post is at the Ministrys Directorate or Organizational Affairs.When describing her choice o occupation, she says that she is not one o those whosechildhood dream was to pursue a career in diplomacy. On the contrary, afer graduating ineconomics, she says she was ready to set the wheel in motion and launch an import-exportbusiness or enter the tourism industry.

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DIPLOMACY AND COMMUNITY

13

PROFESSOR CARLOS FLORESJUBERAS AWARDED DEGREE

HONORIS CAUSA

On 22 December, the Senate o the University o Ss. Cyril andMethodius awarded the degree honoris causa in legal scienceto Dr. Carlos Flores Juberas, Proessor at the University o Valencia,Spain. Proessor Juberas is the Honorary Consul o the Republico Macedonia in the Kingdom o Spain, and a great riend to theUniversity o Ss. Cyril and Methodius and the Republic o Macedonia.


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EXPERIENCE MACEDONIA

14

MARKOS TOWERS

SYMBOL OF THE CITY OF PRILEP

Prilep and Markos owers are two histories inextricably linkedto one another and intertwined. Markos owers is a locality in

the central part o the Republic o Macedonia, in close proximity tothe city o Prilep, which proudly tells the magic story o the ancientrocky hill that watches over the city as a perpetual keeper o itspeace. Prilep has always been a stronghold o Macedonias rulers.

Te ortress called Markos owers was the medieval town othe legendary ruler King Marko. Te massive ortress rises abovePrilep, one o Macedonias oldest cities, which was once the capital

o the medieval kingdom o the kings Volkain and Marko and is aplace where the spirit o the Middle Ages can still be elt.Remnants suggesting the existence o a settlement rom the

Early AntiquityKeramijahave also been ound in the ortress.In the Roman period, this small rural settlement expanded to thesouthwest, as evidenced by the ound marble decorations o anEarly Christian basilica. Te settlement was south o the acropolis,stretching on about 3.6 hectares. On its northern wall, a double gateand a large watchtower situated between the entrances still stand.On the southern wall there are three well-preserved towers. Severalsmall water springs made lie at the top o hill possible to a limitedextent. Te slopes o the hill are steep, covered with huge graniterocks. A broad flat saddle in the middle o the top made it possibleor a settlement to be ormed. Te excavations that were conducted

with almost no interruptions rom 1959 to this very day revealedtraces o a prehistoric settlement. It was in this period that solidmortar walls were erected. Te walls that can be seen today dateback to the 13th and mostly to the 14th century and blend right inwith their surroundings. Tey are propped against huge rocks andmake use o every natural support. Tereore, the line o the walls isvery curvy and ully broken at places.

When King Marko died in 1395, the settlement was capturedby the urks due to which all its residents deserted it. According to

some historical findings, this ortress was deended by only 40 sol-diers in the 13th century. Its residents took reuge in the neighbor-ing area. Tus, at the oot o Markos owers, a dispersed settlementemerged, divided into several neighborhoods, each with its ownchurch. Tis new settlement o the 14th century was called Varoand has kept this name to date. O all the mountain massis, onlythe Prilep complex is regarded as a natural rarity, unique in theBalkans, Europe and perhaps the world.

Because o all these aspects, this complex is o utmost impor-tance to Macedonias tourism. Both the kale and its surroundingshave their own unique spirit that tells stories o bygone times.

Markos owers have also been a great inspiration to many di-rectors in search o suitable locations or their films. Tus, Markosowers were the setting where Milo Manevskis films Beore the

Photo: Vladimir Arsovski


15/1615


Rain and Dust and Darko Mitrevski and Aleksandar PopovskisGoodbye, 20th Century! were shot.

Aside rom being a great filming location, Markos owers arealso a antastic venue or cultural and sporting events. At the Kame-na Baba locality, an international rock climbing marathon is heldevery year in which more than 100 rock climbers rom Macedonia,France, Slovenia, Croatia, Poland, Bulgaria, Greece, Albania andRussia take part. Another attraction is the 60-km marathon in themountains around Prilep called Krali Marko Ultra rail, which hasmade Macedonia part o the global trend o organizing such racessince 2012. Also, a growing number o poetry lovers gather everyyear at Poetsko Markukule, a poetry event that brings together po-ets, artists and musicians.

THELEGENDSABOUTPRILEP

Tere are two legends about how Prilep got its name. One says thatwhen people started settling at the oot o Markos owers, they

built their houses pressed (prilepeni) against the walls and the smallsettlement gradually transormed into a town called Prilep. Tesecond legend, on the other hand, says that the locals made a lot obread and the place became amous as prilebno mesto, or a placewhere bread is made. According to yet another theory, the one oBlae Koneski, who was born in the Prilep village o Nebregovo,Prilep got its name rom the personal names o Prilepka and Pr-ilepa.

THEELEPHANTOFMARKOS

TOWERS

Tis rock which to some looks like an elephant and to others like astork is small natural wonder as it is reerred to in Ripleys Believeit or Not! Encyclopedia o the Bizarre. Te stone elephant is about8 meters high and stands on a rocky pedestal at the oot o Markosowers rom where Prilep can be clearly seen. Te elephant is madeo two naturally joint rocks. Tere are many legends about the stoneelephant. Also, a recess was dug in the rock with ragments o anicon.

A legend goes as ar as to suggest that Hannibal brought his el-ephants to Prilep to pay tribute to the natural stone monument afer

his conquest o Rome.

MARKOSTOWERS

ANINSPIRATIONTOTHE

NORDICWARRIORS

During their visit to Macedonia, ollowing the traces that theVikings had lef, Swedish archaeologists rom the Archaeologi-cal Research Laboratory o Stockholm University studied parts oMarkos owers built in the same historical period as certain Viking

ortresses in Scandinavia. Te hypothesis is that the Swedish war-riors o the time got inspired rom the Byzantine architecture andtook some ideas back to their homeland.

Te Swedish daily newspaper Svenska Dagbladet says that ina Swedish ortress in Birka, Byzantine metal coins, weapons andother items were ound, brought rom the south o Europe.

Photo: Stojan oshe Nikolovski


16/16

On 25 December, on the occasion oits 70th anniversary, Macedonian

President Gjorge Ivanov awarded the Ordero Merit or Macedonia to the MacedonianNational Teater or its successulpresentation, promotion and cultivationo the Macedonian and world theaterlegacy thereby making an outstandingcontribution to Macedonian culture and to the promotion o the Republic o Macedonia in the world.

Te event was attended by Culture Minister Elizabeta Kaneska-Milevska, actors, directors, playwrights, and other guests.

ORDER OF MERIT

AWARDED TO

MACEDONIAN

NATIONAL THEATER

At the meeting o the inter-governmental committee o the

UNESCO Convention in Namibia, the maletwo-part singing rom Dolni Polog, etovo,also known as Glasoeko, was enteredinto UNESCOs list o intangible culturalheritage in need o urgent saeguarding.Glasoeko is the third cultural heritagethat the Republic o Macedonia entered into UNESCOs intangible cultural heritage list over a brie period o time, ollowing the uniquereligious custom o etrse rom tip and the Kopaka traditional dance.

GLASOEKO PUT

ON UNESCOS LIST

OF INTANGIBLE

CULTURAL HERITAGE

The Week o Israeli Film eventtook place in Skopje rom 14 to 17

December organized by the Youth CulturalCenter (MKC), the Jewish Communityo Macedonia and the Cinematheque oMacedonia.

It opened in the Frosina cinema with theshowing o the film Mi Meached MehazeevHara (Big Bad Wolves) directed by NavotPapushado. Te audience was briefly addressed by the Ambassador o the State o Israel to the Republic o Macedonia, Dan Oryan.

All the other films were screened at the Youth Cultural Center and the Cinematheque o Macedonia.

WEEK OF ISRAELI

FILM IN MKC


diplomatic bulletin december 2015

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