Greece's opposition New Democracy party will not vote for ratification of name agreement irrespective of what kind of majority will government form, MIA correspondent in Athens reports. Commenting the statement of the leader of the junior partner in Greece's coalition government for asking 180 lawmakers instead of a simple majority of 151 votes for name deal ratification, New Democracy party said “there are no words to describe Panos Kammenos,” who is “the epitome of political self-humiliation.” The statement that the Pres…
During his opening speech at the Rhodes Conference for Security and Stability on Thursday, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias said he hoped the Prespa deal would be implemented and set a shining example of how to solve problems in the region, MIA's Athens correspondent reports. FM Kotzias said the Prespa compromise 'showed that no one can drive the other side into a corner.' "We cannot live motivated by revanchism and irredentism. We need to accept reality and find ways of living together," Kotzias said. &q…
EHF confirmed at the meeting in Glasgow that Macedonia, Slovenia and Montenegro will organize the women's European Handball Championship in 2022. This outcome was already known before, because the joint candidacy of Macedonia, Slovenia and Montenegro was the only organization for the European Women's Championship in 2022. But from today it is officially. The original plan is for four groups to play in Skopje, Podgorica, Ljubljana and Celje. And the whole finish will be in Ljubljana. This means that Macedonia would only hos…
U.S. company "Telamon" will invest EUR 4 million in a Macedonian plant, opening 300 jobs in the first five years. The Government endorsed the draft-agreement on state aid for the company at its 75. session on Tuesday. Telamon manufactures wire harness assembly, automotive secondary harnesses, automotive switch assembly, light industrial assembly, and kitting and packaging services to automotive and industrial-related customers. As one of the largest private companies in Indiana, Telamon has nine domestic locations in…
The agreement marks the beginning of the end of uncertainty for Macedonia and represents dignified and acceptable solution for both sides, with which the Macedonian identity and language is permanently confirmed, PM Zoran Zaev said Wednesday prior to start of parliament’s session at which name agreement with Greece should be ratified. “We have an agreement with a clear mark of our Macedonian identity, of our Macedonian language, forever. We did not give anything to anyone, nor did anyone take anything when we agreed on a geographical …
In a letter to Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, UK Prime Minister, Theresa May congratulated Macedonia on reaching an agreement with Greece, as well as the ratification agreement reached in Parliament, announced the Government. “Such a meaningful achievement would not have been possible without political courage, vision and leadership, as the two of you have shown. As we discussed before in Skopje, resolving this issue will bring enormous benefits to the two countries, as well as the greater region”, reads the letter from Prime Mi…
Macedonian Parliament with 69 votes in favor, without any votes “against” and no abstentions, ratified the Agreement with Greece regarding settling the name dispute. MPs of the opposition party VMRO-DPMNE boycotted the session and did not attend. At the beginning of the debate, Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said that the Agreement signed in Prespa was a solution to a dispute that was has been traumatic for Macedonia for over three decades and that this was the beginning of the end of the uncertainty that threatened to go on without end. …
George Orwell’s dire warning about a “politically correct” police state is about to become a reality in the Republic of Macedonia if the country implements its recently signed agreement with Greece, as there are many provisions within that document which obligate Skopje to suppress its citizens’ freedom of speech under pane of being taken to the UN and/or the International Court of Justice, and to top it all off, Athens will have the authority to jointly determine what Macedonian children are taught in school as well as what “politicall…
Over 20,000 Macedonians spontaneously gathered this evening in front of Parliament, sending strong messages to the treasonous Government junta led by Zaev. Protesters demanded the quisling junta not go against the will of the people, because that would escalate the situation in the country, and urged an immediate annulment of the agreement between Zaev and Tsipras, the same way they did it – over the phone. Protesters pledged to gather in front of Parliament until the abolition of the agreement and the withdrawal of the referendum dec…
The Russian Embassy in Skopje has twitted and warned Macedonians not to trust the pro Zaev local media who has published fake reports on statements allegedly made by Lavrov in which he supports the agreement between Macedonia and Greece. Lavrov has never endorsed the agreement, in fact, the Russian foreign ministry has warned that any agreement between the two countries must be fully agreed by its people, likely referring to Macedonians and the fact the country is governed by an illegitimate Government who does not represent the peopl…
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas at a press conference with Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov in Berlin said Germany supports the agreement reached between Macedonia and Greece, which he considers a solution achieved through a common understanding that will bring change among the citizens. He said that the EU and NATO decisions will be a very important signal and stressed that what Macedonia has achieved in meeting the criteria and the reform process really impresses and deserves recognition from the entire EU. “ This solution is…
The agreement between the prime ministers of Macedonia and Greece does not unite the society, but additionally polarizes it. I will strive for a solution that will not violate the dignity of the Macedonian people and the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia, President Gjorge Ivanov said when he addressed the public and went on to announced that he did not intend to sign the agreement that Skopje and Athens had reached. “ I told Zaev and Dimitrov that this is their personal agreement and therefore their responsibility. This damaging a…
Is the deal ideal? Of course not. But let’s not forget that every successful agreement must fulfill the most important interests of both parties. This was written by Foreign Minister Nikola Dimitrov on his Facebook profile. He took to the social media page after the agreement reached with Greece. “Have we done everything we can in the circumstances? Did we get the maximum, without endangering the deal? Absolutely and that’s why I will defend it with all my heart. Why did we push ourselves into this? So we can look in the mirror an…
In an interview with TV Kontra, Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias commented on the telephone conversation between Zaev-Tsipras. While Zaev did not give any more detailed information on the topic, Kotzias triumphantly and somewhat staged celebrated the long awaited phone conversation between Zaev and Tsipras with a public appearance. Namely Kotzias stated that Zaev accepted the name North Macedonia, and the issue of the Constitution was resolved, as he said at the initiative of Skopje. “Today’s was a decisive step,” Nikos Kotzias sa…
We have many common interests with Macedonia and if we find a solution to the name, the two countries will become closest friends in the Balkans, said the Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias. " We are looking for sustainable, long-term agreement with Macedonia. The goal of the Greek foreign policy is to solve problems, not to stay with problems. The issue with Macedonia is subordinated to the main geopolitical and geostrategic problems that we have with Turkey. ", says Kotzias. The Greek Foreign Minister said Zaev had a…
The Bulgarian Orthodox Church held its own celebration of the 1000th anniversary of the founding of the Ohrid Archbishopric on June 10, having turned down an invitation to attend the Macedonian Orthodox Church's celebration on May 27 and 28. On the occasion, which was marked with a liturgy at Sofia's landmark Alexander Nevsky cathedral with the presence of Bulgarian Orthodox Church Patriarch Neofit, the Holy Synod issued a lengthy statement outlining its stance on relations with the church in the neighbouring former Yugoslav…
The number of building permits issued in Macedonia in April decreased by 3.9% year-on-year to 249, the state statistical office, Makstat, said on Monday. The estimated value of the construction projects covered by building permits issued in April increased by an annual 73.3% to 6.2 billion denars ($118.3 million/ 100.5 million euro), Makstat said in a statement. In April, 134 permits were issued for new buildings, 44 for civil engineering projects, and 71 for reconstruction projects. Of the total number of permits issued in Ap…
Macedonia will adopt a new law on medical termination of pregnancy where pregnant women would be able to freely decide whether to stop their pregnancy until week 12, Macedonian Health Minister Venko Filipce declared on Thursday. According to the new law, currently under discussion in parliament, women in Macedonia will be enabled to make a free choice whether to end pregnancy until the 22nd week of gestation following an estimation of a three member committee. Filipce announced the new law would be adopted during his address in a …
Newspaper sport reported that the captain of Macedonia could re-dress Inter's shirt. Newspaper sport writes that the best Macedonian player, 34-year-old Goran Pandev, who has not yet extended his contract with Genoa, could return to Inter. According to information transmitted by the Italian media, Pandev is mentioned as the ideal solution for reinforcing the reserve striker options for the Milan team, for Mauro Icardi. However, we will emphasize that Inter's priority is Nikolas Gonzalez of Argentinos Juniors, and if he doe…
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos said he is optimistic that a deal can be reached with the Republic of Macedonia in the decades-old name row, in an interview with newspaper Nea Selida, published on Sunday. Tzanakopoulos said Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias have secured all necessary safeguards to ensure that Skopje will meet all its obligations required to achieve a deal. Commenting on the reaction from main opposition leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis, he said that by the time he decides…
Heavy rains and strong winds hit Macedonian capital of Skopje on Saturday, causing flooding and road blocking. According to the Macedonian hydro-meteorological authority, the wind reached the speed of 80 km per hour. The bad weather caused the blockade of roads for falling trees, damaging cars and flooding. But the Fire Protection Brigade stated that there are no reports on serious damages.
Serbian daily Kurir, whose owner Aleksandar Rodic has deep ties with Soros and is a close friend of Zaev has just reported that the negotiations between Skopje and Athens have failed after the Greek side insisted on complete removal of the name Macedonia, thus reneging on all agreements that were made in New York. According to Kurir, despite serious efforts by Zaev and Dimitrov to accept literally anything from the Greek side, Athens abused the weakness of the Macedonian negotiating side by making more and more demands. There is l…
Over 60 percent of Macedonian patients die as a result of cardiovascular disease because of malnutrition and lack of physical activity, according to the official data of the Macedonian Institute of Public Health. In October 2017 the Macedonian Ministry of Health on the occasion of World Food Day announced that the ministry in cooperation with the respective inspectorate would engage to improve citizens' habits and overall health in terms of healthy nutrition. Meanwhile, doctors in Macedonia underline that the Food Inspectorate…
Macedonia's prime minister says he is still optimistic a decades-old dispute with Greece over his country's name can be settled soon, a day after thousands of Greeks attended rallies against a potential compromise. Zoran Zaev said Thursday that while a very delicate issue the dispute should be solved as soon as possible. The 27-year disagreement has frustrated Macedonia's efforts to join NATO and the European Union. Zaev said summit meetings planned by both organizations later this month should serve as a deadline for …
NYSK Holdings is a pharmaceutical company implementing cutting-edge technology and well-established scientific methods to develop safe, effective, and targeted cannabis products. NYSK Holdings operates from a state-of-the-art GMP certified facility located in the Republic of Macedonia. The facility grows and extracts medical-grade cannabis products. Our team consists of agronomists, botanists, and experts in the cannabis industry. NYSK’s philosophy is to create top of the line, innovative, and effective THC- and CBD-based medications. …
Austrian Airlines has complained that the subsidies provided by the Macedonian government to stimulate low cost airlines to operate flights to the country are unfair and distort competition. The carrier noted it is difficult to compete in such an environment and under such circumstances. Although it has no direct competition on its double daily flights between Vienna and Skopje, rival Wizz Air will commence services from the Austrian capital to Ohrid this October. Vienna was the third busiest route out of Macedonia last year following Ist…
The Macedonian national team did not play any matches but still recorded increase in points which resulted into moving up six places on the newest FIFA world ranking list for June. Macedonia now marks the 71st rank in the list with 451 points, right after the host of the upcoming World Cup - Russia (457 points). In this pre World Cup period when all national teams play friendly matches, Macedonia was inactive. The football federation failed to find an opponent after St. Kitts and Nevis cancelled their visit to Skopje and later the neg…
Skopje - Economy stagnates in first Quarter . The "growth" rate of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Macedonia in the first quarter of 2018 was 0.1 percent, Macedonian State Statistical Office (SSO) published on Thursday. According to the SSO data, in the first quarter of 2018, the biggest increase by 12.1 percent was recorded in the sections of arts, entertainment and recreation, in the section of other service activities such as households as employers, in undifferentiated goods-and services-producing activities of house…
The outcome of the name talks is anticipated at NATO headquarters in Brussels. Macedonia meets all the conditions, the final step is completing the name negotiations for Macedonia to join NATO at the upcoming summit in July, said US Ambassador to NATO Kay Bailey Hutchison. “ From the previous summits, it is clear that NATO is ready to start the accession talks with Macedonia once the name issue is resolved. I believe that the ministers in both countries are working very hard to reach a mutually acceptable solution to the name issue. O…
Yesterday, Macedonian government spokesman Mile Bosnjakovski at a press conference in government did not specify where the negotiations are and whether there are chances of a meeting or telephone conversation between the prime ministers of Greece and Macedonia by the end of the week. Bosnjakovski did not want to comment on VMRO-DPMNE’s Antonio Milososki’s Facebook status, who wrote that on Thursday or Friday the meeting between Zoran Zaev and Alexis Tsipras will take place at Mala Prespa. “We are at an official press conference in…
The Museum of Illusions - the first of its kind in Macedonia - was opened Wednesday. Following months of preparations in an original museum concept, it is located in downtown Skopje in three-level, 550-square meter premises. The museum is the largest of its kind in the country's surrounding, Blagica Ilic, museum's representative, told a news conference on Wednesday. Not only children and youngsters, but also adults are the target group, according to her. " Some thirty items and over 60 pictures offer an unreal-looking…
Prime Minister Zoran Zaev again urged Tuesday President Gjorge Ivanov to sign the controversial Law on the Use of Languages and "enable the continual functionality of democracy in the society". PM Zaev told reporters at the sidelines of a conference of Network 23+ that he tried to motivate President Ivanov at several meetings to sign the language, because the Parliament is otherwise blocked. " He is sending a message that the President can decide whenever he wants and for whatever law to use the so-called 'pocke…
The young and talented product of Akademija Pandev made a transfer to the Turkish club following the footsteps of Elif Elmas. The Strumica based club confirmed that midfielder Jani Atanasov has passed the medical test on Monday and later in the evening has signed a four year long contract with Bursaspor. According to local media, Bursaspor payed €600.000 to Akademija Pandev for the transfer. Eighteen-year-old Atanasov is one of the brightest young Macedonian players. He has been capped for the U17, u18, U19 and U21 national teams …
The Republic of Northern Macedonia, the Republic of Upper Macedonia and the Republic of New Macedonia are the names remaining at the negotiating table between Skopje and Athens. In the coming days, an agreement could be reached to put a tenth-century dispute over the name of Macedonia. This was stated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece Nikos Kotzias in an interview for the state television ERT. Asked why the telephone conversation between the Prime Ministers of Macedonia (Zoran Zaev) and Greece (Alexis Tsipras) takes so …
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was quoted on Monday by European news portal Euroactiv supporting the efforts of Macedonia’s main opposition party to block a solution to the long-standing name dispute with Greece during the party's Skopje meeting on June 2. In a video message, Orbán hailed the party’s "wise and courageous leaders... who won’t bend under pressure from foreign powers". Euractiv notes that Orbán's messages are contrary to those of other Democratic Christian leaders, such as Elmar Brok, a close all…
In the absence of key documents, and in order to provide a wider consensus on the name issue, President Gjorge Ivanov is encouraging Prime Minister Zoran Zaev to hand over the proposal for negotiating with constitutional grounds, the draft agreement, as well as the positions of the delegation in the conduct of negotiations, announced Ivanov’s office. “ The position of President Ivanov, that he does not accept a solution to the name issue with overall use or ‘erga omnes’ is an unchangeable fundamental principle, which is in accordance …
Macedonia’s Parliament elected late Friday new ministers and deputy ministers. Renata Deskoska is elected for Minister of Justice by 67 votes ‘for’ and ‘23’ against; Arbr Ademi for Minister of Education and Science by 67 votes ‘for’ and 25 ‘against’; Asaf Ademi for Minister of Culture by 66 votes ‘for’ and 23 ‘against’ and Bardil Dauti for Minister without Portfolio by 65 ‘for’ and 26 ‘against. Andrej Zernovski is elected for Deputy-Foreign Minister, Asim Musa for Deputy-Health Minister, Gonul Bajraktar for Deputy-M…
Greek government spokesman Dimitris Tzanakopoulos announced on Sunday it is up to Macedonia to make the next move in the ongoing negotiations aiming to resolve the naming dispute. “ The Greek government is waiting for Mr. Zaev to make the decisive step to reach an agreement. The ball is in their court ,” he told TV station Kontra channel. Tzanakopoulos said he cannot anticipate when the Prime Ministers of the two countries, Alexis Tsipras and Zaev, will speak on the phone, an indication that talks are moving into their final stage…
The great performances in the Dutch second league earned Mahmudov a transfer to a top flight club in the Netherlands. 28-year-old attacker Denis Mahmudov had a great season playing for Dordrecht in the Dutch second league. He scored 18 goals (including 3 in the play-offs) and recorded 4 assist making him one of the most valuable players in the league. With his new club Excelsior he signed a two-year deal. It will be his second chance to prove his qualities in the Dutch best league as previously he made only 6 appearances while pla…
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