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MDBNo.90

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

DECEMBER2014

IN FOCUS:VIETNAMESE VICE PRESIDENT

VISITS MACEDONIA

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PM GRUEVSKI PAYS POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC

VISIT TO SAUDI ARABIA

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VINICA TERRACOTTA ICONS

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

MACEDONIAN

TURKISH PRIME MINISTERAHMET DAVUTOLUPAYS OFFICIALVISIT TO MACEDONIAPAGE 3


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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. 90

December 2014

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

2014

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

VIETNAMESE VICE PRESIDENT NGUYENTHI DOAN PAYS VISIT TO MACEDONIA

he Vice President othe Socialist Republico Vietnam, Nguyen TiDoan, paid an official visit tothe Republic o Macedoniain early December. Tiswas the first visit o ahigh-ranking Vietnameseofficial to Macedonia, whichoccurred at a time whenthe two countries markedthe 20th anniversary o theestablishment o diplomaticrelations.

Vice President Ti

Doan held a meeting with MacedonianPresident Gjorge Ivanov, at which the twoofficials shared views about their countriesriendship, and mutual respect and trust,pointing out the possibilities or promotingeconomic cooperation.

Bilateral relations were positivelyappraised at Ms. Ti Doans meeting withPrime Minister Nikola Gruevski as well.Te possibilities or promoting cooperationin economy, higher education, agriculture,and ood industry, as well as multilateralcooperation within the ramework o theUnited Nations and the Organization oLa Francophonie were also tabled at thismeeting.

An agreement on economic cooperationbetween Macedonia and Vietnam wasalso signed. ogether with the previouslysigned agreements on double taxationavoidance and protection o investments,this agreement constitutes the legal baseor striking closer economic ties.

Within the ramework o the visit othe high-ranking Vietnamese delegation,Macedonian Deputy Foreign MinisterDragana Kiprijanovska held a separatemeeting with her Vietnamese counterpart,Vu Hong Nam, on 2 December, at whichthe agreement on lifing visas or holders oofficial and diplomatic passports o the twocountries was signed.

FORMER AND SITTING EP COUNTRYRAPPORTEURS VISIT MACEDONIA

he ormer and sitting rapporteurson Macedonia at the EuropeanParliament, Richard Howitt and Ivo Vajglrespectively, paid a visit to the Republic oMacedonia in early December. Tey had ajoint meeting with Macedonian PresidentGjorge Ivanov, at which Macedonias bid tojoin the European Union was discussed.

Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski heldseparate meetings with Mr. Howitt andMr. Vajgl, at which views were sharedon a number o subjects relating toMacedonia's European integration andthe reorms being carried out and stepsbeing taken or the purpose o attainingthis strategic national objective. PM

Gruevski also wished Mr. Vajgl successin filling his new office. At the meeting

with Mr. Howitt, the cooperation thathad so ar been maintained was assessedpositively and commitment was expressedto continuing communication on allsubjects o common interest. Te officialsalso tabled the government action plan onuture reorms drafed in adherence withthe recommendations o the EuropeanCommission.

During his visit to Skopje, MEP Howittheld a lecture at the EU Ino Centre inSkopje and a joint press conerence withhis successor, Mr. Vajgl.


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TURKISH PRIME MINISTER DAVUTOLU VISITS MACEDONIA

urkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutolu paid an officialvisit to the Republic o Macedonia on 22 and 23 Decemberaccompanied by Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmu,Foreign Minister Mevlt avuolu, Economy Minister NihatZeybekci and Health Minister Mehmet Mezzinolu.

Within the ramework o his visit, Prime Minister Davutoluheld a meeting with his Macedonian counterpart Nikola Gruevski.At the joint press conerence, the two prime ministers presentedstatistics about the economic and trade cooperation, cultural

and historical connections andsignificance o both countriescultural centers yet to be opened. Asregards cultural cooperation, PrimeMinister Gruevski underscored theimportance o the scholarships romthe Government o the Republico Macedonia or Macedonianstudents studying the Ottomanurkish language so they could laterengage in investigating the urkisharchives.

Prime Minister Davutolu alsohad a meeting with MacedonianPresident Gjorge Ivanov, atwhich the two officials discussedpromoting bilateral relations and

said they were very much pleasedwith the traditional riendshipand partnership, and intensive

communication and cooperation in all areas o shared interest.At the Ministry o Foreign Affairs, Prime Minister Davutolu

spoke beore the Macedonian diplomats attending the annualmeeting o the Ambassador Council.

Prime Minister Davutolu also participated in the celebrationo urkish Language Education Day and met representatives onon-governmental organizations, political parties o the urkishnational minority, and urkish businessmen investing in theRepublic o Macedonia.

FM POPOSKIMEETS TURKISHCOUNTERPARTAVUOLU IN SKOPJE

he Minister o Foreign Affairs o the Republico Macedonia, Nikola Poposki, met his urkishcounterpart, Mevlt avuolu, in Skopje on 23December during the latters official visit to the Republico Macedonia as member o the urkish delegation led byPrime Minister Ahmet Davutolu.

Te thriving bilateral relations between Macedoniaand urkey, their close political cooperation at thehighest level and intense economic cooperation werestressed at the meeting. Issues relating to regional andinternational cooperation were also tabled, with stressbeing laid on the Macedonian aspirations or joining theEuro-Atlantic structures, strongly and unconditionallysupported by the Republic o urkey. Te two ministersalso addressed regional and international developments,particularly the situation in the Middle East.


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CHINA AND 16 CENTRAL AND EASTERNEUROPEAN COUNTRIES HOLD THIRD SUMMIT

Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski led theMacedonian delegation at the Tird Summit o thePeoples Republic o China and 16 Central and Eastern Europeancountries, held in Belgrade on 16 and 17 December under themotto New Impetus, New Platorm and New Engine. TeMacedonian delegation included Deputy Prime Minister andFinance Minister Zoran Stavreski, and the Ministers o ForeignAffairs and ransport, Nikola Poposki and Mile Janakieski, whotook part in the economic sessions o the Summit.

Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang announced a new seto measures in support o the countries o this region, entryo Chinese investors into the markets o Central and EasternEurope, and another 3 billion euros or inrastructure projects

to be carried out in the orm o concession and public-privatepartnership.

Addressing the Summit, Prime Minister Gruevski inormedthat the construction o the two Macedonian highways, romMiladinovci to tip and rom Kievo to Ohrid, a result otalks conducted at the earlier cooperation orums, was alreadyunderway.

He also had a joint meeting with the Prime Ministers o thePeoples Republic o China, the Republic o Serbia and Hungary,at which the possibility o constructing a super ast railroad romBudapest to Tesslaoniki via Belgrade and Skopje was discussed,and held a series o bilateral meetings with participants in theSummit.

GOVERNMENT DELEGATION AT BUSINESS

FORUMS IN FRANKFURT AND COLOGNEMacedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevskiled a government delegation at the businessforums held in Frankfurt and Cologne, Germany, on9 and 10 December. At these two events, attended byrepresentatives of 40 companies from the automotive,electronic, IC and other production and serviceindustries, Prime Minister Gruevski elaborated theincentives offered to foreign investors in Macedoniastechnological and industrial development zones, thetax reliefs, and the access to the broader European

market. He underlined the positive experience withthe German investments in the Republic of Macedoniaand said he hoped the trend would continue.

Te government delegation included Deputy PrimeMinister Vladimir Peevski, the Minister withoutPortfolio responsible for attracting foreign investments,Vele Samak, and the Director of the Directorate forechnological and Industrial Development Zones,Viktor Mizo.


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PM GRUEVSKI PAYS POLITICALAND ECONOMIC VISIT TO SAUDI ARABIA

Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski together withDeputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister ZoranStavreski, Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki, the Minister withoutPortolio responsible or attracting oreign investments, Visar Fida,and Deputy Economy Minister Hristijan Delev paid a political and

economic visit to the Kingdom o Saudi Arabia on 1416 December.Tis was the first official visit organized at this level since theestablishment o diplomatic relations between the Republic oMacedonia and the Kingdom o Saudi Arabia in January 1995.

In Riyadh, the capital o Saudi Arabia, Prime Minister Gruevskimet the political establishment o the country, including PrinceSalman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, who also fills the prime ministersoffice in the country, the Deputy Director o the Saudi DevelopmentFund, Yusu bin Ibrahim Al-Bassam, and the Secretary Generalo the Gul Council or Cooperation, Abdul Lati bin Rashid AlZayani. Te officials said they were willing to promote relations andshared views on intensiying economic and political cooperation ina number o areas o mutual interest.

Te Ministers o Finance o Macedonia and Saudi Arabia, ZoranStavreski and Ibrahim bin Abdulaziz bin Abdullah Al-Assa, signed

a double taxation avoidance agreement which acilitates urtherand encourages bilateral cooperation and trade.Te government delegation also attended orums in Riyadh and

Jeddah, at which the possibilities or investing in Macedonia andthe potentials or developing economic cooperation in several areaswere presented.

PM GRUEVSKI MEETS OSCE HIGHCOMMISSIONER ON MINORITIES THORS

Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevskireceived Astrid Tors, the High Commissioneron National Minorities of the Organization for Securityand Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), on 11 December.Te two officials positively appraised the cooperation

hitherto realized and stressed their commitment toits further promotion. Ms. Tors was informed onthe reforms undertaken to promote standards inseveral social areas, trust among ethnic communitiesin particular.


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FM POPOSKI ATTENDS OSCE MINISTERIAL COUNCIL

Macedonian Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki took partin the 21st Ministerial Counci l o the Organization orSecurity and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), held in Basel,Switzerland, the OSCE chair country 2014, on 45 December.Te ministers shared views on the act ivities o the Organizationin the past year and on the uture courses o action in the threedimensions that the OSCEs comprehensive view o securitycovers: the politico-military, the economic and environmental,and the human.

Minister Poposki spoke in his address about the OSCEs role,emphasizing its notable contribution to peace, stability andsecurity. In regard to the situation in Ukraine, he said: Te mainquestion currently being posed is not whether the OSCEs effort isenough but what more the OSCE can do.

Minister Poposki held a number o meetings with hiscounterparts, OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier, theHigh Commissioner on National Minorities, Astrid Tors, andMedia Freedom Representative Dunja Mijatovi.

FM POPOSKI ADDRESSESEP FOREIGN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

During his annual address before the European

Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee chairedby Elmar Brok (CDU MEP, Germany), MacedonianForeign Minister Nikola Poposki appealed that thesix consecutive recommendations of the EuropeanCommission for launching membership negotiationswith the Republic of Macedonia be accepted with theaim of restoring the credibility of the EU enlargementprocess.

Minister Poposki, his counterparts from Albania,Montenegro, Kosovo, Serbia and Bosnia andHerzegovina, Ditmir Bushati, Igor Luki, Enver

Hoxhaj, Ivica Dai, and Zlatko Lagumdija, and

Montenegrin Parliament Speaker Ranko Krivokapispoke before Members of the European Parliamentas well as before representatives of the nationalparliaments of the EU member states.

At the start of his address before the EP ForeignAffairs Committee, Minister Poposki highlightedthree elements as deserving of particular attention:the context of the EUs Tessaloniki Agenda, the greatreassurance for everybody in the Balkans that theenlargement process is not forgotten, and the necessityof everybody adhering to the principles.


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FM NIKOLA POPOSKI PAYS OFFICIAL VISIT TO HUNGARY

At the invitation o the Hungarian Minister o Foreign Affairsand rade, Pter Szijjrt, Macedonian Foreign MinisterNikola Poposki paid an official visit to Hungary on 11 December.His visit concurred with the marking o the 20th anniversary oestablishing diplomatic relations between Macedonia and Hungary.

Amongst the issues tabled at the meeting was the overallbilateral cooperation in the past two decades, includingMacedonias bid or European and Euro-Atlantic integrationand particularly the economic ties between the two countries.Minister Poposki also presented the priorities o the MacedonianChairmanship o the Central European Initiative in 2015.

Within the ramework o his visit, Minister Poposki wasreceived by Hungarian Parliament Speaker Lszl Kvr anddelivered a lecture at the Institute or Foreign Affairs and rade onthe importance o the integration o the Balkan countries into theEuropean Union.

FM POPOSKI ATTENDS RESOLUTE SUPPORT FORMATMEETING OF NATO NORTHATLANTIC COUNCIL

Nikola Poposki, the Minister o Foreign Affairs o the Republico Macedonia, participated in the ministerial meeting othe North-Atlantic Council with the countries contributing tothe Resolute Support Mission at the NAO HQ in Brussels on2 December. Te ministers o oreign affairs o the countriesto be contributing to the new non-combat Resolute SupportMission exchanged views on the engagement and role o theNAO member states and the Alliances operative partners. Teevaluation o the Aghan authorities o the political and securitysituation in the country in the wake o the presidential andgeneral elections was also presented at the meeting.

Minister Poposki said in his address that the successullycarried out elections in Aghanistan were one more confirmationo the democratic maturity o the Aghan people and were verysignificant or the peaceul transition o power. He also took theopportunity to congratulate the new president on Aghanistan onhis election.

On the sidelines o the event, Minister Poposki held severalinormal meetings with counterparts, arguing or asterrealization o Macedonias Euro-Atlantic ambitions.

IN THE

PRESSIt is in NAOs interest thatMacedonia should become itsull-fledged member. Macedoniacontributes to the NAO orces asit is and the Al liance is evidentlydetermined to maintain stability inthe Balkans. Te improvement othe situation in Kosovo and Bosniaand Herzegovina is what I first andoremost have in mind here. It is by allmeans important to carry on workingon Balkan stability, saidRobertWalter, President of the European

of Security and Defence Association(ESDA)on 8 December 2014.

Tere is no shorter way orMacedonia toward the EUthename dispute has to be resolved.I believe there was a window o

opportunities when the name issuecould have been settled but theywere missed. However, I hope thatwhen they reappear, the country,the Government and the people othis country will be prepared to takethem, said now former rapporteurfor the Republic of Macedonia at theEuropean Parliament, British MEPRichard Howitt, on 5 December 2014.

Tere is no reason why Macedoniashould not open membership

negotiations and there is no betteroption or the country than theEuro-Atlantic integration. Itis absolutely unacceptable thatthis should not happen afer sixconsecutive recommendationsrom the European Commission.Macedonia should open negotiationsand be in a better position, becausewhen two partners negotiate,neither should be privileged. I amnot sure I will be more successulthan Fle in what I do, but I wil ltry because what is happening isinjustice," said the new rapporteurfor the Republic of Macedonia

at the European Parliament,

Slovenian MEP Ivo Vajgl.


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FM POPOSKI AT MEETING OFGLOBAL COALITION FIGHTING ISIL

At the invitation o US Secretary o State, John Kerry, theForeign Minister o the Republic o Macedonia, NikolaPoposki, participated in the meeting o the countries supportingthe global coalition fighting the Islamic State in Iraq and theLevant at the NAO HQ in Brussels on 3 December. Te measuresand activities taken in the fight against terrorism were tabledat this meeting. In the same context, opinions were shared onbuilding a suitable strategy or countering the Islamic Statemilitants, who pose a serious threat to global peace and security.

Minister Poposki stressed on that occasion that theGovernment o the Republic o Macedonia undertook a wholeset o precautions, including modifications to the CriminalCode to sanction those involved in the organization, transport,financing and other orms o participation in oreign military andparamilitary ormations. Macedonia is closely ollowing how thesituation in the said region unolds and takes effective actionsin coordination with other countries and relevant internationalorganizations.

Macedonian Foreign

Minister Nikola

Poposki attends the

traditional European

Prayer Breakfast at the

European Parliament

in Brussels.

FM POPOSKI ATTENDSFRIENDS OF EUROPE DEBATE FORUM

Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki participated in thetraditional forum of the organization Friends of Europetitled Balkan Revival: Kick-Starting Stalled Policies inBrussels on 9 December.

In his address at the second session titled EconomicDevelopment: Is the Glass Now Half Full?, MinisterPoposki presented Macedonias key achievements in thereform process, especially in the economic field, andstressed the need for greater financial support fromthe EU in the implementation of major infrastructureprojects of regional significance, as a vital condition forachieving long-term economic development and bridgingdevelopment differences between the EU and the WesternBalkans.


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CHIEFS OF MACEDONIAN DIPLOMATICMISSIONS AND CONSULAR POSTS

HOLD ANNUAL MEETING

he annual working meeting o the chies o the diplomaticmissions and consular posts o the Republic o Macedoniaabroad was held at the Ministry o Foreign Affairs o the Republico Macedonia on 2226 December. Foreign Minister NikolaPoposki addressed on that occasion the political situation inMacedonia and the countrys relations with its most immediateneighbors, assessing them as highly important. While the Euro-Atlantic integration has no alternative and is a oreign policypriority, he said, the economic diplomacy remains to be a keycomponent o the Macedonian diplomacy in attracting oreigninvestments and creating new jobs.

According to Minister Poposki, the Macedonian diplomacyis capable o producing significant economic results. He alsodisclosed the intention o assigning non-resident ambassadorsseated in Skopje to certain countries o interest to the Republico Macedonia, in which Macedonia has no diplomatic missions,or the purpose o raising efficiency at lower costs. Last year sawan increased diplomatic presence o the Republic o Macedoniaabroad, achieved through the opening o three new embassies,in Japan, Kazakhstan and the United Arab Emirates, theminister said.

At the Ambassador Council, the work and achievements othe heads o the diplomatic missions and consular posts werepresented, an overview o all events that happened in 2014 wasmade, and guidelines or the planned activities o the Macedoniandiplomatic service in 2015 were laid out.

Te high-ranking officials that addressed the ambassadorsannual meeting also included President Gjorge Ivanov, ParliamentSpeaker rajko Veljanoski and Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski.


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he Republic o Macedonia and the Republic o Austriahave recently celebrated a very important jubilee20 yearso establishing diplomatic relations. o both countries greatpleasure, a series o cultural events, including ballet and theaterperormances, exhibitions and the amous Vienna Ball in Skopje,were held on that occasion. Austria officially recognized theRepublic o Macedonia in 1994 and opened its Embassy in Skopjein 1997. Te Macedonian Embassy in Vienna started operating atull capacity on 24 December 1994. It is my great pleasure to statethat the establishment o diplomatic relations marked the start o

very close cooperation in all areas.Austria demonstrated particularly keen interest in the sphere

o investments in keeping with its strategic commitment to amore pronounced economic presence in the region. I am proudto confirm that the Republic o Austria is a great riend to theRepublic o Macedonia, particularly expressing its riendlinesswith its support in the European Union and beyond. Te Republico Macedonia finds it especially important that over the past 20

years Austria has become one o Macedonias top investors by thesize o its local inputs. Te ever more requent visits o Austrianbusinessmen and the numerous presentations o the economic

incentives our country offers are only a portion o the greateffort both countries have been making to promote economiccooperation. Also, we must not orget the increasingly strongercultural exchange that really helps the two nations learn moreabout each other.

Austria is a country with a very high standard o living anda market attractive to Macedonian exporters. When trying tosum up relations and cooperation between the two countries, akey spot needs to be attributed to the high-level communicationbetween Macedonia and Austrias leaders. Macedonian PresidentGjorge Ivanov is a requent guest to his Austrian counterpart

Heinz Fischer and is ofen taking part in international politi-cal and economic orums in Austria. A gladly received guest inAustrias capital is also Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, whoseprimary concern is attending economic orums and setting upcontacts with Austrian companies. Worth mentioning is thatin March 2015 Prime Minister Gruevski is scheduled to addressthe Federation o Austrian Industrialists, o which more than4,000 Austrian companies are members, and hold meetings withtop managers o large Austrian companies. Numerous have alsobeen the visits o Austrian officials to Macedonia, amongst whichparticularly worth noting is the official visit o President Fischerin 2007 when he attended the internationally renowned OhridSummer Festival. Highly significant in promoting bilateral co-operation urther is also the announced visit o Austrian ForeignMinister Sebastian Kurz in January 2015, which is an immediateand strong confirmation o the high level o political communica-tion and cooperation between the two countries. I expect his visitto give a new impetus to bilateral relations, especially in the lighto Austrias support or Macedonias European integration.

Finally, I wish to emphasize that it is an honor and a privilegeto serve as an ambassador o my country to the Republic oAustria and during my ambassadorship I will try to the best omy abilities to urther even more cooperation between our twonations.

H.E. Ms. Vasilka POPOSKA TRENEVSKA,Ambassador of the Republic of Macedonia to the Republic of Austria

EC RECOMMENDATION FOROPENING NEGOTIATIONSSHOULD FINALLYBE HONORED

A

ustria and Macedonia enjoy rich bilateral relations, which should beviewed also rom a regional perspective, as it is our firm belie and

clear commitment that the European project will only be completed once

20 YEARS OF MACEDONIAAUSTRIADIPLOMATIC RELATIONS


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H.E. Mr. Augusto SARAIVA PEIXOTO,Ambassador of Portugal to the Republic of Macedonia

20 YEARS OF DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS

BETWEEN MACEDONIA AND PORTUGALOn the occasion o the 20th anniversary o the establishmento the diplomatic relations between the Republic oMacedonia and the Portuguese Republic, it is with great pleasurethat I write this text or the Macedonian DiplomaticBuletin.

Since I presented my Letter o Credence toHis Excellency, the President o the Republic oMacedonia, Gjorge Ivanov, who accredited me as anon-resident Ambassador in Skopje, in March, I have

been working on enhancing the relations betweenour two nations at all levels: political, economic,social and cultural. Bearing in mind the importancethat the beginning o negotiations or EuropeanUnion integration has or the Republic o Macedonia,Portugal, as a member o that organisation ever since1986, will continue to support this process, so thatthe accession o Republic o Macedonia becomes real.We are very conscious o the relevance that this issuehas or the Republic o Macedonia, and thereore weare ollowing it closely, with the attention it deserves.On the other hand, we will avail ourselves o theopportunity to mark the 20th anniversary o theestablishment o diplomatic relations between our

countries with events that will reiterate the riendship betweenour two nations and peoples.

all the countries in the region have become ull members o theEuropean Union. Austria is among those EU Member Stateswho eel that the recommendation o the European Commissionto open accession negotiations with Macedonia, which wasreiterated throughout our consecutive years, should finally behonored. Tereore, our requent bilateral gatherings, both inAustria and in Macedonia, are primarily ocusing on MacedoniasEU aspirations, o which Austria remains one o the strongest

supporters.Apart rom a growing cooperation in the police and military

sectors, our bilateral relations traditionally ocus on the economy.At the moment there are about 50 Austrian companies present,making Austria third oreign investor in Macedonia. Austrianenterprises are highly diversified in numerous industry sectorsemploying thousands o Macedonians. It should be pointedout that Austrian companies are extremely well represented inthe service sector providing high-quality jobs and thus beingan indispensable pillar o the Macedonian economy. Te mostimportant areas are telecommunication, electricity, acilitymanagement, entertainment, banking, insurance, etc. Tis

alone accounts or an investment volume o around 400 million

EURO and or more than 5,000 employees. In 2013 the bilateraltrade volume between Austria and Macedonia amounted to 185million EURO an all-time high. Austrian exports amounted to120 million EURO, and imports rom Macedonia to 65 millionEURO.

Austrias cultural presence is well established and expanding.It extends rom organizing musical and artistic events tointensiying cooperation in the field o education. By maintaining

posts o two assistant proessors or Austrian literature andculture in Skopje and etovo we strive to assure that both othe great ethnic groups can profit rom this cooperation. Also,the Austrian Library in Bitola can be seen as a reflection o thegoal to decentralize our cultural activities. In the past years weconcentrated on history teaching which has also extended tothe Holocaust Memorial Center or Jews o Macedonia, the onlyinstitution o this kind in the Western Balkans. In addition weocused this year on the centennial o the outbreak o World WarI and its devastating effect on this region.

H.E. Dr. Tomas MICHAEL BAIER,

Ambassador of the Republic of Austria to the Republic of Macedonia


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H.E. Mr. Alberts SARKANIS, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiaryof the Republic of Latvia to the Republic of Macedonia

Ms. Louisa VINTON, United Nations Resident Coordinatorand UNDP and UNFPA Representative to the Republic of Macedonia

IT HOLDS GREAT POTENTIALFOR ECONOMIC COOPERATION

UNDP TO HOST REGIONAL EMPLOYMENT

CONFERENCE IN 2015 TO SHARE LESSONS

AND LEARN FROM OTHERS

Your Excellency, on 1 January 2015,the Republic of Latvia assumes thePresidency of the Council of the EuropeanUnion. What are the main priorities ofLatvias Presidency?

Te main priorities or the Latvian Presi-dency o the Council o the European Unionhave been chosen on one hand to makeEurope stronger and on the other to dealwith the main challenges that Europe hasnowadays. Te main priorities are as ollows:(1) Competitive Europe where our aim is toenhance the competitiveness and growth othe EU in order to ensure the welare or theEuropeans; (2) Digital Europe - where ouraim is to ully exploit the growth and jobspotential in the digital economy; (3) EngagedEurope where we will assist the High Rep-resentative and the European External Ac-tion Service (EEAS) in contributing towardsreinorcing the role o the European Union inthe global arena, as well as shaping the EUsengagement with the world on various issues.

What is the official position of LatviasPresidency to the process of EU enlarge-ment and, in this regard, to MacedoniasEuropean aspirations?

Latvia has always been supporting Macedo-nias integration in the European structuresand the process o enlargement. It is not onlybecause we have some common historicalexperiences and we know what Central andEastern Europeans went through and howmuch the integration process helped us butit is because we understand that Macedoniaand, in a wider sense, the Western Balkans isa natural part o Europe. Countries that aredetermined and are ulfilling the accessioncriteria must be given a clear chance at EU

membership.

Among the three groups of priority issuesof Latvias Presidency is also strengthen-ing the role of the European Union on theglobal stage. How do you assess the currentEU-Russia relations?As a country which shares not only a com-mon border but also history and close eco-nomic ties with Russia, it is very importantor us to have and maintain good relation-ship between the EU and Russia. But thatrelationship depends on how constructiveRussia will be and whether it ollows therules it has agreed to.

Te Republic of Macedonia and the Repub-lic of Latvia maintain very close bilateralrelations. In your view, what are the pos-sibilities for promoting further our eco-nomic cooperation?Te size and human capital o our coun-tries are very similar and our urther

growth depends on education and how weadopt new technologies and innovationsin industries like I, or example. So I seea great potential o cooperation in thosesectors. Meanwhile, however, we shouldnot orget those industries in which we arehistorically strong. Te traditional Latvianwood industry and your wonderul oodand wine industry must be discovered andpromoted!

Each year, the European Commission

nominates two countries whose citiescompete to become the two EuropeanCapitals of Culture. In 2014, the Euro-pean Capitals of Culture were Latviascapital of Riga and Ume in Sweden. YourExcellency, what is the final assessment ofthe cultural projects carried out in Riga?It goes without saying that this was a won-derul opportunity or Riga. Te mainthing is not to build only grandiose build-ings (although the new National Librarycalled the Palace o Light was opened thisyear) or concentrate all the activities in thecity centre. It is very important to involvepeople to make them participate, createnew traditions, shape their city as they seeit and do something that will remain inthe city and peoples minds afer 2014. Ithink Riga succeeded in doing this. Now itis more creative and beautiul. You shouldcome and see it! I wish that one day one oMacedonias beautiul cities will presentitsel as the European Capital o Culture.

Ms. Vinton, as United Nations Resi-dent Coordinator and Representa-tive of the United Nations DevelopmentProgramme (UNDP) and the United

Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) tothe Republic of Macedonia, can you tellus more about the activities and achieve-ments of your Macedonia-based office?

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Te entire UN system has been engaged inthe country virtually since the moment oindependence, and were proud to be help-ing a wide range o national partners inimproving living conditions, strengtheninginstitutions and protecting basic humanrights. Te uniying goal o all these e-orts is sustainable human development:ensuring that current generations enjoy theworlds ull potential without underminingthe prospects o uture generations.

As to UNDP, our activities all intothree broad areas. In partnership with theMinistry o Labor and Social Policy, we aretackling what we see as the countrys big-gest challenge unemployment througha program that over eight years has helpedmore than 7,500 jobless people establishand nurture their own small businesses.Just in 2014, this program accounted or 14

percent o the new companies ounded inthe country, so the impact is substantial.Beyond the sheer numbers, we see a hugereservoir o entrepreneurial energy waitingto be tapped, so we will continue urgingyoung people to try their hand at privatebusiness.

We are also working to bring groupslong considered hard to employ peoplewith disabilities, or example, or Roma,or women in rural areas into the labormarket.

We are also active at the local level inhelping municipalities find ways to deliverthe public services or which they are re-sponsible and to implement measures toprevent corruption and to improve trans-parency and integrity. One area where weeel weve really made a difference is inhelping municipalities work together at aregional level to address shared chal lenges,such as energy efficiency, and we look or-ward to promoting inter-municipal coop-eration in more regions in the coming year.

Finally, we are working to protect the

countrys spectacular natural environment,both by helping to develop national poli-cies to manage the threat posed by climatechange and through hands-on programslike our long-running USD 15-million e-ort to restore the delicate ecosystem o Pre-spa Lake, or the similar program to protectwater quality and prevent flooding in theStrumica River Basin that we launched lastyear. An important component here hasbeen the introduction o more sustainablearming practices, or example in findingways or Prespa apple armers to reduce theuse o pesticides and ertilizers.

We are proud that all o these programsshow promising results, but there is stillmore to do.

Since its admission to the United Nationsin 1993, the Republic of Macedonia hasdemonstrated commitment to construc-tive cooperation with all the bodies and

institutions of the UN. What are yourexpectations from this cooperation in thefuture in terms of carrying out ongoingand future UNDP projects?We are glad to see the country assuming ahigher profile in the UN, and its electionin 2013 to serve as a member o the UNHuman Rights Council was a big step or-ward. Distinctions like this one entail newburdens or member states (and invite reshscrutiny o their track records at home), butthey also open up new opportunities to help

shape the global agenda.For UNDP, this higher profile offers achance to use UN channels to share suc-cessul experiences rom the many projectsmanaged in Skopje with other countriesacing similar challenges. Ultimately, aswas already the case during last yearsdevastating floods, we see the countrymaking a gradual transition rom recipientto provider o development assistance inot in terms o direct financial contribu-tions then in terms o advice and lessonslearned. One obvious area with potentialor expansion is participation in UN peace-keeping missions, but we also see our workhere in integrated water basin managementor in active labor market measures or ininter-municipal cooperation as worthy oreplication elsewhere. In act, UNDP willbe organizing a regional conerence inSkopje on employment in first hal o 2015,together with ILO, with the aim o sharinglessons rom here and learning rom othercountries.

Ms. Vinton, how do you see the achieve-ments of the Republic of Macedonia inreducing disaster risks, climate changeadaptation and environmental protection,which are largely a result of UNDPs en-gagement and projects?Te three areas are interrelated and are atop priority or UNDP, given the threatsthat climate change is already posing,whether in the orm o disasters caused bya greater prevalence o extreme weatherevents, or in the risks to agriculture posedby steadily rising temperatures and morerequent droughts. Tese make the coun-

try one o the most vulnerable in Europe.At the policy level, we see the Ministryo Environment and Physical Planningas a pioneer in the region, thanks to sup-port provided by UNDP in analyzing thethreats posed by climate change and defin-ing appropriate policy responses. Early lastyear the country was the first in the region

to submit the Tird National Communica-tion to the UN Framework Conventionon Climate Change. Tis policy documentleaves the country primed to join the ne-gotiations on a new global climate changetreaty that are expected to be conclude thisDecember in Paris.

But our work at the policy level is alsocomplemented by projects designed todeliver practical results at the community,municipal or regional level. Te big Pre-spa Lake restoration project is the most

notable, where our exemplary partnershipwith the Municipality o Resen has yieldedstriking results, the most recent o whichinclude a new USD 500,000 wastewatertreatment plant or the community o Na-kolec, which was officially opened just lastmonth, and the regions most sophisticatedcomposting plant, where waste apples romPrespa and other organic wastes are con-verted into high-quality compost.

Were also proud o our efforts to en-courage energy efficiency, where wevejoined orces with many municipalities (in-cluding Kisela Voda, Karpo, Aerodrom,uto Orizari, Delevo, Resen and the Cityo Skopje) to show that modest short-terminvestments can translate into the triplewins o long-term savings on energyspending, reduced emissions o greenhousegases, and more comortable conditionsor work, study and play in kindergartens,schools and other public buildings. We seeenormous potential here and hope othermunicipalities will choose emulate thepioneers.

Finally, we have worked with the Cen-ter or Crisis Management to completedisaster risk assessments or every munici-pality in the country. Tese assessmentspoint to urgent projects that we are nowhelping municipalities to undertake, suchas a 1.3-km storm drainage channel thatwe are re-building in Prilep to protectdownhill sett lements rom flooding. Asthese examples suggest, UNDP serves asa bridge between policy and implementa-tion, providing both expert advice andtangible examples o how to solve develop-ment challenges.

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VINICA FORTRESS VINICA TERRACOTTAICONS 4TH 6TH CENTURIES

he Vinica Fortress archaeological site is a ortified settlementrom the period o Late Antiquity, with buildings along its

rampart dating back to the 4th6th centuries that have beencompletely preserved. It is situated on the outskirts o the town oVinica, on a 70-meter high hill, along the Koani-Vinica-Berovoroad. Tere is evidence that the sett lement covered a larger area,spreading over the slopes o the hill and beyond. With its heightand location, the site overlooks the town o Vinica and the basino the Bregalnica River. Te Vinica Fortress is an unraveledarcheological mystery. It is best known or its terracotta iconsthought to date back to the beginning o Christianity and regardedas some o the most authentic archeological discoveries and aprecious part o the Christian legacy.

Te terracotta icons (a term that although not quite appropriatehas been widely accepted) are plates made o clay shaped withthe help o a mold. Te upper side eatures relies with Christianmotis as well as Latin inscriptions with liturgical content. Teydate back to the 5th and 6th centuries and have probably servedas wall decorations in the Late Antiquity tombs o the Vinicabuilding complex. Recurring themes are those rom the Old andNew estaments, divided in our groups: Old estament scenes,illustrated psalms, depictions o Christ and depictions o Christiansaints. Some o the best known are: Joshua and Caleb, Daniel inthe Den o Lions, Constantines Cross and St. Archangel Michael.

Tese icons are considered to be some o the most originaldiscoveries made on Macedonian territory. Rustic in their

EXPERIENCE MACEDONIA


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technique, concise in their expression, and unique in theirstyle, which has not been seen in any other similar relies, theyrepresent condensed messages o the earliest Christian dogma. Teauthenticity o these archaeological discoveries also rests in theact that the Vinica relies represent the only set o artiacts romthe Early Christian period in Macedonia. Te collection consists oabout 50 icons, o which 20 have been discovered in one piece andthe rest in ragments.

Te Vinica Fortress as an archeological site was recorded in1954 by Miodrag Grbi, an archeologist rom Novi Sad, under thename o Gradite, and a little later, in 1958, by Milutin and DragaGaraani, archeologists rom Belgrade, who reerred to it as KaleBair. Te interest in investigating the Vinica Fortress archeologicalsite was rekindled in 1978 when archeologist Cone Krstevskibrought to the Museum o Macedonia five ragments o terracottarelies with iconographic depictions that had not been seen beoreand that were very interesting to the study o the Early Christianperiod. In 1985 archeological excavations began that have neverstopped since.

Te archeological findings, especially the ceramic ones, suggest

that lie in the settlement thrived over an extended period otime, rom the Neolithic until the Middle Ages. Most numerous,however, are the archeological artiacts rom Late Antiquity(4th5th centuries). Remnants o walls o several secular acilit ieshave been uncovered, with porches, benches, and storages made ostone and lime mortar, which are as many as our meters high atplaces. Te buildings were erected along the rampart, only a part

o which, together with a flanking tower, has been unearthed. Te3-meter thick rampart was made o broken stone and lime mortar.It is worth mentioning that in the debris between the walls, a greatmany replicas o terracotta icons were ound, some o them in onepiece and others in ragments, o invaluable archeological, artisticand theological significance.

Almost in the middle o the site are remnants o walls o a smallMedieval church. Around the church, many architectural ormstypical o the time were ound, including columns, bases, capitals,parts o a chancel, transennas, and floor panels. Te unearthedmoveable items include ragments o ceramic pots, items obronze, iron and bone, jewelry, and coins. A rich tomb o a womano the 12th century holding nine glass and our bronze, gold-platedbracelets, 11 bronze rings (some o them gold-plated) and one itemo bone (saety-pin) has also been uncovered and investigated.

Te terracotta icons rom Vinica are counted among the mostexclusive findings in the history o Macedonian archeology. Teyhave so ar been exhibited in several cities including Vatican(1986), Zagreb (1987), Ljubljana (1989), Moscow (1989), Belgrade(1991), Munich (1993), Rome (1995), Warsaw (1996), Ankara

(1997), and Paris (1999).In the Republic o Macedonia, the terracotta icons wereexhibited in Vinica (1986), Ohrid (1990) and Skopje (1991), whilecopies were displayed in several other cities.

Tese icons have their own Museum in Vinica, too, wherethey are on display alongside other artiacts ound at the VinicaFortress site.

ST. CLEMENT OFOHRID NATIONAL

LIBRARY AWARDEDORDER OF MERIT

he President o the Republic o Macedonia, Gjorge Ivanov, presented the St Clemento Ohrid National and University Library with the Order o Merit or Macedonia on5 December, on the occasion o this institutions 70th anniversary, or its outstandingachievements in the collection, preservation, and presentation o the Macedoniancultural legacy, and remarkable contribution to the development o education, science,culture, and overall social development o the Republic o Macedonia and its promotionaround the world.


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MONOGRAPH 70 YEARS OF MACEDONIANPHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA PROMOTED

he Monograph 70 Years o the Macedonian PhilharmonicOrchestra by musicologists ina Ivanova and Roza Nolevawas promoted in Skopje on 15 December. Te monographsportrays on about 250 pages the most exciting and mostimportant moments o the only representative o symphonicmusic in the Republic o Macedonia. Te monograph also eaturesa great many photographs conveying the atmosphere at theconcerts o the Macedonian Philharmonic Orchestra over the pastseven decades and many reviews that help complete the story.

PRESIDENT IVANOV AWARDSJEWISH COMMUNITY OFMACEDONIA

At the Macedonian Academy o Sciences and Arts (MANU)

on 19 December, the President o the Republic o Macedonia,Gjorge Ivanov, presented the Jewish Community o the Republico Macedonia with the Declaration o the Republic o MacedoniaAward or its long-standing work in the Republic o Macedoniaand or the purpose o promoting relations and cooperation withthe State o Israel.

MITO HADIVASILEVJASMINAWARD PRESENTED TO SAITI,

TANASKOVA AND GROZDANOV

Journalists Mirela Saiti and Fidanka anaskova, and publicistBore Grozdanov are this year recipients o the MitoHadivasilev-Jasmins award or journalism achievements ointerest to the Republic o Macedonia.

he Embassy o Bosnia and Herzegovina in Skopje, withsupport rom the Honorary Consulate o Bosnia andHerzegovina in Bitola, hosted a New Years reception at theAleksandar Palace Hotel in Skopje on 15 December. Tereception was attended by Macedonian President Gjorge

Ivanov, National Assembly Speaker rajko Veljanoski,government officials, representatives o the Ministryo Foreign Affairs and the diplomatic corps, and many

notable figures rom Macedonias political, public andcultural lie.

Te Ambassador o Bosnia and Herzegovina, ZdravkoBegovi, emphasized in his address the good and riendlyrelations between the two countries, expressing gratitude to

the Government and citizens o the Republic o Macedoniaor the help they extended to the people o his country inthe afermath o the devastating floods in the spring o 2014.

MDB WOULD LIKE TO EXTENDA warm welcome and wish a successful diplomatic mission in the Republic of Macedonia to

H.E. Mr. Predrag MITROVI,

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Montenegro.

NEW YEARS RECEPTION HOSTED AT EMBASSYOF BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA


Documents

MDB 90 MNR web.pdf