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MACEDONIA-CEI-FOREIGN POLICY.
BTA
Foreign Minister Passy Stresses before CEI Summit Strategic Role of Corridor VIII.
Skopje, November 15 (BTA spec. corr. Sevdalina Nikolova) - Emerging from a meeting Friday of the government leaders of Central European Initiative (CEI) countries, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy told reporters that he had stressed in his speech that Corridor VIII is a strategic infrastructure priority for Bulgaria and the Balkans, and, in longer-term perspective, for Europe.
According to Passy, in a 10-20-year perspective it is possible that Corridor VIII start from Bourgas and reach the Adriatic, thus linking the Balkans with Italy.
Passy informed the participants in the meeting about Bulgaria's "firm expectations and hope to receive a NATO membership invitation in less than a week" at the Prague Summit, and to get a roadmap for EU accession at the Copenhagen Summit.
In a brief conversation before the meeting of the Government leaders, Bulgaria's top diplomat congratulated Italian prime minister on the appointment of Franco Fratini as foreign minister. "I asked the Italian prime minister to convey to my counterpart an invitation to visit Bulgaria at the soonest convenient time for him," said Passy.
MACEDONIA-CEI-FOREIGN POLICY.
Skopje, November 15 (BTA spec. corr. Sevdalina Nikolova) - Emerging from a meeting Friday of the government leaders of Central European Initiative (CEI) countries, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy told reporters that he had stressed in his speech that Corridor VIII is a strategic infrastructure priority for Bulgaria and the Balkans, and, in longer-term perspective, for Europe.
According to Passy, in a 10-20-year perspective it is possible that Corridor VIII start from Bourgas and reach the Adriatic, thus linking the Balkans with Italy.
Passy informed the participants in the meeting about Bulgaria's "firm expectations and hope to receive a NATO membership invitation in less than a week" at the Prague Summit, and to get a roadmap for EU accession at the Copenhagen Summit.
In a brief conversation before the meeting of the Government leaders, Bulgaria's top diplomat congratulated Italian prime minister on the appointment of Franco Fratini as foreign minister. "I asked the Italian prime minister to convey to my counterpart an invitation to visit Bulgaria at the soonest convenient time for him," said Passy.
MACEDONIA-BULGARIA-DIPLOMAS.
Skopje, November 14 (BTA) - The Macedonian Constitutional Court launched a procedure to establish the constitutionality of two laws: on the recognition of diplomas received in Macedonia, and in Bulgaria and Albania.
The procedure was launched on the initiative of the rector of the Sts. Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje, who contests the constitutionality of the two laws concerning Macedonian-Bulgarian and Macedonian-Albanian agreements on mutual recognition of diplomas.
The Skopje University rector said the laws place Macedonians nationals that have attended universities in countries other than Bulgaria and Albania in an unequal position compared to holders of diplomas from universities in these two countries.
The Constitutional Court will analyze three articles of the higher education act that was adopted in 2000. These authorize the Education Ministry to take decisions on the recognition of diplomas that have been acquired abroad.
The analysis should say whether the articles contradict other articles of the Macedonian Constitution regarding the autonomy to the Bitola and Skopje universities.
BULGARIA-MACEDONIAN PRESIDENT-VISIT.
Sofia, November 14 (BTA) - Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski will pay Saturday an unofficial visit here, the Bulgarian President's press secretariat reported.
President Georgi Purvanov will welcome his Macedonian counterpart in front of the city hall of Melnik (Southwestern Bulgaria). The two will then lay wreaths at the monument of Yane Sandanski and will be shown around the town's museum and the Kordopoulou House.
In the afternoon Purvanov and Trajkovski will have a tete-a-tete talk in Bansko.
Saturday evening they will visit the museum of poet Nikola Vaptsarov who was shot during WWII, and will see an exhibition of icons.
BULGARIA - MACEDONIA.
Sofia, November 14 (BTA) - Macedonian Defence Minister Vlado Buckovski is expected on a one-day working visit to Bulgaria on Friday, the Defence Ministry said in a press release.
Buckovski will confer with Bulgarian Defence Minister Nikolai Svinarov.
The purpose of the visit is "to carry on the fruitful dialogue seeking further progress and deepening of bilateral military cooperation," according to the press release.
The two ministers will consider opportunities to coordinate the two countries' efforts towards stabilization of regional security, and expansion of integration processes with NATO and the EU. They will also discuss the more effective contribution of Bulgaria and Macedonia to the counter-terrorism efforts of the international community, the Defence Ministry Press Centre said.
BULGARIA-MACEDONIA-CULTURAL COOPERATION.
Skopje, November 13 (BTA) - Bulgaria and Macedonia are drafting an agreement on the opening of cultural centres: a Macedonian one in Sofia and a Bulgarian one in Skopje.
The matter was discussed on Wednesday by Bulgarian Ambassador to Macedonia Alexander Yordanov and the newly appointed Culture Minister Blagoja Stefanovski. The two discussed the state and prospects of Bulgarian-Macedonian cultural contacts.
Bulgaria suggested that the procedure be finalized and a bilateral agreement be signed as soon as possible on the opening of cultural centres in the two capitals.
It was also suggested that reciprocal events be organized to present the two cultures, such as Days of the Bulgarian Cinema in Macedonia and of the Macedonia Cinema in Bulgaria.
Ambassador Yordanov expressed readiness for joint celebrations and exchanges of cultural figures. He suggested that the Day of the Slav Enlighteners Cyril and Methodius, marked on May 24, be celebrated jointly next year.
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2002/11/17: Georgi Parvanov and Boris Trajkovski sipped coffee and tea under the 800-year-old plane tree in Melnik yesterday. Later they walked to the Kordopouls' house. Bulgaria's president did not fail to treat his Macedonian counterpart to pine-tree honey and fig jam. Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski paid an unofficial visit to Bulgaria for several hours. Photo Roumen Zhechev
BULGARIA-MACEDONIA.
Skopje, November 15 (BTA Special Correspondent Sevdalina Nikolova) - Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy and his Macedonian counterpart Ilinka Mitreva discussed infrastructure projects in the sidelines of the meeting of the government leaders of the countries of the Central European Initiative (CEI) in Skopje. This issue topped the agenda of trilateral talks between the foreign ministers of Bulgaria Passy, of Macedonia Mitreva and of FR Yugoslavia Goran Svilanovic.
The great goal of the countries in the region is to attain good infrastructure in the Balkans, said Passy after the meeting.
The issue of the common border crossing between Bulgaria, Macedonia and Yugoslavia was discussed at the talks of the three top diplomats. Passy noted that they will meet to discuss the placement of the monument at first convenience.
Macedonian Foreign Minister Ilinka Mitreva and her Bulgarian and Yugoslav counterparts Solomon Passy and Goran Svilanovic agreed Friday on a border stone among the three countries to be laid within November 23-25.
On sidelines of the Central European Initiative (CEI) Summit, Mitreva also had separate meetings with Svilanovic and Passy.
Mitreva and Svilanovic agreed on accelerating of the demarcation process of northern Macedonian border. Expressing satisfaction with the good bilateral relations, pointing out the necessity for signing of trade and economic cooperation agreements. Mitreva briefed Svilanovic about the Macedonian Government priorities, such restoring of peace and security in the whole country, regional and multilateral cooperation, as well as Macedonia's integration with NATO and the European Union.
The meeting with Passy was focused on the construction of Corridor 8. The Foreign Ministries of both countries sent a letter to relevant international institutions in regard with a construction of the railroad Skopje-Sofia. The officials also agreed to provide funds for other projects within the Corridor 8.
Mitreva and Passy pointed out the need for accelerating of the construction of three border crossings, which is part of the bilateral agreement.
Today, Mitreva also had a meeting with her Croatian and Albanian counterparts Tonino Picula and Ilir Meta, focused on activities of the three countries' NATO membership before and after the Prague Summit.
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Sofia, November 18 (BTA) - A two-day seminar on Bulgarian-Macedonia transborder cooperation opened Monday in Blagoevgrad (Southwestern Bulgaria), the Regional Development and Public Works Ministry reported.
The experts will discuss the opportunities for cooperation and the role of the local authorities in the region's economic development, focusing on joint projects in environment protection, and the management of water, land resources and cultural and historical heritage.
The seminar is organized by the Council of Europe and the National Centre for Territorial Development. It marks the final stage of a Stability Pact project on the promotion of the central authorities' open attitude to transborder cooperation issues. Participating in the seminar are experts from Bulgarian and Macedonian central, regional and local authorities, guests from Serbia, and people from the Council of Europe and international organizations.
Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passi, left, Macedonian Foreign Minister Ilinka Mitreva, center and Yugoslav Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic, right, pose for the cameras during their trilateral meeting at St. Joakim Osogovski Monastery, near the northeastern Macedonian town of Kriva Palanka on Sunday, Nov. 24, 2002. The marking of the border between Macedonia and Yugoslavia started on Sunday earlier, at the junction of the borders between Macedonia, Yugoslavia and Bulgaria (AP Photo)
Macedonian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ilinka Mitreva (L) and her Yugoslav counterpart Goran Svilanovic (R) reveal the border milestone between Macedonia, Bulgaria and Yugoslavia, some 130km north-east from Macedonian capitol Skopje on November 24, 2002. Foreign Ministers of three Balkan neighbours attended the ceremony of the official start of the demarcation of the Macedonian-Yugoslav border. REUTERS/Ognen Teofilovski
YUGOSLAVIA-MACEDONIA-DELINEATION.
Yugoslav-Macedonian delineation starts on the ground
19:30 KRIVA PALANKA , Nov 24 (Tanjug) - A three-sided pyramid was placed at the three-border point between Yugoslavia, Macedonia and Bulgaria on Sunday, marking the official beginning of the Yugoslav-Macedonian delineation on the ground, which was agreed on in a bilateral agreement signed in Skopje last year.
Foreign Ministers Goran Svilanovic of Yugoslavia, Ilinka Mitrev of Macedonia and Solomon Pasi of Bulgaria met on this occasion at the St Joakim Osogovski Monastery near Kriva Palanka, announcing an even greater regional cooperation aimed at achieving long-term stability, security, economic prosperity and democracy.
Triangle Pyramid at Point of Intersection of Bulgarian, Macedonian, Yugoslav Border Inaugurated.
Kriva Palanka, Skopje (BTA exclusive by Kostadin Filipov) - The foreign ministers Solomon Passy of Bulgaria, Ilinka Mitreva of Macedonia and Goran Svilanovic of Yugoslavia gathered on Sunday as agreed ten days before at the forum of the Central European Initiative in Skopje.
The occasion for their meeting was the ceremonious inauguration of a triangle pyramid at the point of intersection of the Bulgarian, Macedonian, and Yugoslav border.
The foreign ministers of the three countries and Bulgarian deputy Interior Minister Ivan Petkov were flown to the place of the ceremony on helicopters.
The inauguration of the pyramid marks the beginning of practical work on the demarcation of the border line between Macedonia and Yugoslavia in execution of an agreement signed by the presidents of the two countries, Boris Trajkovski and Vojislav Kostunica, in February 2001.
Later on the top diplomats of Bulgaria, Macedonia and Yugoslavia had a meeting at St Joakim Osogovski Monastery near the town of Kriva Palanka, Macedonia. Passy, Mitreva and Svilanovic discussed specific project for trilateral regional cooperation and the situation in the region.
Mitreva and Svilanovic congratulated their Bulgarian counterpart Passy on his country receiving an invitation to join NATO. The invitation was extended by the Prague summit of the Alliance a few days ago. The top diplomats of Macedonia and Yugoslavia see in this act an important step forward and an opportunity for consolidation of peace, stability and prosperity in the region.
Passy said that during the meeting he had proposed an initiative that would help avoid a possible division of the Balkan countries into Western and Eastern after the accession of Bulgaria and Romania to NATO.
Mitreva said at a news conference after the meeting that she and her counterparts had discussed all forms of cooperation among the three countries, the desire to draw on the experience Bulgaria gained on the way to its Euro-Atlantic orientation, and, in this sense, providing support to Yugoslavia for its admission to the Partnership for Peace programme.
Mitreva said that they had considered some joint measures aimed to accelerate the implementation of certain infrastructure projects, in particular Transport Corridor X (North-South) and Transport Corridor VIII (East-West). Svilanovic added that Belgrade was interested in the project for the Nis-Sofia motorway.
Within this context, the three foreign ministers agreed to propose the holding of trilateral meetings of the ministers of transport and energy of Bulgaria, Macedonia and Yugoslavia next year to discuss specific projects in their areas of responsibility.
Svilanovic asked his counterparts to support Yugoslavia's bid for NATO's Partnership for Peace programme and suggested that the Atlantic clubs of the three countries hold a meeting to exchange experience for this purpose.
Passy emphasized this was his first journey abroad after the decision to invite Bulgaria to join NATO which he described as historic both for Bulgaria and the other countries in the region.
"This is a good sign for our neighbours because it means more security for them too, and their security is our security as well," Passy said.
The three foreign ministers agreed that their next trilateral meeting would take place in Yugoslavia in the first quarter of 2003.
They issued a joint communique emphasizing the desire to prioritize the fulfilment of free trade agreements between the countries in the region. Besides, the foreign ministers of Bulgaria, Macedonia and Yugoslavia point out their readiness for comprehensive application of a memorandum on the establishment of a common energy market signed in Athens on November 15.
THREE-BORDER JUNCTION PYRAMID AMONG MACEDONIA, YUGOSLAVIA AND BULGARIA REVEALED.
MIA
A three-side border pyramid was revealed Sunday at the three-border junction among the Republic of Macedonia, FR Yugoslavia and the Republic of Bulgaria, thus marking the beginning of the border delineation of the Macedonian- Yugoslav border, based on the Border Delineation Agreement between the two countries.
Macedonian Foreign Minister Ilinka Mitreva and her Yugoslav counterpart Goran Svilanovik, as well as Bulgarian Deputy-Foreign Minister Ivan Petkov attended the ceremony.
Today's placement of the borderstone marking the border between Macedonia, Yugoslavia and Bulgaria marks the first step in the implementation of the Agreement for description of the borderline between Macedonia and the FR Yugoslavia, Macedonian Foreign Minister Ilinka Mitreva said at the joint press conference with her Yugoslav and Bulgarian counterparts, Goran Svilanovic and Solomon Pasi.
Mitreva reported that due to the implementation of the Agreement, mixed Macedonian-Yugoslav commissions have been established who work on the physical demarcation of the border.
The Macedonian Foreign Minister said that the trilateral meeting was focused on the negotiations that started in Skopje during the CEI Summit on the possibilities for enhancement of the regional cooperation, which is on the priority list of all three foreign ministers.
"We need to send out a message that the Balkans is not longer a place where the cooperation should be brought by force, but a place where the regional cooperation is essential for the future Euro-Atlantic integration of the countries in the region," she said.
She congratulated to her Bulgarian counterpart Pasi for the invitation that his country received to join NATO, adding that it would also help the integration of all countries from the region in the Euro-Atlantic structures.
"We believe that the borders in the Balkans ought to remain open for communication, but should remain closed for the organized crime. This can be achieved only through strong inter-governmental cooperation," Mitreva stressed, adding that Macedonia and Bulgaria would give strong support to FR Yugoslavia in its efforts to join the Partnership for Peace.
Mitreva reported that the ministers' meeting was also focused on several economic projects, including the Corridor 8 and Corridor 10 projects. In that context, the three ministers suggest a meeting between the ministers of transport from the three countries who would review the issues regarding these projects.
She announced that the next meeting between the three foreign ministers would take place in Yugoslavia.
According to Svilanovic, the demarcation of the border would enhance the communication between the different ethnic groups who live in the borderzone. He assessed that the relations between the three countries have greatly improved, which is visible in the numerous joint activities that they implement.
Thanking for the congratulations for his country's invitation to join NATO, Bulgarian FM Pasi said that the demarcation of the border is not an act that divides, but an act that connects the three countries. "I hope that in the future all citizens will live in Balkans without borders," he said.
"We strongly stand against the tendencies for dividing the Balkans on east and west," the three ministers underlined, pointing out that the Balkans should be seen as one entity.
Macedonian foreign minister said that the demarcation of the border on Macedonian side would cost approximately one million Euro, for which Macedonia expects assistance from the EU. She also said that the border agreement foresees opening of two other border crossings between Macedonia and Yugoslavia.
Asked about Pristina's discontent from the demarcation of the border between Macedonia and Yugoslavia in the Kosovo section, Mitreva said that the border was recognized by all relevant international factors.
Svilanovic said that there could be talks about the border only if that concerns the people, but in no case there would be such negotiations is the subject is sovereignty of the province.
After the meeting, the three ministers came out with joint statement whereat they hail the establishment of the Euro-region Skopje-Nis-Sofia, which took place on October 26 in Skopje.
The three ministers also underline the significance of the cooperation in the field of energy, and express readiness to fully implement the Memorandum for establishment of single energy market in the SEE, which was signed in Athens on November 15.
Macedonian, Yugoslav, Bulgarian officials lay cornerstone along once disputed boundary.
By KONSTANTIN TESTORIDES, Associated Press Writer
SKOPJE, Macedonia - In a gesture meant to signify an end to border disputes, senior Macedonian, Yugoslav and Bulgarian officials on Sunday placed the cornerstone of the boundary separating the three Balkan neighbors.
Participating were Yugoslav Foreign Minister Goran Svilanovic, Bulgarian Deputy Foreign Minister Ivan Petkov, and Macedonia's foreign minister, Ilinka Mitreva. They walked from the border post near Gradiste, 90 kilometers (55 miles) northeast of Macedonia's capital, Skopje, to a spot two kilometers (one mile) away, in the Mt Osogovski range, to put down the pyramid-shaped stone at the junction of their frontiers.
Afterward, joined by Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passi, they withdrew to the nearby Macedonian Christian Orthodox monastery of St. Joakim Osogovski to discuss regional cooperation and efforts to establish stability and democracy.
"The Balkans now becomes a place of cooperation," Mitreva said after the talks.
Macedonia was the only republic to gain independence peacefully from Yugoslavia in 1991. A spate of wars over the last decade accompanied the fragmentation of the Balkan federation.
But border and language disputes with Yugoslavia and Bulgaria, and Greece's challenge to Macedonia's name — Athens maintains that is the exclusive name of a northern Greek province — burdened foreign relations of the newly independent country.
Last year, Macedonia and Yugoslavia signed a border agreement. However, ethnic Albanians in Yugoslavia's southern Kosovo province, which partly borders Macedonia to the north, protested because it defined 2,500 hectares (6,100 acres) of land they claimed as being part of Macedonia.
The Yugoslav-Macedonian border agreement — which paved way for Sunday's ceremony — was recognized by the United Nations and this, stressed Mitreva, leaves "that border question closed."
With Eastern Balkans joining NATO, Albanians loose their temporary importance.
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Sofia, December 10 (BTA) - The procedure for granting or relieving of Bulgarian citizenship involves a great number of civil servants and senior officials which makes abuse almost impossible, Deputy Justice Minister Mario Dimitrov said in response to reports in the Macedonian press. Dimitrov heads the Citizenship Council.
The lifting of Schengen barriers for Bulgarians has prompted a growing interest in Bulgarian citizenship among Macedonians, the Macedonian "Dnevnik" paper writes in its Monday issue under the headline "Macedonians Trade in Bulgarian Passports in Europe".
The granting of Bulgarian citizenship is discussed at the Citizenship Council which presents its stand to the Minister of Justice. In his turn the Minister of Justice presents his stand to the President of the Republic, Dimitrov told Radio Free Europe.
Dimitrov said that the Citizenship Council includes representatives of the ministries of foreign affairs and the interior, the Agency for Bulgarians Abroad and the Agency for Refugees and any interference in its work is impossible.
According to Dimitrov, the growing number of applications for Bulgarian citizenship by Macedonians is most probably due to the fact that Bulgarian citizens can travel freely in the EU, regardless of whether they have another nationality or not.
Some 6,000 Macedonian nationals applied for Bulgarian citizenship this year. Albanian nationals and Bessarabian Bulgarians from Moldova and Ukraine are also claiming Bulgarian descent, Deputy Justice Minister Dimitrov said.
Sofia, February 6 (BTA) - Bulgarian-Macedonian social security agreement was signed by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labour and Social Policy Lidiya Shouleva and her Macedonian counterpart Jovan Manasievsky on Thursday.
The texts in regards to the health insurance will enter into force four years after the agreement takes effect because both sides said they are not ready to apply them at this stage. However, the citizens of the two countries will avail themselves of all rights envisaged in the agreement in the area of social insurance, said Shouleva.
The agreement is to replace a 1975 Social Security Convention signed between Bulgaria and Yugoslavia. At present 101 pensioners living in Macedonia and 52 ones in Bulgaria receive retirement payments by the two countries social security structures on a reciprocal basis.
The agreement is pending ratification by Parliament.
Skopje, February 12 (BTA) - The Bulgarian Embassy in Skopje organized Wednesday a news conference in the Holiday Inn in Skopje on the development and intensification of the trade and economic cooperation between Bulgaria and Macedonia in 2003. Ambassador Alexander Yordanov outlined the priorities in expanding bilateral ties in 2003, the press office of the Bulgarian Embassy told BTA.
The priorities include intensification of the work on the construction of European Transport Corridor VIII and all related projects, speeding up the work on the electricity power line Dubrovo-Kyustendil, the building of the new border checkpoints Simitli-Pehchevo and Stroumyani-Berovo on the Bulgarian-Macedonian border, initiating bilateral consultations on the building of the highway between Skopje and Sofia, boosting regional cooperation and maintaining the dialogue in the triangle Sofia-Nis-Skopje, interaction in a number of fields with the purpose of selling goods on third markets, among others.
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Bulgarian Socialist Party Chairman Stanishev Pays Two-Day Visit to Macedonia at Head of Delegation.
Skopje, March 16 (BTA Special Correspondent Ginka Borissova) - "After the assassination of Prime Minister Zoran Djindjic, Serbia is in an extremely serious situation and the neighbouring countries must be very careful about what is happening in the region," Macedonian Parliament Speaker Nikola Popovski told journalists here Sunday. He emerged from a meeting with Sergei Stanishev, Chairman of the left-wing opposition Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) and Floor Leader of Coalition For Bulgaria.
Popovski specified that this subject was not discussed with his Bulgarian guest.
The two considered bilateral parliamentary cooperation, the situation in Bulgaria and Macedonia, and the two countries' process of European integration. "It is the desire of both sides that interaction between the parliaments be regular and systematic," the BSP leader said. He added that the Macedonian Parliament Speaker proposed that the leaderships of the two legislatures hold annual meetings.
Branko Crvenkovski SDSM and Sergei Stanishev BSP.
This message has been edited by TsarSamuil from IP address 212.181.9.227 on Mar 18, 2003 8:31 AM
Sofia, April 3 (BTA) - Former Macedonian prime minister and VMRO-DPMNE leader Ljubco Georgievski believes that putting off the decision that will settle the statute of Kosovo might turn this part of the Balkans into a black hole that will suck in the whole region.
Georgievski was speaking to the press after a meeting with Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy Thursday. He is here on a private visit on Passy's invitation.
The former Macedonian prime minister is supportive of Djindjic' idea for quick arrangement of Kosovo's statute and believes that it is for the good of Serbia and Montenegro, and the whole region.
He also said that the Ohrid Agreement of August 2001 should be seen as a compromise designed to put an end to the crisis that started as an attempt for territorial gains. The government institutions did a lot, adopted many laws and changed the constitution, but too little has been done about Macedonians' rights. A large part of the Macedonian territory remains unintegrated and is under the influence of paramilitary formations and crime groups, and not a week passes without a bomb or a mine to explode, said Georgievski.
"At the end of my term the rhetoric toward some Western institutions was probably too passionate, but it was sincere," he said adding that back then some international institutions and a part of the international community lacked a principled position on the Macedonia crisis, and the fight against terror lacked a principled approach. "We hope that this is in the past, especially now that struggling terrorism is a worldwide effort and the interests of the small nations also have to be considered."
Asked whether he intends to step down as leader of VMRO-DPMNE, Georgievski said that the idea is not strange to them because he has been at the helm of the party for 12 years now. "It is a normal European process, but it is two more months to the party congress and it is early to take any decisions."
Sofia, April 7 (BTA) - Macedonian Agriculture and Forestry Minister Slavko Petrov arrived April 8 on a two-day official visit here on the invitation of his counterpart Mehmed Dikme, the Bulgarian Agriculture Ministry press centre reported.
The talks will centre on ways to step up bilateral cooperation in farming, animal breeding and forestry.
The two ministers will attend events marking the Week of Forests in Blagoevgrad (Southwestern Bulgaria). They are scheduled to open a hunting exhibition.
Bulgaria Vows to Share with Macedonia Experience in EU Euro-Atlantic Integration.
Novinite.com
Politics: 19 April 2003, Saturday.
Bulgaria's Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg has confirmed Sofia's readiness to share with Macedonia its experience in Euro-Atlantic integration.
Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg, who left Friday on his first official three-day visit to the Republic of Macedonia, had meetings with Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski and Macedonian Parliament President Nikola Popovski.
Bulgaria's support for Macedonia's accession to EU and NATO was highlighted during the talk of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha and Trajkovski.
The two praised the signing of an agreement on the opening of cultural centres of Macedonia in Sofia and of Bulgaria in Skopje.
Skopje, April 19 (BTA special correspondent Hristo Vodenov) - Bulgaria will be a member of the EU and NATO and wants to have a secure and stable neighbour sharing its strategic goals. This was the main message of Bulgarian Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha for the Macedonian political leaders he met in Skopje Saturday morning.
On the second day of his three-day official visit to Macedonia, Saxe-Coburg-Gotha met with the leaders of all Albanian parties in the country, including Ali Ahmeti of the Union for Integration, Arben Xhaferi of the Democratic Party of Albanians, and Abdurrahman Aliti of the Party of Democratic Prosperity. After that the Bulgarian government leader met with the leader of VMRO-DPMNE Ljubco Georgievski.
All meetings focused on the internal political situation in Macedonia, according to Bulgarian Ambassador in Skopje Alexander Yordanov. The politicians talked about the government's performance and plans, and the economic situation in the country.
The sides also discussed the integration of the ethnic communities and the obligations under the Ohrid Agreement.
In their statements after the meeting with the Bulgarian Prime Minister, all Albanian leaders commented an article by Ljubco Georgievski in the Friday issue of the "Dnevnik" paper, in which he suggests that the Macedonians and Albanians living in Macedonian should exchange territories and people, and that a Macedonian advisory council should be established to consider and implement this project, and if the project fails, Macedonians and Albanians should follow the Israeli example and build a cement wall.
Arben Xhaferi believes that the effort in a multi-ethnic country should be to overcome internal divisions. The idea of a Greater Albania is a fiction and could come true only after all other options have been exhausted. Xhaferi pledged his consistent support for the independence of Kosovo and said that this is the only way to guarantee security in Macedonia.
Ali Ahmeti believes that Georgievski's idea to divide Macedonia is troubling. "We live in the 21st century and building walls does not help," said he. Macedonia is one territory and this is how it should join the Euro-Atlantic structures, and people should be speaking of integration and not division, he said.
In the afternoon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha met with former President Kiro Gligorov.
Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg Gotha’s visit is a leading theme in the local media.
For the first time Skopje welcomes a foreign Prime Minister with the highest and military honours.
Bg Government
19.04.2003 ã.
All printed and electronic media in the Republic of Macedonia cover the first day of Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg Gotha’s official visit in Macedonia.
The information contains details about the members of the Bulgarian delegation, the official welcoming ceremony, Prime Minister’s meetings with the state leadership of the Republic of Macedonia and the signing of the bilateral Agreement on establishment of cultural and information centers in the capitals of the two countries. It is highlighted that the Bulgarian Prime Minister has been welcomed with the highest and military honours for the first time in the Macedonian practice towards a foreign Prime Minister.
Local media transmit information for the two Prime Ministers’ press conference given after the plenary talks yesterday. It has been accentuated on the achieved agreement about the priorities in the bilateral relations between Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia, related to both countries’ common strategic goals for EU and NATO accession. The need of accelerating of the commercial and economic cooperation has been underlined as well as of overcoming all administrative and other obstacles, which have brought the trade balance to this unsatisfying level.
The need of formulating a mutual approach which to ensure funds so that the common projects along the Corridor VIII be accomplished – railway, motorway, power line – has also been discussed.
With a view to the new challenges and as a basic field of a future cooperation the Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg Gotha and his Macedonian counterpart looked through the fight with the organized crime and corruption not only in a bilateral but also in a regional aspect, point out the local journalists. Most of the newspapers report about the signed Agreement for establishment of cultural and information centers in the capitals of the two countries.
It has also been emphasized on the theme of the forthcoming 100th anniversary of the Ilinden Uprising. The Bulgarian Prime Minister has been quoted as saying that the two countries can jointly organize the anniversary, which will add to its greater solemnity.
Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia must look ahead and aim at the European norms of behaviour, reckon Prime Ministers Simeon Saxe-Coburg Gotha and Branko Crvenkovski.
Cultural and Information Centers of the two countries are to be opened in Sofia and Skopje.
Bg Government
18.04.2003 ã.
Bulgaria and Republic of Macedonia must look ahead and aim at the European norms of behaviour. No disputes, related with the past should darken the European future of both countries. This was the Prime Ministers Simeon Saxe-Coburg Gotha and Branko Crvenkovski’s unanimous opinion, declared to the media emerging from their today’s meeting.
Bulgarian Prime Minister’s official meetings in Skopje began with the talk with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Macedonia, Branko Crvenkovski.
Prime Minister Crvenkovski expressed his pleasure of the opportunity to receive his Bulgarian colleague. In his opinion the visit is to be important for the spirit of friendship, good neighbourship and understanding between the two countries for they have a common goal – full integration in the Euro-Atlantic environment.
Macedonian Prime Minister acquainted his guest with the political situation in the country after the signing of the Ohrid Agreement which aims at preserving the inter-ethnical peace. In PM Crvenkovski’s opinion the legal frame for development of the relations between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia is excellent but it is not well developing economically. As an example he pointed the trade exchange, which amounts only to 150 million US Dollars in 2002. Both countries expressed the agreement that the executive authorities in Sofia and Skopje must lift all administrative barriers to the business so that it is realized fully.
During the plenary talks the project for building of Corridor VIII has been discussed as well as it has been scored that all possible forms for its funding are sought as through the Stability Pact and as by funds from other countries which will benefit from it- Italy, Greece, Turkey.
The Bulgarian side expressed its readiness to assist Republic of Macedonia on its way towards the European structures as well as to acquaint the negotiating team with our experience in the EU negotiations process.
Minister Bojidar Abrashev who is a member of the Bulgarian delegation and his Macedonian colleague Blagoja Stefanovski signed an Agreement on establishment of cultural and information centers of the two countries in Sofa and Skopje.
Prime Minister’s program continues with formal meetings with President Boris Trajkovski and Chairman of the Parliament, Nikola Popovski.
ECONOMIC COOPERATION AND CORRIDOR 8 ARE MACEDONIA AND BULGARIA PRIORITIES.
MIA
Policy is important as experience and instrument, but for me economy is much more important and therefore although our relations are good, I think it is necessary to intensify the economic relations, Bulgarian Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha said Friday in Skopje.
Assessing that the bilateral relations are on extremely high level, Macedonian Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski emphasized that today talks with his Bulgarian counterpart were focused on economic issues and trade exchange as well as the joint combat against organized crime and corruption.
"Trade exchange between both countries is not satisfactory despite the free trade agreement. Governments may not organize the business, but they are in charge of creating ambience, to eliminate administrative barriers and encourage businessmen, " Crvenkovski said.
As priority for both countries, Crvenkovski pointed out the construction of "Corridor 8", a project aimed at establishing communication between the two countries.
Referring to combating organized crime, Crvenkovski said that it required bilateral and regional cooperation.
Asked about marking of 100th anniversary of the Ilinden Uprising, Saxe-Coburg-Gotha said that both countries could celebrate it together, making the event more glorious.
"It is a fact that the stands of both countries are different in regard with some parts of the history. However, we also have close or identical stands about the future," Crvenkovski said, referring to the aspirations of both countries to join the European Union and NATO.
"Respect of national rights is one of the fundamental European principle and any restrictive policy in that respect cannot exist," Crvenkovski said in regard with the Bulgarian minority rights in Macedonia. "We also have no prejudice," Saxe-Coburg-Gotha said.
Today, the Bulgarian Premier also had a meeting met with Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski, at which they reaffirmed the joint commitment for further promotion of relations and cooperation between the two countries.
It was pointed out that the economic cooperation should be particularly intensified as it is lagging behind the political one.
The two officials welcomed the signing of an Agreement on opening Macedonian Cultural Center in Sofia and Bulgarian Center in Skopje, which would enhance the overall bilateral cooperation.
Considering the fact that Bulgaria is ahead of Macedonia in the process of integrating in the Euro-Atlantic institutions, the Bulgarian part reiterated its readiness to fully support the country in its aspiration to achieve the same strategic goal.
President's Cabinet announced that the meeting also focused on promoting the regional cooperation and intensifying the activities among Macedonia, Bulgaria and Albania in regard with Corridor 8, which is of vital interest for these countries.
Bulgaria, Macedonia Set to Reach European Standards.
Novinite.com
Politics: 18 April 2003, Friday.
Bulgaria and Macedonia should aim at European standards of behaviour and no arguments from the past must be allowed to cast a shadow over the future of the two countries, Bulgarian Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg and Macedonian counterpart Branko Crvenkovski agreed at their meeting April 18.
According to the Macedonian PM the legal frame for the development of the bilateral relations is excellent but not properly implemented to economic relations. As an example he pointed out that trade exchange in 2002 totalled no more than USD 150 M.
Both sides vowed to remove all administrative obstacles for the development of business bilateral relations.
The pan-European Transport Corridor VIII was also discussed at the meeting. It was specified that all ways of financing transport Corridor VIII are being talked over.
Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg left Friday on his first official three-day visit to the Republic of Macedonia.
The Prime Minister is also scheduled to meet President Boris Trajkovski and Parliament President Nikola Popovski. Saturday afternoon he will confer with ex-president Kiro Gligorov. Later in the day Prime Minister Saxe-Coburg will depart for Ohrid and on Sunday he will return to Sofia.
Euro-affairs Minister Meglena Kuneva, Culture Minister Bozhidar Abrashev, Deputy Economy Minister Sofia Kassidova, Deputy Foreign Minister Ivan Petkov and Government's Spokesman Dimitar Tsonev are on the Bulgarian delegation accompanying the prime minister.
Turkey: Cherry-wood cannon likely to return to Macedonia.
MakFax
Macedonian Minister of Defense Vlado Buckovski will visit today the Military Museum of the Turkish Army, situated in Istanbul. The legendary one-century-old cannon, made of cherry wood, will be exhibited at the museum, said Makfax news agency.
The cherry-wood cannon, which is the symbol of Ilinden uprising in Macedonia (1903), will be removed for the first time from Istanbul Museum. Macedonian Minister of Defense will ask Turkish officials to temporally land the legendary cannon to Macedonia on the occasion of 100th anniversary of Ilinden uprising. Istanbul correspondent of Makfax news agency said Turkish officials are willing to grant permanently the cherry-wood cannon to Macedonia given the high significance the country attaches to this hysterical symbol. Macedonian Foreign Minister Ilinka Mitreva discussed this issue with her Turkish counterpart , at the margins of the summit of the South East Europe Co-operation Process recently held in Belgrade. The cherry-wood cannon is currently kept in Istanbul-based Military Museum of Turkish Army and it is the last of the three cannons made by Macedonian rebels in 1903.
Skopje, May 20 (BTA) - Four films depicting important moments in Bulgarian history will be shown during the Days of the Bulgarian Film which opened in Macedonia on Monday. The event, mottoed "Stairway to Future", attracts keen public interest.
Bulgarian Ambassador to Skopje Alexander Yordanov opened the forum with a speech dedicated to May 24, the Day of Slavonic Letters and Bulgarian Culture, the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry said in a press release.
Most print media in Macedonia carried announcements about the event, the press release says.
Foreign Minister Solomon Passy is to meet NATO Secretary General Lord George Robertson at the Borders Security and Management conference, which is to start today, Foreign Ministry press office released. The two-day forum is organized on the initiative of NATO, EU, OSCE, and the Stability Pact in South-Eastern Europe. Minister Passy is going to deliver a speech at the opening. Deputy IM Minister Rumen Stoilov, as well as representatives of the Foreign Ministry, Defense Ministry and the Ministry of Interior, will attend the meeting. Foreign Minister Passy will have talks with NATO Secretary General George Robertson, Macedonia's PM Branko Crvenkovski and other Balkan leaders. The conference is aimed at forming a common strategy for combating the trans-border organized crime.
Sofia, May 29 (BTA) - A two-day international conference on the problems and opportunities for development of municipalities situated along Transport Corridor VIII ended in Sofia with a decision to set up an Association for Local Economic Development along Corridor VIII, which will connect the Black Sea and the Adriatic Sea.
The decision is laid down in a resolution adopted by the 100 participants in the conference, including mayors and local-government experts, representatives of business associations and the private sectors of Albania, Bulgaria and Macedonia.
It is planned to elaborate crossborder projects and look for financing to ensure development of the areas along the corridor, the Foundation for Reform of Local Self-Government told BTA.
The conference was co-organized by the Albanian-American Trade and Development Association, the Sofia City Council, and the Foundation for Reform of Local Self-Government with the financial assistance of the Open Society Institute, Budapest.
This was the second conference on municipal development along Corridor VIII. The first one took place three years ago in Macedonia, where the metropolitan mayors of Sofia, Skopje and Tirana signed a Declaration of Metropolitans in support of economic growth along the corridor and a call for ongoing actions for involving municipalities in the process.
The number of applications submitted for grant of Bulgarian citizenship has increased since the beginning of the year, visiting Vice President Angel Marin told journalists in Devin on Monday. More than 10,000 persons, mainly ethnic Bulgarians from Ukraine, Moldova and Macedonia, submitted Bulgarian citizenship applications in the January-March period of this year alone, compared to 12,000 for the full year 2002. To the Vice President, one of the reasons for the increased interest of the Bulgarians abroad is Bulgaria's pending EU membership and the visa concessions it will bring.
Sofia, June 10 (BTA) - A Bulgarian-Macedonian business forum will take place in Sofia on June 23, 2003 under the patronage of President Georgi Purvanov of Bulgaria and Prime Minister Brancko Crvenkovski of Macedonia, the Bulgarian Industrial Association said Tuesday.
A Macedonian delegation, led by Crvenkovski, will pay an official visit to Bulgaria on June 23 and 24.
MINISTER GESTAKOVSKI PAYS TWO-DAY VISIT TO BULGARIA.
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June 16 2003, 9:49 AM
MINISTER GESTAKOVSKI PAYS TWO-DAY VISIT TO BULGARIA.
Skopje, June 11 (MIA) - Macedonian Minister of Local Self-Government Aleksandar Gestakovski pays a two-day visit to Bulgaria upon an invitation of the Bulgarian Minister of Public Administration Dimitar Kalchev.
The talks will be focused on experiences in the reforms of the administration and local self-government in two countries.
Minister Gestakovski will meet the Bulgarian Regional Development and Public Works Minister Valentin Cerovski and Mayor of Sofia Stefan Sofijanski.
Minister Passy gave account in the Parliament on Paskova's case.
Novinite.com
13 June 2003, Friday
Bulgaria will make every effort to solve the case of the Bulgarian woman who got a controversial sentence in Macedonia. This is what the Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy said while he gave an explanation in the Parliament on the case.
He pointed out that the Macedonian authorities failed to inform the Bulgarian mission about the verdict. The foreign administration was not aware of the incident till May 16 when convicted Anna Paskova filed a complaint in the ministry in Sofia over the violations of her rights. Among other points, the woman complained about the refusal of the Macedonians to grants her a lawyer and about sexual harassment while she got extradited to Bulgaria.
Minister Passy admitted that the Bulgarian consular service failed to tackle the case the right way. He promised to boost the efficiency of consular protection. The minister said that last year some 1,000 Bulgarians sought assistance over similar cases from the Bulgarian missions around the globe.
Sofia has already demanded explanation with a note to Skopje's Ambassador to Bulgaria Lubisha Georgievski.
In early May, a Skopje court ordered the Bulgarian woman to pay a fine of 10,000 denars after she said publicly that there is no Macedonian minority in Bulgaria and that Macedonia have existed as a state for ten years.
Following these words, she was attacked by the passengers in the bus where the incident happened. She then was accused of causing public disorder and sentenced in a speeded-up trial.
The Bulgarian media gave the case a lot of coverage and published Paskova's statements that she has encountered indifference and bureaucratic sluggishness as she sought assistance by the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry.
The Foreign Ministry has handed in a verbal note to Macedonia's Ambassador to Bulgaria Ljubisa Georgievski on the case of Anna Paskova. That was announced by Foreign Minister Solomon Passy at the sitting of the Parliament yesterday. At the same time, Bulgaria's Ambassador to Macedonia Alexander Yordanov sent a note to the Foreign Ministry of Macedonia. Georgievski apologized for the accident and made a commitment to do everything possible to shed light on this case, Minister Passy also added. The Court in the city of Skopje convicted Anna Paskova because she identified herself as a Bulgarian during the scandal with Macedonian citizens on a bus, May 13.
Macedonia's Envoy to Sofia Summoned Again for Explanation.
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June 17 2003, 1:55 PM
Macedonia's Envoy to Sofia Summoned Again for Explanation.
Novinite.com
Politics: 17 June 2003, Tuesday
The Macedonian Ambassador to Bulgaria Lubisha Georgievski was summoned to the Foreign Ministry in Sofia Tuesday for a second interview within a month. He will give explanation as to why Skopje has not informed Sofia's consul about administrative measures taken against Bulgarian nationals. Macedonia's hush on incidents with Bulgarians is breaching a bilateral consular accord. This time the ambassador has to give account on the case of Bulgarian Anton Spasov who was allegedly beaten by Macedonian policemen and expelled from the country.
According to Spasov, he was attacked when he said he was Bulgarian in a quarrel with his Skopje neighbors and then beaten by Macedonian policeman who tried to recruit him as an intelligence agent on June 13. Although he was acquitted by a Skopje court, the Bulgarian was expelled from the country and got a black stamp in his passport that banns him from entering Macedonia again.
According to spokesman of Bulgaria's Foreign Ministry, the ground of Spasov's troubles in Macedonia is an inheritance dispute. The Bulgarian is at odds with his mother and sister - both Macedonian nationals - over the ownership a house in Skopje.
With the black stamp in his passport, it is now impossible for Spasov to continue the court battle for the estate. However, he did not secure a medical certificate proving the battery so Bulgarian authorities will be somewhat hindered in their efforts to help him, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lybomir Todorov said. He pointed out that such certificate was of great importance in the case of Anna Paskova who was recently sentenced in Skopje after she had stated there was no Macedonian minority in Bulgaria.
The ministry is now convening special consultations to find ways to assist Spasov in his claims against the Macedonian authorities.
MACEDONIA has been accused by Bulgaria of breaching a bilateral consular convention which requires that information be provided about administrative measures taken against Bulgarian citizens.
Subsequently, Macedonia has pledged to inform the Bulgarian consulate in Skopje immediately if a Bulgarian is arrested.
Bulgarian Deputy Foreign Minister Katia Todorova visited Macedonia last week, following two recent cases of alleged human rights infringement against Bulgarian citizens visiting Macedonia. One of the main concerns of the Bulgarian side expressed during the visit was the lack of immediate information when Bulgarians were arrested in Macedonia.
Macedonian ambassador to Bulgaria Lubisha Georgievski had to explain for a second time this month why Skopje did not inform Sofia about administrative measures taken against Bulgarian nationals. The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry summoned the Macedo-nian diplomat last Tuesday for an interview.
This time the ambassador had to give account on the case of Bulgarian Anton Spassov, who allegedly was beaten by Macedonian policemen and expelled from the country after saying he was a Bulgarian. He was the second Bulgarian this month to complain about a Macedonian attack on nationalistic grounds.
According to Spassov, his Macedonian neighbors in Skopje attacked him when he said he was a Bulgarian, and then a Macedonian policeman beat him up. A Skopje court acquitted Spassov, but he was expelled from the country and banned from future entrance to Macedonia.
Unlike Anna Paskova, another victim of Bulgarian-bashing by Macedonians, Spassov did not secure a medical certificate, and this would seriously hinder Bulgarian diplomats' efforts to help him, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lybomir Todorov told Bulgarian media.
Paskova was arrested in Skopje in early May after stating that there was no Macedonian minority in Bulgaria, being attacked by bus passengers, and accused of causing public disorder. She had to pay a 10 000 denar fine (about 250 euro).
Paskova said she was beaten by Skopje police and a policeman tried to rape her. She also complained about the refusal of the Macedonians to grant her a lawyer and announced she would sue Macedonia in the European Court on Human Rights.
"What happened to me in Macedonia is terribly absurd," she told Bulgarian National Radio. She said she had heard about similar cases, but Bulgarian ministry staff members told her victims of such incidents apparently did not dare to speak up.
Passi said the Bulgarian consular service had failed to handle the case in the right way and promised to boost the efficiency of consular protection. About 1000 Bulgarians sought assistance over similar cases from the Bulgarian missions around the globe, Passi said. He said the big challenge in such situations was to protect both the interests of Bulgarian citizens and bilateral relations, because one cannot be protected at the expense of the other.
Todorova told the Bulgarian National Radio there have also been complaints by Macedonian citizens against Bulgarian customs officers, and Bulgaria and Macedonia agreed to hold consular consultations on the issue.
SOFIA (bnn)--Bulgaria's top military commander said Monday his country would help neighboring Macedonia build its fledgling army.
"We are ready to help develop the Macedonian Army," Bulgarian Army Chief of Staff Gen. Nikola Kolev said after a meeting with his Macedonian colleague Gen. Metodi Stamboliski.
Kolev listed military training, equipment maintenance and joint exercises as forms of bilateral military cooperation.
Bulgaria, which is invited to join NATO along with six other east European countries, was the first country to recognize Macedonia, when it seceded from Yugoslavia in 1992.
Bulgaria has donated to Macedonia 94 main battle tanks and 108 howitzers in 1999 and later supplied its government with munitions and equipment to help it fight an ethnic Albanian insurgency in 2001.
Stamboliski was scheduled to visit the Graf Ignatievo air base near Plovdiv, 160 kilometers (100 miles) southeast of Sofia and the 61st Light Infantry Brigade in Karlovo, 150 kilometers (93 miles) east of Sofia. Both units have been revamped along the NATO standards.
Visiting chief of staff says "there will be no war" in Macedonia
Everyone can say whatever they want - there will be no war in Macedonia, Lt-Gen Metodi Stamboliski, commander of the Macedonian Army General Staff, said in Sofia in connection with yesterday's reports according to which partisan [guerilla?] organizations in Albania and Kosovo are threatening Macedonia with a new war, because "the leaders in Macedonia are not implementing their commitments to the Albanian population".
Stamboliski met Gen Nikola Kolev, commander of the Bulgarian Army General Staff, at whose invitation he is making an official visit to Bulgaria. During their talk, the two discussed the progress of the reform in both armies. Gen Kolev stated that, since we are more advanced in our reform, we will assist the process of reforming the Macedonian Army.
For his part, Stamboliski described the meeting as cooperation at the highest level, which will certainly continue. He expressed his confidence that Bulgaria will help in achieving the basic goal of the Macedonian Army and country, namely, NATO membership. Stamboliski said that the Macedonian Army will be cut to 12,800 military personnel.
Gen Kolev pointed out that training Macedonian military personnel at Bulgarian military schools, maintaining the Macedonian Army equipment at Bulgarian plants, conducting joint manoeuvres, and so on, are future priorities of the two armies' cooperation. Bulgaria is interested in Macedonia's development as a stable state and a factor of peace in the region.
Regarding the future Bulgarian donation of about 100 tanks to the Macedonian Army, the two generals declared that this is a political issue, within the competence of the two ministers.
President Georgi Parvanov and Director-General of UNESCO Koichiro Matsuura arrived in Ohrid together to take part in a two-day forum Dialogue between Civilizations, to be held under the auspices of UNESCO. Matsuura arrived on board a helicopter at Sofia airport from Starosel. He flew off to Ohrid together with President Parvanov and First Lady Zorka Parvanova. Macedonia's President Boris Trajkovski received Bulgaria's head of state and his wife in his residence on the lake of Ohrid.
Ohrid - The 3rd session of the Bulgarian-Macedonian intergovernmental commission for trade and economic cooperation opened in the Macedonian town of Ohrid Thursday morning following a three-year break. The commission's co-chair, Bulgarian Regional Development and Public Works Minister Valentin Tserovski, is expected in Skopje later on Thursday together with a 35-member delegation.
Macedonian Defence Minister Vlado Buckovski Friday is to participate at the regional international conference entitled "Shaping a Common Security Agenda for SEE Europe - New Approaches and Shared Responsibilities," which takes place in Sofia.
The conference is organised by the Centre for the Study of Democracy in co-operation with Friedrich Ebert Foundation.
Macedonian Defence Minister had a meeting Thursday with his Croatian and Albanian counterparts Zeljka Antunovic and Pandeli Majko, focused on current political and security situation in the region and the memorandum of understanding of the defence ministers of signatory countries of the Adriatic Charter, which is to be adopted on September 12 in Tirana.
The memorandum is focused on consultations regarding armament, the security and defence policy, the co-operation in military-technical sphere, education, and peacekeeping operations. The Adriatic Charter signatories are determined to strengthen border security and information exchange in order to reduce threats of terrorism, organised crime and trafficking in arms, drugs and humans.
Macedonian Defense Minister Vlado Buckovski participateed today at the regional international conference entitled "Shaping a Common Security Agenda for SEE Europe - New Approaches and Shared Responsibilities," which took place in Sofija.
The conference was organised by the Centre for Study of Democracy in co-operation with Friedrich Ebert Foundation.
Macedonian Defence Minister had a meeting Thursday with his Croatian and Albanian counterparts Zeljka Antunovic and Pandeli Majko, focused on current political and security situation in the region and the memorandum of understanding of the defence ministers of signatory countries of the Adriatic Charter, which is to be adopted on September 12 in Tirana.
The memorandum is focused on consultations regarding armament, the security and defence policy, the co-operation in military-technical sphere, education, and peacekeeping operations. The Adriatic Charter signatories are determined to strengthen border security and information exchange in order to reduce threats of terrorism, organised crime and trafficking in arms, drugs and humans, reporetd MIA.
'The Miss Stone Affair': A Hostage Crisis in Macedonia.
By BEN MACINTYRE
Teresa Carpenter, author of the book "The Miss Stone Affair." Marion Ettlinger/Simon & Schuster
An American missionary spinster and a beautiful Bulgarian woman (who turns out to be pregnant) are kidnapped in the rugged mountains of Macedonia and held for ransom by bandit-revolutionaries; American diplomats scramble after them through the dense thickets of Balkan politics, a scandalized public raises ransom money and there is talk of sending in American warships, although no one is quite sure whom to threaten. As their captivity drags on, the women come to find their mysterious, leathery captors rather appealing, even romantic, and by the time they are eventually released, they have become propagandists for their cause. This is not some made-for-celluloid drama adapted from the recent Balkan conflicts but an episode a century old, one of the earliest, oddest examples of a full-blown international hostage crisis, and a strange case of Stockholm syndrome avant la lettre.
The kidnappers did not quite realize what they were letting themselves in for on Sept. 3, 1901, when they abducted the evangelist Ellen Stone and Katerina Tsilka, a Protestant convert, as they were picnicking in a remote region near the border between Bulgaria and Macedonia. Miss Stone, a pillar of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, was a tightly corseted and devout Boston blueblood. She and Mrs. Tsilka spend much of ''The Miss Stone Affair'' in tears, but the granite Miss Stone never crumbles in front of her captors, who plainly found this American grande dame quite terrifying. ''What can you do with an angry, elderly and very respectable woman glaring at you?'' one of the rebels later remarked.
The women are spirited into the mountains on an uncomfortable six-month odyssey, bundled from cramped forest hut to dingy cellar as the kidnappers demand 25,000 liras ($1 million today) for their return. This initiates a long, complicated and occasionally baffling diplomatic farrago involving the Turkish authorities, the Bulgarian government, American officials, missionaries, journalists and local fixers. Teresa Carpenter has done exhaustive research in piecing together the byzantine negotiations, and the result can be exhausting. The women had only the most vague idea of where they were being taken; some readers will feel the same.
We do not discover until Page 115 (by which point we have spent a long time in their company) that the insurgents are ethnic Bulgarian Christians, members of the Internal Organization of Macedonian revolutionaries, led by one Yane Sandansky, a teacher with Marxist leanings. ''Macedonia'' was then a region under Ottoman rule that had briefly been part of Bulgaria two decades earlier. Sandansky and his group wanted agrarian reform and eventual independence from Ottoman domination; but for that they needed money for weapons, and Miss Stone seemed an easy way to get it.
A Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Carpenter draws modern-day parallels. ''Turn-of-the-century negotiators would find themselves having to deal with a shadow adversary who could fade into mountains beyond the range of conventional weapons,'' she writes. ''The Stone affair, driven as it was by ancient ethnic hatreds and banner headlines, seems as timely today as it was on that brisk autumn afternoon in 1901 when Miss Stone was forced off her horse at gunpoint.'' Certainly the blowhard diplomats pursuing their own agendas, the hard-nosed journalists elbowing after the story (while periodically making it up) and the media barons waving their checkbooks are all reminiscent of our own time. In obedience to Victorian sensibilities, the press and public immediately assumed that the women's virtue would be under threat. ''What those two women will suffer can be imagined,'' declared the Rev. John W. Baird. But that sort of imagination, of course, helped to sell newspapers.
More compelling than the political maneuvering, and the American attempts to put pressure on the various parties, is the evolving relationship between captives and kidnappers. Carpenter implies a sexual frisson from the start: ''Miss Stone, unused to being touched by men, stiffened when they lifted her onto the horse. She smelled alcohol on their breath. Stone was a temperance worker, and she knew what could happen to men under the influence of drink.'' The pregnant Mrs. Tsilka appears to have been particularly smitten by one of them. ''He was a handsome man,'' she later wrote. ''He was tall and athletic, his movements were smooth and graceful. He had dark blue eyes, at times sad and pathetic, then again resolute and fierce.'' For Miss Stone, being kidnapped was frightening, but also thrilling, and at times in her later memoir she rose to lyricism: ''As the quiet of the night calmed our fevered nerves, we observed the brigands marching noiselessly around us. . . . As if by magic, men were deployed upon one side or the other as scouts, the path often changing direction without apparent command. There was a weird fascination about the scene.''
So, far from ravishing their captives, the rebels usually treated them with courtesy, procuring clean underwear and trying to alleviate the discomfort. In turn Miss Stone lectured them on the evils of smoking and gave them affectionate nicknames. The women feared that Mrs. Tsilka's newborn child might be killed to avoid detection. Instead, the men come to pay their respects to the baby girl, declaring that they will write her name on their rifle butts. These bashful, blundering bandits seem a far cry from the glinting, lunatic efficiency of modern-day terrorists.
The plot thickens considerably when we discover that Mrs. Tsilka's husband, an ethnic Albanian, was suspected of having a hand in organizing the kidnapping. The Turks, less plausibly, suspect Miss Stone herself. Certainly, the women become passionate advocates for the Macedonian cause when they are released onto an avidly expectant and highly lucrative lecture circuit. The women flatly refused to blame their captors. But the emotional link, like the ideological one, is never quite explained, although heftily implied.
Carpenter is earnest and meticulous, and one senses beneath her sobriety an urge to let herself go and fully indulge in the human drama. There is the occasional breathy passage, but for the most part, like her heroine, she maintains an impressively stiff upper lip. This leaves the impression of two books in one: a worthy account of politics and diplomacy, with a more emotional tale beneath it, itching to break free.
Ben Macintyre is a columnist for The Times of London. His latest book is ''The Englishman's Daughter: A True Story of Love and Betrayal in World War I.''
By the time the American consul general, Charles Dickinson, reached Sofia, the Bulgarian capital was full of foreign journalists. Six thousand miles and an ocean to the west, the American public had awakened from its trance of mourning. Leon Czolgosz, the President's assassin, had been found to be acting alone, quieting fears that anarchists were about to seize the levers of government. The press was now fully alive to the possibilities of Miss Stone.
Pulitzer's World wanted an exclusive - pending a happy outcome. Should Miss Stone agree to couch her memoirs in the form of a long telegram containing 10,000 words or so of "interesting matter," the paper was prepared to pay a large, though as yet unspecified, sum. Hearst's New York Journal had dispatched its own man to Sofia. He too was reputed to be carrying a fat purse - largesse that would doubtless find its way into the palms of telegraph operators and bellboys in exchange for information.
Correspondents congregated next door to the hotel at the Grand Café de Bulgarie, to drink raki and trade gossip. One, from Paris's Le Figaro, claimed to have visited the American missionary in a remote mountain canyon, where she was being treated in "queenly fashion." Two of her captors had been assigned to her as servants. They had, in fact, made a long trip to Constantinople to buy her Kodak film. A less sanguine account of Miss Stone's captivity found its way into the New York Journal. "Bulgarian Clergymen" had visited a brigands' camp where they found the captive "semi-mesmerized and in danger of losing her mind."
The consul general refused requests for interviews, grumbling about the danger that this feverish interest posed to his mission. In fact, Charles Dickinson was perfectly confident in his ability to handle gentlemen from the press.
Dickinson had, as publisher of the Binghamton Republican in upstate New York, helped to turn an ineffectual handful of small news organizations into what would become the Associated Press. He was also a published poet. One of his verses, "The Children," was widely anthologized, although its fame seems to have rested in part upon an early misconception, due to a compositor's error, that its author was Charles Dickens. Dickinson had spent much of his life trying to get the credit due him. This had happened only after Dickens's son wrote a letter saying the poem was assuredly not his father's.
In the spring of 1875, Dickinson had suffered a nervous collapse after losing his only child, a son, to diphtheria and for several years had confined himself to landscaping his Binghamton, New York, estate. He regained his health, thanks to the outdoor work, which directed his thoughts into "health-giving channels." He then set off on a world tour, which left him with a lasting appreciation for the charms of the Old World. It also convinced him that the American diplomatic service was run inefficiently. What it needed was a businessman's touch - naturally, his own. Through his connections with the New York Republican corrupt political machine of bosses Thomas C. Platt and Roscoe Conkling, he landed the U.S. consulship in Constantinople.
When Dickinson arrived in January 1898 at the Palazzo Corpi, the small Italianate mansion that housed the American Legation on La Grande Rue de Pera, he received an icy reception. The U.S. Minister and his staff had a long-standing suspicion of arriving consuls, fearful that the latter might be tempted to overstep their prerogatives and meddle in foreign policy matters. Dickinson asssured his new colleagues that he had "no desire for a ministry and the social functions that would go with it." His sole ambition, he declared, was to promote American business.
Until Dickinson arrived in Constantinople, American goods had barely trickled into Turkey. Europeans who controlled shipping in the region shut out all other exporters. The new consul general scored his first triumph by convincing a tramp steamer line to deliver American goods straight into the Golden Horn. When British and German shippers hired the son of the grand vizier to use his father's influence to impound American flour on the docks, an enraged Dickinson asked the secretary of state for permission to threaten "retaliatory measures." In doing so, he ran afoul of Alvah Adee, who was afraid of offending the Turks. The flour incident left relations between Dickinson and Adee permanently strained.
Dickinson was, in fact, more ambitious than he let on. Two years after arriving in Constantinople, he announced his intentions of opening Bulgaria to American business. He wanted an appointment as U.S. Minister to Sofia.
Turn-of-the-century Sofia was not one of the glittering capitals of Europe. It was tiny, muddy, and in transition. The Oriental character of the town - indeed, anything that reminded Bulgarians of the recent Turkish occupation - had been ripped out and replaced piecemeal with Western-style buildings. There was a charming royal palace in the French style. The area around it was paved with cobblestones or brick. Unlike Salonica, still captive to the Sultan's prejudice against "dynamos," Sofia had electricity, which ran an impressive system of streetcars and illuminated public buildings and many private homes. The residential areas, which lay beyond a two-block radius of the palace, however, were a jumble. Every citizen was responsible for the paving in front of his own home. Some did. Sofia reminded one British visitor of an American cow town.
That Sofia had an oddly American air was no accident. Nearly all of its political leaders had been educated at Robert College, a missionary school in Constantinople. After the Treaty of Berlin in 1878, Bulgarians had adopted an American-style democracy, including a popularly elected legislature. Its constitution, the most liberal in Europe except for Switzerland's, guaranteed freedom of religion and press, and right of assembly, and it forbade the rule of monarchs. Strangely, it made provisions for a prince. Alexander of Battenberg was only twenty when he was recruited to the throne. Greatly loved by his own people, he was not favored by Tsar Alexander III, who forced his abdication. A blue-ribbon delegation then made an exhaustive canvass of Europe to find a replacement who would be acceptable to the Russians. They settled on a grandson of Louis Napoleon, the last emperor of France. He was Ferdinand of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha.
Republic or not, the Bulgarians felt they needed a royal on the throne, if only to remind themselves of their lost imperial glory. During the Middle Ages, their own Tsar Ivan Asen II had ruled much of the Balkans. His court, according to one British author, was "far more refined, elegant ... and cultivated intellectually than the English king's." More than that, however, the Bulgarians needed a symbolic warrior who could rattle a saber at the Serbs to the west and the Turks to the east. The twenty-six-year-old Ferdinand, however, was no one's idea of a warlord. He was, in the confidential assessment of the committee that acquired him, a "spoilt child ... more fit to lie on a sofa than to sit in the saddle."
At the prodding of his ambitious mother, Princess Clementine, Ferdinand accepted the crown and played his ceremonial role gamely. He had a scientific bent that made him receptive to progress. Still, he was said to despise Sofia, preferring to spend his time at his summer palace in Varna, collecting and classifying insects. During these long absences, a personal representative of Alexander III saw to the Prince's interests in the capital. Russia, as always, was the power behind the Bulgarian throne.
Bulgaria, then, was an odd hybrid: a nominal Ottoman principality, an American-style democracy, and a Russian client state. Doing business in Sofia therefore required all the finesse and politesse that a career diplomat could muster.
Whatever his virtues as a businessman, Dickinson lacked politesse. Neither did he speak French, the universal language of diplomacy. He succeeded, however, in convincing the State Department to appoint him - if not minister, then at least to the lower and more nebulous position of "U.S. diplomatic agent" to Sofia. President McKinley signed the letter of credence, which Dickinson hoped to present personally to Ferdinand in the summer of 1901.
The Prince, while accepting Dickinson in theory, refused to receive him. Ferdinand and his ministers were troubled that Mr. Dickinson proposed to remain consul to Constantinople. Turkey was, after all, Bulgaria's old enemy, and having one man hold both posts was an "incompatible accumulation of functions."
In early August, Dickinson vented his frustrations in a letter to the State Department. There were "influences at work" - Russian, he suspected - to keep Americans out of Bulgaria. Because his presentation at court had been "indefinitely postponed," he proposed to take up his post without formal recognition. "They want our farm machinery," he declared bluntly, assuming that the juggernaut of American commercial imperialism would roll right over this toy prince. The State Department held Dickinson in check - until l'affaire de Miss Stone.
Charles Dickinson had met Ellen Stone socially. Few details of that encounter survive, except that it occurred during the year prior to her kidnapping and that she had found him a "sagacious man and earnest Christian." In later correspondence, he refers to her with respect, even affection. Why he displayed such apparent lack of concern for her by ignoring Vice-Consul Lazzaro's pleas for help has never been explained. Dickinson was most likely playing his cards close to the vest, not sharing information with anyone, waiting to be dispatched on a mission of mercy that could, as a fortunate by-product, put the seal on his appointment to Sofia.
When Dickinson arrived at the Bulgarian capital on Friday, October 4, he carried only the vague title of "diplomatic agent" and had no formal authority to negotiate a ransom. The instructions he had received from the State Department were cautious. He was to observe a "strict reticence," avoiding committing himself or his government to any course of action. He was, moreover, to refrain from discussing questions of "ultimate responsibility," although it was the current belief in Washington and Constantinople that the women had been carried over the border by Macedonian revolutionaries.
To the best of the State Department's information, the operational center of the Macedonian revolutionary organization was Sofia. Until recently, it had operated quite openly under the leadership of Lieutenant Boris Sarafov, a reputed familiar of Prince Ferdinand who had a reputation for ruthlessness. He didn't hesitate to collect contributions to the cause at "revolver's mouth." Sarafov was also a man of considerable charm. He had traveled widely in Europe raising funds for a war against the Turks. This included seducing the plain daughters or bored wives of wealthy men and persuading them to make donations to the revolutionary cause. During the Spanish-American War, he'd proposed to rent Macedonian mercenaries to the United States, but his offer was declined. Sarafov had apparently overstepped his prerogatives by plotting the assassination of a Romanian newspaper editor who had published unflattering remarks about the Comitate. The journalist's murder brought Bulgaria and Romania to the brink of war. Sarafov was stripped of his chairmanship. Tried and acquitted in the spring of 1901, he'd dropped out of sight. The Turks were now circulating his photograph on their side of the border.
The missionaries did not seem to favor the Sarafov theory, holding instead that the kidnapping was the work of the local committee in Samokov. Two years earlier, the Reverend James F. Clarke, a teacher at the Boys' Institute, had received an anonymous letter from the Comitate demanding a contribution to the "holy cause" under the pain of death. When he turned the letter over to Bulgarian authorities, his barn was burned.
The missionaries seemed to feel that the mischief, and subsequent kidnapping of Miss Stone, was the work of one Asen Vacilov, chairman of the local revolutionary committee. Young Vacilov was "smart and reckless and a café orator," according to one American newspaper, which added, "He has never earned an honest dollar and has lived off contributions to the local revolutionary fund." Vacilov had studied at the Protestant boys' school but had since taken to taunting and persecuting the staff. Miss Mary Haskell had tentatively identified him as the man who thrust the ransom letter into her window the night of September 24. Since then, he'd been taken into custody by local Bulgarian police. No one - not the missionaries nor even the consul general - was allowed to interview him.
The Evangelicals were perfectly aware of an impending showdown between Bulgarians and Turks in Macedonia, and in principle, they were neutral. They were in the business of saving souls, they declared, not playing politics. Certain of the Americans, however, actively despised the Comitate. The Reverend John Baird for one condemned it as "socialist" and "anarchist." And the line between politics and humanitarian aid was often blurred. During the winter of 1879, Clarke, over the objections of his superiors, spent two months distributing relief to Macedonian refugees. His efforts had apparently given the impression of partisan sympathy, and the Comitate, their request for funds rebuffed, now apparently felt betrayed.
Miss Stone had never made a secret of her dislike for the Turks, but neither had she - as far as anyone could recall - expressed any sympathy for the revolutionists. A story, unverified but persistent, now circulated that as recently as July, she had been asked for a "contribution" but had refused. Perhaps the Comitate hoped to make an example of her to force the missionaries into a more generous attitude of giving.
Dickinson deputized the Reverend Baird and sent him to Bansko to find out what he could about the kidnapping. The consul general then paid a call on the British chargé d'affaires, James McGregor. Since the "Liberation" in 1879, the British had handled American matters in Sofia. For the past few weeks, McGregor had been quietly gathering intelligence about Miss Stone.
At almost the same time, the second group, headed by Kouber, settled in the area between Thessalonica and Bitolja, with their central settlement in Ceramea, in the midst of the land of the Sclavinaijj tribe of the Dragouvites. This group arrived from Pannonia, or to be more exact from the area of Sirmium (modern Sremska Mitrovitsa, Yugoslavia), which then was included in the realm of the Avar Khaganate. Kouber's Proto-Bulgarians being Avar dissidents, Constantinople counted on breaking up the mass of Slavs and their alliance with the Avars, so Byzantium welcomed them and asked its allies, the Dragouvites, to provide food supplies.
Miracula Sancti Demetrii, II, V, 197.
see also:
P. Lemerle, Les plus anciens recueils des miracles de saint Démétrius et la pénétration des Slaves dans les Balkans, vol. 1. Paris: Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 1979: 50-165.
Man Beaten in Macedonia over "Bulgarian Citizenship"
Novinite.com
Politics: 9 October 2003, Thursday
A man holding double Macedonian-Bulgarian citizenship was beaten up Wednesday night by a Macedonian police officer at a border checkpoint, Bulgarian Darik radio reported. Mitko Georgiev, 45, who lives in Macedonian town Strumitsa told the radio policeman was enraged by his Bulgarian citizenship.
The incident occurred at Macedonian Zlatarevo checkpoint as Georgiev returned to the country from Bulgarian southwestern city Blagoevgrad. He then obtained a medical certificate proving the battery at a hospital in Bulgarian border town Petrich. Later on, a similar document was issued to him in hometown Strumitsa.
On Thursday, he called Bulgaria's embassy in Skopje but was told to file a written complaint.
This development comes after several months ago Bulgaria protested with a note and the Macedonian ambassador had to give an explanation following cases of abuse against Bulgarian nationals in the country's southwestern neighbor.
THREATENED WITH DEATH, EH? I FEEL LIKE KILLING THAT YUGO SWINE SLOW..
Macedonian Cop Battered a Bulgarian.
Standartnews
Border policeman beat a 45-year-old businessman black and blue with fists; one of the victim's teeth came adrift. Mitko Georgiev was cynically cursed at and threatened with death.
A Macedonian border police officer beat Bulgarian businessman black and blue on Wednesday evening, at Novo Selo border checkpoint. The victim is Mitko Lazarov Georgiev (45) from Strumitsa town. He is of Bulgarian origin and he has had dual citizenship for 3 years now. In the fatal evening he was coming back from Bulgaria with his car. About 11:00 p.m., he reached Novo Selo border checkpoint and the Macedonian customs officers told him they would search the car thoroughly. A border policeman popped up and started cursing at Mr. Georgiev quite cynically, shouting at the top of his lungs. Then he took the businessman into a room and mercilessly beat him black and blue with fists. "He was severely punching me in the face and body; then he grasped my hair and dragged me along the ground; this nightmare lasted several minutes," Mitko Georgiev recounts in terror. He could feel blood on his lips and one of his teeth came adrift. A month ago, the brother-in-law of the same cop threatened Mr. Georgiev with death.
Macedonian Cop Battered down Bulgarian Businessman.
Standartnews
Vladimir Simeonov
A Macedonian border police officer beat me black and blue on Wednesday evening, 45-year-old Mitko Lazarov Georgiev said before journalists in Blagoevgrad town. He is from the town of Strumitsa in Macedonia. The businessman is of Bulgarian origin and he has had dual citizenship: Macedonian and Bulgarian for 3 years now. Mr. Georgiev is the owner of a radio and newspaper in Strumitsa town. He was coming back from Bulgaria with his car, along with 3 students. At Novo-selo border checkpoint customs officers told him they would search the car thoroughly. A border policeman popped up and started cursing at Mr. Georgiev. "I told him not to talk to me like that. This drove him crazy and he took me to a room, where he beat me black and blue with fists," Mitko Georgiev recounts in terror. To him, the most famous Bulgarian families in Macedonia are subjected to repressions on the part of Macedonian authorities on various occasions.
5,000 foreigners look out to be admitted to Bulgarian citizenship, Foreign Minister Solomon Passy informed. He explained that in the course of recent years while Bulgaria had been drawing closer to the EU membership, there had been a flow of foreigners eager to become Bulgarian nationals. Most of the applicants come from the neighbouring countries. This comes to say that Bulgaria is becoming an attractive country, Bulgaria's No 1 Diplomat said. To him, the day when Bulgarian emigrants return home is soon to come. Bulgarian Foreign Ministry will carry out a euro-communication strategy in nearest future that would help the state to better absorb the pre-accession funds, Minister Passy elaborated. We are good at contracting large sums of money but can hardly reasonably spend them, Solomon Passy said. Foreign Minister Passy also said he would inform his EU counterparts about the turn the trial against Bulgarian medics in Libya took. On Monday, when the next sitting of the court in Benghazi is held, Passy will be at the EU Intergovernmental Conference in Luxemburg. Meanwhile, it was made clear that Bulgaria's No 1 Diplomat refused to take part in the Man of the Year contest. I am grateful for being nominated but I reckon my principal task to be the work for Bulgaria's ranking for the EU, Minister Passy's letter reads that has been sent to Club M magazine publisher Hristo Peev.
Skopje, November 13 (BTA) - Film director Milan Ognyanov, literary critic Prof. Bozhidar Kounchev and prominent Bulgarian violinist Vladimir Vladiguerov were among the participants in the evening officially marking the end of the "Autumn Encounters with Bulgaria" days of Bulgarian Culture in Macedonia.
During the Days, which continued for more than a month, the people of Macedonia had the chance to meet prominent representatives of Bulgarian culture and science, the press office of the Bulgarian Embassy in Skopje told BTA.
The centenary of the establishment of Bulgarian-US diplomatic relations was also marked within the framework of the days.
Measures Facilitating Bulgarian-Macedonian Border Crossing to Be Considered Shortly.
Sofia, November 10 (BTA) - The trade and transport facilitation councils of Bulgaria, BULPRO, and of Macedonia, MAKPRO, will hold their first bilateral meeting on November 12, the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry said Monday.
Measures to facilitate the crossing of the Bulgarian-Macedonian border will be discussed at the meeting. The results of a monitoring conducted at the Gyueshevo - Deve Bair border checkpoint on November 5 will be presented, and the National Customs Agency and the National Border Police Service will deliver their reports.
Bulgarian Embassy in Macedonia Pays Homage to Bulgarians Who Fell in WWI.
Skopje, November 17 (BTA) - Bulgarian Embassy officials visited the municipality of Capari, Bitola region, on November 16 on the occasion of the 85th anniversary of the end of World War I, the Foreign Ministry said on Monday.
Meeting with the municipal leaders, Ambassador Alexander Yordanov and Military Attache Col. Mladenov asked the municipality to become more committed to the maintenance and guarding of Bulgarian military cemeteries and monuments. Ambassador Yordanov talked about the current state ofBulgarian-Macedonian relations and the Embassy's steps towards finding a comprehensive solution to the issue of Bulgarian military monuments on Macedonian territory.
Capari Mayor Jordan Staninovski said a representative of the Macedonian Labour and Social Policy Ministry had visited the Bulgarian military cemeteries and the Ministry's opinion was forthcoming.
A wreath and flowers were laid at the gravestones of fallen Bulgarian officers in the yard of St Georgi Church. The Bulgarian Embassy representatives visited the military cemetery near the village, where 214 Bulgarian soldiers were buried in World War I.
EBRD CREDIT FOR HIGH-POWER ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION LINE TO BULGARIA
General Manager of Electric Power Company of Macedonia Pande Lazarov and EBRD Energy Business Group Director Peter Reiniger signed Tuesday a credit agreement on construction of 400 kW High-Power Electrical Transmission Line between Macedonia and Bulgaria.
This is the first EBRD loan for a transborder project in the energy sector. It is for a total of Euro 40, matures in 15 years and is secured by the Macedonian Government.
Building the system linkup is a stage of the implementation of the strategy of the two electricity companies for facilitating the development of a regional energy market.
The power line will have a total length of 150 km of which 70 km on Macedonian and 80 on Bulgarian territory. Its construction will be funded by the Macedonian power supply company with the EBRD funding.
The project realisation is scheduled for the end of 2006, while Euro 49,99 million are needed for its completion. The major part, Euro 40,47 million, is provided by the EBRD credit.
STALIN TO BULGARIAN DELEGATION (G. Dimitrov, V. Kolarov, T. Kostov)
The Kremlin, 7 June 1946
Cultural autonomy must be granted to Pirin Macedonia within the framework of Bulgaria. Tito has shown himself more flexible than you - possibly because he lives in a multiethnic state and has had to give equal rights to the various peoples. Autonomy will be the first step towards the unification of Macedonia, but in view of the present situation there should be no hurry on this matter. Otherwise, in the eyes of the Macedonian people the whole mission of achieving Macedonian autonomy will remain with Tito and you will get the criticism.
You seem to be afraid of Kimon Georgiev, you have involved yourselves too much with him and do not want to give autonomy to Pirin Macedonia. That a Macedonian consciousness has not yet developed among the population is of no account. No such consciousness existed in Belarus either when we proclaimed it a Soviet Republic.
However, later it was shown that Belarusian people did in fact exist...
the Macedonia-Adrianople volunteer corps
by Boris I (no login)
STANDARD OF THE 11th SERRES BATALLION OF THE MACEDONIA-ADRIANOPLE VOLUNTEER CORPS
(National museum of military history, Sofia)
The general mobilization of the Bulgarian army was carried out on the 30th of September 1912. All Bulgarians from Macedonia who had served in the Bulgarian army as privates or officers went to their respective military units: they were about 30 000 men. But apart from them there were Bulgarians from Macedonia who had recently fled from Turkish persecution and come to the territory of the kingdom. These refugees voluntarily wanted to take part in the war for liberation and since they could not be enlisted in the regular army the defence minister organized a volunteer corps from them.
The volunteer corps, consisting of 14, 670 men, had 12 battalions: from Debar, Skopje, Odrin(Adrianople /Edirne), Ochrida, Kostour, Koumanovo, Veles, Prilep, Serres, Lozengrad and Salonika. Barely organized, the volunteers were engaged in operations.
According to their place of birth the volunteers were classified as follows: from the district of Bitola - 457, from the district of Veles - 449, from the district of Vodena - 79, from the district of Gevgely - 246, from the district of Gorna Djoumaja - 162, from the district of Gostivar - 104, from the district of Debar - 1011, from the district of Demir Hisar - 234, from the district of Dojran - 73, from the district of Drama - 124, from the district of Enidje-Vardar - 104, from the district of Zuhna - 4, from the district of Kajlare - 36, from the district of Kichevo - 350, from the district of Kochany - 203, from the district of Kostour - 409, from the district of Korcha - 6, from the district of Kratovo - 330, from the district of Kriva-Palanka - 431, from the district of Kroushevo - 250, from the district of Koukoush - 512, from the district of Lerin - 158, from the district of Maleshevo - 77, from the district of Melnik - 240, from the district of Nevrokop - 715, from the district of Negotino - 12, from the district of Ochrida - 542, from the district of Petrich - 129, from the district of Pehchevo - 16, from the district of Prilep - 501, from the district of Razlog - 359, from the district of Radovish - 89, from the district of Resen - 47, from the district of Skopje - 207, from the district of Salonika - 194, from the district of Stroumitsa - 143, from the district of Strouga - 40, from the district of Serres - 197, from the district of Tetovo - 171, from the district of Tikvesh - 108, from the district of Shtip - 440.
The volunteer forces from Macedonia and Adrianople consisted of three brigades and were organized like a division with its own services. General Genov was appointed head of the the volunteers. Colonel St. Nikolov from Priliep was appointed head of the first brigade, colonel Pchelarov - of the second one and colonel Protogerov from Ohrid - of the third one.
In February the volunteer corps was joined by three new battalions - from Vodena, Koukoush and Shtip. On the 2nd of May the volunteer corps left the coast of the Marmara Sea for Macedonia. There it was engaged in the sector against the Serbs in the mountain of Ossogovo, from the village of Zletovo to the peak Sultantepe. On the 30th of June the fifteen battalions of the Bulgarian volunteers from Macedonia took part in the in the attack against the Serbian front. In one day they took from the Serbs two fortified positions and with one attack took the hills of Paradly (Roumena Bouka). The next day they retreated only after an order from Sofia was given.
In the retreat of the Bulgarian army the Macedonian volunteers very often were in the rear guard. Up to the cease of the hostilities they fought against the Serbs with incredible fury. In the Eve of the signing of the armistice, when they already knew the war was lost, they counterattacked the Serbs without any political hope but only for the glory of Bulgaria, causing many casualties to the enemy.
When the treaty of Bucharest was signed it was the corps of the Macedonian volunteers to give over to the Serbs the piece of Macedonian land that Serbia annexed without having won it. In the history of nations-martyrs this was without a precedent.
During the two Balkan wars the casualties of the Macedonian volunteer corps amounted to 3.631 of whom 177 dead, 318 killed, 2.261 wounded and 377 disappeared, i.e. 25% of its personnel.
Macedonian Minister of Defence Nikola Kljusev yesterday met with the Bulgarian ambassador in Macedonia Angel Dimitrov. Mr. Kljusev expressed the gratitude for the technical military assistance given to Macedonia.
The shipment consists of 150 tanks T-55 and about another 150 pieces of artillery weapons with caliber from 122 mm and 152 mm.
Jonathan Steele in Tetovo, Peter Beaumont in Sipkovica, and Richard Norton-Taylor
Monday March 26, 2001
The Guardian
Macedonian tanks and infantry seized a key ridge above the city of Tetovo yesterday after artillery and helicopter gunships bombarded ethnic Albanian rebel positions and nearby villages in their biggest offensive since Albanian gunmen launched their revolt 12 days ago.
Plumes of flames and smoke from burning houses rose into the sky when the attacks started shortly after dawn, and troops fanned out through the northern districts of Tetovo.
At the height of the artillery barrage, dozens of explosions echoed around the mountains and the city every minute, with smoke rising from nearby Albanian positions.
Reporters saw six armoured personal carriers (APCs) followed by groups of 15 soldiers behind each vehicle climbing the road which rose from the north-west of the city.
Three hours later two tanks advanced up the same slope.
By nightfall the army had driven through the village of Gajre and was holding ground beyond it. Across the small river, which bisected the wooded hillsides, three more tanks were seen inching forward with their cannons firing towards Lavce, once a main guerrilla stronghold.
This is a nice and scarce Bulgaia / Bulgarian postcard showing a group of mutiny revolution members and partisan leaders of the Macedonian Ilinden Mutiny of 1903. Some of the portraits are of the heroes Iankov, Stefan Nikolov and Liuben Stoenchev. Absolutely scarce militaria / military history postcard and one of the rare Bulgarian Patriotic postcards of the time of uprise against the Ottoman Turkish Empire.
Bulgaria and Macedonia plan to enhance military cooperation, officials from Bulgaria's Defense Ministry said. Thus Bulgaria's Defense Minister Nikolay Svinarov is leaving on a two-day visit to Macedonia on Monday on the invitation of his Macedonian counterpart Vlado Buckovski.
The two ministers will discuss the possibilities for keeping the stabilization process in the region as well as practical approaches towards development of integration processes within European Union (EU) and NATO structures.
Representatives of the two ministries will sign a Plan for 2004 Bilateral Military Cooperation.
Svinarov will also meet with Macedonia's President Boris Trajkovski and also with the country's Parliament Ljubco Jordanovski.
The public enterprise "Official Gazette of the Republic of Macedonia" promoted Wednesday its database, which includes all of the legal acts adopted in Macedonia since 1945, and a digital edition of its official newspaper.
"All legal acts adopted since Macedonia's independence, as well as all editions of the "Official Gazette" from 2001 until today are included in the database," enterprise Director Borce Trenevski said.
The legal acts are classified in 21 sectors and 64 sub-sectors in accordance with the Register of Regulations, enabling simple linking to thematic files of the European Union database.
"Such classification enables simple browsing to all users, particularly those engaged in coordination of the Macedonian with the EU legislation," Trenevski said.
The first edition of the Official Gazette of RM was published on February 18, 1945.
Bulgaria, Macedonia to Cooperate in Disease Prevention and Sanitary Control.
Sofia, January 14 (BTA) - Bulgaria and Macedonia will cooperate in disease prevention and sanitary control under a Plan for Cooperation in 2004 - 2007 which Health Ministers Slavcho Bogoev and Rexhep Selmani signed Wednesday in Sofia.
The two countries will inform each other about the infectious and parasitic diseases registered in their territories in order to prevent the eruption of transborder epidemics, the Health Ministry press centre reported.
They will exchange information about the methods for control over the safety of foods, cosmetics and detergents which they apply, and on the appearance of hazardous goods on the market.
Bilateral cooperation will also cover medications price formation and the procedures of permiting their use, as well as control and trafficking of narcotic and psychotropic substances, in compliances with the United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (1988) and the two countries' laws.
Over 4320 Foreigners Got Bulgarian Citizenship 2003.
Novinite.com
Politics: 22 January 2004, Thursday
A total of 4324 foreigners got Bulgarian citizenship in 2003 according to data from the President's office.
Macedonians top the list with the candidates to become Bulgarians. Some 1599 of them applied for citizenship in 2003. They are closely followed by the Moldavians-1063. The Ukrainians occupy the bottom of the list. Only 202 of them expressed their willingness to become Bulgarian citizens.
There is an upward tendency in the number of foreigners willing to become Bulgarians as a total of 14, 306 applied for citizenship at the country's Justice Ministry.
Bulgaria's Vice President gen. Anguel Marin approved the request of a total of 4094 Bulgaria descended foreigners. Some 508 requests were rejected.
The major reason behind the increased interest is that Bulgarian citizens are allowed to travel visa free in the countries from the Schengen area as well as the country's future EU and NATO entry.
Warming Up Yesterday's Lunch ( ÏÎÄÃÐßÂÀÍÅ ÍÀ Â×ÅÐÀØÍÈß ÎÁEÄ
$21.95
Drama/ 2002/ Bulgaria/Macedonia/ VHS/NTSC/ Color/ Dolby Stereo/ 99min./ Language - Bulgarian
English Subtitles
Director: Kostadin Bonev
Script: Mile Nedelkovski
Director of photography: Kontantin Zankov
Music: Nikolay Ivanov
Producer: Galina Toneva, Kiril Kirilov
Production: Gala Film - Sofia, Digitiprop - Skopje, Ministry of Culture of Macedonia, BNT and Boyana Film Company - Sofia
Republic of Macedonia after the disintegration of communist Yugoslavia. A woman has decided to speak out after forty years of keeping silence. The revealing of secrets, which have been kept very carefully for such a long time, stirs commotion among the powers that be. And they decide to take actions. Warming up Yesterday's Lunch is a film about events in which the line between characters that refuse to accept this fact are destined to pay a high price.
Million And A Half Macedonians Eager To Become Bulgarians.
13 February 2004 | 04:17 | 168 Hours
‘I want to be a Bulgarian,’ a Macedonian from Ohrid says proudly, waiting in line to obtain a Bulgarian passport – ‘My grandpa has fought for this country’.
Every day the Agency on Bulgarians Abroad meets at least a hundred persons. Most of them are youngsters, dressed in 90s fashion – leather jackets, white sneakers, worn-out jeans and high-heels for the girls. All of them come from FYR of Macedonia.
Novinite.com
Bulgaria in Brief: 12 February 2004, Thursday
Macedonia's Ambassador to Bulgaria Lyubisha Georgievski has thanked Interior Ministry Secretary Gen Boyko Borisov for the highly professional work done by the Bulgarian police over the revelation of two crimes with Macedonian citizens involved. They met on Thursday, upon initiative of the Macedonian Ambassador, to confirm their regular and intensive bilateral contacts. Lyubisha Georgievski donated Gen Borissov with his latest book titled Glossary of Prejudice.
Macedonia's Ambassador to Bulgaria Lyubisha Georgievski (L) has praised the highly professional work of Bulgarian police. His meeting with Gen Boyko Borissov (R) on Thursday confirmed their regular contacts. Photo by mvr.bg
Mostly Macedonians Push for Bulgarian Citizenship.
Novinite.com
Politics: 13 February 2004, Friday
Over 1,500 Macedonians were granted Bulgarian citizenship in 2003, according to the statistics of Bulgaria's Agency for Foreigners, cited by 168 Hours weekly on Friday.
The bulk of Macedonian applications, followed by 1,063 Moldavians, 337 Russians, 250 Serbs and 202 Ukrainians, had been submitted in 2001.
The officials at the Agency for Foreigners claim that the administrative capacity prevents them from processing more than 100 applications per day.
Among the initial set of documents, there is also a declaration of having Bulgarian self-awareness. With the envisaged amendments to the Foreigners Act, thje future-to-be Bulgarians will be also demanded a certificate of Bulgarian language.
It is said that some inventive Macedonians, who already hold a Bulgarian passport, take the initiative to mediate to their country fellows with administrative formalities, "at the cost" of EUR 200-300.
Most of them confess that the reason to seek a Bulgarian passport is the freedom to travel freely to countries with visa regime for Macedonia.
Bulgarian officials commented that the ever-increasing interest of Macedonians to Bulgarian citizenship would reflect the official statistics data in 2005.
Sofia, March 23 (BTA) - Deputy Prime Minister and Transport and Communications Minister Nikolay Vassilev will be visiting Macedonia from Friday, March 26, his ministry said in a press release Tuesday.
Vassilev is to meet in Skopje with Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski and with Transport and Communications Minister Agron Buxhaku.
Environment Minister Arsenova to Attend First Meeting of Joint Bulgarian-Macedonian Commission in Skopje.
Sofia, March 25 (BTA) - Bulgarian Environment and Water Minister Dolores Arsenova is leading a delegation on a visit to Skopje, March 25-27, for the first meeting of the Joint Bulgarian-Macedonian Commission on Environmental Protection, Arsenova's Ministry said in a press release Thursday.
The Commission has been established pursuant to a Cooperation Agreement between the two countries' environment ministries. Sharing experience, knowledge and assertion of good practices will top the agenda.
The participants will discuss the exchange of experience in the drafting and application of national primary and secondary legislation according to the requirements of the acquis communautaire, submission of joint projects to international funds for financing, surface and ground water monitoring networks, biological diversity conservation, and establishment of Euro Regions in environmental protection.
Skopje, March 26 (BTA Special Correspondent Raina Assenova) - Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Transport and Communications Minister Nikolai Vassilev conferred Friday with his Macedonian counterpart Agron Buxhaku. The meeting took place in the Holiday Inn Hotel in the Macedonian capital.
Vassilev and Buxhaku discussed questions of bilateral relations and issued relating to the work of the two ministries. The Macedonian official said he is very pleased about Bulgaria's progress in EU integration and relayed his country's wish for Sofia to share its experience in achieving strategic goals such as joining NATO and the EU.
The two ministers also discussed railway and road connections and air services between Bulgaria and Macedonia. The participants in the talks noted that there are no unsolved questions between the two countries as regards transport and communications and that ways to improve transport connections between the two neighbours will be considered in the near future.
Vassilev and Buxhaku also discussed European Transport Corridor No. VIII. Special attention was paid to the state of the project and what needs to be done for the faster completion of the facility which is of primary significance for Bulgaria and Macedonia alike. Vassilev said Bulgaria will solicit external funding for the railway within the Corridor and that the issue will be raised at a meeting of the transport ministers of the countries along the Transport Corridor due in Tirana, Albania on March 31.
A sensational archaeological find was discovered in an anti-mafia squad campaign in the region of Petrich town. A border-stone with a sign "Samuel, the Bulgarian Autocrat" on it was confiscated from the home of treasure-hunter Stamen V. from Samuilovo village. Experts from the Blagoevgrad town history museum dated the find from the beginning of the 11th century A.C. To them, the stone is a direct and irrefutable proof that Samuel was a Bulgarian King, a fact that is constantly challenged by Skopje. About 100 copper, silver and gold coins from different ages were discovered in the cellar of treasure-hunter Stamen a.k.a. "The Dingo" in the anti-mafia operation on March 16, 2004. The police say that the coins have been sold to the archaeological finds connoisseurs from Macedonia, who ordered their illegal export from Bulgaria. The Investigation is already working on the case. A team of experts from Sofia arrived yesterday in Blagoevgrad town, because of the unique historic find. The stone was detected at the border, in an attempt to be smuggled in Macedonia. It is almost sure that the stone is an invaluable museum piece. It is not very big in size, but is heavy and it is hard for a single man to carry it, Blagoevgrad Deputy Mayor Kiril Netsev explained. The find already is in the Blagoevgrad history museum under police guard.
The team of Standart was practically pushed out by the officials at the Blagoevgrad history museum. "Do not write anything. Who let you here? We will work. It will take time. You will receive no more information at least by tomorrow", the museum management were flat. Some of the most eminent luminaries in the field of Medieval History came to evaluated and date the stone, sources from the Blagoevgrad Municipality admitted. The border-stone is in the size of a keyboard - about 50 cm long and 40 cm wide, officials at the museum whispered later. "To experts, such a remarkable discovery has not been made in this country for almost a century now," Regional Police Directorate-Blagoevgrad Spokesman Valeri Georgiev said. Treasure-hunter Stamen said at the interrogation that he ran into the stone in his field. His mother, however, told the police her son confided to her that he had taken the antique from a place near the Samuilovo village church.
Bulgaria's private company “Hemus Air” will launch regular flights to Skopje, starting from June 17.
It will promote the communication between the two cities, Bulgaria's Transport Minister Nikolaj Vasilev said following his meeting with his Macedonian counterpart Agron Budcaku in Skopje.
Macedonia will use its eastern neighbor's experince en route to full EU membership, Macedonia's transport minister said.
Bulgaria and Macedonia have reached an agreement to settle the Macedonian railway debt with exchange of wares complementary to cash payments.
The main topic of discussion between the two transport ministers was the building of the transport corridor VIII, going through Albania, Macedonia and Bulgaria.
Bulgaria's Transport and Communications Minister Nikolaj Vasilev also held a confidential meeting with the Macedonian Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski in Skopje.
ofia, April 19 (BTA) - Culture Minister Bozhidar Abrashev conferred with his Macedonian counterpart Blagoja Stefanovski on Monday, the Culture Ministry said.
The two discussed the exchange of exchange visits of the two countries' philharmonic orchestras. Participating in the meeting were also the directors of the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra Yavor Dimitrov and of the National Opera and Ballet, Hristina Angelakova.
The Sofia opera was invited to pay a visit to Skopje with a production of the Barber of Seville within the Opera May Evenings Festival.
Abrashev and Stefanovksi also discussed details relating to the pending procedures for the opening of cultural and information centres of the two countries in Sofia and Skopje.
On the agenda of the talks was also the joint participation of Bulgaria and Macedonia in the programme of the EU and the Council of Europe for the cultural and natural heritage in Southeast Europe.
The two ministers discussed opportunities for applying with joint projects at the regional level in activities carried out within UNESCO initiatives.
Abrashev and Stefanovksi also discussed the participation in the summit of Southeast Heads of State due in September on cultural corridors in Southeast Europe. The event is being organized on the initiative of President Georgi Purvanov.
Macedonian Companies to Hold Trade Exhibition at Golden Sands.
Varna, April 23 (BTA) - Macedonian companies will hold a trade exhibition at the Golden Sands seaside resort on June 1-2, Varna Regional Vice Governor Alexander Farashev and Stoimirka Tasevska, Secretary of the Agriculture Department of the Macedonian Industrial Association. The talks were attended by Kiro Dokuzovski, an agribusiness consultant.
The exhibitors represent the food-processing and tourism industries. The proposal came from the Macedonian Industrial Association and was supported by the Bulgarian Industrial Association and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Democratic Union for Integration Leader Ahmeti: "We Are Interested in More than Friendly Relations with Bulgaria"
Mala Recica, Macedonia, April 28 (BTA Special Correspondent Raina Asenova) - "We are interested in having more than friendly and good-neighbour relations with Bulgaria," Democratic Union for Integration (BDI) leader Ali Ahmeti told a group of Bulgarian journalists who interviewed him here on Wednesday, the day of the second round of voting in the country's early presidential elections. "Macedonia's good-neighbour contacts with neighbouring Bulgaria and Albania are important for good relations regionwide," Ahmeti said.
He welcomed Bulgaria's Ambassador to Macedonia Alexander Yordanov, who came together with the journalists, at the entrance to the BDI headquarters in Mala Recica.
"Albania, Macedonia and Bulgaria must have fine cooperation among them so that we could cope with organized crime, corruption and all negative phenomena which we must fight in the Balkans. We have had a fine cooperation so far, too, but it must grow exponentially," Ahmeti said.
In response to a question, he said the BDI, as part of the ruling coalition, expects and wants the elections to be a success "because otherwise things will turn bad for all citizens of Macedonia, and especially for the Albanians, because the processes and reforms will ultimately stagnate."
Ahmeti said that in the case of victory of the BDI-backed candidate, incumbent Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski, there will be a new government and new negotiations. "We prioritize the election of a president right now and the continued effect of the accommodation on a fair share of the Albanians in all institutions."
Asked whether his party can open up to the Macedonian voters, the BDI leader said the party has chapters in regions where the Albanian population does not predominate, such as Stip, Veles and Gevgelija. He noted that in some instances during the first round of the presidential elections, Macedonians voted for the Albanian candidate Gezim Ostreni, setting a precedent.
Approached about the Kosovo question, Ahmeti said that Macedonia is not and should not be held hostage by the processes in Kosovo. "In Macedonia, there is a principled position on respect of the will of the majority of citizens in Kosovo. The future of the province will depend on the negotiations in progress between Pristina and Belgrade, with the international community remaining a key factor."
Ahmeti stressed that the BDI will not be raising the question of Kosovo's independence because the party attaches importance to a stable Kosovo with democratic institutions. "But we will not mind Kosovo declaring independence, either," Ahmeti said, stressing that his party wants a definitive solution to the Kosovo question because this will lead to peace and stability regionwide.
The Macedonian Albanian leader pointed out that Bulgaria and Macedonia must persuade the European Commission that development of Pan-European Corridor No. VIII is in their best economic, political and cultural interest. In this connection, he welcomed the position of Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Nikolay Vassilev at the latest Transport Ministers Conference in Tirana.
Bulgarian Culture Days kick off in Macedonia today. The cultural event due to last till May 22 is hosted in the Bulgarian Embassy in Skopje.
The program will start with two Bulgarian documentaries produced by the state TV BNT. They show the festivities related to Bulgarian alphabet and culture used to be organized by Bulgarians living in neighboring Balkan states.
The Bulgarian Orthodox Church celebrates the Day of St. St. Cyril and Methodius, founders of the Bulgarian alphabet, on May 11.
THE "NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES" FROM THE COCUMENTARIES ARE SERBIAN OCCUPIED VARDAR MACEDONIA AND GREEK OCCUPIED AEGEAN MACEDONIA. THE MOVIES TELL THE STORY OF THE EXARCHATE
Posted on May 11, 2004, 2:16 PM
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Over the last four years the number of candidates for acquiring Bulgarian citizenship has gone up considerably.
Bulgaria's Justice Ministry announced that in 2000 there were 113 applications for citizenship, while in 2003 their number raised to 4, 165. Over 3, 824 applications have been filed alone over the first 4 months of 2004.
Macedonians and Moldavians are the most eager candidates, thought their number has considerably decreased as compared to the previous years, Justice Ministry officials explained.
Applications for Bulgarian Citizenship Soar since 2000.
Sofia, June 2 (BTA) - The number of applications for acquisition of Bulgarian citizenship by descent has soared over the last four years, the Justice Ministry said Tuesday. "The applicants are not only citizens of Macedonia, Moldova and Ukraine, but also citizens of other countries where ethnic Bulgarians live," the press release reads.
In 2003, Macedonian citizens filed 4,165 applications for Bulgarian citizenship in 2003 36-fold more than the 113 submitted in 2003. Between January 1 and May 21, 2004 alone, these applications numbered 3,824.
Bulgarian citizenship was granted to 25 Macedonian citizens in 2000, to 1,685 in 2003, and to 746 in January-May 2004.
A total of 10,734 applications for Bulgarian citizenship were submitted in the first five months of this year, compared to 14,306 for the full year 2003 (of which 13,128 for acquisition of Bulgarian citizenship by descent), 7,438 (5,960) for 2002, 5,495 (3,506) for 2001, and 3,334 (1,144) for 2000, the "Troud" daily reported on Monday in a table illustrating an interview on the subject with Deputy Justice Minister Mario Dimitrov. Applications by Macedonian citizens for acquisition of Bulgarian citizenship by descent increased from 113 in 2000 to 1,471 in 2001, 2,405 in 2002, 4,165 in 2003, and 3,824 in January-May 2004. Moldovan citizens filed 171 applications in 2000, 613 in 2001, 1,866 in 2002, 6,124 in 2003, and 4,083 in January-May 2004. Citizens of other countries submitted 860 applications in 2000, 1,422 in 2001, 1,689 in 2002, 2,839 in 2003, and 2,302 in January-May 2004.
In January-May 2004, Bulgarian citizenship was granted to 1,963 applicants: 746 Macedonian citizens, 801 Moldovan citizens, and 416 citizens of other countries. A total of 4,173 applicants (1,685 from Macedonia, 1,172 from Moldova, and 1,316 from other countries) became Bulgarian citizens in 2003, up from 3,210 (1,360, 583 and 1,267) in 2002, 940 (169, 157 and 614) in 2001, and 853 (25, 49 and 779) in 2000.
Asked about the reasons for this steep rise in applications for Bulgarian citizenship, Deputy Minister Dimitrov says in his "Troud" interview: "We should probably ask ourselves whether Bulgarian citizenship is a matter of calling, pride and dignity of the person who is indeed of Bulgarian descent, or the object is merely the privileges that such citizenship can confer. In any case, Bulgarian descent must be proven." Under the Bulgarians Resident Outside the Republic of Bulgaria, Bulgarian descent is proved by a document issued by a Bulgarian or a foreign state body, an organization of expatriate Bulgarians recognized by the Bulgarian state body competent to maintain relations with them, or by the Bulgarian Orthodox Church. Persons who can produce such proof of Bulgarian descent are eligible to acquisition of Bulgarian citizenship according to a relaxed procedure (without having been granted a permanent residence permit for Bulgaria within five years before the date of submission of the application, without possessing an income and occupation allowing him or her to subsist in Bulgaria, without having a verifiable command of the Bulgarian language, and without having been released from his or her previous citizenship).
Bulgaria's President Georgi Parvanov is to hold a face-to-face meeting with Macedonia's Head of State Branko Crvenkovski during a two-day working visit to Macedonia.
Parvanov leaves today for Macedonia at the invitation of his recently elected Macedonian counterpart.The visit aims to make a review of the bilateral relations following the presidential elections in Macedonia, its efforts for entering the European Union and Bulgaria's support and experience.
Macedonia's Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski won the presidential race in a run-off election in the former Yugoslav republic at the end of April. He garnered 63% of the votes, against 37% for his opponent. The turnout was above the 50-percent threshold required for the election to be declared valid, the electoral commission said.
Bulgaria and Macedonia will work for the forming of a joint infrastructure committee.
Georgi Parvanov, Bulgaria's Head of State and his Macedonia counterpart Branko Crvenkovski agreed that the bilateral relations between the two neighboring countries are better than ever.
Parvanov invited Macedonia's president to visit Bulgaria and the autumn.
Macedonia's Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski won the presidential race in a run-off election in the former Yugoslav republic at the end of April. He garnered 63% of the votes, against 37% for his opponent. The turnout was above the 50-percent threshold required for the election to be declared valid, the electoral commission said.
Sofia, June 18 (BTA) - Bulgaria was the first to recognize officially the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia as an independent and sovereign state on January 15, 1992.
General consular offices of the two states were opened in Skopje and Sofia respectively on September 12, 1992, and diplomatic relations at embassy level were established on December 21, 1993.
The February 22, 1999, signing of a friendship and cooperation declaration by the prime ministers of the two countries started an upward trend in bilateral relations. It also indicated a mutually acceptable formula for overcoming the problem related to the so-called "linguistic controversy" at the signing of bilateral relations, thereby deblocking the process of developing the legal base of cooperation.
The period after the signing of the declaration was characterized by stepped up political dialogue at top level. Bulgaria and Macedonia consequently more or less established the legal basis of cooperation by signing some 50 bilateral documents, creating a favourable atmosphere for the development of cooperation in various fields.
On February 26-27, 2002, President Georgi Purvanov paid a state visit to Macedonia. The visit saw the signing of a Programme for Cooperation between Bulgaria and Macedonia in the field of culture for the 2001-2003 period, an agreement between the two governments for training Macedonian citizens at the Interior Ministry Higher Institute for Officers and Research and an Agreement for Cooperation in the Fight against Terrorism, Organized Crime, Illegal Traffic of Drugs and Precursors, Illegal Migration and other severe crimes.
The two sides identified a pressing need for joint action for the construction of Trans-European Transport Corridor VIII and more specifically the priority facilities along the Corridor, including a Radomir-Dubrovo power line, three new border checkpoints (Stoumyani-Berovo, Simitrli-Pehcevo and Kyustendil-Delchevo) and the infrastructure leading to them.
On November 16, 2002 Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski paid an unofficial visit to Bulgaria at the invitation of his Bulgarian counterpart.
In the field of trade and economy the two countries have more than 20 effective bilateral agreements. The adoption of a mechanism for coordination of trade and economic relations - including an intergovernmental commission, joint committees and work groups - is expected to have a positive effect on the development of trade and economic relations between the two countries.
Regardless of the growth in 2002, bilateral trade over the past years was at a level that was way below the potential of the two countries: 136.1 million US dollars in 2000, 131.8 million dollars in 2001 and 142.5 million dollars in 2002.
In the area of culture and education, there is an effective cooperation agreement (signed May 15, 2000), and an agreement on mutual recognition of diplomas and academic degrees.
Bulgaria became increasingly active participating in various cultural events in Macedonia in 2002 and 2003.
Presidents Purvanov and Crvenkovski: Bulgaria, Macedonia Must Be More Insistent in Raising Infrastructure Questions to European Partners.
Ohrid, Macedonia, June 18 (BTA Special Correspondent Sevdelina Nikolova) - President Georgi Purvanov of Bulgaria said after a session here Friday with President Branko Crvenkovski of Macedonia that, in his personal opinion, the time has come to set up a council of experts to suggest "the most working infrastructure solutions" to be proposed to European partners for financing. "The most important thing is to find the financial levers for implementation of the project," the Bulgarian head of state added.
In his words, the two presidents agreed that Bulgaria and Macedonia should be more insistent in raising the big questions of infrastructure with their European partners. The specific ways in which Macedonia can tap Bulgaria's experience of Euro-Atlantic integration also figured high on the agenda of the meeting. "Bulgaria backs Macedonia's accession to NATO and the European Union," Purvanov said.
Crvenkovski noted that Purvanov is the first foreign head of state to visit Macedonia since he took office in May 2004. The Macedonian leader sees this as proof of the fine relations between the two countries. The present working visit is also intended to pave the way for an official visit by Crvenkovski to Bulgaria in the second half of this year.
"My personal opinion is that the way Bulgarian statesmen communicate with their Macedonian counterparts shows a dynamism of relations that Bulgaria does not have with any other states," Purvanov noted.
Bulgarian, Macedonian Musicians Mull Setting up of Balkan Philharmonic Orchestra.
Sofia, June 15 (BTA) - Bulgarian and Macedonian musicians are considering the setting up of a Balkan philharmonic orchestra, the Directors of the Sofia Philharmonic and the Macedonian Philharmonic Orchestras - Yavor Dimitrov and Valeri Stefanovski, told BTA.
"The idea is for a different Balkan capital to host the mixed orchestra every season on a rotational basis. There the orchestra will rehearse and give several concerts but its main purpose will be to popularize Balkan music in Western Europe and countries in other continents," Dimitrov said.
The two philharmonic orchestras cooperation plans include the holding of a round table on the financing of symphonic orchestras with the participation of experts of new EU members countries such as Poland and the Czech Republic, arrangement of performances by prominent foreign conductors and soloists with the Macedonian and the Sofia Philharmonic orchestras and participation of the two orchestras and their chamber ensembles in the Ohrid Summer and Varnensko Lyato international music festivals.
The Sofia and the Macedonian Philharmonic Orchestras are exchanging concerts to mark their 75th and 60th anniversaries and the 60th anniversary of the Svetoslav Obretenov philharmonic choir. The three philharmonics will be joined by the choir of the Macedonian National Opera in a joint performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with which the Ninth Art Salon at the NDK National Palace of Culture will be closed.
The Bulgarian musicians and singers were very well received in Skopje on June 10. The concert of the Macedonian Philharmonic Orchestra in Sofia will be on Tuesday night.
Novinite.com
Bulgaria in Brief: 2 July 2004, Friday
Bulgarian Defence Minister Nikolay Svinarov and his Macedonian counterpart Vlado Buckovski discussed the NATO future of the two countries. Buckovski is in Sofia to take part in an international conference on "NATO Membership: Trade and Investment Opportunities in Southeast Europe".
Bulgaria will help its neighbor Macedonia to guarantee its airspace sovereignty.
Bulgaria's Defence Minister Nikolay Svinarov and his Macedonian counterpart Vlado Buckovski agreed on that matter during their meeting in Sofia on Friday. They also discussed the NATO-bound future of both countries.
Minister Buckovski is visiting Bulgaria to take part in the international conference on "NATO Membership: Trade and Investment Opportunities in Southeast Europe".
During this week's NATO summit, held in Istanbul, Albania, Croatia and Macedonia demanded a more precise timetable for their membership in the Alliance.
The three Western Balkans states are cooperating in their bid to join NATO and have prepared a draft text on their common position. The papoer was be handed down to NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer.
Also in Istanbul Bulgaria stated its firm support for the three NATO-aspiring countries.
MACEDONIA AND BULGARIA ARE DETERMINED TO PERSIST ON THEIR PATH TO EU AND NATO MEMBERSHIP
MIA
Macedonian and Bulgarian Defense Ministers Vlado Buckovski and Nikolay Svinarov discussed Friday in Sofia on intensifying the cooperation between the two Ministries and exchange of experiences in Macedonia's preparations for NATO membership.
The two ministers agreed that Macedonian and Bulgarian Governments were determined to persist on the path towards the European Union and NATO membership.
Svinarov said that Bulgaria would donate Macedonia an air defense P-37 radar system. He said that he expected concrete results and completion of the
procedure on the radar's commissioning after its upgrade at the pending meeting of the two countries' chiefs of air force in Macedonia.
Buckovski and Svinarov also discussed the possibility to apply the experience that Bulgaria already had with Romania in defense of sites in border regions and defense of common borders in the case of air attacks.
Svinarov expressed hope that talks on the issue would be completed at a forthcoming meeting of the Defense Ministers of Albania, Bulgaria and Macedonia and the Chiefs of General Staff of the three countries, probably to be held in Sofia in September.
Buckovski expressed assurance for the intensive future cooperation between Bulgaria and Macedonia. He pointed out that Bulgaria's experience in
reforming and modernizing the army would be important to Macedonia.
Buckovski, who participates at the "NATO Membership: Trade and Investment Opportunities in Southeast Europe" Conference in Sofia, also thanked Bulgaria for its support of Macedonia's integration with the Alliance at NATO Summit that took place in Istanbul earlier this week.
Macedonian, Bulgarian defence ministers discuss military cooperation
Defence Minister Vlado Buckovski, who is paying a visit to Sofia, was received by his Bulgarian counterpart Nikolay Svinarov in the morning. Gabriela Joveva reports from Sofia.
Macedonia and Bulgaria are to initiate talks on the formation of a joint airspace control system after the principle of the three Baltic states. The launch of this system is planned for 2007, when Macedonia is expected to become a full-fledged NATO member. This was agreed by Defence Ministers Buckovski and Svinarov at their official meeting in Sofia in the morning.
Bulgaria intends to donate a P-37 radar to Macedonia. While it is compatible with NATO's standards, it needs to be upgraded, which is 10 times cheaper than purchasing a new one. The two countries' aviation authorities are to hold a meeting in Skopje on 5-7 July to coordinate the specific details.
Svinarov promised that, in the capacity of a NATO member country, Bulgaria would assist Macedonia in preparing army modernization projects, which the IMF is expected to support financially. Bulgaria has already been through this and expects to receive 1.5bn dollars from the IMF. According to Buckovski, the aid that Bulgaria is going to receive is a fantastic amount for Macedonia, which it needs, but it will have to wait for the necessary 100-150m dollars for some six or seven years. This period is far too lengthy to complete the modernization process. Our experts will therefore work hard on this with their Bulgarian friends, the Macedonian defence minister said.
Defence Minister Svinarov Expresses Hope for Bulgaria to Help Guarantee Macedonian Airspace Sovereignty.
Sofia, July 2 (BTA) - After a meeting with Macedonian counterpart Vlado Buckovski Friday, Defence Minister Nikolai Svinarov expressed the hope that Bulgaria could help guarantee that country's airspace sovereignty.
In response to a question, Svinarov pointed out that Macedonia currently does not have good opportunities of its own to guarantee its airspace sovereignty. "We hope that with the implementation of the projects for upgrading and supply of the air force we will have the opportunity to be useful and guarantee Macedonia's airspace sovereignty," Svinarov said.
The Bulgarian Defence Minister pointed out that he and his Macedonian counterpart discussed the possibility to apply the experience Bulgaria already has with Romania in defence of sites in border regions and defence of common borders in the case of air attacks.
Svinarov expressed hope that talks on the issue would be completed at a forthcoming meeting of the defence ministers of Albania, Bulgaria and Macedonia and the chiefs of staff of the three countries, probably to be held in Sofia in September.
Answering a question, Svinarov said Bulgaria would donate Macedonia an air defence P-37 radar system. For it to become usable it needs upgrading the cost of which should be covered by Macedonia. In his words, the upgrading of the radar will cost at least ten times cheaper than the purchase of a new one of the same class.
Svinarov said he expected concrete results and completion of the procedure on the radar's commissioning after its upgrade at the pending meeting of the two countries' chiefs of air force in Macedonia.
Asked whether Bulgarian fighter planes would also be included, Chief of General Staff Gen. Nikola Kolev said what is being discussed at this stage is one P-37 radar while future talks will discuss a common vision of Macedonia's airspace defence and the opportunity to help that country.
Gen. Kolev gave an affirmative answer to the question whether the incorporation of Albania in this joint defence scheme would be discussed in September. He added that the system should be a joint one since Albania and Macedonia are applying for NATO membership along with Croatia.
After the meeting, Minister Vlado Buckovski expressed conviction in the future intensive cooperation between Bulgaria and Macedonia. He pointed out that Bulgaria's experience in reforming and modernising the army is important to Macedonia and Minister Svinarov promised cooperation to that end.
Buckovski said the security situation in Macedonia is stable and he does not expect problems there.
The Macedonian Defence Minister is in Sofia for the "NATO Membership: Trade and Investment Opportunities in Southeast Europe" Conference.
Na eden izvezen makedonski proizvod vo Bugarija, se uvezuvaat deset bugarski...
Makedonija i Bugarija skljuchija dogovor za slobodna trgovija vo 1999 godina i toj stapi na sila vo pochetokot na 2000 godina.
od 2000 do 2003 vkupnata razmena pomegju dvete zemi e zgolemena na 40,6 %. Analizata pokazuva dodeka uvozot od Bugarija vo istiot period e zgolemen na 53 % dodeka makedonskiot izvoz vo Bugarija 2003 bil pomal od izvozot shto Makedonija go imala 2000 pri potpishuvaneto na dogovorot.
Trgovskiot deficit na Makedonija vo razmenata so Bugarija vo 1999 iznesuval 65,5 milioni dolari, a na krajot na 2003 toj e zgolemen rechisi dvojno na 123,2 milioni dolari...
Bulgarian-Macedonian Political Consultations in Skopje.
Sofia, July 27 (BTA) - The foreign ministries of Bulgaria and Macedonia held political consultations in Skopje on Tuesday. Bulgarian Ambassador Alexander Yordanov also took part in the talks, the Foreign Ministry's Information and PR Directorate said.
The sides discussed bilateral cooperation, the two ministries' cooperation in the region, the further building of the legal framework, and Bulgaria's help in Macedonia's integration into the European and Euro-Atlantic structures.
Macedonia and Bulgaria Boost Military Co-operation.
By Valentin Nesovski for Southeast European Times in Skopje - 17/08/04
Bulgaria has said it is ready to donate B37 radar to Macedonia as part of intensive army co-operation between the two countries and in support of Macedonian preparations for NATO membership. The radar systems comply with NATO standards, but will require modernisation.
The proposal was announced following a July meeting in Sofia between Macedonian Defence Minister Vlado Buckovski and his Bulgarian counterpart, Nikolaj Svinjarov. The meeting took place at a conference, "NATO Membership -- Trade and Investment Opportunities in South East Europe", organised by the Bulgarian Defence Ministry in collaboration with the American Chamber of Commerce in Bulgaria.
"Streamlining the radar we are willing to donate is ten times as profitable compared to investment in new radar," Svinjarov said.
Macedonia’s Army, Air Force and anti-aircraft defence units would use the radar. According to military sources, the Macedonian Army does not currently have such radar and is welcoming Bulgaria's offer. As part of their increased co-operation, the two neighbours are planning to start talks on a joint system of air space control. Sofia has also offered to share its experiences with border control and protection, and has pledged full support for Macedonia's NATO membership bid.
Buckovski said his country plans to intensify and deepen co-operation with Bulgaria, focusing especially on the latter's experience with reform and modernisation of the army. He also announced that defence ministers and army chiefs of staff from Macedonia, Bulgaria and Albania would attend a trilateral meeting in September. The talks will be aimed at strengthening regional co-operation and establishing regional security systems.
Macedonia's President Branko Crvenkovski will arrive in Bulgaria later on Monday.
That will be Crvenkovski's first official visit to Macedonia's neighbouring country Bulgaria. Branko Crvenkovski will be welcomed with an official ceremony at the Sofia Alexander Nevski Square.
He will later meet Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov. A special cooperation memorandum will be signed during the visit of the Macedonian president to Sofia.
Later on Branko Crvenkovski will hold a special meeting with Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg and Parliamentary Speaker Ognyan Gerdzhikov.
Bulgaria has vowed to share its experience and help Macedonia in its accession to the EU and NATO under a new memorandum, to be inked by the two governments today.
The memorandum will be signed by Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy and Macedonian Deputy Foreign Minister Fuad Hasanovic in the framework of the two-day visit of Macedonia's President Branko Crvenkovski.
The agreement is in accordance with Bulgaria's leading policy priority to help neighbor countries in their European and Euro-Atlantic integration, the Foreign Ministry told the Bulgarian News Agency.
Macedonia's President Branko Crvenkovski arrived in Bulgaria on Monday.
That is Crvenkovski's first official visit to Macedonia's neighbouring country Bulgaria. Branko Crvenkovski was welcomed with an official ceremony at the Sofia Alexander Nevski Square.
He will later meet Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov. A special cooperation memorandum will be signed during the visit of the Macedonian president to Sofia.
Later on Branko Crvenkovski will hold a special meeting with Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg and Parliamentary Speaker Ognyan Gerdzhikov.
Macedonia’s President Branko Crvenkovski (R) was welcomed in Sofia by his Bulgarian counterpart Georgi Parvanov (L). That is Crvenkovski first official visit to Bulgaria. Photo by Kameliya Atanasova (novinite.com)
Bulgaria has vowed to share its experience and help Macedonia in its accession to the EU and NATO under a new memorandum, inked by the two governments in Sofia.
The agreement is in accordance with Bulgaria's leading policy priority to help neighbor countries in their European and Euro-Atlantic integration, the Foreign Ministry told the Bulgarian News Agency.
The accord will be in force for three years.
The memorandum was signed by Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy and Macedonian Deputy Foreign Minister Fuad Hasanovic in the framework of the two-day visit of Macedonia's President Branko Crvenkovski.
That is Crvenkovski's first official visit to Macedonia's neighbouring country Bulgaria. He was welcomed with an official ceremony at the Sofia Alexander Nevski Square.
Crvenkovski conferred later with Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov, Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg and Parliamentary Speaker Ognyan Gerdzhikov.
Novinite.com
Bulgaria in Brief: 30 August 2004, Monday
Jasna Crvenkovska, wife of Macedonia's President Branko Crvenkovski along with Zorka Parvanova, Bulgaria's first lady visited the Crypt of the Alexander Nevski cathedral. Jasna Crvenkovska is accompanying her husband on his first official visit to Bulgaria. She will also pay a visit to the Boyana Church and the National Historical Museum.
Macedonia’s first lady Jasna Crvenkovska (R) and Zorka Parvanova (L), wife of Bulgaria’s president visited the Crypt of the Alexander Nevski Cathedral. Photo by Kameliya Atanasova (novinite.com)
President Purvanov: Bulgaria, Macedonia Should Persist with Efforts to Develop Infrastructure Projects.
Sofia, August 30 (BTA) - The possibilities to boost economic cooperation between Bulgaria and Macedonia and Bulgaria's support for Macedonia's efforts to join EU and NATO topped the agenda of the talks between the two countries' presidents: of Bulgaria Georgi Purvanov and of Macedonia Branko Crvenkovski.
It is important for the two countries to continue their efforts to develop infrastructure projects, President Purvanov said at a joint news conference. "Transport Corridor VIII remains a priority in bilateral relations although it has not enlisted the quick and efficient support we expected," he stated.
The Bulgarian head of state noted that additional efforts should be made to open three new checkpoints between Bulgaria and Macedonia and launch an air service between Sofia and Skopje.
Bulgaria and Macedonia confirmed their commitment to the realization of other large infrastructure projects such as the Bourgas-Vlore oil pipeline which is not only of bilateral but also of multilateral interest, Purvanov said.
Purvanov stressed the importance of the quick ratification of the agreements on cultural centres in Sofia and Skopje.
The meeting also discussed possibilities for cooperation between the municipalities and the regions of the two countries, Purvanov said.
President Crvenkovski expressed his satisfaction that his first visit as head of state is to Bulgaria which comes to show the high level of bilateral relations which he described as relations of mutual support, respect and friendship. Crvenkovski also said that in future bilateral relations should focus on economic cooperation. Last year commercial exchange between Bulgaria and Macedonia amounted to 175 million US dollars.
President Purvanov once again reiterated Bulgaria's readiness to support Macedonia in its efforts to join the EU and NATO. Future EU membership is one of the most important aspects of bilateral relations. Bulgaria expects and will insist before its European partners on a more active implementation of the policy adopted at the EU meeting in Thessaloniki in regard to the Western Balkans.
Purvanov said that as a member of NATO Bulgaria will be one of the most active factors of the Alliance's open doors policy in respect to the Adriatic Group.
Bulgaria and Macedonia signed Monday an intergovernmental Memorandum on cooperation in European and Euro-Atlantic integration.
Asked what guarantees Macedonia will provide for the preservation of Bulgarian historical monuments on its territory, Crvenkovski said that the two countries are drafting a bilateral agreement on the preservation of each other's historical monuments on their territories.
The new territorial organization of Macedonia and the referendum on it will destabilize neither the state nor the region, Crvenkovski said, taking a question. Macedonia has its own democratic potential and state capacity to successfully cope with this challenge, Crvenkovski explained. He refuted the allegations that the new law will result in a division of Macedonia and a successful referendum would provoke a civil war as being totally unrealistic.
Later in the day Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha gave official lunch in honour of Macedonian Prime Minister Branko Crvenkovski.
Saxe-Coburg-Gotha expressed the Bulgarian Government's support for Macedonia's European and Euro-Atlantic integration, the Government's Information Service said. He confirmed Bulgaria's commitment to share its experience and assist Macedonia in the process of its accession to the EU and NATO.
Earlier in the day, after the welcoming ceremony, Presidents Purvanov and Crvenkovski visited the St Alexander Nevsky cathedral, where they were blessed by Patriarch Maksim. This is the first time a Macedonian President visits a Bulgarian church and meets the Bulgarian Patriarch.
Bulgaria, Macedonia Sign Memorandum of Cooperation in European and Euro-Atlantic Integration.
Sofia, August 30 (BTA) - Foreign Minister Solomon Passy and Macedonian Deputy Foreign Minister Fuad Hasanovic signed an Intergovernmental Memorandum of Cooperation in European and Euro-Atlantic Integration on Monday. "We should stretch out a friendly hand to the Republic of Macedonia and support them, based on our whole experience, along their road to EU and NATO [membership]," Passy said before journalists after the ceremony. The document was signed in the presence of Bulgarian President Georgi Purvanov and his Macedonian counterpart Branko Crvenkovski.
Already upon taking over this country's governance, the cabinet gave a very clear signal that Balkan relations will be fully promoted within the context of European integration, Passy stated.
The memorandum consists of three main parts, Deputy Foreign Minister Nikolai Milkov said over the Bulgarian National Radio Monday morning. The first one concerns cooperation in the field of European integration. Bulgaria may share its experience in regards to integration, the way of carrying out negotiations and aligning its legislation to Community Law. The second part of the memorandum is related to Euro-Atlantic integration. Bulgaria is ready to back Macedonia in the following areas: the army reform, the action plan regarding NATO membership and the participation in the Partnership for Peace Initiative. The third part of the document is oriented towards the application of the Schengen standards of border and passport control on the part of the Republic of Macedonia. In this way Bulgaria would like, in the long-term, help Macedonia be removed from the EU visa blacklist. The establishment of such standards is also within Bulgaria's interest given that it is going to be an external border of the Union.
Bulgaria has a moral obligation, which coincides with its national interest, to help all its neighbours in their aspiration for integration into EU and NATO, Passy further said. As he put it, Bulgaria is already a leading candidate for EU membership and this makes its responsibilities even more serious.
Asked whether he sees any problems in the regional planning act of Macedonia, Passy replied that all problems, that could stem from it, will be overcome.
The latest frenzy spreading among Macedonians is to marry Bulgarian women in order to obtain local citizenship.
The reason seems to be the upcoming membership of Bulgaria, scheduled for the beginning of 2007, which would give Bulgarian citizens free access to EU countries, according to press reports.
Macedonia, which has also applied for EU membership earlier this year, is included in the Schengen visa list and shares the Union's travel restrictions.
Bulgaria is a favorite place for Macedonian youth to come and graduate in local universities. After five years of living in the country, they are entitled to apply for citizenship. Over 50,000 Macedonians have been granted Bulgarian passports since 2000, official data show.
Another legal way to become Bulgarian is by marrying a national of the country.
Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski Visits Golden Sands Resort.
Varna, on the Black Sea, August 31, (BTA) - Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski, who is on an official visit to Bulgaria, visited the Golden Sands resort Tuesday accompanied by his wife, Varna Deputy Governor Alexander Frashev and Bulgarian Ambassador to Macedonia Alexander Yordanov.
The guests strolled along the seaside lane and stopped briefly in a seaside cafe.
Crvenkovski and his wife landed in Varna a little after 10:00 am. At the airport they were welcomed by the Varna Deputy Governor, Varna Deputy Mayor Boris Kornovski, the Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Minko Kavaldjiev, and Regional Directorate of the Interior Director General Vesselin Petrov.
In the afternoon the Macedonian President will visit the Archaeological Museum and the Assumption Cathedral in Varna.
In the evening Crvenkovski and his wife will visit the Euxinograd Palace as guests of Bulgarian President Georgi Purvanov and his wife.
Novinite.com
Politics: 22 September 2004, Wednesday
Bulgaria will support Macedonia en route to becoming a member of the European Union (EU) and NATO.
Foreign Minister Solomon Passy, who heads the Bulgarian delegation participating in the 59th Session of the UN General Assembly, talked to his Macedonian counterpart Ilinka Mitreva.
Macedonia's government could also count on Bulgaria's support, he told Mitreva. The two diplomats also discussed Passy's visit to Macedonia in October. The Bulgarian foreign minister would go to Macedonia in his capacity of OSCE Chairman-in-Office.
Minister Passy also talked to Noer Hasan Wirajuda, Indonesia's Foreign Minister. They agreed that Bulgaria and Indonesia should boost their bilateral cooperation.
Bulgarian FM Solomon Passy (R) talked to his Macedonian counterpart Ilinka Mitreva (L) during the 59th Session of the UN General Assembly in New York. Photo by the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry
Three Balkan states agree joint air defence network.
SOFIA (AFP) Sep 24, 2004
Albania, Bulgaria and Macedonia agreed Friday to set up a common air defence network, Bulgarian Defence Minister Nikolai Svinarov announced here after a trilateral meeting here.
"Our aim is to create a joint air defence system, and we agreed on the start of it today," he told a press conference.
An expert, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it would mean Bulgaria, which is a member of NATO, effectively extending its current system across the airspace of its two neighbours.
Sofia will support the efforts of Albania and Macedonia to join the western defence alliance and in military and technical spheres, Svinarov said.
Bulgaria is currently upgrading its present air defence system with US aid, and is also due to modernise its fleet of 20 MiG-29 warplanes and 36 Mi-17 and Mi24 helicopters.
The Bulgarian defence ministry Thursday signed memorandums of understanding with Britain's BAe Systems and the British-Swedish firm Grippen to upgrade air defence technology.
SOLOMON PASSY - VISAS for MACEDONIA, SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO.
Bulgaria to Put Maximum Effort in Avoiding Visa Introduction for Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro after EU Accession.
Sofia, October 14 (BTA) - Bulgaria will put maximum effort to avoid the introduction of visas for Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro after this country's accession to the European Union. This statement was made by Foreign Minister Solomon Passy before the regular meeting of the Government Thursday.
The Foreign Minister said he was concentrated entirely on his forthcoming tour of the Balkans next week. "I will visit Skopje, Tirana, Belgrade, Podgorica and Pristina," he added.
The tour is planned both along the lines of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and bilateral relations. "We planned it for a time when Bulgaria would be a member of the OSCE and NATO and would be able to offer its experience to neighbouring states in their efforts to join these two organisations."
Bulgaria Sticks to Visa-Free Regime with Macedonia.
Novinite.com
Politics: 18 October 2004, Monday
Bulgaria will do its best to maintain the visa-free regime with Macedonia as long as possible, Foreign Minister Solomon Passy said after meeting his Macedonian counterpart Ilinka Mitreva.
An official Bulgarian delegation headed by Minister Passy arrived Monday morning in Skopje, the first leg of a four-day diplomatic shuttle in the Western Balkan countries, including Kosovo, Albania, Serbia and Montenegro.
Minister Passy assured his Macedonian counterpart that Bulgaria supports Macedonia in its foreign policy priority objectives, namely NATO, EU and CEFTA membership.
The two ministers signed an agreement for the inauguration of a new border check point between the Macedonian town Delchevo and Bulgaria's village Nevestino.
Foreign Minister Solomon Passy, who is also Chairman-in-Office of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), has extended an invitation to Ilinka Mitreva to take part in the OSCE meeting at a ministerial level, scheduled for December in Sofia.
Bulgaria, Macedonia Consider Defence Training Exchange.
Skopje, October 20 (BTA Special Correspondent Asen Boyadjiev) - Bulgaria's Chief of General Staff, General Nikola Kolev, met with his Macedonian counterpart, Major General Gjorgji Bojadziev, in Skopje Wednesday to consider the exchange of land force platoons and special operations personnel for training and joint practice. Gen. Kolev started a three-day official visit to Macedonia earlier in the day.
The two also considered Bulgaria's participation in the building of a common air control system, and the repair of Macedonian armour at Bulgarian plants. The issue of the maintenance of Bulgarian military cemeteries in Macedonia was also raised.
Defence Minister Vlado Buckovski introduced to Gen. Kolev the future Macedonian Ambassador to Sofia, Rizvan Sulejmani, who is currently Deputy Defence Minister.
Gen. Kolev proceeded to watch a special forces demonstration.
Bulgaria, Macedonia Seal Partnership in Telecommunications.
Novinite.com
Business: 2 November 2004, Tuesday
Bulgaria's Minister of Transport and Communications Nikolay Vassilev and his Macedonian counterpart Agron Buxhaku signed Tuesday a partnership agreement in the field of information, telecommunications and post services.
The document provides for partnership between Bulgaria and Macedonia through exchange of information and documentation, mutual consultations, visits of experts and work teams, the Transport Ministry announced.
Among the priorities of the cooperation between the two countries will be the harmonization of the national legislations in the sphere of information, telecommunications and post services with the EU standards.
Autumn Days of Bulgarian Culture in Macedonia End.
Skopje, November 3 (BTA) - The Fourth Autumn Days of Bulgarian Culture in Macedonia ended with the screening of the documentary "The Island of King Samuil", the Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.
The Days, which were opened on October 18 by Foreign Minister Solomon Passy, included the showing of other films and exhibitions. The events were received with great interest and contributed to the popularization of Bulgarian culture in Macedonia.
The cultural and information programme of the Bulgarian Embassy passed under the motto "For the First Time in Macedonia". The screening of Goran Blagoev's "The Island of King Samuil" marked the Day of National Awakeners. In an address on the occasion Bulgarian Ambassador Alexander Yordanov stressed the role of enlighteners, revolutionaries, statesmen, scholars and cultural figures of Macedonian descent had in Bulgarian history. Their work is an invaluable spiritual asset bringing the two countries closer, Ambassador Yodanov stressed.
Ljubisa Georgievski's Filoctetes Opens Bulgarian-Macedonian Drama Project.
Sofia, November 3 (BTA) - A performance of Ljubisa Georgievski's Filoctetes, a co-production of the Sofia Sulza i Smyah [Tears and Laughter] theatre and the Skopje Drama Threatre, opens a Bulgarian-Macedonian threatre project carried out under the Bridge Programme of the Sofia's Sulza i Smyah, its Director Boiko Bogdanov said. The opening performances are on November 4 and 5.
The next phase of the project is exchange of guest visits, with three performances each in April. A roundtable will be held devoted to the cultural dialogue and theatre cooperation in the Balkans.
"Filoctetes is a play about the transition, the people who look for their identity after no longer able to function in the collapsed world of ideologies," Georgievski said. Until recently he was Macedonia's ambassador in Sofia.
This will be the second Bulgarian performance of the play written in 1997. The first was done by the Plovdiv theatre under the direction of Borislav Chakrinov.
The play is to be translated in French after the Skopje actors performed it in Paris.
Bulgarian Regional Development Minister Tserovski, Macedonian Economy Minister Jakimovski Discuss Possibilities for Joint Infrastructure Projects.
Sofia, November 12 (BTA) Bulgaria's experience in the utilization of funds of the international financial institutions and of Euro funds is a good precondition for cooperation and implementation of joint infrastructure projects between Bulgaria and Macedonia, Regional Development and Public Works Minister Valentin Tserovski told Macedonian Economy Minister Stevco Jakimovski.
Tserovski is on a two-day working visit to the Republic of Macedonia at the invitation of his Macedonian counterpart, the press office of the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works said.
The two ministers co-chair the Bulgarian-Macedonia Mixed Committee on Trade and Economic Cooperation.
The talks focused on promoting goodneighbourly relations, the prospects for the development of Transport and Energy Corridor VIII and the building of joint infrastructure and energy projects.
Tserovski and Jakimovski discussed the readiness for new border checkpoints between Bulgaria and Macedonia and the launching of a programme for crossborder cooperation, financed by PHARE.
Tserovski stressed the readiness of the Bulgarian Government to support the Republic of Macedonia on its road to NATO and the European Union.
Are Bulgarian policies towards Macedonians an indication that old territorial claims persist, or just friendly intentions?
By Albena Shkodrova in Sofia (BCR No 537, 21-Jan-05)
On the face of it, Macedonia enjoys a relatively untroubled relationship with Bulgaria. There is neither the recent legacy of living alongside other, war-torn former Yugoslav nations, nor the unpleasantness over the legal deeds to the word “Macedonia” that has marred relations with Greece for more than a decade.
Yet it is the relationship with Sofia that raises some of the hardest questions about Macedonia’s demand to be treated as a sovereign state, whose Slavic population has its own identity and language.
If one digs a little below the surface, some aspects of official policy in Bulgaria seem to work from the assumption that modern Macedonia is no more than an accidentally detached part of the mother country. Macedonian students are flocking to study at Bulgarian universities – but find they are encouraged to declare an ethnic Bulgarian identity. And the Bulgarians are reluctant to recognise Macedonian as a legitimate language distinct from their own.
These anomalies may annoy the Macedonians, but do they amount to a covertly expansionist agenda, or merely bureaucratic inertia that has failed to change old ways?
A CONTESTED HISTORY
Since a September 1991 referendum brought independence from what used to be the socialist federation of Yugoslavia, Macedonian identity has had an uncertain time of it. The Greeks refused to allow the state to be called Macedonia (because of its historical associations), and ethnic divisions within the country were highlighted by a brief conflict between the Albanian and Macedonian communities in 2001.
If no one now publicly questions the legitimacy of the Macedonian state, there are still some who do not really believe that Macedonians, as a people, make the grade as a separate Slavic nation.
That view is especially strong in Bulgaria, where many genuinely think their neighbours are Bulgarians, deep down. That conviction is rooted in the tortuous history of the Balkans, both medieval and modern, which has led to varying interpretations.
A grasp of the history is important, since it explains some of the contours and resonances of current Bulgarian-Macedonian relations.
The roots of what by the end of the nineteenth century was termed the “Macedonian Question” lie deep in history.
Geographically, the name Macedonia refers to a region now divided between Greece, Bulgaria and the Macedonian state. Under Ottoman rule, it was divided into three provinces and was one of the most cosmopolitan regions of the empire, with a complicated ethnic and religious map.
The modern fight over Macedonia started after the Russo-Turkish War in 1878, when the victorious Russians dictated the treaty of San Stefano that forced the Turks to cede most of Macedonia to a newly-established Bulgarian state, under Russian protection.
While Bulgarians were delighted, the other Great Powers were not. Determined to thwart a Russian-controlled “Greater Bulgaria”, they forced major border changes at the subsequent Berlin Congress, returning Macedonia to Ottoman rule.
Bulgaria did not give up its claim, however, embarking on two further wars with its neighbours in 1912 and 1913 - with disastrous results, since most of Macedonia went to Serbia and Greece as a result.
After this reverse, Bulgaria kept a low profile over Macedonia in the Twenties and Thirties. Sofia made another attempt to incorporate the territory during the Second World War, when it received the territory in return for supporting the Axis powers.
The Macedonians initially greeted Bulgarian martial rule with some relief, following two decades of government by the Serbs, but they rapidly became disillusioned, spawning a resistance movement that allied itself with the Yugoslav communist partisans of Josip Tito.
After Tito won in Yugoslavia, the new communist regime in Bulgaria initially cooperated with moves to create a Macedonian republic within a federal Yugoslavia, and even helped to supply the historical justification for its existence. This was the start of a long process of writing and rewriting history anew, which now leaves dramatic differences between the two countries’ history books.
The Bulgarians stopped playing ball in 1948, after Tito fell out with Stalin, and by the Sixties, Bulgarian officials had gone back to the position that the two nations are ethnically homogeneous.
MACEDONIA CUTS LOOSE
A new era began with the disintegration of Yugoslavia, Macedonian independence in 1991, and the emergence of the nationalist VMRO-DPMNE party, which some viewed as having a pro-Bulgarian agenda.
While the new state's decision to use the name Macedonia itself and ancient Hellenic symbols - for example the rising sun banner associated with Alexander the Great - antagonised Greece, Bulgaria had no such qualms and recognising the republic immediately it declared independence.
Most Bulgarians appear to accept that a century of separate development has led to a different national spirit in their neighbour.
No serious political group in Bulgaria now has the “Macedonian Question” on its agenda. Even the Bulgarian VMRO party, historically founded to fight for the unification of the two states, now sees the long-term answer as lying in greater integration into a broader Europe.
But while Sofia has been happy to accept the existence of a Macedonian state, that does not mean there has been a sea-change towards accepting the existence of a separate nation with its own language. Apart from the baggage of the past, Bulgaria does not want to unsettle its own western Pirin region, which some versions of history say is historically Macedonian land, with a population ethnically different from other Bulgarians.
EDUCATION: A HIDDEN AGENDA?
One of the key areas where all this history is still playing a role is higher education. Macedonians find the doors to Bulgarian universities are open to them – but at a price.
Lenche, a student from Skopje, is in her fourth year at university. But like a growing number of her compatriots, she is not studying at home. Instead, she is attending Bulgaria’s National Academy of Fine Arts.
Lenche is just one of a wave of young people taking advantage of the Bulgarian government’s special concessions for Macedonian nationals. Between 700 and 800 Macedonians now come to study in Bulgaria each year, benefiting from a range of bursaries offered by Bulgaria. In all, there are around 3,500 Macedonian students in Bulgaria - equivalent to more than a tenth of the 31,000 people studying at home in Macedonia.
These numbers represent a steep rise. Ten years ago, there were no more than 30 Macedonians studying in Bulgaria. Belgrade universities were still the most popular and prestigious destination. But after the break-up of Yugoslavia, Serbia lost its attraction and its place was increasingly taken by Bulgarian universities.
Alexander Popov, the official responsible for Macedonian students at the Bulgarian education ministry, has monitored the change in fashion with a certain satisfaction. “A decade ago, our universities only attracted Macedonians who were unable to qualify for higher education at home,” he said. “Now they consider it prestigious to study in Sofia.”
But an important detail of this generous policy is that most of the grants are intended for Macedonians who declare themselves ethnic Bulgarians, and all students must display a grasp of the version of history presented in Bulgarian textbooks.
Students classed as ethnic Bulgarians from abroad are entitled to a range of concessions to encourage them to study in Bulgaria. Macedonians can compete for some 300 state-funded places, and those who are explicitly designated ethnic Bulgarians get the best treatment of all, with 50 per cent of the quota places earmarked for them. And this category can also study without being part of the quota and still pay only 30 per cent of the normal rate charged to foreign students.
Procedures for establishing that a foreign student is of Bulgarian origin are fairly liberal. From 1993, when Macedonian students begun coming to Bulgaria, until September 2004, they were not even required to present documentary evidence. Bulgaria’s education ministry took the view that it would be hard for ex-Yugoslav students to provide such documentation, and did not press them to produce written proof of ethnicity.
This policy changed in 2004, partly as a result of press reports that non-Slav students were taking advantage of subsidies intended for ethnic Bulgarians. Applicants are now required to submit documents, but the requirements remain quite lax, since a sworn declaration of origin or a letter from an organisation representing Bulgarians abroad counts as acceptable.
BUYING INTO HISTORY
A key part of the application process for studying in Bulgaria involves passing tests in literature and history. Since historical truth is a traditional battleground, the test is a challenge for Macedonians, who have to brush up on Bulgarian history books, which tell a different story from the received version at home.
Since the official view in Bulgaria is that the Macedonian people were actually Bulgarian at least until they became part of the Yugoslav federation, this requirement can be seen as encouragement to buy into Bulgarian origin.
Popov denies the education ministry’s policy is confrontational. “They are granted an opportunity to learn Bulgarian history, and this applies to applicants from all countries,” he said. “No one can force those students to believe what they write in the test.”
Most of the Macedonian students interviewed by IWPR said they did not feel under pressure to assimilate or change their ethnic identity. “No one has ever even discussed my nationality with me here,” said Alexandur Nanchev from Strumica in eastern Macedonia, now doing teacher training in Sofia’s St Kliment Ohridski university.
At the same time, some students are less than comfortable with procedures that require an admission of “Bulgarian-ness”.
"I don't think modern Bulgarian society desires or attempts to assimilate Macedonians. But certain state procedures and practices seem intended to have such consequences," said Lenche, adding that everyone who admitted to being ethnic Bulgarian did so voluntarily.
POLITICAL RAMIFICATIONS
Bulgarian officials insist there is no evil intent behind their desire to provide study opportunities.
The education ministry’s Popov insisted that at a political level, the official stance is no different to the welcome that Greece and Hungary extend to foreign students of their respective ethnicities.
His colleague at the ministry, Venko Bozhanov of the graduate and postgraduates department, agreed, saying, “The European Union tolerates these attitudes. Ethnic communities should undoubtedly remain loyal citizens to their states, but they can also serve as bridges between countries.”
But in Macedonia, suspicions remain. Some politicians and media have suggested more than once that the Bulgarian state has a hidden agenda of “Bulgarianisation” and ultimately “reunification”.
Aneta Serafimova, a professor of medieval studies at Skopje university, says Bulgaria is misusing history to justify its policy, adding, “The aim of that policy is assimilation of the Macedonian nation. There is no history which gives the right to one country to manipulate the population of a neighbouring country.”
Serafimova accuses Bulgaria of abusing the advantages it enjoys as a prospective gateway to the European Union, offering the benefits of a growing economy and access to European labour markets which she thinks younger Macedonians will find it hard to resist. “Sofia is thus putting into practice a well-known method of assimilation, and is acting in a very dishonest manner,” she concluded.
Macedonian police sources told IWPR that it would be wrong to turn a blind eye to current Bulgarian policies. “We cannot prevent these people from studying in Bulgaria but we have to know what we are dealing with and remain on the alert,” said a police source.
Study in Bulgaria remains so sensitive a subject that many of those studying in Sofia are afraid to give their names to journalists in case it causes them problems when they go back to Macedonia.
“We feel a bit nervous because the [Macedonian] police make trouble for people studying in Bulgaria and for their families,” one such female student told IWPR.
She said she was summoned to the police station at her home town last summer to explain why she had gone to study in Bulgaria. “I answered that I didn’t have the money for Oxford,” she told IWPR. “I wonder whether the police ask the same questions of people studying in Vienna.”
Staff at the Bulgarian education ministry report that students are routinely questioned by police in Macedonia. But Goran Pavlovski, a spokesman for the Macedonian interior ministry, told IWPR that police “do not summon people studying in Bulgaria for interview”. However, “the ministry summons all those whose activities require a security check”, he said.
In an effort to avoid such problems, the Bulgarians introduced a new quota system for Macedonian citizens regardless of ethnic origin in 1996. “The aim was to spare ethnic Macedonians studying in Bulgaria any trouble at home,” said Bozhanov.
Those Macedonian students who want to go to Sofia are unlikely to be deterred either by the Bulgarian requirements of ethnic identity or by hostility at home. “It’s ridiculous to think they could stop the process,” one student told IWPR, referring to the Macedonian authorities. “There are so many of us coming here, and some have now graduated and returned as doctors or lawyers.”
Others, however, have taken a conscious decision not to take up the offer. “I don’t like their education policy,” said Goce Naumov, a postgraduate student at Skopje university who turned down a chance to study in Bulgaria. “As I understand it, they are asking students to take a national history exam that involves a quite different interpretation of the Macedonian nation. That is something I find unacceptable.”.
Gorjan Lazarov chose to study in Prague for the same reasons. “I could never study in a country that does not recognise my language and my nation,” he said. “Bulgaria, as a European country, should once and for all recognise the Macedonian nation. Otherwise all these privileges… continue to fuel doubts that it’s all being done with the sole purpose of increasing the number of people in Macedonia who declare themselves Bulgarian.”
PASSPORT TO EUROPE
Another area where Macedonians get preferential treatment as a vestige of past Bulgarian policies is the exceptional ease with which they can acquire citizenship.
Virtually every Macedonian of Slavic origin is eligible to claim a Bulgarian passport. To prove Bulgarian origin, it is enough merely to declare it. There is no need to establish prior residence in Bulgaria.
The law says someone applying for citizenship should submit a birth certificate of one parent showing that they were ethnically Bulgarian. But there’s a let-out: if no documentation is available, the State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad can issue a certificate of nationality based on the presumption that “ethnic Macedonian” means “ethnic Bulgarian".
That premise might seem like a leap of faith, or at least somewhat controversial. But the agency’s chairwoman, Denitsa Hristova, insisted to IWPR that “this is an indisputable, internationally-recognised, scientific and socio-cultural fact".
In the past four years alone, 15,500 Macedonians have applied for Bulgarian citizenship. The number of candidates is doubling every year, so that the 2004 total was around 7,500. There are reports of entire villages sending one person to apply on everyone’s behalf.
Nationalists might see the trend as a surge in Bulgarian consciousness, but the real motives are somewhat more pragmatic.
Bulgaria is increasingly attractive for Macedonians because its economy is in much better shape, and because it is well on the way to early EU membership.
Tellingly, many of the students now studying in Sofia do not plan to go back to Macedonia after graduating. “I think about 90 per cent of the Macedonians I know here don’t intend to return home, but will stay here or leave for another foreign country,” a student in Sofia told IWPR anonymously.
Acquiring a Bulgarian passport allows the holder to travel to much of Europe without a visa, and since Bulgarian laws allow dual citizenship, there is no need to renounce one’s Macedonian documents.
It is almost ridiculously easy to obtain a passport. Fees are low at three leva, around 1.5 euro, and applicants do not have to be in Bulgaria, but can go to a Bulgarian embassy or apply through a third party. As a result, a new business has grown up in parts of rural Macedonia, with middlemen collecting between 200 and 500 euro per person for preparing and submitting applications.
Bulgarian deputy justice minister Meglena Tacheva accepts that current passport regulations could be uncharitably interpreted as a deliberate attempt to encourage Macedonians to become Bulgarian nationals.
But she said the rules are getting tougher – for example she is pressing for all applicants to be interviewed personally. In any case, she added, the huge number of applicants has meant that only a third of the 15,500 applications received since 2001 have actually been processed.
Tacheva said the whole system was in need of a thorough review because it was now obvious that people were mostly applying for a Bulgarian passport so as to travel abroad, a fact that she fears may complicate matters with the EU.
ONE LANGUAGE OR TWO?
Another spectre from the past is the subject of language. Depending on your point of view, Bulgarian and Macedonian are two closely-related but distinct languages, or they are the same.
From a legal perspective, standard literary Macedonian is the official language of that state. But when the Bulgarians recognised the new state, they did not accept its claim to linguistic independence at the same time.
For the next seven years, the two governments - while on good terms - found themselves unable to sign a single bilateral document. The sole stumbling-block was the standard diplomatic formulation: "This document was signed in the Bulgarian and Macedonian languages".
The Bulgarian parliament eventually came up with a solution in 1999, rewording the text to read that the treaty language was “Macedonian… as per the Macedonian constitution". This exercise in verbal acrobatics worked, and the two countries have now signed at least 50 agreements.
But every time a bilateral document is signed, the compromise wording is a constant reminder that Bulgaria rejects the use of “Macedonian” as a legitimate linguistic term.
ANSWERS MAY LIE IN THE FUTURE
All these issues may lose some of their relevance and their potential to create friction as both countries face up to a future in Europe.
According to Bulgaria’s ambassador in Skopje, Alexandur Yordanov, his country is now Macedonia’s most reliable partner. Macedonia is the third biggest export market for its neighbour, and a new agreement abolishing customs duties on industrial goods, which came into effect this month, is expected to boost trade and investment further.
At a political level, Bulgaria has set out formal plans to help its neighbour work towards EU accession. During its own membership negotiations, Sofia held out for a delay in the imposition of visa requirements for Macedonian nationals. During an October 2004 visit to Skopje, Bulgarian foreign minister Solomon Passy was quoted as saying his country wanted non-visa access for Macedonians even after it became an EU member.
In this new environment, Bulgarians’ view of Macedonia seems founded on civilised and liberal values. Ambassador Yordanov stresses the importance of EU issues and downplays matters such as the Macedonian/Bulgarian language dispute, saying it represents "politicians taking account of historical realities".
At grassroots level, Alexandur Nanchev spoke for many of the Macedonian students in Bulgaria when he said history and nationality issues were becoming less of an issue.
"Macedonians, Bulgarians - soon all that will be history,” he said. “People don't care about this any more and it is not an issue in our lives. My friends are concentrating on the future, not the past.”
Hristo Matanov, a history professor at St Kliment Ohridski university, believes it is perfectly acceptable to foster close ties with Macedonia by means of scholarships and fast-track citizenship. “Bulgaria seems to want to establish a relationship with Macedonia like that which exists between Germany and Austria,” he said.
In addition, he added, “Educating students means creating a lobby amongst future Macedonian intellectuals.”
Matanov sees it as an uplifting process for Bulgaria, which is adjusting to being a country – for the first time in a century – where people from abroad actually want to study and live.
The trick will be to ensure that acts of positive discrimination are seen as just that, and not as assimilation by other means.
Albena Shkodrova is IWPR project manager in Bulgaria. Tamara Causidas, IWPR assistant editor in Macedonia, contributed to this article.
Sofia Declines to Write Off Macedonian State Railways Debt.
Novinite.com
Politics: 16 February 2005, Wednesday
Bulgaria is unwilling to write off the debt of the Macedonian State Railways, which amounts to EUR 4,7M and was accumulated for the period 1991 to 1995.
Bulgaria's Deputy Transport Minister Aneliya Krushkovo announced that the Bulgarian state railways - BDZ and their Macedonian colleagues are going to work on some alternative ways of paying off the debt.
A special protocol was signed during Krushkova's three-day visit to Macedonia. Under the protocol Bulgaria and Macedonia will have to agree on the forms of payment within one month.
The officials also agreed that a direct railway connecting Sofia and Skopje should be constructed thus easing the transportation goods and passengers.
Minister Krushkova explained that Macedonia has already built a major part of the railway investing nearly USD 150 M in it. Additional USD 240 M will be needed to end the construction, Krushkova said.
Macedonian Students Urge Stepped Up Review of Bulgarian Citizenship Applications.
Sofia, April 1 (BTA) - The secretary of the Vardar Macedonian Student Association Goran Teovski called for stepping up the process of granting Bulgarian citizenship. The appeal was voiced at a news conference Friday.
Up to 1944 our grandmothers and grandfathers had Bulgarian citizenship. Later they were stripped of that for which they had no blame. That is why it is more correct that we have to be able to apply for restoration of Bulgarian citizenship and not be granted it as entirely new applicants, Teovski said.
In the words of the deputy head of the Skopje-based "Bridge" Organization of Bulgarians in Macedonia Mitko Georgiev, 63,000 Macedonians who have applied for Bulgarian citizenship are waiting for a positive answer.
Bulgaria, Macedonia Experts to Discuss New Border Checkpoint Prospects.
Sofia, April 20 (BTA) - According to the agreements reached between the foreign ministers of Bulgaria and Macedonia, Solomon Passy and Ilinka Mitreva, a joint Bulgarian-Macedonian expert group will make a review of the functioning and liable to construction border checkpoints between the two countries on April 25 and 26.
The news was released by Deputy Foreign Minister and Ministry Spokesperson Gergana Gruncharova at here regular briefing Wednesday.
In her words, the group, which includes representatives of the Bulgarian foreign and interior ministries, the Ministry of Regional Development and Public Works and the Finance Ministry, is expected to draft a report on the state of the border checkpoints and the prospects for the construction of the three new ones planned - Stroumyani-Berovo, Simitli-Pehcevo and Nevestino-Delcevo.
Deputy PM Vassilev Meets Macedonia President, Prime Minister.
Skopje, April 19 (BTA Special Correspondent Lyudmila Spassova) - In the last couple of years trade between Bulgaria and Macedonia has increased almost twofold and totals some 300 million dollars. It is expected to exceed 500 million dollars in the coming years and if this happens, Bulgaria will be firmly established as the fourth ranking trade partner of Macedonia, which is the strategic goal of this country.
This statement was made in Skopje Tuesday by Deputy Prime Minister and Transport and Communications Minister Nikolay Vassilev after his meeting with Macedonian President Branko Crvenkovski and Prime Minister Vlado Buckovski.
In addition to the fact that Bulgaria actively supports Macedonia for its NATO, EU and CEFTA (Central European Free Trade Agreement) membership, the Bulgarian government considers the development of all cross-border infrastructure projects of particular importance as they open the opportunity for more investments, business, tourism and trade, Vassilev said.
The Bulgarian Deputy PM also added that both the President and the Prime Minister of Macedonia were well acquainted with all these projects. Bulgaria and Macedonia support each other for the development of Pan-European VIII, Bulgaria being the most active in supporting the development of this corridor before all European structures.
Vassilev expressed conviction that, after five years, the situation between the two countries will be radically different as regards railway road infrastructure, the electrical power line and, possibly, the oil pipeline.
It would be better for trade if the borders are more open, so that imports and exports could increase, Vassilev commented.
In 2004 Macedonia ranked 14 in Bulgarian exports with 2.1 per cent of this country's total export. In terms of imports it ranks 33rd, accounting for 0.4 per cent of the total.
