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  A STATUS CONFERENCE FOR BOSKOVSKI AND TARCULOVSKI


In court room 1 of the Hague tribunal the scheduled status conference is to be held for the case against Lube Boskovski, the former minister of interior and Johan Tarchulovski, the former member of the President Trajkovski’s security detail, charged for violating the laws and customs of war in relation to the Ljuboten case.
On this conference the lawyers of both defendants will attend, Dragan Godjo and Antonio Apostolski. According to the set procedure of the Hague tribunal, the judges, prosecutors and lawyers at the status conference should make a summary of the case and activities, evidence and other materials which have been collected so far. After the status conference, the Court Council should schedule the beginning of the trial of Boskovski and Tarchulovski.
The Hague judges still haven’t decided on the appeal of the decision for the rejection of the motion for the release of Boskovski and Tarchulovski so they can defend them selves from freedom, for which the Macedonian government has given guaranties. The lawyers of the defendants expect the decision of the appeal to be reached in the coming two weeks.		  
     
  A VISIT TO THE AEGEAN PART OF MACEDONIA HAS BEEN ALLOWED

Last weekend the Greek authorities allowed 43 Macedonians to see their birth places in the Aegean part of Macedonia. According to the Union of the Macedonian refugees from Greece, this act gives hope that Athens will soon start to respect in full the human rights of Macedonians.
“It is good that for the firs time we got a group visa, which was the wish of our citizens of the Republic of Macedonia, who came from the Aegean part of Macedonia and for me that is an opportunity, and we have such a plan, to organize more trips in all of the parts of the Aegean part of Macedonia:” stated the president of the Union of the children refugees from the Aegean part of Macedonia, Gorgi Donevski.		  
     
  THE BALKANS HAVE AN IMAGE PROBLEM

The Macedonian ambassador to the USA, Nikola Dimitrov, stated for the Washington newspaper “Diplomatic traffic” that for Macedonia the preservation of the constitutional name is a matter of stability and credibility.
“I believe that a solution whit which both Macedonia and Greece will agree on a commonly acceptable name for bilateral communication, while for the rest of the world the name Macedonia will be used is the right one” said Dimitrov.
According to him, the difficulties surrounding the reaching of a settlement in a large part are instigated by the use of this nationalistic question by Greek politicians, who by their declarations and firm stance on their positions practically leave no room for compromise. Also Dimitrov reminds the readers that Macedonia has already changed its Constitution and flag, as to convince the Greeks that it has no territorial pretensions towards them.
Further more he adds that the biggest obstacle for Macedonia and the entire region is the perception of instability, because “the Balkan has an image problem”. After the period of 2001, when the main preoccupation of the government in Skopje was the implementation of the Ohrid framework agreement, now it is ready to focus it self on development issues, especially the advancement of investment and trade.		  
     
  THE XX ANNUAL WORD YUTH DAY WAS CELEBRATED IN KOLN

The World Macedonian Youth Congress (SMMK) participated on the 12th of August on the XX annual World youth day, which was held in the German city of Köln. At the celebration a large number of young people attended from around 160 countries. The World youth day was founded on the indicative of Pope John Paul II in 1984, with the sanctification and giving the Wooden Cross to the young, in the original size on which Jesus’ body was crucified (height 3,80m and 1,74m) which as a symbol of Christianity it is constantly in the hands of millions of young believers trough out the world. The wooden cross for the past 17 months has been trough almost every populated place in Germany.		  
     
 

A POSITIVE ANALYSIS FOR THE ENTRANCE OF MACEDNIA IN THE EU

Macedonia is hoping that will soon capitalize on the good will of the EU and USA and that will soon become a member of the EU and NATO, it is said in the analysis of Merrill Lynch, the leading world company for financial management and consulting. According to the analysis, Macedonia will have a significant role in the solution of the Kosovo issue, and the minor dispute over the border will be resolved during the negotiations for Kosovo.
The author of the analysis ordered by Merrill Lynch, which has offices in 36 countries around the world, with an annual turn over of $600 billion, claims that there is a big possibility that Macedonia, despite the negative trends in Europe, will get a positive response from the EU and become a candidate country for membership. According to the analysis, the population of only 2 million inhabitants in not a treat to the European labor market, the country has no problems with the Hague tribunal, and with the fulfillment of the Ohrid Framework agreement, the picture in the world about he human rights in Macedonia looks better. Corruption, week court system, bad business climate are part of the problems which still are a challenge to the country, and the entrance in the EU can help to solve them more easily.

  
     
  THE FRAUDS OF THE DEFECTOR VRANISKOVSKI

In the “Windy” monastery, with the money donated by trustworthy citizens the power grid for the lighting of the monastery was build, but the defector Jovan Vraniskovski the so called Serbian Bishop in Macedonia, as the head of the Vardar eparchy from 2000 till 2002 has withdrawn 56.000 DM from the monastery’s account. He hasn’t kept a record of the withdrawal anywhere, but has spent the money for his private use.
This is just one of the many frauds that Vraniskovski has perpetrated while he was the head of 3 of the eparchies of the MOC, the Prespansko-pelagoniskata, Bregalnicka and Povardarska during the period of 1998-2002. He has defrauded more that 200.000 euros; of the church’s money or the money form his congregation, but also more than 35.000 euros, money that the state has transferred to the account of the Church.
The final amount of the fraud will be known at the closing arguments, which will be given by the Prosecutor of Veles Slavica Temelkovska.		  
     
  OUR PHARMACIES HAVE THE MOST EXPENSIVE MEDICATIONS

Macedonia is the only country in the region that doesn’t have a privileged tax rate, which is added to medications and disposable medical material. Pharmaceutical and medical products are taxed with 18 % WAT, while in Croatia the medications that are on the positive list are not taxed, and in Slovenia the tax on medications is only 8,5%. There is a similar situation in Serbia and Montenegro. The Croatian practice of tax exemptions is also in use in Albania. In Macedonia the medications are with a higher starting price from Bulgaria as well, were no customs duties are paid for the medications.
Such a burdening of healthcare of 18% WAT for medications is not to be taken lithely, if the fact that the state’s healthcare found is in deficit is kept in mind, and that the found is barely managing to cover the basic medical need of the users.		  
     
  SOS LINE FOR VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE

The national SOS line for victims of family violence 15700 started to work with in the frame of the Union of organizations of women in Macedonia (SOZM), as a bearer, from 1 of March 2005, and is supported by the Ministry of labor and social policy.
This SOS line for victims of family violence 15700, trough the Organization of the women of Skopje, covers the entire territory of Macedonia and provides services to the victims of family violence, as well as a shelter services for emergency situations and is working 24 hours a day.
The SOS line is cooperating with all institutions that provide support for these victims, like: police stations, centers for social care and other interested parties that deal with the problem of domestic violence.		  
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
 

 

  

 NEWS

 

MACEDONIA TO GET NATO MEMBERSHIP INVITATION AT NEXT SUMMIT, CRVENKOVSKI SAYS

 
In the framework of the ceremony marking the Macedonian Army Day, President and Supreme Commander of Armed Forces, Branko Crvenkovski answered journalists' questions, saying that he expected Macedonia to receive NATO membership invitation at the next Alliance summit.
"It is not disputable that Macedonia will get the invitation for a full-fledged membership at the next NATO summit, focused on enlargement. But, it is not sure when will the next Alliance summit take place. It does not depend on us, but of the estimation of NATO members, and it does not even have indirect relation with the level of reforms realized in Macedonia", Crvenkovski said.
Commenting on relations Skopje - Belgrade, Crvenkovski said, "There is no estrangement or worsening of relations. Both sides should employ all efforts to improve and not worsen the relations, which is in the interest of both nations and the two countries".

MACEDONIAN ARMY DAY MARKED

 
Central manifestation on occasion of August 18 - Macedonian Army (ARM) Day was marked Thursday at naval training center "Biljanini Izvori" in Ohrid.
Macedonian President and Supreme Commander of Armed Forces Branko Crvenkovski, Prime Minister Vlado Buckovski, Defense Minister Jovan Manasijevski, other ministers, representatives of the diplomatic corps and military attaches, as well as a number of official guests attended the manifestation.
In his address, President Crvenkovski told ARM members that the country expected their professionalism and loyalty in preservation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Macedonia in the future too.
"Thus, you will contribute to the success of your own state, as well as the promotion of democracy and economic prosperity of European Macedonia in the interest of current and future generations", President Crvenkovski stressed.
Crvenkovski also remembered the Army members, who gave their lives for Macedonia.
"Our obligation is to remember the ones who gave their lives in past and recent conflicts, thus paying the biggest sacrifice for the survival of the country. Today, we are all called upon to pay them due respect, because they are cemented in the state's foundations and have left an eternal pledge for future generations", Crvenkovski said.
According to the Macedonian President, the upcoming period was to bring two large commitments for the Macedonian Army: the completion of the final stage in its internal transformation according to NATO standards, as well as continuation in the successful engagement within international missions.
Crvenkovski stated that since its establishment, ARM has successfully adapted, going through complex transformation processes.
"During the past decade, Macedonia has contributed to the efforts of the international community for stabilization of the entire region with its balanced politics. Due to our responsible behavior in the past, prior reforms and transformation, Macedonia's candidacy should be confirmed at the following NATO Summit, which should focus on the enlargement issue", the President emphasized.
The ceremony also included the presentation of decrees to several ARM senior officers for their promotion.
Major-General Atanas Jovcevski has been appointed Commander of the ARM Allied Operative Command. Furthermore, Zoran Lekovski is the new Command's Deputy-Commander, while Zoran Dimov has been appointed Commander of the Second Motorized Infantry Brigade within the Command. The two have also been promoted to rank Brigadier General.
In addition, US Embassy Charge d'Affaires Paul Wohlers presented decoration "Bronze Star" to ARM Sergeant First Class Marijanco Mihackoski for merits in the execution of tasks within the Iraq mission.