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  • vicsinad
    Senior Member
    • May 2011
    • 2337



    Macedonian police say vandals have damaged a museum dedicated to the Albanian alphabet, amid increasing political tension over the official status of the Albanian language in the country.

    The attack early Tuesday in the southwestern city of Bitola damaged the front door and windows. Police said petrol bombs were thrown inside but caused little damage. No arrests have been made.

    Macedonia's culture ministry and dominant conservative VMRO-DPMNE party condemned the attack.

    Political tension is increasing since parliamentary elections in December left neither the conservatives nor the main opposition Social Democrats with enough seats in parliament to govern alone.

    Three parties representing the ethnic Albanian minority — a quarter of Macedonia's population — are demanding that Albanian should become Macedonia's second official language as their price to join in any coalition.

    Comment

    • Tomche Makedonche
      Senior Member
      • Oct 2011
      • 1123

      The Criminal Court in Skopje has ordered the arrest and detention of businessman and media magnate Sead Kocan - an ally of ex-PM Gruevski- on suspicion of falsifying documents to win a big coal extraction tender.


      Macedonia Court Orders Businessman’s Arrest Over Tender Fix

      The Criminal Court in Skopje has ordered the arrest and detention of businessman and media magnate Sead Kocan - an ally of ex-PM Gruevski- on suspicion of falsifying documents to win a big coal extraction tender.

      A court in Skopje has ordered big businessman and media baron Sead Kocan - who is known for close ties to former Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski - to be arrested and put in detention for 30 days on suspicion of fixing a coal tender. The Special Prosecution, SJO, earlier named him in a case codenamed “Trust” that the SJO - established to probe high-level crime and corruption - opened last month.

      Kocan's defence lawyer, Nikola Dodevski, on Friday said that he would remain at liberty until they received the court's decision.

      "Until we get such a decision, Sead Kocan is a free man and can regularly carry out his activities," Dodevski said. The court ordered Kocan's arrest on the proposition of the SJO, accepting its explanation that if left free, the businessman could "escape, influence witnesses or destroy evidence" in the case. Kocan's lawyer earlier dismissed the charges, saying his client is innocent.

      Along with three other businessmen, he is suspected of falsifying documents in 2011 to win a 17-million-euros tender to extract coal from the Suvodol mine near the town of Bitola for the state power company ELEM. The tender was awarded to the consortium he belonged to in 2012.

      The SJO sought detention for Kocan, owner of the company Transmet and the national TV station NOVA, and for Vasilije Avirovic, a representative for Sileks Nemetali company. The Transmet and Sileks companies were both part of the consortium that won the tender for extraction of coal.

      A third suspect in the case, Safet Vatic, headed VATO, a company that was also part of the same consortium.

      They are suspected of presenting false data about the capacity of a slag crusher, needed for the extraction of coal, special prosecutor Fatime Fetai explained on February 28. Fetai said that despite this, the state commission in charge of the procedure awarded the tender to the consortium.

      An investigation by the Center for Civic Communications, CCC, an NGO, into the 100 biggest tender procedures between 2010 and 2014, showed that the coal tender was the seventh largest over this period.

      The investigation also showed that Kocan's Transmet in 2013 was part of even bigger deal for coal extraction, worth 38 million euros.

      Versatile and active businessmanApart from owning Transmet, which is one of the most active construction companies in Macedonia, Kocan also appears to own a pro-government TV station, NOVA, as well as other companies.

      His name appeared in the so-called "bombshells" released by the opposition Social Democrats in 2015. That year, the party revealed transcripts of secretly recorded conversations by top officials that rocked Gruevski's government. In March and April 2016, the Social Democrats revealed several wiretapped conversations that appears to be linked to this case.

      One of them, published in April appeared to involve then Prime Minister Gruevski and the former head of the state power producing company, ELEM, Vlatko Cingovski. In it, the two interlocutors discussed forming the consortium that later won the tender. What appears to be Gruevski's voice uses a codename for Sead Kocan, calling him "Seat Ibiza" and "the person who drives a Seat."

      "You should meet them and organize the matter, so that everyone is satisfied," Gruevski tells Cingovski in the conversation, suggesting that all three businessmen interested in the excavation of coal should form a consortium and share the tender.

      Gruevski has insisted the tapes were “fabricated” by unnamed foreign intelligence services and given to the opposition to destabilise the country. VMRO DPMNE has also accused the SJO of bias, insisting it is working under instructions of the opposition.

      In 2014, Transmet was also chosen as a subcontractor for the ongoing construction of the highway between the towns of Ohrid and Kicevo.

      A BIRN investigation published in April 2015 showed that Kocan also appeared to own the construction company BKS kompanija DOO and Tibel Media DOOEL.

      His name was also linked to the Association for Unification of Bosniaks in Macedonia, AVAZ, as well as to an association supporting and financing of new businesses, Business Angels.
      “There’s a time when the operation of the machine becomes so odious, makes you so sick at heart, that you can’t take part, you can’t even passively take part, and you’ve got to put your bodies upon the gears and upon the wheels, upon the levers, upon all the apparatus and you’ve got to make it stop, and you’ve got to indicate to the people who run it, to the people who own it, that unless you’re free, the machine will be prevented from working at all” - Mario Savio

      Comment

      • Albo
        Member
        • May 2014
        • 304

        Gruevski announces political document platform for the preservation of Macedonia

        SKOPJE – VMRO-DPMNE are preparing a political document, where they will offer a way out of the political crisis, announced the leader of the party, Nikola Gruevski in interview Saturday on Kanal 5, Meta reports. Gruevski announced that in the next few days, he expects the document to be finalised...


        --------------------------
        EU’s Own Credibility is at Stake in Macedonia

        In its approach to Macedonia, and the Balkans, the EU has neglected democratisation in the name of stability - and has so betrayed its own values and empowered local autocrats.

        Comment

        • Albo
          Member
          • May 2014
          • 304

          Gruevski’s Party has Left Macedonia in Limbo

          The former PM and his allies are deliberately misleading the public in order to discredit the proposed coalition led by the Social Democrats and foment ethnic tensions.

          Erwan Fouéré -


          The refusal of President Ivanov to hand a mandate to form a government to the proposed coalition led by the opposition Social Democratic Party, SDSM, leaves the country in a perilous limbo of uncertainty amid heightened tensions.

          The President’s behaviour is in direct violation of the constitution and in defiance of the international community, in particular the EU’s High Representative, Federica Mogherini, who has formally requested him to reverse his decision.

          The reason he gave, that the proposed coalition would “destroy the country”, has contributed to further inflaming an already tense inter-ethnic environment.

          The ruling VMRO-DPMNE party and its leader, Nikola Gruevski, have gone further, adding fuel to the fire by using confrontational language, veiled threats of violence and accusing the opposition of treason.

          The relentless propaganda campaign by the party, suggesting the country’s identity and vital interests are under threat, has brought thousands of citizens out onto the streets, with journalists being violently attacked and civil society organisations subjected to harassment and intimidation.

          Gruevski’s party claims that the proposals put forward by the ethnic Albanian parties will result in “federalisation” and “cantonisation” and the eventual breakup of Macedonia. These are terms that have not been used by any of the other political parties, let alone by the ethnic Albanian parties. If there is one aspiration that unites the entire country it is to preserve the unity and identity of Macedonia, with the vast majority of its citizens aspiring to join the EU and NATO as such is deliberately misleading the public with the intention of discrediting the proposed coalition led by the SDSM and fomenting inter-ethnic tensions.

          What he refuses to accept is that the views put forward by the ethnic Albanian parties is a direct result of the failure of the ruling coalition, in power since 2006, to uphold the rule of law and ensure full implementation of the obligations contained in the 2001 Ohrid Framework Agreement. This failure has been amply documented in the annual European Commission Progress Reports.

          Whether it is in relation to the rights of communities that compose the multi-ethnic character of Macedonia, or in relation to “balanced regional development”, another essential element of the Ohrid Framework Agreement, the ruling coalition failed to devote sufficient financial resources to ensure effective implementation of its obligations. The Reports have in particular highlighted the lack of transparency and arbitrary manner in which funds are allocated to the local level.

          The Reports have also repeatedly referred to the inadequate financial and staff resources for the institutions and bodies established to promote human rights and fight against discrimination in the country.


          No wonder mistrust between the ethnic communities in Macedonia has deepened even further over the past years.

          Despite these criticisms from the EU, the ruling coalition has continued to spend on non-productive projects, such as the excessive monument-building under the “Skopje 2014” urban project. This suggests that it considers concrete statues more important than fostering harmonious inter-ethnic relations or providing for a balanced regional development with more resources for economic and social development at the local level. It has also systematically refused any public consultation on even the most controversial and expensive aspects of the “Skopje 2014” project.


          The Democratic Union for Integration party, DUI, which was in coalition with the VMRO-DPMNE from 2008, bears some responsibility for these failures. By staying in the governing coalition even after the revelations from the wiretapping scandal two years ago, which revealed widespread corruption and abuse of power [amply documented in the so-called Priebe Report], it lost a lot of support in the December general elections, when the parliamentary party was reduced from 19 to 10 seats.

          It is these allegations of serious crime, corruption and abuse of power by ministers and senior officials from the ruling party that should be the focus of attention, not attempts to exacerbate already fragile inter-ethnic relations. By shifting the debate to ethnic issues, Gruevski is aiming to cover up and bury his own misdeeds.

          The broad coalition put forward by the leader of the SDSM, Zoran Zaev, a week ago, offers hope for the country to take a step back from the abyss and return to the rule of law and democratic standards.

          By joining forces with the ethnic Albanian parties, the SDSM has a majority of 67 MPs, which can ensure a peaceful transition towards the formation of a new government committed to the much delayed reform programme for EU accession. This broad coalition will also be the best guarantee for completion of the commitments under the Ohrid Framework Agreement, not least in ensuring a more balanced distribution of funds for regional development.

          It should not be forgotten that the decentralisation process and the work of the ZELS, the Association of Municipalities, has stood the test of time in Macedonia, despite the best efforts of the ruling party to centralise power and limit the funds available at the local level.

          In presenting the proposed government programme, Zaev highlighted EU and NATO accession, a strong civil society, equitable regional development, transparent governance and an independent judiciary as priorities. He also underlined continued support for the work of the Special Prosecutor, SJO, appointed to investigate the wiretapping scandal, a point also supported by the ethnic Albanian parties.

          VMRO-DPMNE has meanwhile continued to reject the Special Prosecutor and has called for the termination of her mandate, which should automatically disqualify it from forming a government since it runs contrary to the commitments of the Przino Agreement. This is a point that the EU should make clear to the ruling party.

          It is to be hoped that VMRO-DPMNE, instead of using the language of violence and confrontation to mislead the public, will heed the appeal for unity and reconciliation and allow the formation of this proposed new coalition to go forward. For once, it should put the interests of the country before the party and those individuals it is trying to protect from prosecution.

          The multi-ethnic character of Macedonia is one of its unique assets. By working together in a spirit of compromise and good will, the country’s leaders, political forces and civil society can forge a new consensus across the political and ethnic divide that can bring this nightmare that has captured the country for far too long to an end. This would offer a glimmer of hope for the people of Macedonia who have suffered from years of abuse at the hands of an autocratic regime.

          Erwan Fouere is former EU ambassador to Macedonia.

          The opinions expressed in the Comment section are those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect the views of BIRN.

          - See more at: http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/arti....eNedNjBH.dpuf

          Comment

          • Albo
            Member
            • May 2014
            • 304

            The forbidden word: federalism

            Yes, in Macedonia, it is forbidden to even mention the word federalism. If you do it nevertheless, you are blamed to be an opponent, someone who is against the state and wants to split the country. This is what happened recently with SDSM and the platform of the Albanian parties. Such accusations however serve in the first place those in favor of authoritarian rule.

            But let’s have a look at federalism and see why this is not the bare devil, even not for a country like Macedonia.
            Worldwide, some 40 percent of the population is living in states with a federal structure. Those states include big ones, like India and the US, but also small ones, such as Belgium and Austria and every size in between (e.g. Germany). Most of these federal states are stable, not prone to separation or at the stage of falling apart.
            And yes, there is a multitude of different federal systems possible. A country can be divided in states, districts or provinces, who all have a high level of autonomy. Instead, countries can also provide a high level of autonomy to their communities, without specifying any specific physical borders. This could include the so-called person related rights, such as culture, education, media, social welfare etc. In order to make this effective, communities usually are allowed to have their own elected assembly representing the members of the community.
            Since the nineties, we see that quite often, federalism is used as an effective tool to settle conflicts. The big advantage is that communities can get equal rights and an equal position towards the central level of governance. This creates stability — much needed in a country like Macedonia.

            Since 2001, Macedonia de facto has some characteristics of a federal state, with most important the acceptance that a government will be formed by one party on the side of the biggest community and one party on the side of the second biggest community. But this said, not all problems are solved.

            One of the important symbols of any community is the language. Do people in general have the right to use their mother tongue? Yes, they do. For communities of a reasonable size, it is also common to allow education in this mother tongue and to allow also the use of it at the municipal services, in the hospital or in the court. Can a country fall apart because this principle is recognized? To me, this is a basic principle, a way to show a minimum of respect to human beings living together with you in the same country.

            “I grew up in Belgium, and learned to speak all official languages. And whenever someone wants to talk to me in one of these languages, I will immediately switch to that language. This is a matter of being polite to your fellow citizens.”

            One of the advantages of such federal system, is that it allows people to feel good and to be proud of living in their country. It is not by overruling people, by dictating them from a central government, by reminding them every day that they are just part of a minority, that you will be able to keep the country together in the long run. No, the only way forward is by decentralization and the implementation of the subsidiarity principle. Subsidiarity is an organizing principle recognizing that matters have to be handled by the smallest, lowest or least centralized competent authority. Political decisions should therefore be taken at local level (e.g. community level) if possible, rather than by a central authority.

            Of course, there is a problem with this approach, because it limits the power of the central authorities. It isn’t fun if your dream is to be an autocratic ruler, and then you have to give up on some of your competencies. Exactly this is one of the major advantages of a decentralized federal system: it is an effective tool against authoritarian tendencies at the central level. So, with a decentralized federal system, there is no space for authoritarian rules.
            Let’s be serious: what would be the biggest danger for a country like Macedonia? Is it the rightful demands from the Albanian community, for which a good and effective solution is possible — even though a lot of discussion in parliament will be necessary to set it up properly — or is it the authoritarian style of some of the Leaders, where the formation of a government supported by a majority of the members of parliament is blocked, where local elections can’t be organized, a system that is close to complete collapse?

            I am the first one to recognize that that federal system can also be dangerous, because they can be used effectively to block policies at the central level. However, it is possible to overcome this with for example the introduction of a bicameral system, where a small senate will discuss and solve any problem between any of the communities and the central level. With a senate as mediation tool, every level will find its place and learn how to balance its interests.

            To conclude: regardless the suggestion by some of the political leaders and parties in Macedonia, the country will not fall apart by accepting the fact that “all citizens are equal”. The country will not disappear by recognizing a second language. On the contrary, recognizing that you are living at the crossroads of different cultures is an asset; your economy, educational system, scientific research and culture can benefit from it. Diversity is a tool to strengthen your country, a tool you desperately need to build a better future.

            Peter Vanhoutte

            Yes, in Macedonia, it is forbidden to even mention the word federalism. If you do it nevertheless, you are blamed to be an opponent…

            Comment

            • Dejan
              Member
              • Sep 2008
              • 589

              Stop posting this vanhoutte bullshit.
              You want Macedonia? Come and take it from my blood!

              A prosperous, independent and free Macedonia for Macedonians will be the ultimate revenge to our enemies.

              Comment

              • Risto the Great
                Senior Member
                • Sep 2008
                • 15658

                Originally posted by Albo View Post
                The forbidden word: federalism


                “I grew up in Belgium, and learned to speak all official languages. And whenever someone wants to talk to me in one of these languages, I will immediately switch to that language. This is a matter of being polite to your fellow citizens.”
                Clearly ethnic Albanians are not polite nor do they want to be.

                What a bullshit and insensitive article.
                Risto the Great
                MACEDONIA:ANHEDONIA
                "Holding my breath for the revolution."

                Hey, I wrote a bestseller. Check it out: www.ren-shen.com

                Comment

                • Albo
                  Member
                  • May 2014
                  • 304

                  Interesting and informative debate on TV21 (with Macedonian subtitles) for those interested in a different perspective of the current situation and how Albanian analysts see current developments..

                  Comment

                  • Gocka
                    Senior Member
                    • Dec 2012
                    • 2306

                    He should have a waffle and a piece of chocolate and then shut the fuck up

                    Originally posted by Dejan View Post
                    Stop posting this vanhoutte bullshit.

                    Comment

                    • Albo
                      Member
                      • May 2014
                      • 304

                      Definitely a MUST WATCH debate.. 90% is in Macedonian the 10% part in Albanian is translated


                      Comment

                      • Phoenix
                        Senior Member
                        • Dec 2008
                        • 4671

                        Originally posted by Dejan View Post
                        Stop posting this vanhoutte bullshit.
                        Vanhoutte is a real piece of work...no person in his right mind could seriously put that shit together as an objective opinion piece...somebody is stuffing wads of cash up his arse in return for this clowns thought-bubbles...that's just one of many anti-Macedonian opinion pieces that he's posted in 'medium'...good to see heaps of people tearing shreds off him in the comments section...

                        Comment

                        • Soldier of Macedon
                          Senior Member
                          • Sep 2008
                          • 13670

                          Originally posted by Dejan View Post
                          Stop posting this vanhoutte bullshit.
                          I agree.

                          In fact, Albo, stop posting trashy anti-Macedonian opinion pieces altogether. We're all well aware of their views. No need to give them a greater platform here. If you post such garbage it will be deleted.
                          In the name of the blood and the sun, the dagger and the gun, Christ protect this soldier, a lion and a Macedonian.

                          Comment

                          • Albo
                            Member
                            • May 2014
                            • 304

                            I would have thought that posting opinions of relevant European diplomats who have extensive knowledge and experience in Macedonia and have input on how European Union opinion is formed towards Macedonia would be seen as "Anti-Macedonian"..
                            Thought it would be relevant regarding the current political crisis..

                            Comment

                            • vicsinad
                              Senior Member
                              • May 2011
                              • 2337

                              Who decides who is a "relevant" European diplomat is beyond me.

                              Comment

                              • Gocka
                                Senior Member
                                • Dec 2012
                                • 2306

                                What strikes me most about the Belgian waffle is that his views about being bilingual out of politeness could be applied to almost any country in the world but its not applied to everyone. I don't see him criticizing the USA, why doesn't every American just learn Spanish to be polite to their fellow Hispanic countrymen. Could you imagine the uproar and revolt if Spanish were mandated in the USA.

                                There is something more nefarious going on and we all know what it is. The west believes that we are not a nation of Macedonians with an Albanian minority, they believe we are a state with out a native people like Belgium and Switzerland. That we are a buffer state like Belgium, but instead of French and German we are Bulgarians and Albanians, and that the Macedonian state doesn't belong to anyone. They just don't want to put it in those terms and think we are stupid and that we don't understand what they are really saying.

                                This is where Macedonia as a nation in an official capacity needs to be loud, direct, and unapologetic for it. Make a political scene out of it, call him out, make it a public argument, give interviews to newspapers and TV shows. What else can you do?

                                Comment

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