Macedonia and the European Union

[Risto the Great]

Also, I am fascinated that this Indian democracy has flown 'under the radar' as they say. Has anyone else heard of these ancient Indian republics prior to this thread?

I think the ancient Indians had some very amazing aspects to their civilisation. They certainly have not been afforded Western affection that has been poured on the ancient Hellenes. Considering that they had indoor plumbing 2500 years before the ancient Romans were still shitting outside communally. It is time the modern World takes off its blinkers.

Here is an interesting link regarding Alexander and the Indian interaction:

http://2ndlook.wordpress.com/2009/01/23/alexanders-conquest-of-india/

[Bratot]

http://www.gavinmenzies.net/

[Jankovska]

Vizite padnaa, woohoo

http://www.netpress.com.mk/vest.asp?id=64875&kategorija=1

Cestitki na site.

[Bill77]

http://www.netpress.com.mk/vest.asp?...5&kategorija=1

Cestitki na site.

Great news Jankovska.

[Prolet]

Too right this is fantastic

Im sure our people are doing fist pumps and cartwheels in the streets, finally the Schengen Wall has gone down.

[makedonin]

It appears that it is confirmed:

Serbs, Montenegrins and Macedonians allowed visa-free travel to EU
30. November 2009, 12:35
Decision of EU interior ministers shall apply from 19 December for a stay of less than 90 days

Brussels - Citizens of Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro as of 19 may December for a maximum of 90 days without a visa to enter the European Union. This has been resolved, the EU interior ministers on Monday in Brussels. For Albania and Bosnia-Herzegovina, the ministers expressed their support in this area, but these two states would have until their "homework", it said.

For citizens of Bosnia-Herzegovina and Albania, there is currently no entry without a visa. The possibility of visa-free entry for Serbs, moreover, applies only to those who live in Serbia - and not just for Serbs living in Kosovo, which also have Serbian papers. As far as Kosovo is concerned, as it concerned their own history, because this was partly not even recognized, it was said. (APA)

In German here:

http://derstandard.at/1259280843192/Serben-Montenegriner-und-Mazedonier-duerfen-visafrei-in-EU-einreisen

[julie]

http://www.netpress.com.mk/vest.asp?...5&kategorija=1

Cestitki na site.

this is awesome! I just got a notification from facebook friend and was about to post the link, man, you are fast, this is the beginning,....

[julie]

this is awesome! I just got a notification from facebook friend and was about to post the link, man, you are fast, this is the beginning,....

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/n.php?n=eu-extends-visa-free-travel-to-serbia-macedonia-montenegro-2009-11-30

Monday, November 30, 2009
BRUSSELS – Agence France-Presse
European Union nations agreed Monday to extend visa free travel to Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro, but kept visa requirements in place for citizens from Albania and Bosnia. "I strongly welcome this decision, which is an important step in the process of rapprochement with these countries," French Immigration Minister Eric Besson told reporters, after EU interior ministers had endorsed the move.

"The removal of visa requirements for Serbia, Montenegro and the former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia will take place on December 19, 2009," he added. Besson said he encouraged his EU counterparts "to continue this process with all western Balkans nations, notably Bosnia and Hercegovina and Albania, once the European Commission has completed its road map" for those countries.

He also expressed hope that a similar process could be launched for Kosovo, which declared independence from Serbia in February 2008. The European Commission, the EU executive arm, recommended in July that travelers from Serbia, Macedonia and Montenegro be exempted from visas from January 2010 in the 25-nation Schengen open borders zone. Macedonia is considered best prepared in the region for visa-free travel, having met criteria for document security, illegal immigration, public order, external relations and basic rights.

Macedonia has been an official candidate to join the EU since 2005. The visa move has been eagerly awaited by the citizens of Serbia, the largest of the three ex-Yugoslav republic's with 7.5 million people, but some feared it could ignite tensions in Bosnia. Ethnic Serbs there can hold two passports. The EU failed to prevent the bloody breakup of the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s but the prospect of EU membership has encouraged reform and the bloc often makes such gestures to reassure Balkans nations about their future.

In a gesture to Serbia last year, the EU eased visa restrictions for some Serbs, making them cheaper and easier to obtain for students, athletes, journalists, and people visiting family or working with companies in the bloc. Belgrade's EU membership hopes remain held up by the Netherlands because Bosnian Serb genocide suspect Ratko Mladic remains on the run, most likely in Serbia.

[Prolet]

Whats going to Happen With the UK and Ireland?? They arent in the Schengen zone will they allow visa free travel aswell in the future?

[Jankovska]

Macedonian citizens will still need a visa to travel to the UK and Ireland, however they will be able to travel without it in the rest of the Shengen zona and EU. I think this is a step forward and congrats to all.

[George S.]

THe issuing of visas in european countries was allways a backward step & just red tape & formality.It's about time they did not impede free travel charging taxes just to travel.The opendoor policy of freedom of travel throughout europe has got to be the smartest thing since sliced bread.It was burdensome to many people for many years.

[Bill77]

Lets just hope the Albanians love it over the borders and not come back.

[Risto the Great]

Excellent news.
I can't wait to see what Greece has planned for the Macedonians crossing the border. They will be reminded in no uncertain terms that their boss (Chichko EU) is watching.

[Prolet]

Lets just hope the Albanians love it over the borders and not come back.

Blagojche, Kosovo is not part of this, we'll see all the Kosovars going to Serbia,MonteNegro and Macedonia and getting passports.

Excellent news.
I can't wait to see what Greece has planned for the Macedonians crossing the border. They will be reminded in no uncertain terms that their boss (Chichko EU) is watching.

Risto, Didnt you know?? Its all been objaveno the people will get a white lifche at the border which will say they dont recognize our passport and they will put a stamp on it there. You have to keep the lifche with you and thats it, its pretty much the same with the visa system.

The only catch is that everyone must have the new biometric passports, they cant travel with the old passports.

[Bij]

great news!