Latest News & Developments

[The LION will ROAR]

Concept design of Bitola-Lerin railroad completed
Thursday, 04 March 2010
http://macedoniaonline.eu/content/view/12852/45/
Concept design for construction of the Corridor X section from Bitola to Lerin has been completed, announced the Macedonian Ministry of Transport. The project was devised by the state-owned company Macedonian Railways, and the next step is the choice of a consultant who will conduct necessary surveys and the main construction project.

"A tender for preparation of necessary documents is expected to be invited in June, whereas the mentioned railroad section Bitola-Lerin will be completed in 2014.

We applied for means from EU pre-accession funds (IPA) in order to obtain financial means necessary for the project," informed the Ministry. Moreover, this is an international railroad which will be some 20 km long.

I hope this goes thru...so we can have more contact with our brothers and sisters...

[Risto the Great]

It would be one of the most significant unifying initiatives we will have seen in 100 years.

[Prolet]

Its really important i agree. The Greek side shut it down in the mid 90s, i think there are still tracks there however nobody knows if the tracks are maintained because they havnt been used in so long.

[Bill77]

The EU is against the creation of new states in the Balkans


Prague, March 10 (Reuters) - European Union would not accept the creation of new states in the Balkans, said the expansion evrokemsarot Stefan Fillet, stressing that Brussels is preparing a new approach to Bosnia and Herzegovina, whose objective is firmly connected with the EU.

In a statement to Radio Free Europe, Fillet stressed that the EU now are preparing for a scenario for the division of BiH, but that focus can help the country to avoid division.

- We can do much to set this country on a stable basis, noted Fillet.

He stressed that the EU is not prepared to accept an increase in the number of states in the Balkans that does to avoid such a possibility.

According to him, the key to the survival of Bosnia and Herzegovina is an extension of Dayton.

- The key is the constitutional changes. It is crucial to get to the closing theme for the Office of the High Representative through constitutional changes to pave the way towards creating a stable and effective governance in the country, which tends to support, if not all, the majority (of people), said fillets, adding that if it came to be followed by "strong vkotvuvanje BiH in the EU" through the process of association.

http://www.idividi.com.mk/vesti/balk...472/index.html

Unless its the Albanians. Then the EU would make room no dought about it.

[Bill77]

Kacin: Brussels to find way for Macedonia’s start of EU accession talks with Iceland

The name dispute is a bilateral issue that should not have an effect on Macedonia’s Euro-integration. This is also the official stance of Brussels, which should provide assistance in finding a solution, followed by the beginning of Union accession negotiations, Slovenian Member of European Parliament (MEP) Jelko Kacin told Nacedonian media.

Kacin was asked to comment on the statement of Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule at the Western Balkan Summit at Brdo-pri-Kranju, saying that bilateral disputes should not influence the Euro-integration process.

“This is Brussels’ official position and we keep reiterating this in all EU institutions. Greece’s blockade on Macedonia is a bilateral row, which prevents Macedonia from obtaining a date, but we are seeking for solutions”, states Kacin.

The Slovenian MEP announced he would send a letter to Commissioner Fule and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton in an attempt to settle the issue.

“We should use the opportunity of Iceland’s accession talks date so that both countries start negotiations”, added Kacin.

According to him, it is in the region’s interest that another Western Balkan country began EU accession talks as soon as possible, which is good for all neighbors, including Greece, taking into consideration its deep political, social and economic crisis, but also in EU’s benefit.

Pertaining to EU having a plan B if the name row is not settled soon, MEP Kacin said reserve plans must always exist, with the main message being dynamics in the process.

Commenting the absence of Serbian President Boris Tadic from the Slovenia conference, he assessed the Western Balkan region is not held hostage by Serbia.

“If we are referring to hostages, then Belgrade holds itself hostage”, said Kacin, who is the EP Rapporteur for Serbia.

He stressed EU Council President Herman Van Rompuy’s failure to attend the summit was poor judgment, whereas the absence of Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, whose country currently holds the EU Presidency, “is related to the country’s focus on June’s Western Balkan summit in Sarajevo”.
http://macedoniaonline.eu/content/view/13252/45/



Bilateral disputes should not influence the Euro-integration process. Did they just realise this. I have heard this many times before and yet they still get the vaseline out for the Greeks.

I apreiciate the Slovenians Great support, But all this talk is the same shit music played over and over again. There is nothing new. Greece will block again and Brussels will advise a settlement on the name issue must happen. That has been Brussels official position and always will be.

[Bill77]

The Sunday Times: Saudis fund Balkan Muslims spreading hate of the West

London, March 28 (MIA) - Saudi Arabia is pouring hundreds of millions of pounds into Islamist groups in the Balkans, some of which spread hatred of the West and recruit fighters for jihad in Afghanistan, the Sunday Times reads.

According to officials in Macedonia, Islamic fundamentalism threatens to destabilise the Balkans. Strict Wahhabi and Salafi factions funded by Saudi organisations are clashing with traditionally moderate local Muslim communities.

Fundamentalists have financed the construction of scores of mosques and community centres as well as handing some followers up to £225 a month. They are expected not only to grow beards but also to persuade their wives to wear the niqab, or face veil, a custom virtually unknown in the liberal Islamic tradition of the Balkans.

Government sources in traditionally secular Macedonia said they were monitoring up to 50 Al-Qaeda volunteers recruited to fight in Afghanistan.

Classified documents seen by The Sunday Times reveal that Macedonian officials are also investigating a number of Islamic charities, some in Saudi Arabia, which are active throughout the Balkans and are suspected of spreading extremism and laundering money for terrorist organisations.

One of the groups under scrutiny is the International Islamic Relief Organisation from Saudi Arabia, which is on a United Nations blacklist of organisations backing terrorism. It did not respond to inquiries, but has previously denied involvement in terrorist activities, calling such claims “totally unfounded”.

According to its website, it works in 32 countries to provide relief to the victims of natural disasters and to carry out humanitarian, health and educational projects.

“Hundreds of millions have been poured into Macedonia alone in the past decade and most of it comes from Saudi Arabia,” said a government source. “The Saudis’ main export seems to be ideology, not oil.”

Sulejman Rexhepi, leader of the Islamic community in Macedonia, said a number of mosques had been forcibly taken over by radical groups. Four in central Skopje are no longer under the control of the official Islamic authorities. New imams claim they have been “spontaneously” installed by the “people”.

“Their so-called Wahhabi teachings are completely alien to our traditions and to the essence of Islam, which is a tolerant and inclusive religion,” said Rexhepi.

In some mosques believers are being told that Macedonia, which sent 200 soldiers to Iraq and Afghanistan, has been tricked into supporting a crusade against Islam spearheaded by Britain and America. Radical clerics have shown footage from Afghanistan, Iraq and the Palestinian territories to illustrate their claims that the West is waging war on Islam.

Rahman, a 35-year-old cab driver from Skopje, Macedonia’s capital, said he had stopped going to his local mosque since it was taken over by extremists. “Following the Haiti earthquake the new imam said God would punish the West for their wars in Afghanistan and Iraq with natural disasters,” he said.
http://www.idividi.com.mk/English/Ma...584/index.html


Well well, what would the west have to say about this. They do promote freedom of speech around the Balkans in particular in Macedonia don't they. Or is it only ok to spread hatred about Macedonia which would be clasified as Freedom of Speech, but spreading hatred towards the west is out of bounds and it can be clasified as inciting or acts of terrorism..

[Daniel the Great]

Friday, 26 March 2010

U.S. President Barack Obama wrote a letter to his Macedonian counterpart Gjorge Ivanov, expressing gratitude for Macedonia's decision to send extra troops to the ISAF mission in Afghanistan.

Obama also encourages the process of seeking a resolution of the name dispute with Greece, and he also supports Macedonia's integration into the Euro-Atlantic community.

In his letter, President Obama voices his gratitude for additional troops and trainers Macedonia plans to send to Afghanistan. With such a contribution, The Macedonia is among the countries with biggest contribution to ISAF, he added.

We highly appreciate your country's partnership in the response to common challenges, not just in Afghanistan but elsewhere in the world, including Bosnia and Iraq, Obama said in his letter, noting that he encourages the name resolution process.


http://macedoniaonline.eu/content/view/13329/1/


____________________
MACEDONIAN PRIDE

[Soldier of Macedon]

Obama shouldn't be encouraging the Macedonians to change their name when his own state recognizes Macedonia, as Macedonia.

Instead, he should go and tell those Greek priests that he seems so fond of to cease with their racism against the Macedonian people, so that he does not appear a quasi-racist hypocrite himself.

[Daniel the Great]

Originally Posted by Soldier of Macedon

Obama shouldn't be encouraging the Macedonians to change their name when his own state recognizes Macedonia, as Macedonia.

Yes i agree Macedon his nation made the decision to recognize Macedonia under its constitutional name the Republic of Macedonia and now he must follow through on the decision his nation has made.


____________________
MACEDONIAN PRIDE

[Pelister]

Originally Posted by daniel the great

Friday, 26 March 2010

U.S. President Barack Obama wrote a letter to his Macedonian counterpart Gjorge Ivanov, expressing gratitude for Macedonia's decision to send extra troops to the ISAF mission in Afghanistan.

Obama also encourages the process of seeking a resolution of the name dispute with Greece, and he also supports Macedonia's integration into the Euro-Atlantic community.

In his letter, President Obama voices his gratitude for additional troops and trainers Macedonia plans to send to Afghanistan. With such a contribution, The Macedonia is among the countries with biggest contribution to ISAF, he added.

We highly appreciate your country's partnership in the response to common challenges, not just in Afghanistan but elsewhere in the world, including Bosnia and Iraq, Obama said in his letter, noting that he encourages the name resolution process.


http://macedoniaonline.eu/content/view/13329/1/

This is the problem for all of us, because our "leaders" are making the process of finding a "solution" a central foriegn policy issue.

Why are we making it everyone elses business? Why are we holding ourselves hostage?

If the Macedonian leadership continues and continues to tell foriegn countries that it is serious about finding "a solution" - other countries are going to hold us to account. When the time comes every country will want to collect on the promises this leadership have been stupidly selling to countries who have no business knowing.

What those brainless leaders should be doing is rejecting "the Greek terms" put to us - emphatically, and without any doubt. Their terms are irrational, unreasonable and anyone else would declare a state of war if such terms were put to them.