Increased intensity of gunshots has been heard Sunday night in Tetovo region.

 

The biggest number of shootouts have been registered from the Teke, Gorna Carsija, Kupenik, Sipad, Drenovec-2 and Ciglana settlements, the area around the medical centre, "Kuzman Josifovski-Pitu" barracks, the city stadium, the area around the reservoirs of waterworks, Stipska street opposite to the building of the police, "Mosa Pijade" school, the SEE University and the railway station.

 

Interior Department says volleys of gunshots and sporadic shootouts have been registered from Odri, Dobroste, Otusiste, Prsovce, Tearce, Neprosteno, Slatino, Dzepciste, Poroj, Mala Recica, Tenovo, Radiovce, Celopek, Palatica, Trebos, Ozormiste, Zelino, Zerovjane, Gajre, Selce and other villages.

 

Police says shootouts have not been aimed at direct targets.

 

The public order and peace have been violated seven times with sporadic shootouts and volleys of gunfire Sunday in Kumanovo - Lipkovo region.

 

Police sources say gunshots came from the villages of Matejce, Ropajce, Vistica and Slupcane and have been aimed at undefined targets.

 

 

 

The highest state officials, along with a large number of citizens attended the act of dedication.

 

The holy liturgy was preceded by the signing of the charter that contained all significant data on the restoration of the centre of the Slavic spirituality and its setting in the central part of the altar, along with the remains of St. Kliment.

 

 

"First monastery in Plaosnik, founded by St. Kliment, was the holy place and the real Slavic university for many centuries, and rays of educated pupils of the immortal teacher had sparkled from this holy centre, who inspires us even today for national and church self-consciousness. St. Kliment remained a living light and people see the sun in him, who illuminated the path to earthly and heavenly kingdom," the Metropolitan Timotej stressed.

 

Chairman of the Board for restoration of St. Kliment's church Academic Krum Tomovski stressed the importance of restoration of the church, stating that it was build for spiritual and cultural needs of the people.

 

The realisation of the project included scientific and professional approach, and archaeological priceless values have been found during the excavation process.

 

"This is an impressive effort of our constructors from Macedonia and from the village of Pustec, Albania, who restored St. Kliment church in 16 months, with which Macedonian people have repaid to the saint for his great work," Tomovski said.

 

St. Kliment's church, which has been restored on the foundations of the ancient St. Kliment's church, which had been destroyed in the 15th century and a mosque built at its place, is a imposing object with a 236m2 space, as well as an altar on 27m2 space.

 

The naos and the narthex take up over 96m2, the paraclists 20m2, the south porch 27m2, while the bell tower 50m2.

 

The height of the object is analogous to the proportions of the objects that were built in St. Kliment's time. A marble iconostasis has been set, along with an authentic St. Kliment's grave, which contains the remains of the great Slavic educator, teacher, protector and patron.

 

The restoration of the church began in April 2001, with use of building material that was authentic with the one of 10 centuries ago, such as semi-processed stone, brick and hot welded mortar. The roof has been made out of old-fashioned bricks. Special attention was dedicated to the floors, which have been made in mosaic out of marble.

 

After 530 years, the remains of the greatest Slavic educator St. Kliment were brought to the church that St. Kliment dedicated to St. Pantelejmon on Saturday evening.

 

A prayer was held in church St. Bogorodica (Holy Mother of God), attended by Archbishop of Ohrid and Macedonia Stefan, members of the Holy Synod, numerous priests and monks.

 

Afterwards, the remains of St. Kliment, carried in a special sarcophagus by Metropolitans Timotej and Agatangel, were brought to his church at Plaosnik, where he had been buried in 916.

 

In his address, MOC Pontiff Stefan asked for forgiveness due "to our inability or maybe someone's refusal to bring St. Kliment in his eternal dwelling place, which he chose by himself".

 

"But now you are in your home again", Stefan stated.

 

"St. Kliment is a proof that there is no weaponry nor force that can fight against holy things. Could the place where St. Kliment walked on, built, created, learned and taught not be holy. Plaosnik is our spiritual height, our dream, and St. Kliment is our second St. Paul", MOC Pontiff said.

 

Afterwards, the first evening religious service was held in the church of St. Pantelejmon and St. Kliment.

 

 

 

"After five centuries, Plaosnik continues to live, with its grandiosity and all its spiritual greatness", Stefan stated, emphasising that the ones that destroyed the church at Plaosnik "either knew or were well taught what were they supposed to do, when destroying the great sanctity of this people and this country, but what God gave us will live forever and win throughout the time".

 

"How should one speak before our greatest orator, the most convincing preacher, before the one that gave us all beauty of our word, who does not only know about God, but lives with him, who not only built churches, but created one. One feels excitement and admiration speaking before him, while the soul and the voice tremble. How should one speak of an educator like St. Kliment, the Ohrid miracle maker? His work speaks best, his sanctity, his continual martyrdom. His martyrdom was not only the destruction of his church, but the desecration of his grave, and the splitting up of his remains on three arts like his homeland. Hos sacred work and our country were split, leaving most of the educator's prayers in the sarcophagus here and in his sacred monastery in Ohrid, while the other part in Sofia, as well as in monastery St. Jovan Prodrom near Lerija", Stefan stated.

 

Martyrdom is, he added, "the destruction of the Lesok monastery and other objects, as well as the victims that died in the defense of out country and our religion. St. Kliment's martyrdom is also our bad relation towards him, towards his church and our religion".

 

"St. Kliment surely suffers from our problems in the Synod, our non-unity in Australia, our misunderstandings in USA and our division among ourselves.

 

How can St. Kliment not suffer when he sees the danger to our country and our people?", MOC Pontiff asked and emphasised, "he also suffers because of our division as people and non-unity, especially in these exceptionally hard times, in which the existence of the Macedonian state and MOC has been endangered".

 

Therefore, Stefan called upon "the necessary Macedonian reconciliation and unity, because St. Kliment asks this, our sacred church wants this, and our people expect this".

 

"Who has the right to forget the state, church of people's interests due to personal, party or other interests? What should happen in order to understand that we are our own enemies, and that history repeats itself? This people, this country, this church suffer mostly from its people, and that is why St. Kliment should pray to put some reason in us and understand the time and dangers that stalk us", Stefan stated.

 

As he stated, the restoration of St. Kliment's church, was reached thanks to the faith and respect towards St. Kliment, as well as the exceptional assistance and efforts of the Macedonian Government, especially Prime Minister Ljubco Georgievski, the Ministry of Culture, the Chairman of the Board for restoration of the monastery, the engagement of the authorised archpriest Metropolitan Timotej, the employees in the Ohrid Bureau and Museum, the project manager and the contractors, as well as the diligent hands of the masters Macedonians from Prespa, Albania.

 

Emphasising that this work brought back the forgotten glory of St. Kliment's monastery, MOC Pontiff stated that with God's help and the prayers of St. Kliment we would also have to restore St. Kliment's University at Plaosnik with all its contents, not forgetting "that the restoration of work by the Ohrid miracle maker means the building of our own spiritual and national restoration".

 

According to the decision of the MOC Holy Archpriest Synod, Prime Minister Ljubco Georgievski was given the highest dedication of St. Kliment of Ohrid.

 

Minister of Culture Ganka Samoilovska-Cvetanova and the Chairman of the Board for restoration of St. Kliment's monastery at Plaosnik Academic Krum Tomovski were given secondary dedications of St. Kliment of Ohrid. Such dedications of third order were also given to the first rector of the Macedonian orthodox seminary "St. Kliment of Ohrid" in Skopje, professor Boris Boskovski, director of the Bureau for protection of cultural monuments and Museum from Ohrid Pasko Kuzman, the author of the project for restoration of St. Kliment's monastery Tanja Paskali Puntasevska, as well as priests Klime Manevski and Gjorgji Nikolovski, who participated in the church folk gatherings for restoration of the Ohrid Archbishopric in the Macedonian Orthodox Church.

 

The MOC Holy Archpriest Synod also gave a cross to priest Todi Jovanij from Pogradec, Albania for his contribution in the building and the nurturing of the good relations between MOC and the Albanian Orthodox Church, while Todor Paskali and Pero Mitanovski were given notes of praise for their contribution in the building.

 

After the ceremony, the director of the Bureau for protection of cultural monuments and Museum from Ohrid Pasko Kuzman gave the key of St. Kliment's restored church to Metropolitan of Debar and Kicevo Timotej, as well as the monument with the image of St. Kliment of Ohrid, as a sign of permanent and sacred perseverance and realisation of the mission of this object, which is another beauty and greatness on Macedonian soil.

 

 

 

Reminding that when the foundation of the church was set on December 8, 2000, there was nothing but empty space, Prime Minister Georgievski stated "at that time, we set out in search of the thing we talked about for decades, but did not want to see it before us".

 

"St. Kliment's church is the first Slavic University. In a search for the St. Kliment's church, we found Byzantium, Justinian, the late Roman Empire, antique Macedonia, as well as all historic layers that had passed and remained", Macedonian Prime Minister emphasised.

 

He promised that the archeologists would continue with the excavations of the space around St. Kliment's church starting from Monday.

 

"In 15 days, the construction that is behind you will be covered, with the opening of more beautiful mosaics of a new early Christian basilica. The space up until the Samoil fortress will be archeologically researched in a short time, and presented before the Macedonian citizens and the world, who will be able to see this common beauty", Georgievski stressed.

 

He stated that with the opening of this space "many things became clearer from a historic point of view".

 

"Why the name Ohrid Archbishopric had been always accompanied by the title 'Justiniana Prima' as the largest after the one in Constantinople? This very square and the mosaics explain many historic enigmas", Georgievski stated.

 

Regarding the the dilemma "why did St. Kliment come in the most remote place in the former Byzantium Empire", Georgievski said, "We see that he came in the most sacred place after Constantinople. The vastness of this space enhances the largeness of St. Kliment too, the man, the educator, the saint, who came here in the 9th century in order to win and become the first Slavic bishop".

 

He emphasised that the value of the archeological findings and the restored church were common cultural heritage of all people, including the ones of other religions.

 

Reminding that all dignified peoples wanted to build something great in a spiritual sense, Prime Minister Georgievski pointed out the idea of Solomon and his father David to build the largest church of God- the Solomon Church, or the idea of Justinian for building of an even larger church in Constantinople- church "St. Sofia", which exists even today.

 

"We did not set out with the ambition to build something that would be the largest in the world, but to restore St. Kliment's church. I believe that our archeologists and architects did just that. That is why we have to thank St. Kliment once again for giving us this opportunity. The Bible teaches us that will is not enough, but that one needs 'something to be given to him'", Georgievski emphasised.

 

That is why, he added, "we should be happy as a generation of Macedonian citizens to be blessed by God, who gave us the opportunity to build and restore the church that was Macedonia's dream for centuries".

 

According to Georgievski, in these difficult times "the gratitude towards God and the prayer are our essential necessity".

 

"I believe that next year we will witness new miracles, at which we will marvel very soon", Macedonian Prime Minister stated.

 

Expressing his gratitude for the decoration, Macedonian Prime Minister emphasised that he was "convinced that the empty space, which existed in the spiritual area in our country in the past 50 years, has ended once and for all times", and that "from now on, we will live in St. Kliment's spirit and give many presents and surprises to all true believers".

 

 

In 1877 the battles near Mount Shipka come to end. The Turkish troops retreat.

 

 

 

The Perseids, a spectacular meteoric shower, approaches the Earth. It'll reach our planet on the night of August 12. There'll be a rainfall of sparkling stars in the sky. If there are no clouds, the falling meteors will be visible in Bulgaria with naked eye. The moon will be in shadow and won't spoil the spectacle, astronomers explained. The falling stars are parts of a comet, which every year in August passes by the Earth. Its light brightens the sky. The cosmic parts enter the atmosphere at a speed of about 60 km/sec and burn.

 

 

Vladimir Simeonov

 

 

 

PRISTINA, Yugoslavia (AP) - A former senior commander of Kosovo rebels was arrested by U.N. police and NATO ( news - web sites) peacekeepers Sunday for allegedly torturing and murdering at least five captives, officials said.

 

Rrustem Mustafa, an ethnic Albanian, was arrested in the provincial capital, Pristina, in an operation led by U.N. police, said Wing Cmdr. Drew Andersen, spokesman for the NATO-led peacekeeping force in Kosovo.

 

Authorities did not disclose the ethnicities of the alleged victims nor the period when the alleged crimes took place.

 

A United Nations statement only said a suspect was arrested at the request of an international prosecutor.

 

"The investigation is focused on evidence linking the suspect to the torture and murder of at least five illegally detained persons," the statement said.

 

Mustafa, also known by his nom de guerre "Remi," was a senior commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army, the rebel force that fought Serb police and the army for independence in 1998-1999. He controlled Kosovo's northern region bordering Serbia.

 

After the war, Mustafa became a high-ranking official with the Kosovo Protection Corps created to handle civilian emergencies after the U.N. and NATO took control of the province in June 1999. The group consists of former rebels.

 

Mustafa was suspended from the corps last year after President Bush included him on a list of people viewed as a threat to peace in the western Balkans and a threat to international staff in the region.

 

Mustafa was among those accused of involvement in the Macedonian insurgency of February 2001.

 

Bush's executive order, which also named three other corps officials, also banned financial transactions with them.

 

Mustafa was dismissed in April after breaking the terms of his suspension. At the time, officials would not disclose details of the breach.

 

 

BBC
By Daniel Schweimler in Madrid

 

The Basques have been fighting to protect their language and culture for thousands of years. They are fiercely proud of their history.

 

They have been occupying their corner of Europe with its lush, green valleys and rugged coastline, since well before Roman times.

 

No one knows where they came from. Their language, known as Euskera, has no links with any other known language and was spoken long before all of the Indo-European languages in the rest of Europe.

 

The protection and promotion of Euskera has always been at the heart of the Basque struggle.

 

Since the return of democracy in Spain following General Franco's death in 1975, Euskera has been thriving.

 

About 30% of the 2.5 million Basque people speak it and more than 90% of Basque children are now enrolled in Euskera schools.

 

Radio and television stations broadcast in the language. There are Basque newspapers and a growing number of internationally renowned writers, such as Bernardo Atxaga, whose works have been translated into Castillian Spanish, English, German and French.

 

Throughout history, Basques have developed a reputation as fierce defenders of their territory - against Romans, Vikings, Visigoths, Muslims and others.

 

Many invaders have chosen to by-pass the region. When they have managed to put down roots, the Basques have negotiated and learned from them, but have never mixed too much or risked becoming integrated.

 

From the Middle Ages onwards, they developed a reputation as formidable fishermen and have built boats which have taken them great distances in search of whales and cod.

 

Sailed with Columbus.

 

There is some evidence that Basques landed in North America hundreds of years before Christopher Columbus.

 

It was Basque sailors who made up the bulk of Columbus's crew.

 

Basque men wear their large berets with pride. It is a hat which was first worn in the Basque region and then exported to France and beyond.

 

They are are also recognised as the best cooks in Spain for their simple fish dishes and interesting cakes.

 

In the heart of the Basque country, there are 75 gastronomic societies in the city of San Sebastian alone.

 

They hold feasts and sometimes march through the streets. These occasions are so important that the mayor is expected to eat at all of them at least once a year.

 

There is also a rich vein of Basque music and storytelling. Public storytelling sessions are still held in many rural towns and villages.

 

Loyola - a famous Basque.

 

Basques have always been known as a fiercely religious people. So it is no surprise that one of the most radical and disciplined religious orders, the Jesuits, was founded by a Basque, Ignatius Loyola, in 1534.

 

Originally a solider, while recovering from a serious war wound he began reflecting on his life and reading about the saints.

 

He studied in Paris where he founded the Society of Jesus, or Jesuits.

 

It had originally been intended as a missionary order. Instead, it went on to spearhead the Counter-Reformation, inspiring respect for its missionary work but fear for its often ruthless defence of its disciplined beliefs.

 

Fought against Franco.

 

The Basques had been some of the fiercest opponents of Franco's Nationalist troops during the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s.

 

One of Franco's most hated opponents, Dolores Ibárruri - known as La Pasionaria or the Passionate One for her inspiring speeches - came from a working-class family in Bilbao.

 

Picasso immortalised the bombing of the Basque town, Guernika, by Franco's German allies. The painting now hangs in a museum in Madrid.

 

During Franco's 40-year rule, he punished the region for its opposition. He declared two provinces "traitor provinces."

 

Franco believed in one, unified Spain and opposed any kind of regional diversification.

 

He banned the speaking of Euskera in public and ensured that there was little economic investment in the region.

 

ETA is born.

 

Franco, like many before him, had found it difficult to suppress this proud nation and the movement for an independent Basque homeland began in the late 1950s.

 

The separatist group, ETA, began its violent campaign 10 years later.

 

While support for an independent homeland remains strong, it is by no means overwhelming. Many Basques are happy with the large degree of autonomy they have been granted by the central government in Madrid.

 

While still a long way from reaching any kind of long term political solution and establishing a permanent peace, it is clear that the Basque language and culture are enjoying a resurgence and that the Basque nation is as strong and vibrant now as it has ever been.