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Minister of Agriculture Mehmed Dikme opened the hunting season in the village of Klimentovo, Varna region. The local hunters armed him with an American rifle 'Gold Hunter'. Dikme proved to be an excellent shot killing 15 quails. Photo Petko Momchilov
Desperate Cry From Macedonians in Tetovo.
Reality Macedonia
As always, the Reality Macedonia Team is willing to (translate and) publish all decent and relevant readers' commentaries, even when they express opinions not endorsed by the editors.
Dear Sirs,
I would appreciate it if you could find a way to publish this cry of Macedonian tragedy in Tetovo:
All appeals, the whole cry of Macedonians in Tetovo and Tetovo area, all pleas remained without response. This desperate and maybe the last cry remains in hope that somebody will finally come to his senses and do something to save Macedonian people. This is letter by a Macedonian woman, member of Macedonian people, 'species' which rapidly becomes extinct in the Western part of Macedonia; Macedonian woman who will be maybe the last one to stay and live on the place of her ancestors and who will witness the separation of this city [from Macedonia], which is not very far away.
These days another circus has begun, performed by Macedonian spineless people who continue like zombies to sell storm in the teacup as an empty promise to the suffering but blind people the electoral race has begun. The same people from SDSM (Social Democratic Union of Macedonia) who during the six years of their rule didnt do anything for their own Macedonian people in Tetovo and Western Macedonia, will now lie to Macedonians again.
The same people from SDSM who legalized the stay of dozens if not hundred thousands Kosovar Albanians in Macedonia will now sell their own false demagogy of being Macedonian saviors. Saviors who in 1996 under the scepter of Mr. Gjorgi Spasov, General Secretary of SDSM, who was Minister at that time, altered the map of Macedonian local self-management and attached to Tetovo municipiality, in which majority at that time was still Macedonian population, neighboring huge Albanian villages such as Mala Rechica, thus changing the ethnical structure of the city of Tetovo for good, creating ideal conditions for the process of ethnic cleansing of Macedonians which has followed and these days has reached its peak.
The gentlemen from VMRO-DPMNE (VMRO - Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity) who back in 1998 let Tetovo to Albanian mafia led by Arben Xhaferi and Menduh Thachi are today beating their breasts saying that they are the only Macedonian patriots.
The very same gentlemen who together with SDSM signed the shameful Framework Agreement thus sealing the fate of Macedonians in Tetovo and Western Macedonia are now offering themselves again as a salutary option for Republic of Macedonia. The very same gentlemen from SDSM who through Minister of Defense Vlado Buchkovski had withdrawn Macedonian Armys units and left Tetovo with lightly armed policemen to be exposed to Albanian terrorists heavy fire, are offering themselves again on the Macedonian political market.
Electoral race has begun Ljubcho and Branko continue to sing the same song from the last 10 years. During that time thousands new Macedonians are forced to sell their apartments in Tetovo, their premises and private companies and to seek their freedom in Skopje or abroad. Albanians are today rapidly buying premises owned by Macedonians in Ilindenska Street and Blagoja Toska Street in Tetovo who were until 2001 populated by Macedonian population.
Ljubcho and Branko are in the electoral race. People from Skopje prepare to go on a holiday in Greece. Today, it is Tetovo and Gostivar; tomorrow Kichevo, Kumanovo and Struga; the day after tomorrow Skopje will surely have its turn, maybe even Ohrid. Macedonians continue to live in their own illusions. In 2001 we survived war, however literally nothing has changed, apart from the fact that there are twice less Macedonians in Tetovo today.
How long shall we endure this!?
Emilija Damjanovska, Tetovo
CELEBRATION OF THE 10th ANNIVERSARY OF THE MACEDONIAN ARMY.
MIA
President and Supreme Commander of the Macedonian Armed Forces (ARM) Boris Trajkovski addressed Sunday at a celebration of the 10th anniversary of the ARM in the military barracks "Ilinden".
Trajkovski gave credit to ARM for its decisive fight against terrorism, warning to the presence of extremists, who will try to obstruct the restoration of peace and stability in Macedonia.
"Therefore, ARM - as an army of all citizens - will have to keep contributing to restoring peace and trust among citizens," Trajkovski said, adding the global threat of terrorism has shown that countries, regardless their power cannot fight it alone.
Everyday developments in the former crisis regions confirmed the possibilities for future obstacles and challenges to realization of activities for lasting peace.
"Our country has made a political decision to be a long-term partner of the coalition, which will defeat terror. A significant part of the practical implementation of this decision is in charge of ARM, " the President said.
Trajkovski said that ARM suffered losses in the last year crisis that no one should and would forget.
"Paying tribute to the victims, it is out obligation to develop and reinforce our Army. Macedonia needs modern, mobile, well-trained and equipped army, as its is needed by the collective defense systems, the international community and the international antiterrorist coalition. However, its main task is to defend the country's territorial integrity and sovereignty," Trajkovski said.
Asked about Macedonia's admission into NATO, Trajkovski expressed belief that the Prague Summit in November would be extremely significant for the Macedonia's security, prosperity and future, while ARM, by continuing of its reform process, "will contribute in defending of the arguments that we belong in the Euro-Atlantic family".
The ceremony continued with ARM defile, including the special forces "Wolves", "Scorpions" and "Leopards", land and air forces. Part of the ARM modern weaponry was also presented.
Great number of citizens, former defense ministers and chiefs of staff, current Defense Minister Vlado Popovski, veterans from the World War II and representatives of the diplomatic corps and the international missions to Macedonia attended the ceremony.
Not Enough Ladies in Macedonian Parliament.
Dnevnik - Reality Macedonia
Translated by Natenane
The university professor Teuta Arifi will probably be the first ethnic Albanian woman to enter Macedonian Parliament. She is on a second place of list of candidates from Democratic Union for Integration (DUI) right after Ali Ahmeti, presumably it shouldnt be a problem in the voting district number six.
The research conduced by Euro-Balkan Institute in collaboration with female non-governmental organizations shows that the example with DUIs vice president is really rare in both political blocks. The Law for Deputies' Election, which has recently been brought, obliges parties to nominate at least 30 per cent women candidates. Analyses have shown that parties have respected the legal decree, they even surpassed the given percentage and, according to preliminary analyses, they nominated 32.1 women for candidates.
However, female candidates are mainly at the end of the list, the positions which dont stand a chance in mandate distribution. The exception to this is only women who have already fought for their place in politics such as Ilinka Mitreva and Radmila Shekjerinska from SDSM for an instance, who have been deputies up to now, or current Minister of Culture Ganka Samoilova Cvetanovska from VMRO Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity (VMRO-DPMNE).
- It is obvious that political subjects calculated that one list should obtain at least six female candidates so lists with seven or eight women are very rare.
Lists from Democratic Center and Green Party have the most women, 38 per cent. They are followed by VMRO Makedonska (VMRO-Macedonian), Democratic Alternative (DA), National Democratic Party (NDP)However, although these results show at first glimpse that parties pledge for bigger participation of women in the Parliament, wider analysis present that political subjects dont expect or dont really want for it to happen. The best indicator for that is the fact that only 4.53 percent of the women are on the gaining positions, says Biljana Bejkovska, coordinator of Womens Electoral Pres-center.
The percentage of women from sixth to tenth place on lists of candidates is 7.81 while it drastically increases on positions after the 11-th place to 19.84 per cent in order to fulfill legal regulation for obligatory 30 per cent. The same analyses show that it is mostly evident at ruling Democratic Party of Albanians (DPA) and coalition of VMRO-DPMNE and Liberal Party (LP). Even 24 per cent of women candidates are in the second half of DPAs lists. Percentage at VMRO-DPMNE and LP is fairly smaller 23.33 per cent.
- Taking into account these results, as well as the rating of political subjects in the future Parliament, there wont be more than 19 per cent women and the Parliament will continue to present male club says Womens Electoral Press-Centre.
(D.M)
Sofia Flooded.
Standartnews
Sofia was flooded yesterday at noon. In less than an hour the 'Battenberg' square was covered with 10 cm of water. Rivulets were running down the 'Vitosha' and 'Ruski' bld. There were three car accidents in the 'Tzarigradsko Shousse' bld. Fortunately there were no victims. At the same time Dresden sank in the waters of the Elbe, which reached the record breaking level of 9.40 meters. That happenes for the first time in the last 150 years. 30,000 people were evacuated from the city. Champion from Formula 1 Michael Schumaher donated 1 million euro for the victims of the flood. Football legend Franz Beckenbauer gave 100,000.
LIBYA-BULGARIA.
BTA
Deputy PM Vassilev Hopes Libyan Foreign Minister Will Visit Bulgaria Soon.
Tripoli, August 18 (BTA) - Economy Minister Nikolai Vassilev hopes that the Libyan Foreign Minister will accept an invitation by Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy and visit Bulgaria, possibly as soon as next week.
Vassilev, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, said that in an interview he gave for Bulgarian National Radio Sunday over the phone from Tripoli on the second day of his working visit to Libya.
In the interview, Vassilev dwelled on the state of, and prospects for, bilateral business relations. He credited Foreign Minister Passy for what he called "a breakthrough" towards improving the relations between the two countries.
Libya has recently become very active on the international scene - both economic and diplomatic, and has very serious ambitions for leadership in Northern Africa and a larger part of the African continent, according to Vassilev. Bulgaria has expressed a wish to act as a gateway for Libya towards the European Union and the countries of Central and Eastern Europe.
The Economy Minister also said that a Bulgarian financial delegation will be visiting Tripoli a month from now to start work towards settling the open economic and financial issues between the two countries.
Later on Sunday the Economy Ministry said in a press release that the Bulgarian side has made a commitment to discuss the possibility of opening a Bulgarian trade representation in Libya early next year.
The Bulgarian side will prepare a list of Bulgarian export commodities and companies with strong interest and potential to do business with Libya. The Economy Ministry will support companies trying to establish contacts with Libyan partners.
It also emerges from the press release that Shukri Muhammad Ghanim, the Secretary of the Libyan General People's Committee for Economy and Trade, has accepted Vassilev's invitation to visit Bulgaria.
Wheat Growers Continue Protests, Agrarian Party Demands Resignation of Agriculture Minister.
Standartnews
The Bulgarian Agrarian Popular Union-Popular Union (BAPU-PU), which is a member of the parliamentary United Democratic Forces, said Friday they demand the resignation of Agriculture and Forestry Minister Mehmed Dikme. The move came amid continuing farmer protests countrywide against low producer prices for grain. "Minister Dikme has misled the entire Bulgarian public and even Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha with unprofessional and irresponsible statements about a bumper harvest of good quality sold at reasonable prices," the BANU-PU leadership wrote in a decision paper approved at an extraordinary closed-door meeting. The decision was presented in a formal letter to the Prime Minister. "The resignation will allow the Prime Minister to propose to the National Assembly a more competent ministerial candidate," the party says.
POLICE-DRUGS.
BTA
Police Start Large-Scale Operation against Drug Dealers.
Sofia, August 18 (BTA) - Police launched a large-scale operation against drug dealers Saturday. In a press release Sunday, the Interior Ministry said that they aim "to collect information and document criminal activity".
Since the start of the operation, police have raided 797 places that act as hubs for drug dealers and pushers, and bars and cafes where drugs are known to be available. 72 of these were in Sofia and the rest in other parts of the country.
Police has taken to the police precincts 502 registered drug users and pushers, and people with record of other crimes. Of these, 49 were on the territory under the jurisdiction of the Sofia Directorate of the Interior. 19 will stay in remand for 24 hours as work on their cases continues. Of the 453 caught in the rest of the country, 65 are being held for 24 hours.
In the course of the operation, police has seized large amounts of drugs, arms with obliterated serial numbers, silencers, ammunitions and other illegal objects.
The operation continues, says the Interior Ministry.
During a check in one of the popular Sofia night clubs, Chervilo, police seized four cars: two Mercedes and two Audis, of suspicious origin.
In the Black Sea city of Varna, five people were put in remand for 24 hours after police found on them what they describes as "evidence of crimes" and large quantities of drugs, said the BTA local correspondent.
The operation comes in the wake of three shootings in central Sofia in only a couple of days, which Interior Ministry Chief Secretary Boiko Borissov said were part of a clash between two rival gangs over drugs.
According to the chairman of the parliamentary committee on internal security and order, Vladimir Donchev (Simeon II National Movement), calling this a gang-land war is farfetched. "Two or three crime syndicates shotting at each other does not make a gang-land war," said he. He believes that what happened was a result of the actions of the international community and the Bulgarian authorities against drug trafficking.
"Now the prosecution and the court must take on the case and their share of responsibility because the public wants an explanation of why these shootings involve the same people, some of whom have more than one case pending against them and are well known with their criminal ways," Donchev also said.
Vice President Angel Marin believes that the recent shootings were a result of redistribution of territory in Sofia among criminal groups. He said that what happens in the capital city is only natural on the backdrop of the high crime rates in the whole country. He is optimistic though that the government can handle the situation.
CUSTOMS-REVENUE.
BTA
Customs Agency Overshoots Revenue Target.
Sofia, August 18 (BTA) - By the end of July, Customs have achieved the revenue target for the whole of 2002, BTA was told by the Customs Agency press office Sunday.
The annual budget has a target of 100 million leva in revenue from customs duty and fees. By the end of July, the Customs Agency has already collected 103,733,755 leva.
July had the highest net receipts (in absolute terms) from customs duty on imports, VAT, excise duty, fines and interest. These totalled 235,977,129 leva against 241,717,383 leva this time last year. The Customs Agency explain the difference with the more expensive dollar last year.
The dollar has lost between 0.25 and 0.30 leva over the past year. And yet the Customs Agency has been able to offset the effect of the cheapening dollar on the revenue side of the budget. Econ.
A Bulgarian Snatched Role from Katarina Vit.
INTERVIEW Standartnews: Stefka Georgieva
Gabriela Zhekova
Stefka Georgieva plays with Pamela Anderson in several series of "VIP"
Stefka Georgieva, European champion in marshal arts, has been living in Los Angeles for the last six years. She won numerous victories in Bulgaria and abroad. Now she is an instructor in power aerobics and drama student in Santa Monica.
- What qualities did you have to develop to become so successful in Hollywood?
- I constantly work on perfecting myself. In the beginning they chose me for the starring part in a Japanese-American version of "Nikita".
- You also took part in other films. Would you like to tell us something about them?
- Yes, Red Lady.com was interesting. For this role I competed with Katarina Vit. Finally they chose me. My character, Natasha, is a Russian, a KGB agent trained during the Communist times. Very exciting action!
- What about your private life?
- I don't have any. I'm happy with my brand new Alfa Romeo. Recently I played in the final series of "VIP" with Pamela Anderson.
- What does victory mean to you?
- It's the status of your spirit. Control over your thoughts and deeds. To win you have to believe in yourself! Bulgaria has a Crying Need for Young and Honest Rulers.
INTERVIEW Standartnews: Ljuben Dilov
Ljudmila Parvanova
He's still waiting for a green creature to land on his shoulder.
Ljuben Dilov is the most famous science fiction writer in Bulgaria whose works are translated in many foreign languages. His foreign editions circulate in over a million copies. Generations of readers grew up with his books, among them, "Atomic Man", "Path of Icarus", "Paradoxes of the Mirror", etc. The last book, "Maxwell's Demon", he published in April of 2001. He was born in the town in Tcherven Bryag. From 1939 to 1945 he lived with his parents in Germany. In December the writer will turn 75.
- Mr. Dilov, are you still busy with writing?
- Lately I tried to add one more chapter to the "Unfinished Novel by a Student". I wrote 60 pages and gave up. However time ago I was rather far-sighted, I knew that when I get old and cannot write any more some unpublished books should be left in reserve. So I kept several unpublished books. Two of them were published recently, the third is with the printers now. Its title is "To Choose Yourself" after one saying by Kierkegaard. It is also a science fiction piece but some episodes are taken from real life. The prototype is the director of the Institute of Physics in Harvard, who is paralyzed and has to use a special apparatus to speak but his wit is keen and ready. In my novel he voluntarily donates his brain to a robot.
- Could you describe our life in the last 50 years as social fantasy?
- I would rather call it vulgar. However, I have always been an optimist. Neither Bulgaria will perish nor Bulgarians will be wiped out. Bulgaria managed to recover after 500 years of Turkish yoke, it has been alive for 1300 years. It cannot be erased from the map, only young and honest people have to come to power.
- Do the extraterrestrial creatures from your books visit you sometimes? What do they tell you?
- I'm looking forward for some green creature to land on my shoulder and ask me, "What are these silly things you write about us?" But they are not coming. They are all just my fantasies. |
