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A fan of the Yugoslavian team shows her prediction of the finish of the World Basketball Championships in Indianapolis, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2002 during the gold medal game between Yugoslavia and Argentina. The United States finished sixth. Yugoslavia won the gold medal with an 84-77 overtime win over Argentina. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
Yugoslavia's Vlade Divac, left, and Marko Jaric celebrate their 84-77 win over Argentina in the Gold Medal game of the World Basketball Championships in Indianapolis, Sunday, Sept. 8, 2002. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Albanian Kidnappers Abduct A Turk 'By Mistake'
Reality Macedonia
By Irina Gelevska
'Politically consequential criminals' released the victim who spent "only" a day in their clutches, because they prefer Macedonian prey.
Albanian gunmen released the Turkish citizen Jusuf Karadza Sunday morning at 7. They kidnapped Karadza Saturday morning on Tetovo-Gostivar highway.
Armed persons wearing masks stopped Karadzha's truck using road blockade. Shortly after the kidnapping, the hijackers allowed the victim to call his relatives in Gostivar, and inform them that he was "kidnapped by mistake."
"They don't want me. They were planning to kidnap a Macedonian," said Karadza in his short call to his relatives.
Representatives of the police reiterate that Skopje-Tetovo-Gostivar highway is safe, but this is third kidnapping taking place there in one week.
Mistakenly abducted ethnic Turk released unharmed in Macedonia.
AP
SKOPJE, Macedonia - An ethnic Turk abducted from a bus in western Macedonia was released on Sunday, a day after attackers seized him and then realized they had taken the wrong man, police said.
Jusuf Karaca, 37, was released by the abductors near his home in the town of Gostivar, 60 kilometers (40 miles) southwest of the capital, Skopje, said Interior Ministry spokesman Voislav Zafirovski.
Karaca was returned home by car and appeared to be uninjured, Zafirovski said.
Albanian-speaking men armed with machine guns stopped the bus early Saturday on an open highway in the area. They said they were looking for "Jusuf," and took away Karaca before allowing the bus carrying about a dozen other passengers to continue.
While abducted, Karaca was allowed to phone his employees in Gostivar and told them that he would be released because the abductors were after another man by name of Jusuf.
Zafirovski said it remained unclear who the actual target was and that Karaca was refusing to cooperate with a police investigation. "It is obvious that he has been intimidated," Zafirovski said.
The incident comes amid an increasingly tense atmosphere ahead of general elections scheduled for Sept. 15. The elections were called for under a Western-brokered peace deal that ended six months of fighting last year between ethnic Albanian insurgents and government forces.
The fighting ceased a little more than a year ago after the rebels put down their arms in exchange for more rights for the ethnic Albanian minority, which makes up a third of this small country of 2 million.
After a period of relative calm, scattered violence over the past weeks has left at least six people dead and several others injured. Saturday's incident occurred on the same road where five Macedonians were abducted from a bus last week.
(kt/ms/vg)
ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT TRAJKOVSKI ON SEPTEMBER 8, INDEPENDENCE DAY OF MACEDONIA.
MIA
Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski organised a reception in regard to 8th of September, the Independence Day of the Republic of Macedonia, at the Macedonian Parliament.
In his address before the present guests Macedonian President reminded that 11 years ago the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia showed that with reasonable and responsible behaviour is possible to create independent country. But he stressed "it seems that today we are facing also not an easier task to keep and maintain the stability and security of the country and
prosperity of all its citizens."
"Last year when we prepared to mark the 10th anniversary of the referendum for independence," Trajkovski stressed "the country faced attack on its institutions and its democracy aimed at erasing the principles and concepts of mutual living which has been maintained by our people on this land for centuries."
"The Republic of Macedonia showed to be prepared to solve the problems with dialogues but at the same time showed that it is fully prepared to use all disposable means for defence of its territorial integrity, sovereignty and unitarian character of the state. Now having the great experience from last year's crisis as well as the one that happened to the international community with the terrorist attacks of the USA on September 11, we must never allow all horrors and misfortunes from last year to happen to us," President Boris Trajkovski stressed.
He pointed out that today when we are celebrating the 11th anniversary of the independence of the Republic of Macedonia, we need the calmness, common sense and responsibility as before in the time when the referendum decision for independence was brought.
"We must not allow the citizens of th Republic of Macedonia once again to have the dilemma whether the country will survive or not and to fear for their own destiny and destiny of their children," Trajkovski said.
President Trajkovski said "if the first decade was ten years of formation, full defining and successful internal organisation of the Republic of Macedonia, the next ten years must be decade of hard work, which will lead to economic prosperity and bigger civilisation achievements, which will draw us nearer to the family of successful European democracies.
The first step to this "is directly before us, successful organising and conducting of the upcoming parliamentary elections," Trajkovski said. Within this frameworks he reminded that after one week the citizens of Macedonia will face the most important and at the same time the heaviest exam of democracy.
"We should choose the people that will bear the big responsibility to lead the Republic of Macedonia to our final goal, to become decent place for living," Boris Trajkovski said.
"Our mutual responsibility is to enable the vote of the people to be the only solution while constituting the new parliament," Trajkovski said expressing assurance that all political parties, coalitions and independent candidates will make their best to enable the citizens this September in peaceful, fair and democratic election to choose who will represent them at the Parliament.
He called all citizens of the Republic of Macedonia on September 15 to come out on the elections and freely, without fears, according to their own belief and consciousness, to choose the best.
Political leaders will have to help in this by giving their personal authority and institutional prerogatives aimed at election right of every citizens to be protected and fully respected.
President Boris Trajkovski once again reminded on his address at the beginning of the election campaign that "elections conducted according to all democratic standards will be another confirmation that besides huge challenges with which we are facing and besides the crisis that threatened to division us, the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia are resolved and capable to build better future for all us and to reject all bad predictions and scenarios which we heard from those who do not mean good to our country, in the past weeks."
President Boris Trajkovski in his address before the high officials from the political, public life and diplomatic corps in the country stressed that this year of parliamentary elections should symbolical mark the start of the new phase of our reforms of the way to the NATO and the EU, stressing the exclusively Great importance of the NATO Summit in Prague, scheduled for November 2002, when a decision for second large NATO extension to the South East Europe is expected to be brought.
"The Government of the Republic of Macedonia will have the responsibility to prepare a complete presentation of the country at this summit whereat the most important thing will be to show the political will and preparedness for implementation of the reforms in key spheres of the security and defence," President said.
"The forthcoming realisation of the Stabilisation and Association Agreement with the EU is the best way for intensifying of out efforts for entrance in the European integration processes."
"The Republic of Macedonia hoping that very soon bigger number of countries our European friends and partners will ratify this agreement, will have to work in details in accomplishment of its aspects in interest of its systematic approach to the Union," President evaluated.
"But foreign and political successes are necessary continuation of the internal cohesion and respect of the national consensus and just here we will have to solve out biggest internal problems, firstly full return of the displaced persons in their homes and respect of the law by all citizens and holders of office in the country, and at the same time to dedicate to decrease of unemployment and poverty," Trajkovski said, adding that "we should intensively work on improvement of the living standard of all citizens, to attract direct foreign investments, which together with home resources should be a basis of the economic growth and prosperity. Macedonia must integrate in the processes of the global economy, and I am assured that the personnel that our country has are capable to achieve this. Development of the democracy and economic prosperity go together," Trajkovski said.
In his address President Boris Trajkovski stressed that none of those issues are an easy challenge, which can be surpassed overnight.
"But the great days like this one are the place and the time for reminding of the challenges that we can expect, for recovery of our sprit and faith, but also an assurance that we do not have other choice but to succeed in resolving the problems.
He stressed that all the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia bear the responsibility for its future however, their political representatives and leader even more. That's why the citizens will expect from us to lead them in surpassing and conquering of the forthcoming temptations."
"The Republic of Macedonia in the history showed that knows to choose responsible and reasonable political leadership," Trajkovski said.
"Such choice was the one which was led by the wisdom and will of the people which scheduled the referendum for independence on September 8, 1990, bringing the independence and sovereignty of the Republic of Macedonia and accomplished the centuries long dream of our ancestors from famous days of the two great Macedonian Ilinden," Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski said at the end of his address.
PM GEORGIEVSKI PUTS IN USE A SYSTEM FOR SALVATION OF THE LAKE DOJRAN.
MIA
On Sunday, Macedonian Prime Minister Ljubco Georgievski put in use the hydro-system for salvation of the Lake Dojran.
This project is worth US $12,5 million and is realized by the Macedonian government with funds from the sale of the Telecom and from several international funds.
The ministries of environment and urban planing and finance, as well as the electricity company Elektrostopanstvo were actively included in this project.
Metropolitan of Strumica His Holiness Naum blessed the Dojran Lake hydro-system.
Congratulating the Independence Day September 8 to the present, Prime Minister Georgievski underlined the economic, tourist and economic dimension of this project.
"With this infrastructural project we save a lake, one special eco-environment. We give this tourist pearl to Southeast Europe where thousands of people will spend their summer and winter vacations. Without doubt this will also become an economic center that will enable many financial funds to remain in the country," Georgievski said.
As he said, this project will also open a new perspective for water supply of all populated areas in the region.
"We will not stop here, because the ultimate goal is the water pipeline to continue to Konjska Reka locality near Gevgelija and then also to the town," he said.
Underlining that "this is another work of the Macedonian creative spirit," Georgievski referred to the "three previously done spiritual and environmental centers that will mark this generation."
"The first one is Plaosnik in western Macedonia where we returned the grave of St. Kliment, the second spiritual value is the cross above Skopje, protector not only of the city but also of entire Macedonia, and the third victory is here, in eastern Macedonia," he said.
"With this project we showed what the Macedonians can do in period of only four months."
Stating that this project is magnificent, he underlined that the quantity of water that arrives in the lake would be ten times larger than the current capacity of 100 liters in second.
Although the lake was being emptied for 15 years, he said, in only three years its glory will be returned.
He expressed hope that Greece will have understanding for the project, and will protect the lake from the other side of the border as well.
At the end of his address, the Macedonian Prime Minister recommended: "give us a little peace, let this country develop freely so you can see the economic miracle in the heart of the Balkans."
Minister of Environment and Urban Planning Marjan Dodovski said in his speech that the hydro-system "Lake Dojran" is a "colossal project that will make the Macedonian public proud."
"The water that will start to enter in the Lake means end of an environmental agony that hit not only Dojran but the entire region," he said.
"The government worked hardly to find an appropriate solution, we developed many studies and the result is this colossal project," he said.
The hydro-system for filling the Lake Dojran is composed of 15 wells in the Gavato Pole locality with average debt of 50 meters, pipeline in length of 20 kilometers and three basins for transfer of the water.
According to the experts, the lake will receive approximately 1,000 liters of water per second so its full revitalization is expected in eight years.
This system will be also used for overcoming of the water shortage problems in Bogdanci and Dojran.
Another dimension of the water system is that it will be also used for production of electricity.
In the past five months, this system was built by the construction companies "Granit," "Pelagonija", "Mavrovo" and "Beton".
Liectenstein holds Macedonia 1-1 in match of the minnows.
AP
VADUZ, Liechtenstein - In a match of the minnows, Liechtenstein held Macedonia to a 1-1 draw thanks to an injury time goal in a Group 7 Euro 2004 soccer qualifier Sunday.
Gjorgji Hristov opened the scoring for Macedonia in the 8th minute. Liechtenstein then struggled on for the rest of the match before Michael Stocklasa equalized in the 93rd minute.
Some 2,650 spectators the equivalent of one tenth of Liechtenstein's population turned out to watch the match.
Turkey defeated Slovakia in a Group 7 match on Saturday.
Lineups:
Liechtenstein:
Peter Jehle, Christof Ritter, Daniel Hasler, Michael Stocklasa; Frederic Gigon (83. Franz Burgmeier); Martin Telser (83. Fabio D'Elia), Andreas Gerster, Martin Stocklasa, Thomas Beck; Mario Frick, Matthias Beck (46. Ronny Buechel).
Macedonia:
Petar Milosevski, Goce Sedlovski, Igor Sasa Nikolovski, Igor Mitrevski, Robert Popov, Velice Sumilikoski, Aleksandar Mitrevski, Robert Petrov, Ace Stojkov, Gjorgi Hristov, Artim Shaquiri.
(cn)
Romani Alphabet - New Series From TV BTR Nacional.
TV BTR Nacional
By Zoran Dimov
For the first time in the Roma history the Roma population will get a TV series in Romani language about the Romani Alphabet. A series that treats each letter of the Romani Alphabet - the correct writing and pronouncing of the letters, using the letters in the word, and further the words in the sentence, a series in which the literature Romani language is used and at the same time a series that points out the common mistakes from the everyday conversation, thus the people can learn the correct/standard Romani language.
Namely, TV BTR Nacional, the first Roma TV station in the world, produced a TV series entitled "Romani Alphabet" (in Romani language "Romani Abeceda"). The project consists of 30 episodes - one for each letter of the Romani Alphabet and is primarily designed for Romani children, but all Roma will benefit from the project since there are many Roma with a low level of education or without any education. The series Romani Alphabet is an educative TV project that will enable the Roma children to learn their own Alphabet in a fun and not-constraining manner via their TV set. The producer's goal is to contribute in reducing the number of the illiterate Roma, increasing the interest about the education among the Roma population, and in long terms for increasing the number of high-educated Roma.
The promotion of the project is on September 10th, 2002 in Hotel Jadran in Skopje.
The Macedonian Roma population is only the first one in the row that will benefit from the project, considering the fact that TV BTR Nacional is open for cooperation with media or different organizations and institutions that might be interested into this series.
Please contact TV BTR Nacional for more information. September 8 in History.
Standartnews
In 1885 Prince Battenberg signed a manifest declaring that he accepted the unification of the Bulgarian Principality and Eastern Rumelia and would from now on think himself the Prince of Northern and Southern Bulgaria.
Drug Boss Varsanov Was Arrested
Standartnews
because of the Friday assault on competing drug dealer Valentin Hristov, 'Standart' learnt. Two cars blocked Hristov's 'Audi 80' 50 meters away from the office building of the National Service for Organized Crime Combat and the National Security Service and the dealer was wounded after an attempt for kidnapping him. All the attackers are known and wanted, sources from the police said. Varsanov was arrested as the leader of the group that organized the attack.
BULGARIA-US-PRESIDENT-VISIT.
BTA
Bulgaria's Bid to Join NATO and Fight Against Terrorism Keynotes of President Purvanov's Visit to the US.
Sofia, September 8 (BTA) - Bulgaria's bid to join NATO and the fight against international terrorism will be in the focus of President Georgi Purvanov's visit to the US which starts on Monday.
From September 9 to 15 President Purvanov will attend the 57th Session of the UN General Assembly and an open meeting of the UN Security Council in New York. Earlier in Washington, President Purvanov is scheduled to meet US Secretary of State Colin Powell and Vice President Richard Chaney.
During his visit Purvanov will be accompanied by his wife, Zorka Purvanova.
On September 11 in New York President Purvanov will chair the formal high-level meeting of the UN Security Council on the fight against terrorism. The Bulgarian head of state will attend the ceremony marking the anniversary of the terror attacks on the US of September 11. The marking of the anniversary coincides with Bulgaria's presidency of the UN Security Council in September.
Foreign Minister Solomon Passy, who left for the US last Tuesday, will join the President. On September 5 Passy attended an open meeting of the UN Security Council on Kosovo.
President Purvanov is expected to meet US Secretary of State Colin Powell on Monday and Vice Chairman Richard Chaney on Tuesday. The meetings will discuss the development of bilateral economic and political relations, Bulgaria's bid to join NATO and the fights against terrorism.
President Purvanov will make a statement on September 12, the first day of the general debate at the UN. Purvanov will be the fifth to speak and the debate will be opened by US President George Bush.
In the US President Purvanov is expected to meet state leaders attending the UN General Assembly, Senators, senior representatives of the US Administration and Congress, NGO members, representatives of the Jewish community, businessmen and Bulgarians living in the US.
PRESIDENT PURVANOV TO VISIT REYKJAVIK AND SALZBURG.
Before flying to Washington, President Purvanov will pay a several-hour working visit to Iceland. In Reykjavik he will hold official talks with his counterpart, Dr Olafur Grimsson. The two sides will discuss Bulgaria's bid to join NATO and bilateral cooperation.
On September 16, President Purvanov will leave New York for Salzburg where he will attend the European Economic Forum. In Salzburg Purvanov is scheduled to meet the Presidents of Austria, Finland and Estonia. The meetings will focus on bilateral trade and economic relations. Purvanov is also expected to confer with European Enlargement Commissioner Guenter Verheugen and Special Coordinator of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe Erhard Busek.
* * *
Bulgaria and the US established diplomatic relations in 1903 which were broken off in 1941-1945 and 1950-1959.
Following the democratic changes of 1989, the US was visited by president Zhelyu Zhelev in 1995 and president Peter Stoyanov in 1998. Bulgaria was visited by US vice president Dan Quayle in 1991 and US president Bill Clinton in 1999.
Bulgarian prime ministers Filip Dimitrov (1992), Stefan Sofiyanski (1997), Ivan Kostov (1998 and 2001) and Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (2001 and 2002) have also visited the US. During his second visit Prime Minister Saxe-Coburg-Gotha met President George Bush.
Since 1999 Bulgaria has been visited by eight Senators and two delegations of US Congressmen. A Congress group on Bulgaria was set up at the House of Representatives of the US Congress this June.
. The US supports the Bulgarian Government's efforts for economic stabilization, speeding up privatization and structural reform. The US assesses highly Bulgaria's progress in its preparations for NATO membership and views this country as a serious NATO candidate.
FOLLOWING THE TERROR ACTS OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 Bulgaria declared its readiness for full cooperation, including under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Alliance. Bulgaria and the US reached an agreement giving clearance for overflight, transit passage and sojourn on Bulgarian territory of US forces and personnel in connection with Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. The accord was reached through the exchange of notes on November 12 and promptly and unanimously ratified by Parliament. Later Bulgaria allowed its airport in Bourgas to be used by aircraft providing aerial refuelling to US combat planes performing humanitarian missions within the Operation Enduring Freedom.
In its 2001 report on terrorism the US Department of State does not mention Bulgaria as a high-risk country. The report on drugs trafficking points out the excellent cooperation between Bulgaria and the US in this field. This year the US Senate passed a bill on continuing the policy of the US administration on NATO enlargement. Proceeding from this act, Bulgaria will receive 10 million US dollars in military aid this year.
In 2001 commercial exchange between the two countries totalled 468.8 million US dollars with Bulgaria running a surplus of 88.2 million. In the first quarter of this year, commercial exchange amounted to 74 million US dollars with Bulgaria accumulating a 8.2 million US dollar surplus. Last year the US accounted for 3.8 per cent of Bulgaria's total commercial exchange: 3.3 per cent of its overall import and 5.5 per cent of its overall export.
Textiles, mineral products, foods, tobacco, non-precious metals, machines and equipment account for the bulk of Bulgaria's exports to the US. In exchange Bulgaria imports coal, machines, farming equipment and medicines from the US.
By the end of 2001 US investment in Bulgaria totalled 277 million US dollars placing it sixth among foreign investors in Bulgaria. The largest US investors in Bulgaria are American Standard, Alico, MacDonalds and Seaboard Corporation. Two new investment projects are expected to be launched - the Entergy project in Maritsa-East 3, worth 400 million US dollars, and the AES Electric project in Maritsa-East 1, worth 750 million US dollars.
BULGARIA-BRUSSELS.
BTA
European Affairs Minister Kouneva Satisfied with Consultations with European Commission.
Sofia, September 8 (BTA) - European Affairs Minister Meglena Kouneva returned from Brussels where she visited for regular consultations with the European Commission (EC) on the preparation of the EC's annual report on Bulgaria.
The consultations were successful, the presentation was good, Kouneva told reporters.
No recommendations to Bulgaria were made at the consultations in Brussels, such recommendations will be made in the report which will be published on October 16, Kouneva said.
The consultations noted Bulgaria's considerable progress in the reform of its judiciary but it is necessary to continue this reform, Kouneva said.
Asked whether the talks with EU Enlargement Commissioner Guenter Verheugen mentioned a date for Bulgaria's accession, Kouneva explained that the meeting was devoted entirely to the annual report.
Negotiations on the Financial Control Chapter will be completed by the end of the month, Kouneva said.
In her political talks with Verheugen Kouneva underscored Bulgaria's loyal attitude on the issue of the International Criminal Court. "We were assured once again of the correctness of our policy," Kouneva said. According to her, Bulgaria's conduct is highly appreciated.
Kouneva explained that it is advisable for Bulgaria to formulate its stand on the issue after the EU comes out with its stand which is expected to take place by the end of the month.
Borovets Cordoned off for the Royal Wedding.
Standartnews
Queen Margarita will probably wear a dress designed by Natali Genova.
In all probability, Borovets will be cordoned off for the Royal wedding, employees from the Tsarska Bistritsa residence forecast. Kalina, daughter of the prime-minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg, is to marry navigator Kitin Munos there on October 26. In the meanwhile it transpired that Queen Margarita will probably attend the wedding in a dress made by Bulgarian designer Natali Genova.
Council of Europe: Albania Is A Multiethnic State.
Reality Macedonia
By Irina Gelevska
35 % of Albania's citizens are not ethnic Albanians. Which Balkan country is next in line for some sort of a Framework Agreement is anybody's guess. (Pogradec would be a great location to sign it).
An old Macedonian proverb says: "a bear that dances in neighbor's house will soon dance in yours." (Mechka shto igra vo komshii, kje igra i vo kukja)
The official report on minorities by the Albanian Government says that only 2% of the population in Albania are not [ethnic] Albanians. This information has been presented to the public since the time of the ultra-communist ruler Enver Hoxha. [Compare CIA's info.]
Last October, Council of Europe's mission visited Albania and formed a Center for Ethnic Research in Tirana. In April 2002, the Center delivered a questionnaire of 33 questions to the Albanian population all over the country.
"The results of this research show that about one million or 35% of the total population in the country are members of minorities. This makes Albania a multiethnic state," said the Director of the Center for Ethnic Research in Tirana, Kimet Fetahu.
According the initial research results, seven minority ethnic groups live in Albania: Macedonians, Greeks, Vlachs, Egyptians, Roma, Serbs and Montenegrins.
The biggest minorities are the Macedonians and the Greeks. The smallest minorities are the Serbs and the Montenegrins. There are 5 organizations of Macedonians in Albania, 2 of the Vlachs, 2 of the Roma, 2 of the Egyptians, 1 of the Greeks and 1 joint organization of the Serbs and Montenegrins.
The minority organizations cooperate poorly with the media, the political parties and NGOs in Albania. A large degree of discrimination exists in the education and employment policy of the Albanian Government. These results are expected to be included in the Year Report of the Council of Europe for minorities in Albania at the end of September 2002. |
