30 December 2009

New Year Party kicks off in Skopje on Monday

In light of the New Year's eve, musicians from Macedonia and neighbouring countries for the first time will perform at the Skopje main square for four straight days. In addition to "Leb i Sol", Vlado Janevski and Esma Redzepova, Gibonni, "Prljavo Kazalishte" from Croatia and Manjifiko from Slovenia will perform as well. The party starts on Monday. Citizens will have the chance to see "Leb i Sol", "Area", Dario, Elena Ristevska, Jovan Jovanov, Adrijan Gaxha, Vlatko Lozanovski and DNK live between 17h and 23h. Croatian singer Daniela Martinovic, "Beatles Real Tribute" from Serbia, Mitan Projet feat. Adrijana Janevska from Macedonia, "Infuse", "Shkrip Orchestra" and "Zoambo" from Slovenia will perform on Dec. 29.
Local bands, "Foltin", "Superhiks", "Bei The Fish" as well as Zvonko Bogdan from Serbia, Jordan Kostov and "Retro Cabaret" are scheduled to hold a concert on Dec. 30. On Dec. 31, children will be greeted by Santa Claus in the afternoon, while the new year 2010 will be welcomed with the performances of Esma Redzepova, Vlado Janevski, Gibonni, "Prljavo Kazalishte" and Manjifiko.
New Year's party will be also organised at Skopje Fair, where Gorillaz Sound System and Macedonian composer and DJ Kiril Dzajkovski will be the main acts. The New Year's party is organised by the City of Skopje and ONE telecommunications operator.

28 December 2009

Santa arrives in MI 18 Helicopter

Straight from the North Pole, Santa touched down at Skopje's international airport greeted by numerous kids. Little did we know Santa travels in Russian made MI 18 helicopter. It's all about safety these days and Santa is no different.
Macedonian kids at the airport were overjoyed when they received packages full of candies, chocolates and toys. This year Santa doesn't have the time to go from house to house and preferes centralization, one location, the airport.
Macedonian kids were very modest in their wishes as usual: Three year old Skopje resident Martin wishes for a Castle with a Princess in it, while his friend Zarko requested Live Dragon that shoots Fire. Both things sound easy enough for Santa.

26 December 2009

50 CENT CONCERT IN MACEDONIA

It depends on your musical taste if you like this or not, but it's a big fish. Macedonian Company AVALON will bring 50 cent to Skopje. He will hold a concert in the Boris Trajkovski Arena on 31st of March 2010 as part of his 'Before I Selfdestruct' world tour. More info closer to date....but you can have a look at the link below.

24 December 2009

Tikvesh Winery hires Croatian beauty for Calendar

Sexy Croatian TV hostess Nikolina Pisek has posed naked for the annual calendar of Tikves, Macedonia's leading wine producer.
Pisek, 33, said the calendar was designed as a fairy tale that she had found very attractive. She added she had enjoyed the shooting but refused to reveal the amount of money she had received.
The Croatian media have reported she received around 50,000 Euros. It was not Pisek’s first cooperation with the well-known Macedonian wine producer. Almost six months ago, she made a TV commercial for their new wine Alexandria.

21 December 2009

MACEDONIAN CITIZENS ON FIRST VISA-FREE TRIP

A total of 100 citizens of Macedonia will be picked at lottery Thursday evening for cost-free trip to Paris on Saturday, when EU's decision to scrap visa requirements enters into effect. Macedonian state television will broadcast the lottery.
Some 10,000 citizens with biometrical passports have applied for the trip. All the selected lucky winners will get free air tickets to Paris. The government organized the trip to mark the EU's decision to scarp visa obligations for the citizens of Macedonia. Deputy Prime Minister in charge of EU Integration Vasko Naumovski and Interior Minister Gordana Jankulovska, as well as 20 best students, will accompany the lucky winners.
The travelers will have a unique opportunity to land in a country, member of the White Schengen zone, without visa requirements. They will enjoy a sightseeing tour of French capital. The one-day travel also will include a reception at the Macedonian Embassy in Paris. The European Union lifted the visa obligations for the citizens of Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro. The holders of biometric passports will be entitled to visa-free travel to 25 members of the 27-nation bloc - except for Britain and Ireland - as well as in Norway, Switzerland and Iceland Finally, the time has come, VISA free regime.
For most of the readers from Europe and USA its normal to travel where you want, when you want. But, it can do no harm to imagine how hard it was for Macedonians to be cut in their freedom like this, especially when in the past ( before the nineties) they were free to go and then suddenly they got a blockade.

17 December 2009

USA DECORATES 31 MACEDONIAN SOLDIERS

The Unites States decorated 31 members of the Macedonian Army - ARM's special operation regiment for their participation in "Iraqi Freedom" mission on monday. Four of the members of the 11th ARM rotation in Iraqi Freedom mission received a meritorious service medals and 27 commendation medals of the US Army.
A total of 493 members of the ARM special operations regiment and joint operations command have taken part between June 2003 and December 2009 in Iraqi Freedom mission in 11 rotations. 124 have been awarded with medals and decorations.
- By participating in the Iraqi Freedom mission, the Republic of Macedonia has demonstrated that it is ready to join the coalition in the fight against today's biggest evil - global terrorism, said Minister of Defense Zoran Konjanovski in a speech delivered at the ceremony. In addition to Iraq, Macedonia takes part also in missions in Afghanistan. Lebanon, Bosnia & Herzegovina and provides logistic support to the KFOR mission in Kosovo.
Macedonia will demonstrate its commitment to Euro-Atlantic integration, he added, by sending addition troops in Afghanistan in early 2010. - With our contribution, Macedonia already functions as a NATO member. So we ask to be accordingly valued, not to be awarded, said Konjanovski. ARM Chief of Staff, Lieutenant-General Miroslav Stojanovski said in the past 18 years Macedonia had managed to establish a professional army that took part in NATO, EU, UN-led missions.
- The United States do not doubt that the Macedonian Army is strong, smart and ready for any mission. The country knows that the Republic of Macedonia is a close friend and an ally, said Thomas Navratil, US Deputy Ambassador. Presenting the medals, Admiral William Brown said foreign operations had showed to the world the capacities, preparedness and determination of Macedonia for Euro-Atlantic integration. - Macedonia is a key member in the Adriatic Group and it will play an important role in the enlargement process in the region.
Macedonia continues to be a regional leader in promoting Balkan peace and stability, said Brown, adding that Macedonia and US fostered permanent partnership.

14 December 2009

IVANOV WITH STRONG MESSAGE TO EU

The Macedonian president launched a scathing attack against the European Union condemning it for double standards. "We will not cave under any pressure to change our name or identity just to be a part of the European Union. We've lived this (hi)story many times before, not again. Whatever the outcome of the talks in Brussels, Macedonia will stay right here.
We have a European perspective that will be achieved together, with the support of all ethnic and religious communities, all parties and all citizens of Macedonia", Ivanov emphasized. In the presence of foreign ambassadors in the country, he said that Europe unfortunately still has leaders who allow to be carried away by someone's petty interests and hidden agenda. "Any violations of EU's principles today, tomorrow will bring new violations, new disorders, dozens of new blockades.
Who knows what will be asked of us tomorrow!? Macedonia gets a hesitant response, we receive requests and rules which apply only to us and change from day to day, we let obstructions and pressures from petty interests decide outcomes.
We see the absence of vision at the EU. We hear of integration announcements first for 2012, then 2014, 2015. How we can achieve those terms? With obstacles and obstructions", asked Ivanov.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrko1Dshocw

11 December 2009

VISA FREE REGIME NEGATIVE FOR HOTELIERS

The EU's decision to scrap the visa obligations for citizens of Macedonia, Serbia, and Montenegro had a negative impact on hoteliers in Macedonia given the cancellations of travel arrangements, hotel association president said. Donco Tanevski, the Chairman of Hotel Association of Macedonia, said no reservations were made for Macedonian resorts and travel arrangements were cancelled after introduction of visa-free travel to EU countries.
"Serbian holidaymakers were the most numerous travelers to Macedonia. There is an imminent risk that Serbian holidaymakers' presence in Macedonia drops by 30%-40% during the New Year's holidays," Tanevski said. He added that airlines' announcements of low-priced flights from Skopje to European destinations - two-way ticket for 29-99 euros - would make potential domestic tourists to book tickets at affordable rates and spend the New Year's holidays abroad.
Furthermore, the announced rise in electricity price and the upcoming smoking ban will additionally hit tourism workers. Tanevski slammed the programme of the Agency for Promotion of Tourism, saying that programme was inadequate and drawn up with minimum funds. Tanevski urged the government to cut the value-added tax (VAT) to hotelier, an incentive that has been put in motion in the neighboring countries. "The planned flights to Ukraine, announced by the government earlier this year, were not put in motion. And for the next year, there is no announcement of new flights except for the charter flight to Israel," Tanevski said.
He called on the government to make sure that road infrastructure is improved as soon as possible. He also complained that there are no long-term credit lines (spanning 15-25 years) with interest rates not higher than 4%-6%. This would help hoteliers and resorts improve their offers.
"We are facing a hardship unless immediate measures are taken. There has to be more aggressive marketing. Otherwise, Macedonia's tourism will face tough times." MD: Well, those tourists who want to come to Macedonia, still will come. You can't force people. If someone really wants to visit Ohrid, that person will do so, no matter what. Macedonia will have more profit of these tourists than any massive tourist groups from Serbia who come just because they cant go anywhere else. This will also make Ohrid a more exclusive destination, like it should be.

09 December 2009

ITALIANS TO BUILD SPORTS CENTER IN KATLANOVO

Italian civil engineering company is interested in investing EUR 14m in the construction of a luxurious sports-recreational centre and a spa-centre in Katlanovo's famous spa resort. In the area of 22,500 sqm, a six-story hotel of high category will be built, while sports terrains of professional dimensions intended for preparation and trainings of athletes will be built around it.
The Municipality of Petrovec informed that the location has been urbanised and the plan documentation is in the final stage. The investor is company Euroitalia, which has a company registered in Skopje. Head of the Municipality of Petrovec Borce Mitevski reviewed this investment last month in Italy.