State Archives to donate books to St. Jovan Bigorski monastery

The State Archives of the Republic of Macedonia will donate Friday a collection of books to the library in "St. Jovan Bigorski" monastery, which was burned down three years ago.

The book collection consists of monographs for famous persons of Macedonian history as well as documents which cover the most important phases and events in establishment of the Macedonian statehood, State Archives said in a press release.

Macedonia and Norway sign Transport Liberalization

Macedonia and Norway have agreed on liberalization of bilateral and transit transport for vehicles possessing Euro 4 and Euro 5 standards, following the signing of a protocol at the meeting of the mixed committee on international road transport, held in Oslo on September 12-13.

The protocol also refers to a contingent of 150 bilateral transit permits for Euro 3 vehicles, as well as 20 bilateral transit permits for Euro 2 vehicles and those with lower standards.

A contingent of permits for transport to and from third countries, which is by 125 percent higher compared to the previous quota, has also been agreed, the Ministry of Transport and Communications said in a press release.

The Third Half to represent Macedonia for the Oscars

Film "The Third Half" of Darko Mitrevski, produced by Kino Oko, will be Macedonia's Oscar candidate in the best Foreign Language Film category.

The Association of Film Professionals of Macedonia, which is authorized by the U.S. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to carry out the selection, has announced that the competition also included "The Woman Who Brushed Off Her Tears" of Teona Strugar Mitevska, produced by Sisters and Brother Mitevski, and "Skopje Remixed" by group of directors, produced by Novo Makedonsko Video.

French actress Catherine Deneuve to attend 33. Manaki Brothers festival

French actress Catherine Deneuve will be an exclusive guest at the 33. International Cinematographers Film Festival "Manaki Brothers", held in Bitola on September 15-21.

Deneuve is the laureate of special award "Golden Camera 300", which will be presented at the festival's opening.

Manaki Brothers festival director Labina Mitevska said at Monday's press conference that Deneuve would stay in Macedonia for four days.

"Deneuve will hold an hour-long meeting with film lovers, journalists, students, authors on September 16, followed by the screening of film 'The Last Metro' in her honor", added Mitevska.

Catherine Deneuve has starred in 114 films. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress in 1993 for her performance in "Indochine" and won a César award for that film and "The Last Metro" (1980)

Foreign tourists satisfied with their stay in Ohrid

Ohrid lake at Kaneo.

Foreign tourists are content with their stay in Ohrid, show results of a survey conducted by the Sector for Tourism and Local Economic Development of the Municipality of Ohrid.

The survey was carried out between August 15 and September 10 through open and anonymous questionnaires, which were distributed to hotels on the Ohrid riviera.

Guests who stayed in hotels 'Tino', 'Millennium', 'Garden', 'Inex', 'Belvedere', 'Granit', 'Sileks', 'Metropol', 'Bellevue', 'Desaret' and 'Makpetrol' - most of them from the Netherlands, Belgium and Serbia - praised the hospitality of Macedonian hosts and the attractiveness of the offer, pointing out several shortcomings and presenting their own suggestions.

The survey aims at probing guests' opinion and analysing their remarks in a bid to improve next year's tourist season.

Over 60.000 citizens to mark Independence Day at spectacular concert

The 21-year anniversary of country's independence will be marked Saturday evening at Philip II of Macedonian National Arena in Skopje with a spectacular concert dubbed 'Macedonian Heart Beats in 7/8', where local and Balkan pop stars will sing covers of traditional Macedonian songs.

Culture Minister Elizabeta Kanceska-Milevska at a press conference ahead of the event expressed profound gratitude to the Macedonian musicians who perform Macedonian folk songs and to the Balkan artists who this evening will sing one of the most beautiful songs of country's folklore richness in Macedonian.

One of the biggest music spectacles since Macedonia's independence declaration will be held later in the day, according to organisers.

Croatian diva Tereza Kesovija, on behalf of all 25 performers, said that the concert "will be always remembered for uniting the nation and music from the region and as a concert that brings together the musical history of the Balkans and beyond in honor of Macedonia".

Igor Durlovski's performance of the national anthem will open the concert. Spectators will have an opportunity to enjoy the performances of the greatest Balkan singers: Josipa Lisac, Zeljko Bebek, Hari Varesanovic, Aleksandra Radovic, Boris Novkovic, Nina Badric, Tereza Kesovija, Dado Topic, Aki Rahimovski, Goran Karan, Sergej Cetkovic, Jelena Tomasevic, Antonija Sola, Kaliopi Bukle, Esma Redzepova, Karolina Goceva, Miki Jovanovski Dzafer, Risto Samardziev, Vlatko Lozanovski, Vlado Janevski and Oliver Mandic.

At the press conference, the stars congratulated Macedonia on its Independence Day saying it is an honor for them to be part of this grand project.

Happy Independence day from Google

Using the Ohrid motives and St Kaneo church, Google sends their congratulations for Macedonia's independence day.

Macedonian exporters and Montenegrin importers of fruits and vegetables to meet

Montenegrin importers and Macedonian exporters of fresh fruits and vegetables will meet Monday in Strumica to discuss Montenegrin market demands and production and opportunities for export from Macedonia.

Epi Centre International and Macedonian Farmers’ Federation organise the meeting with support of USAID AgBiz programme and should contribute to improvement of overall presentation on Montenegrin market and creation of partnership relations between agriculture business between the two countries.

USAID AgBiz programme supports economic growth in Macedonia through activities that strengthen and improve competitiveness of Macedonian agribusiness. The aim is to increase incomes for all participants in selected agricultural value chains in Macedonia by increasing exports and enhancing the agricultural business environment.

The American people, through USAID, have invested nearly $500 million in Macedonia since 1993. USAID is implementing projects that create jobs, reduce corruption, and prepare Macedonian students for the workforce. These initiatives improve the quality of life and support Macedonia’s transition to a stable and prosperous democracy.

Macedonian flag raised in Downtown Toronto marking Independence Day

On the eve of the biggest Macedonian national holiday, Independence Day (Sept. 8),  Macedonia's flag was raised in Downtown Toronto in Queen's Park outside the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

The flag was raised by world-renowned artist Georgi Danevski in the presence of hundreds of Macedonians and foreign guests, friends of Macedonia and the Macedonian people in Canada. The flag-raising ceremony was organised by the Macedonian consulate general in Toronto.

Guests were welcomed by consul general Dragan Gjurcevski and the president of the oldest organisation of Macedonians in Canada - United Macedonians based in Toronto.

Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford as well as a number of associations and individuals congratulated the Independence Day of Macedonia.

Government team presented Macedonia’s business opportunities in Miami

Government delegation led by PM Nikola Gruevski resumes political and business visit to the US with a presentation of Macedonia's investment opportunities in Miami.

Here in Miami we held a business presentation before numerous companies. We have presented opportunities for doing business in Macedonia and with some of them we held separate meetings and discussed concrete projects. We also held talks with a car company and other companies with which we will continue the communication aimed at attracting them to open companies, factories and new jobs in Macedonia, PM Gruevski said.

He is satisfied from the road shows and believes that contacts and meetings will be fruitful for opening new jobs in Macedonia.

In Detroit, Gruevski and the government delegation will attend an annual meeting of the diaspora. In Atlanta, Macedonia's investment opportunities will be presented at a business event organised in cooperation with the city's business community.