MANU: Encyclopedia will Not be Withdrawn

The Macedonian Encyclopedia will not be withdrawn, but only corrected in the points that caused a stir last month, decided late Tuesday the Assembly of the Macedonian Academy of Science and Arts (MANU).
Academician Georgi Stardelov said after the session that the discussion was constructive, aimed at finding the path towards a solution, "which will be autonomous". "The public is engulfed in lots of politics regarding assessments for our encyclopedia. We are trying to work autonomously without any political pressure", stated Stardelov.
The session, which is to resume next week, will also debate on the final conclusions of the MANU Presidency regarding the possible replacement of the editorial board. The first national encyclopedia was formally promoted last month, resulting in reactions mainly among the country's Albanian political parties, which disputed certain points and asked for their correction, as well as the edition's withdrawal.

MANU's Encyclopedia causes stir

Macedonian Encyclopedia, presented Thursday at MANU's premises caused a stirr among the Albanian community and the US/UK Embassies. Daily paper Koha writes that the encyclopedia contains numerous "inaccuracies".
Two are mentioned as the most contradictory, the alleged training by U.S. and British specialists of the KLA members in the 2001 conflict, which caused a reaction of the US Embassies and UK Embassies in Skopje, both claiming the information is 'false' and 'ridiculous'.
Lets review this. This alleged training according to several British papers (Sunday Times, The Guardian, etc) did take place and at the time was a widely acknowledged fact in army circles and Balkan media. Does anyone remember Aracinovo? Flashpoint: Over 200 Albanian terrorists were surrounded by the Macedonian Army. The Albanians laid down their weapons and put their underwear on sticks to give a sign of their surrendering (captured by TV crews).
NATO prevented the Macedonian army from entering Aracinovo, went into the village utilizing 12 busses to transport the terrorists (who had previously threathen to bomb the Airport) back to safety in Kosovo (2). The following day, Deutche Welle claimed there were 19 NATO 'advisors' among the Albanians transported to Kosovo.
According to DW, NATO had panicked that the Macedonian army would capture their commanders/advisors. Later the Macedonian police entered Aracinovo and found numerous sophisticated satellite phones and equipment left behind. Though today Macedonia enjoys terrific relations with the US and the UK, facts shouldn't ashame anyone.
The second "scandal" is the text which tells the story of the Albanians in Macedonia, where they are named as "shiptari" that settled in Macedonia in the 16th century. The Albanian term for an 'Albanian' is "Shqiptar". I might have missed the "scandal" here.
The Macedonian Academy of Arts and Sciences stands behind their Encyclopedia saying it is a collective effort of numerous historians, scientists that took years to complete in which all data had been synthesized with facts and arguments that have been checked and re-checked by numerous relevant individuals and organizations.

MANU promotes Macedonian Encyclopedia

Macedonian Academy of Science and Art (MANU) launched Wednesday the first national "Macedonian Encyclopedia". Following years of preparation by the Lexicographic Center during which time 260 associates were engaged under the leadership of the chief editor, academician Blaze Ristovski, the Macedonian Encyclopedia was published this year with funds from the Government. 
Considering the criterion of objectivity, the editorial staff scientifically verified a myriad of facts that are contained in two volumes (A-Lj and M-Sh) in a total of 1.671 pages. The edition contains over 9.000 entries for persons, events, etc. with more than 5.000 illustrations. 
Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, welcoming the publishing of the Macedonian Encyclopedia, said it sublimated the knowledge of the modern Macedonian scholars about the complex appearance of the country, people and state. - The project may not fully depict the overall being and growth of Macedonia. However, it scans authentically Macedonia's point of view about its cultural and political past and present and strives to become an objective, integral information about us and our country, stated Gruevski. 
Academician Ristovski in his speech referred to its conception and background. - We've attempted to sum up the millenium development of Macedonia and the eras of the history of this nation. It includes millions of data, facts and arguments about the legitimacy of Macedonia in history and in modern times, said Ristovski. MANU president Georgi Stardelov stated the edition was the first Macedonian encyclopedia freed from foreign historical interpretations. 
- It is not only an encyclopedia of the Macedonian people, but also of the Macedonian state by presenting persons and events depicting the ethnic communities in Macedonia, especially the Albanian and Turkish ones, he said. MANU intends to publish the Macedonian Encyclopedia in an extended edition with several volumes and to transplate in into English.