Macedonia

Athens is failing to focus on meaningful regional issues, Foreign Minister says, referring to decision of Greek border staff to cover up the letters “MK” on any Macedonian cars entering Greece.Foreign Minister Nikola Popovski was the first senior Macedonian official to react, after Greek border guards last week begun covering …

Macedonia’s parliament passed a new Lustration law on Wednesday evening which aims to purge former police informants from public offices.The law submitted by the main ruling centre-right VMRO DPMNE party was also endorsed by their junior partners, the Democratic Union for Integration, DUI. The opposition Social Democrats voted against it.

Authorities advise people to take precautions as the country expects a scorching blast of heat in coming days – up to 39 degrees Celsius.It may still be officially only spring, but Macedonia is already roasting under a heatwave with daily temperatures for several days in a row exceeding 37 degrees. …

Ten Macedonian elementary and high schools have joined a project run by the United States Agency for International Development, USAID, which aims to unite children of different ethnic backgrounds.

Head of Macedonia’s main ethnic Albanian party, the Democratic Union for Integration, DUI, says a solution to the “name” dispute between Macedonia and Greece may be nearer in 2013, when both countries have elections out of the way.

Macedonia’s economy faces a prolonged period of danger from the crisis affecting the eurozone but macroeconomic stability and the stability of the currency, the Denar, are not shaken, the Central Bank says.

Context Following the collapse of communism throughout Eastern Europe and the subsequent breakup of Yugoslavia, the countries in the Balkan area have experienced changes in their demographics, usually in the form of an abrupt decrease in birth rates and population.

Macedonian opposition parties have accused Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski of damaging the national interest by unnecessarily antagonizing NATO in a recent interview. Opposition politicians have called on Prime Minister

Croatian Defense Minister Ante Kontromanovic said Macedonia will not be on the agenda of NATO Summit in Chicago. According to Kontromanovic the decision of the Alliance in Bucharest is difficult to change, but must be sent a clear and unambiguous message. “Croatia gives strong support for sending this message. We …

Macedonia has lifted visas for Russian citizens regarding a stay of 90 days within six months. According to the Russian ambassador to Skopje Oleg Shcherbak the move will improve business and humanitarian contacts. At the same time the issue of removing visas for Macedonians staying in Russia was raised.