Even though the Government in last week’s strategic program “Plan for clean air” in which the fight against pollution is introduced and promoted as a strategic priority, set as a priority to improve the quality of air in Skopje in the next two years by 50 percent, today the Macedonian media published news from “Euronews” that is based on a report from the European Environmental Agency, according to which Macedonia had been a country with the highest air pollution in Europe, in the period 2015-2016.
According to the report, the heavy traffic and the use of wood stoves and fossil fuels for heating purposes were the cause of the dangerous air pollution, which has an increasingly
higher influence over the health of the citizens. According to EU statistics, in 2015, 1469 lives had been lost in Macedonia because of pollution.
The parties continued today again with their mutual accusations. In regards to VMRO-DPMNE’s accusation that none of the promises of SDSM have been fulfilled regarding the environmental pollution from when it was in opposition, SDSM came out with an announcement in which it says “VMRO-DPMNE ignored the problem with air pollution for 11 years and dedicated itself solely to crime, corruption and personal wealth of individuals”. According to SDSM, “Measures such as increasing inspection supervision over the biggest polluters, detecting illegal landfills and gasification, all contribute to the reduction of air pollution”, and measures and actions are also being taken “for manual washing of city streets and boulevards for reducing dust and tiny particles, and costs of households are being subsidized for purchasing pallet stoves that replace the non-environmental ways of heating”.
Law on amnesty for the perpetrators of April 27 did not pass
The draft law for amnesty of the persons suspected, accused and convicted for the events that took place in the Parliament on April 27, 2017, submitted by 28 MPs from the opposition VMRO-DPMNE, today in a shortened procedure and second reading was on the agenda of the 66th parliamentary session. The majority of the MPs did not support the draft law. Last week the Government gave a negative opinion on the draft law, while the Minister of Justice, Renata Deskoska, stated that the law gives an overly broad amnesty.
On the other hand, 1TV today informed that the Draft Law on Amnesty is prepared in the Reconciliation Body for the April 27 incidents. The first meeting at which the Draft Law will be presented will be held on Wednesday.
Janakieski does not want to be a victim of Gruevski’s escape
Former minister Mile Janakieski, at today’s session of the Court of Appeal, where the complaint following the decision for determining detention was being reviewed, stressed that three laws have been violated in bringing the decision and that it has also been acted contrary to the practice of the European Court of Human Rights and to articles of the European Convention on Human Rights. Janakieski had demanded for the court to take into account also the denial of President Gjorge Ivanov who denies the contents of the official note that Janakieski had requested amnesty for himself through an intermediary.
“Why would I initiate a meeting with the President through an intermediary when I had met with him the same day? Why an intermediary at all, when I have known the President for over ten years?”, asked Janakieski.
He also argued the claim that he too would escape following Gruevski’s escape, as his former associate. “As you know, I condemned his escape in the media and said that it could seriously harm the processes where we are both accused…I should not be punished and sacrificed because of Gruevski’s actions!”, said Janakieski.
Mancevski announced 66 million denars for reforms of the administration
Even though the slogan with which the budget funds were presented was “More money for the citizens”, in announcing the budget projections for 2019, the Minister of Information Society and Administration, Damjan Mancevski, announced that the budget of the Ministry will be 1.55 billion denars for the next year, and that as much as 1.2 billion are intended for MRT, the Macedonian Broadcasting and the Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services, so that they can plan the program and be autonomous in their editorial policy.
2.4 million denars are anticipated for the Electronic Population Register.
Court incoordinated, hearing for April 27 events – postponed!?
Judge Dobrila Kacarska postponed the hearing for the violence that took place in the Parliament on April 27, with the explanation that today’s hearing would not be held because of the court’s lack of coordination, and that the trial would continue tomorrow.
The reason for the postponement was the absence of the accused Munir Pepik, who at that moment, although being brought from house arrest, was in another court room as an accused and at a hearing for the case “Titanic” for election irregularities.
“The dates for this case have been scheduled some time ago, because it concerns a detention case. At the same time a hearing for the case “Titanic” is scheduled, where Munir Pepik appears as accused, who is accused also in this case. I do not understand why there is such behaviour and what the reason is for such incoordination, but I have to postpone today’s court hearing”, said Judge Kacarska.
Mite Grozdanov departs this life
Famous Macedonian actor, doyen Mite Grozdanov passed away in Skopje, at the age of 75. Grozdanov worked in the Drama Theatre from 1967 until he retired in 2008, where he played hundreds of roles, but for decades worked also in the theatres in Strumica, Kavadarci, Gevgelia. In his 40-year professional acting career, the public will remember Grozdanov by the roles in “The Sick Dojcin”, “Blackness”, “Somnitelno Lice”…He has also starred in the films “Sutjeska”, “The Mountain Wrath”, “Shot”, “Black Seed”, :Happy New Year – ‘49”…
He is winner of the “Golden Laurel Wreath” of the Festival of Small and Experimental Scenes in Sarajevo (MESS) for the title role in the play “Score for a Myron”, an award at the “Vojdan Chernodrinski” festival in Prilep for the roles Svetozar in “Karamazovi” and Iljo M in “The Shadow”, a silver plaque at the Festival of Monodrama for the role in the “Tree of the Hill”.
Ivanov is again in Turkey
President Gjorge Ivanov is in a working visit to the Republic of Turkey, on the occasion of participating in the Ninth “Bosporus Summit” in Istanbul. Ivanov will hold a speech at the opening of the Summit, whose main topic is “Maintaining peace and development for all”. In the framework of the working visit to the Republic of Turkey, President Ivanov will visit Bursa, where he will hold a lecture at the “Uludag” University.
Hazbi Lika has started going to work in the Government
The Deputy Prime Minister for Implementation of the Framework Agreement, Hazbi Lika, has finally started going to work, and has participated also in several government sessions, the media reported. It was previously announced that supposedly, due to an argument with the leader of DUI, Ali AHmeti, Deputy Prime Minister Lika, for months had not been coming to the Government.
“We are not considering a reconstruction in such serious parliamentary processes. Nevertheless, if a minister does not attend Government sessions– it is logical that the Government should sit down and think about changing that. We are discussing with the coalition partners who have shared responsibility with us in the area of other departments if such needs occur, so if somewhere we do not have effects, we know how”, stated Prime Minister Zaev.
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