NEWS OF THE DAY: AUSTRIA WITH SUPPORT FOR THE START OF NEGOTIATIONS
Federal Minister for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Austria, Alexandar Schallenberg, today paid an official visit to the Republic of North Macedonia.
Schallenberg met with Macedonian Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Dimitrov, with Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, Deputy Prime Minister in charge of European Affairs Bujar Osmani and with President Stevo Pendarovski.
He expressed Austria’s support for the start of the negotiations for joining the European Union.
Minister Schallenberg pointed out that Austria is giving full support to the enlargement process, assessing that North Macedonia has delivered results and, as he said, it is now Brussel’s turn to deliver. According to Minister Schallenberg, Austria’s position is clear that the European Council should give a green light for the start of accession talks for EU membership of North Macedonia.
DIMITROV: EU’S DECISION ON OUR COUNTRY IS OUR RENDEZVOUS WITH HISTORY
The message that the EU next week will send to Macedonia is also a message for the region. If everything that our country has done, starting from resolving the issue with our neighbours, to the reforms and the overall positive change in society, is not recognized and rewarded with a positive decision for the start of the negotiations with the Union, then Europe will send a message that it is not a serious partner, said today Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikola Dimitrov.
INDEPENDENT PARLIAMENTARY GROUP VMRO-DPMNE DEMANDS TO BE INCLUDED IN NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE ELECTORAL CODE
In today’s announcement by the independent parliamentary group of VMRO-DPMNE they state that they will advocate for reduction in the number of MPs, for people with disabilities to be represented in the lists, for equitable representation of men and women, and for finding a solution that will guarantee representation of smaller ethnic communities.
“We will be constructive partners in the negotiations and will be representing our commitments for greater democracy in the manner of electing MPs, which will contribute to diversity, inventiveness and opportunity for presenting different views. The concept of open lists is a good starting point that should be further discussed”, is said in the announcement.
FLASH NEWS
Survey: For almost half the citizens, the “Racket” case is not a reason for early parliamentary elections. The survey that was conducted by the Institute for political research Skopje for the needs of Detector, shows that 44,7% of citizens think that elections should not be organized because of the “Racket” case, while 36,3% consider that there should be new voting for MPs, whereas 18,9% of those surveyed still have no opinion.
“Senior Leadership Roundtable on Information-Related Hybrid Threats”. The second roundtable dedicated to information-related threats started today in Ohrid. During the roundtable, the focus will be on information-related hybrid threats and threats that affect the policies, territorial and/or economic aspects of a country or the Alliance through kinetic, non-kinetic or combined means with the use of information, disinformation, non-information and media – traditional or social.
Jovanovski tomorrow will give a statement for the “Racket” case. The Public Prosecutor’s Office announced that tomorrow afternoon Bojan Jovanovski, the first suspect in the “Racket” case, will be brought from the Shutka prison to the Prosecutor’s Office to give his first statement, following the inspection of the evidence.
Spasovski: Achieving the goals set out in the Global Compact on Refugees is an obligation of the entire international community. At the 70th session of the Executive Committee of the UN High Commissioner’s Programme, Minister of Foreign Affairs Oliver Spasovski emphasized that the adopted Global Compact on Refugees, as part of the international protection norms, is an especially important document for providing relevant international assistance for refugees, and that achieving the key goals set out in this document are an obligation of the entire international community.
Angelovska: With the budget rebalance, funds will go where they will be most efficient. Allocating funds where they will be most efficient and where greatest effects can be achieved, more money for citizens and strong financial support for businesses to create new jobs and paying higher salaries, are the aim of the rebalance of the Budget for 2019, which Minister of Finance, Nina Angelovska, pointed out to the MPs, in front of which is the Draft additional rebalance of the Budget.
SCPC is organizing a three-day workshop for prevention of corruption and conflict of interests. Representatives of all relevant institutions and organisations, both national and international experts will take part in the workshop that will last until October 10.
Karakamiseva apologized to Jancev, but didn’t delete the false news! Professor of Constitutional Law and Political System, Tanja Karakamiseva, on her Facebook profile yesterday posted false news that the Mayor of Kavadarci, Mitko Jancev, has a membership card from SDSM, but following fierce reactions by the public and the announcement for a lawsuit, today she apologized to him. The photomontage of Jancev’s fake membership card was shared 66 times, while the apology was shared just 11 times.
CIVILIAN ACTIVITIES
INTENSIVE AND DYNAMIC SEMINAR ON TRANSPARENT AND RESPONSIBLE POLITICAL PROCESSES
CIVIL is organizing the second regional seminar “Civic Lenses: Citizens participate, observe and report”, dedicated to citizen participation, activism and citizen journalism for promoting transparent and responsible political processes, which will be held in the city library Borka Taleski in Prilep, on October 19, starting at 10 am.
Please fill out the following PARTICIPATION REGISTRATION FORM if you are interested in participating.
GREEN FUTURE IN STRUMICA
CIVIL continues with the same pace of organizing events, travelling across the country with info stands for direct communication with citizens, and these days is organizing another workshop, last in the series of workshops, titled “Green Future”.
The last workshop will be held on October 15, in the Municipality of Strumica, starting at 1.00 pm.
OPINION
THE GANG FEEDS OFF SILENCE AND FEAR
“Spreading disinformation and false news creates an ugly, distorted reality that goes in favour of radical nationalists and anti EU and NATO politicians, among which there are also suspected, and even convicted criminals. For the situation to be even worse, the institutions have chosen a soft approach, while the media constellation is going in their favour. In addition to hate speech and black propaganda, false news and disinformation, there have always been falsified documents in the arsenal of weapons against facts”, writes Xhabir Deralla.
FOR THE PSYCHIC, THE CHICKEN AND THE MILLET
“The incapability and lack of a clear vision, and even of a desire, on how to come out of the apparent horror situation (and I really don’t see that something has changed even now) in which Macedonia breathed “oppressively”, nevertheless, gushes forth in memories. Replacement for the incapability and the ignorance was found in the lie and the bluff, in the entire empty rhetoric on our supposed opportunity, and even certainty of joining the EU and NATO. And if I remember correctly, even the devastating news from Brussels were transformed into good news, so we were constantly convinced that we would become members of these organizations “If not this Friday, then next Tuesday”, writes Milan Banov.
М. Ivanovska
in cooperation with: Angela Petrovska, Biljana Jordanovska, Dehran Muratov and Diana Tahiri
Translation: N.Cvetkovska
