Weekend news digest of main events for Republic of Macedonia (June 25-26, 2016): Youth Force Union of VMRO-DPMNE celebrates 25^th birthday || Ivanov: There was an attempt to release the prisoners of “Diva Naselba”|| 26^th June – International Day in Support of Victims of Torture  || Over 80 deaths of newborn babies in the Skopje Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics in just 6 months  || Zaev: We are prepared for elections || Sekerinska:: A different view to politics in Macedonia is needed

A different view to politics is needed in Macedonia

Youth Force Union of VMRO-DPMNE celebrates 25^th birthday

The Youth Force Union of VMRO-DPMNE celebrated its 25^th birthday. In his hour long speech before the youth party members, Nikola Gruevski said that SDSM will not succeed despite all the wind of their foreign friends at their backs and the huge amount of money for mercenaries. He outlined that he had a strategy for overcoming the political crisis, even though this strategy could lead to inner-party problems. According to Gruevski, the parliamentary elections, for which he did not want to specify a concrete date, will be the key to overcoming the crisis.

Ivanov: There was an attempt to release the prisoners of “Diva Naselba”

The immense police action that took place four months ago in Kumanovo, for which the public did not receive details regarding its causes, was conducted due to an intrusion of an armed group from Kosovo that wanted to release those accused for “Diva Naselba”! This was stated by President Gjorge Ivanov. “Foreign partners have been informed on the intentions of this group and have taken preventive measures in Kosovo. The group is still active and does not give up on its intentions”, claims Ivanov in an interview. However, Vladimir Pivovarov, who was an advisor to the former Minister of Interior Oliver Spasovski, says that Ivanov is not telling the truth.

26^th June – International Day in Support of Victims of Torture 

26^th of June marks the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. “During 2015, the European Court of Human Rights ruled a record number of five judgements against the Republic of Macedonia regarding Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights – Prohibition of Torture”, stated the Macedonian Helsinki Committee.

Over 80 deaths of newborn babies in the Skopje Clinic for Gynecology and Obstetrics in just 6 months!

In the last two weeks 20 newborn babies have died in the Skopje Clinic for Gynecology, and more than 80 babies in the past 6 months of this year, stated SDSM. The party estimates that the situation of the Skopje Gynecology is alarming, babies are dying massively, while the health care system is falling into a total collapse. According to Angelco Andonovski from the Commission on Health Care of the Social Democrats, this is devastating for the healthcare system, the country and for its future.
Zaev: We are prepared for elections

“400 million euros are stolen from the country annually. If this amount were to remain in Macedonia, it could be used to repay loans, but also for development”, says SDSM President Zoran Zaev, in an interview with Radio Free Europe. “We adopted the SDSM program at its Congress held in December 2015, 224 pages, worked on for over a year by including the civil society sector and civil society organizations. We are prepared for elections. We are the only party that in December adopted an election program at a congress, prepared to enter election activities with headquarters set up”, stated Zaev.
Sekerinska: A different view to politics in Macedonia is needed

Radmila Sekerinska, Vice President of SDSM, in an interview for CIVIL Media pointed out the need of building alliances between parties and social movements, as well as among all others who share the same values. “The political parties who participate in the protests can enrich themselves through the cooperation with the NGO sector, the social movements… it is becoming clear that we can obtain much energy, much enthusiasm, and even knowledge”, says Sekerinska.