Edition 12 0 Decmber 2012 - Macedonia Welcome CenterMerry Christmas and Happy New Year Среќни...

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Edition 12 0 Decmber 2012

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Edition 9 0 March 2012

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Среќни новогодишни и божиќни празнициВи пожелува

„Добредојде“ Macedonia Welcome Centre

Zani

Dobredojde vo Makedonija! Welcome to Macedonia!

Regular Activities

FridaY9:00 – 10:30 Spanish Conversation With Rodrigo Miravalles10:30 – 12:00 Jewellery Making Class (on demand) with Aleksandra Zinovski Vilic13:00 – 14.30 Bistro Group with Emilija Miladinova Avrmamcheva (cost of lunch)

WeekeNdTrips organized by a tourist agency

Who we are?Dobredojde Macedonia Welcome Centre (DMWC) was established in 2009 with an aim to welcome foreign citizens residing in the Republic of Macedonia and facilitate and enrich their stay in our country. We cater to the needs of foreigners in Macedonia, including diplomats, employees of international organizations, NGOs and businesses and their families. We collaborate with other organisations in the interests of our members, particularly in the promotion of Macedonian cultural heritage and intercultural interaction and exchange.What is our mission?· To welcome newcomers and to offer them practical assistance in settling in Macedonia.· To introduce our guests to the natural and cultural attractions on the territory of the Republic of Macedonia.· To organize and to support events aimed

at promoting cultural and social exchanges among the foreigners residing in Macedonia and between the international and local communities.What do we offer?· quarterly Macedonia Welcome Centre Magazine,· instruction in languages, art, folk dancing, etc.,· regular activities including yoga, jewellery-making, cooking classes,· social events,· guided tours,· art exhibitions,· lectures and debates with prominent Macedonian intellectuals,· volunteering opportunities,· events at which embassies and other organisations present their countries and cultures,· premises which may be used for members’ and other events.

MoNdaY10:00 -11:30Macedonian Language II, with Sonja Krstevska(600 MKD per month) 11:00 -13:00 Cooking Class with Ivona Djurin, Gilda Stefan Pelitier350 MKD per class (for lunch)

TuesdaY9:00 - 10:30Macedonian Language I, with Sonja Krstevska(600 MKD per month)10:30 – 12:00English Conversation Class with Amy Villagio

WedNesdaY9:00 – 10:00Yoga with Irina Georgieva10:30 – 12:00French Conversation Class with Gilda Pelletier12:30 – 14:00 Albanian Language(time and fee to be confirmed)Zumba classes Wednesday 12:30-13:30 with Tereza Babamova

THursdaY11:00 – 13:00Coffee Morning,Cultural Events Literary Soirees, Book Promotions10:00 – 13:00Art Class with Zani Gelevska – Veljanovska,twice per month18:00-20:00 Cultural and Social Events with Ida Manton(once a month)

dMWC Members register at www.dmwc.org.mk (How to Join) and pay the annual fee of MKD3000 at the DMWC Offices in Alzirska Street. We are open Monday to Friday from 9 to 13. For those interested in attending a few selected activities there is Friend of dMWC level of membership. Friends do not pay the annual fee, but receive regular information about activities and events and pay for those activities they attend. Register at www.dmwc.org.mk (How to Join). Information on availability of activities and fees for Friends is available from DMWC.


“Dobredojde”Macedonia Welcome Centre

Ul. Alzirska bbMZ Vlado Tasevski

1000 SkopjeRepublic of Macedonia

[email protected]

Editor-in-ChiefEmilija Miladinova Avramcheva

[email protected]

ContributorsAlagjozovski Robert

[email protected] Nadica

[email protected] Gelevska-Veljanovska

[email protected] Georgi

[email protected] Irina

[email protected] Villagio

[email protected] Gurjeva

[email protected] A. Casule

graphic [email protected]

Printed by

In this issue:The Angel of Kurbinovo

The praise for Macedonian cul-tural heritage as “biblical”, “mi-raculous” and “mythical” is for sure inspired by the frescoes in the Monastery of St. George near the village of Kurbinovo above the Prespa Lake.

The Clock Tower

More than 500 years of Ottoman rule left a rich architectural heritage of mosques, kervansarays,

hamams and other typical Ottoman buildings in

Macedonia

Invitation to Cross-Country Skiing

The moderated mountain-ous relief of Macedonia is just perfect for all winter outdoor activities.

p.22Interview with Mr.Valon

Saracini,Minister of Economy

I envisage Macedonia as

a distinguished European tourist

destination based on rich cultural and

natural heritage

w w w . d m w c . o r g . m kPublished by


January Coffee MorningThursday, 24h January, 2013 at 11 a.m. at dMWC premises.

January Coffee Morning will be organised by the Israeli community in Macedonia. The presenta-tion “Cool Facts and Food from Israel” will be given by Dr. Asnat Walfisch. All of our friends and members are welcome to join us if they would like to learn more about Israel, sample delicious Israeli cuisine and make new friends. Look forward to seeing you,DMWC&Israeli community in Macedonia

Coffee Mornings at “Dobredojde” Macedonia Welcome Centre

Embassies, international communities and organizations introduce their countries, cultures and activities.

A monthly event open to Members and Friends.

February Coffee MorningThursday, 14 February, 2013 at 11 a.m. at dMWC premises

February Coffee Morning will be hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia. It will be opened with a welcoming speech of the Ambassador H.E. Prof. Dr. Zlatko Kramarić. His address will include information on Croatia as a tourist destination and Croatian cuisine. Croatian cuisine is heterogeneous and every region has its own distinct culinary traditions. The guests will taste some of the Croatian specialties and typical tea, coffee, wine and other beverages. DMWC is very happy to have Croatia as the host of this event, on St. Valentine’s Day.

Emilija Miladinova AvramchevaPresident and MWC Magazine Editor

Robert AlagjozovskiCulture and Literature CoordinatorZaneta (Zani) Gelevska Veljanovska

Painter and Art TeacherIrina Georgieva

Healthy Lifestyle Coordinator and Yoga InstructorDr. Biljana Ancevska

Fundraising and Projects CoordinatorIrena Vukovic

Macedonian Language CoordinatorIda Manton

PR and Training CoordinatorLyubov Gurjeva

MWC Magazine and Membership Coordinator

Executive Committee


Winter is at our doorstep. Soon it will be

Christmas, and most of us will leave for our holiday vacation. As the end of the year is approaching it is time to look back for an overview of what has been achieved in 2012. In the past year we concentrated on charity, cultural events, and tourist promotions, showcasing Macedonia as an attractive destination

for alternative rural and mountain tourism.In the beginning of June, on the

occasion of International Children’s Day, DMWC together with the representatives of the International Community present in Macedonia organized the first International Charity Bazaar, with an aim of helping to raise awareness in the community for children with special needs and for the development of quality education tailored to the particular need of every child. The funds collected at the Bazaar were used to refurbish the free-time activity classroom in the Special Elementary School “Idnina” in Skopje.

Slowly but surely DMWC is becoming the venue for cultural interchange between Macedonians and expatriates. During the past year DMWC organized numerous exhibitions, poetry evenings, and literary presentations. Once a month we also organized the Coffee Morning events, which give an opportunity to representatives of different countries to present their history, culture, traditions, and folklore to Macedonians and foreigners from other countries.

On the weekends we often organize trips and excursions to remote rural areas in an attempt to show you Macedonia from another angle, and to see it through our eyes. Since the winter vacation is approaching we strongly recommend you visit the Macedonian mountains, either to go skiing or just to get some fresh air and enjoy some homemade food. There are plenty of places and villages to visit in the country and enjoy Macedonian food, wine and hospitality.

I would like to remind you that on January 13, after you return from your vacation, we will celebrate the Macedonian (old calendar) New Year, also called Vassilitsa. On the occasion of Vassilitsa the Macedonian Philharmonic Orchestra is organizing a humanitarian concert at the Macedonian Ballet and Opera House. If you prefer more fun and laughter on Vassilitsa you may want to visit the Municipality of Vevcani, famous for its Vasillitsa Carnival, which lasts for 3 days. If you prefer a more classical and international carnival, you will have to wait till March to attend the Carnival of Strumica.

On this occasion DMWC would like to extend to you our Seasons’ Greetings, and wish you a Merry Christmas and all the best in the New Year. I would also like to use this opportunity to thank all our members, friends and volunteers for their support in our everyday activities, as well as for the guidance they are giving us as to which direction to work and move toward in the future. Soon after the holidays we will resume our everyday activities and our regular monthly Coffee Mornings, as well as introduce some new activities. We look forward to your continued participation and support.

Summing-up!Editorial

by Emilija Miladinova AvramchevaPresident of

“Dobredojde” Macedonia Welcome Centre


Yoga

Surya Namaskara, or salutation to the sun, is

an important yogic practice which dates back to the ancient vedic period when the sun was worshiped as a powerful symbol of spiritual consciousness.From its esoteric

origins ,Surya Namaskara has developed into a practice of twelve postures which weave together to generate prana (subtle energy), aiming towards the purification and rejuvenation of the practitioner. Surya namaskara is a series of twelve physical postures. These alternating backward and forward bending asanas flex and stretch the spinal column and limbs through their maximum range.

The series gives such a profound stretch to the entire body that few other forms of exercises can be compared with it. Most

beginners will discover stiffness in their bodies from muscular tension, tightness in the tendons, and toxic deposits in the joints. Stiffness, a lack of coordination and the tendency to strain one’s muscles can all be overcome through practicing very slowly, with an emphasis on awareness and relaxation in each pose. What little physical effort is applied then appears effortless. Regular practice of surya namaskara is one of the most rapid methods of obtaining a supple body.

The practice should begin by first becoming familiar with the poses individually and then as a whole.

Synchronizing the breath with the movements is the next step. When this is achieved, the breathing sequence will complement each pose, and to breathe in any other manner will feel awkward and difficult. The basic breathing principle is inhalation during backward bending poses due to the expansion of the chest, and exhalation during forward bending poses due to compression of the chest and abdomen.

Salute to the Sun

by Irina Gjeorgieva

surya namaskara


Editorial

B esides the all too popular, if

a bit kitschy, celebrations of winter holidays there would always be the unquestionable beauty in the season. In this issue of the magazine we present a few of the most interesting places to visit during winter in Macedonia. But I would like to use this opportunity

to speak about another deeply rooted in tradition meaning of winter.

In the old pagan beliefs winter is always associated with the cyclical understanding of the time and of the world. In the winter not only the year ends but the whole universe and the small cosmos we live in gets an opportunity to change. This is the meaning beyond the many fire burning celebrations in January. The old Slavic word for January is “kolozeg”, which means “burning of the cycle”. Through fire burning rituals the humans help the cycle to come to the end, to burn up. But there is no catastrophic symbolism in this image. It is not the end of the world we are expecting at the end of December according to the Mayan calendar. The end in the old Slavic tradition is always part of the cosmogony of the recreation of the world. After we burn the old, the

new will come in a clearer context, and will establish itself more easily.

At the end of 2012, I am sure, all the citizens of Macedonia together with their friends from abroad, especially those living in the country, would like to see the winter in the old pagan cosmogonist logic.

I have a feeling that today, as never before, we are fed up with the long turning in the same circle, over and over again. For a few years Macedonia has been in the courtyard of NATO, but not in. For years, our negotiations on joining the European Union have been about to start but never actually did. Of course, there are always excuses and justifications, there is always a reasonable set of obstacles. But I do have a feeling that regardless of the small statistics or big issues the will of the people has risen as never before and that this popular sentiment has to resonate among our friends. Sometimes there is no bigger power than the people’s determination and if this will is matched a whole new universe might be created.

Regardless of the suspended status of the unsettled issues with our neighbors I have a feeling that a change will come next year. As two lovers who have always found different excuses not to embrace each other, but then suddenly decide to take the next step, I am confident, we are ready for big changes. I am positive changes will occur in Macedonia as well as in the whole region. We are all fed up with the old world and with the never ending transition.

Time for Changes

by RobertAlagjozovski

cultural manager, literary critic


The praise for Macedonian cultural heritage as “biblical”, “miraculous” and “mythical” is inspired by the frescoes in the Monastery of St. George

near the village of Kurbinovo above the Prespa Lake. The value of the frescoes is so high and they are so famous that the one representing Archangel Gabriel was even chosen to be on the Macedonian 50-denar banknote. For someone familiar with modern Macedonian art and poetry, the angels of Kurbinovo are well-known topoi. Blaze Koneski and Eftim Kletnikov among the poets, and Gligor Chemerski and Vladimir Georgievski among the painters were inspired by the medieval art of these frescoes. But for an ordinary traveller Kurbinovo is just another village in the middle of nowhere. And then, in

the middle of nowhere, one discovers priceless cultural heritage. Everyone would recommend a visit to the church, although it is miles away from major roads and one must ask a local villager for the key to open the doors of the church. The other disappointing disguise is the exterior of the church located on a plane a short climb up from the village. The roofed structure does not stand out in this rural area. Only after a closer look one can identify it as a simple one-nave church with a regular altar on the eastern side. There is no narthex (place where the worshippers gather) on the western side, and even the composition dedicated to the ktitor (donator) above the entrance has not been preserved. By the remaining image of his boots we can assume he belonged to the aristocracy. It might be

The Angel of KurbinovoBy Robert Alagjozovski

Culture

DMWC trip to Kurbinovo


that this unappealing exterior protecting the church from greedy intruders has saved the treasures hidden inside.

Pinnacle of Komnenos artThe Church of St. George in Kurbinovo

is among the oldest in the country. On the basis of the Greek inscription on the northern wall as well as analysis of the fresco painting, it is dated precisely to 1191, when Macedonia was ruled by Isaac II Angel, a Byzantine Emperor from the mighty Komnenos dynasty. Frescoes of this church together with those of another church from the same time, St. Pantelejmon above Skopje, are usually regarded as a pinnacle of artistic mastery of Komnenos art.

But even the church building is not that ordinary in its architecture as it first appears. Seventeen meters long by seven meters wide, it is by far the biggest one-nave church in the country. Small portions of the preserved walls reveal that the original facade was plastered and coloured in the best practice of the Constantinople luxurious tradition. But here in Macedonia, the so-called linearism of the Komnenos art and its characteristic reserved facial expressions are combined with a “provincial” flavour of reality reflected on the faces of saints. Their faces express their feelings (sorrow, grief and mourning), their movements are refined and accentuated by the light and transparent clothing. Due to this provincial intrusion of reality, the bodies are more muscular and the clothes are painted in more vivid colours with details of their complicated knits. Clothes follow the movements of bodies and make them light as if they are carried by wind. Folds of the drapery create a hitherto unseen rhythm of movements, this overt dynamism representing a completely new artistic quality.

From the small differences in style and mastery it is estimated that at least three

artists, whose names remain unknown, have painted this unique gallery with saints, compositions describing the twelve big Orthodox holidays and the life and miracles of Christ. The analysis of their styles has shown that the main master painted most of the figures and compositions in the upper zones of the altar, the scene of Annunciation and the larger-than-life figures of Jesus Christ and St. George, the church patron, on either side of the iconostas, i.e. on the southern and northern walls, outlined by special plastically designed frames. The second master painted the beautiful compositions on the southern and north walls, among them the outstanding Lord Jesus Enters Jerusalem, Nativity, Descent into Hell and Baptism of Jesus. The assistant master painted the saints on the western wall and on part of the southern wall. He also painted the scene of the Assumption and the life-size figures below it.

It is first and foremost for the composition of Annunciation in the altar apse that this church is known in the annals of Byzantine fresco-painting as one of its highest achievements. Outstanding among the frescoes are the portraits of Anna and her daughter Mary, the Mother of God painted in the lower zone of the south wall of the naos, as well as the portraits of the Macedonian enlighteners Cyril and Methodius in the altar space. This depiction of St. Methodius is his oldest known portrait in the entire Slavic-Byzantine world. Facing them is the figure of St. Clement of Ohrid.

In the 19th century the church in Kurbinovo was renovated, and in the first decades of the 20th century a wooden ceiling and the porch were added, and the southern and the northern entrances were closed and transformed into two windows.

(Studies by Cvetan Grozdanov and Kosta Balabanov were used for the

preparation of this text.)

Culture


Travel

During the winter all desires and holiday plans are usually connected with the western part of Macedonia with its wonderful ski resorts and

high mountains of Shara, Bistra and Pelister. People crowd in the hotels and the weekend houses fighting for the last pair of skis or a ski lift seat. But the eastern part of Macedonia, although lacking ski resorts, has perfect landscapes and relaxing views. There are only few high-standard hotels, but there are enough hospitable smaller accommodation providers to welcome anyone. The mountains of Belasica, Ograzden, Malesevo, Plackovica and Osogovo stretching along the eastern border with Bulgaria are still undiscovered realms of wild beauty, old traditions, friendly people, hidden heritage, rare customs, handicrafts and delicious handmade food. Especially attractive are Malesevo Mountains covered with dense pine and oak forests and wide green pastures for which the region is called “little Switzerland”.

Malesevo Mountains have a ridge length of 32 km with the highest peak just

above 2000 m. The territory has more than 120 natural springs, and Berovo artificial lake is the centre for recreation and local tourism. For winter hiking and mountaineering there is a wonderful recreational track connecting the two beautiful areas, Ravna Gora and Ablanica. The track is placed in a dense and high pine wood and is a miracle for the lungs. So it is not surprising that inhabitants of this region are easily recognizable by their red cheeks. A survey has shown that the central town in this region, Berovo, has the highest concentration of oxygen on the Balkan Peninsula. Another paradoxical fact is that the town, although located high in the mountains has, the sunniest days, with an average of 6.4 hours of sunshine per day.

The Males region albeit situated up in the mountains, has always been populated. It is believed that the name comes from the Iliric word ‘malesi’ which means mountainous area. In the 4th century Malesevo was part of Philip and Alexander of Macedon’s state. After the collapse of their empire, Macedonia as well as Malesevo became part of the

Malesevo Mountains: the Little Switzerland


Travel

Roman province of Macedonia. In the 6th and 7th centuries the territory of Malesevo was inhabited by Slavs. Local legends proudly claim that it was for this territory that Konstantin the Philosopher created the Cyrillic alphabet. They are based on the evidence that in this area Konstantin’s brother Methodius was Christianizing Slavic pagans. After the collapse of Samoils’s Macedonian Kingdom Malesevo falls under Byzantine rule. The first mentioning of the name Malesevo in the written sources is in a document of the Byzantine Emperor Basil II from May 20th 1020 where he speaks of the number and borders of the parishes of the Ohrid Archbishopry. According to Basil’s document the parish includes two regions: Malesevo and Pijanec. A hundred years later Malesevo is mentioned by the Arab writer of travel books Idrisi. Since 1334 Malesevo became part of the Medieval Serbian state and after that it was part of Konstantin Dejan›s feud, and it is believed that in 1394 the town of Malesevo was destroyed by the Turks. After the Balkan Wars and the First World War Malesevo was included in the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovens. Today Malesevo includes two municipalities - Berovo (the Town of Berovo and the rural settlements of Rusinovo, Vladimirovo, Ratevo, Dvoriste, Smojmirovo, Macevo, Budinarci and Mitrasinci) and Pehcevo.

The region and especially the Town of Berovo are the national leaders in the so-called alternative tourism. Ecologically clean environment, gastronomic offers and many traditional customs that people still practice in their everyday life and are willing to share with visitors make it very attractive to tourists. Accommodation in winter in Berovo means that the guest would usually be kept warm with very traditional wool blankets made of sheep or goat wool, white woollen socks, the so-called kalci or low-cut feet warmers, traditional gaiters and vests. The floors are covered with carpets woven on a wooden loom by the housewife. Traditional woodcarvings decorate ceilings

and other parts of the interior in hotels and guest houses. Although naturally used in the summer, sheepfold huts scattered all over the region became sought-after winter stopovers, because they still employ the traditional manner of breeding sheep and making the widely known Malesevo white cheese, and the now rare variety of thick cream called bulamac, as well as matenica, a kind of beaten yoghurt, for which a lot of effort, secret recipes but also personal skills and talents are needed. Local specialties include fruits, vegetables and other delicacies for which the region is most renowned: the tastiest yellowish potatoes, plums, and honey from bees bred both in the mountains and on pastures combined with walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, as well as the special honey sold in honeycombs. Many seasonal wild forest fruits and different kinds of herbs like thyme, daisies and yarrow are part of the local cuisine. Delicious jams are served for breakfast. Locals are famous for preparing homemade traditional medicines for different ailments. Most wanted is the pine syrup or pine honey used to cure any respiratory disorder.

The region has also preserved many customs and traditions. With its traditional rites, singing, music, dances, rituals, costumes, pottery, jewellery and musical instruments it is like a living museum for ethnologists. The historical and ethnological museum in the town of Berovo housed in an old building renovated in the 19th century offers a selection of the ethnologic treasures of the region. It has been lately used as a resource for workshops in many of the traditional handicrafts.

In recent years a major attraction for visitors has been the big 20th of January carnival in the village of Ratevo. The festival is called “Bamburci” and is devoted to St. John’s Day, but it actually showcases the remnants of local pagan customs with people dressing in animal furs covering themselves with ringing bells and wearing masks made from animal heads and horns.


Nature

The town of Debar is one of the places with the oldest urban tradition in the country but due to its peripheral location in the far west and in a

mountainous area it is not known and not advertised as an interesting travel destination. Besides the urban scene, it is the astounding nature that makes this town and its surroundings a must see place when visiting Macedonia.

The first mention of Debar dates back to the second century A.D., when its name Deborus was marked on Ptolemy’s map. At different times the city was under the rule of Byzantine, Bulgarian and Serbian medieval states. Bohemond and the Normans took the city briefly in 1107during their raid into the area. Before the Ottoman conquest in 1395 the city

was part of the Principality of King Marko, one of the most legendary medieval figures in Macedonia. Some of the oldest and richest Albanian epics still exist in the Debar region and are part of the Albanian mythological heritage. It is due to the heroic resistance of the Albanian Prince Skanderbeg against the Ottomans. During the Ottoman-Albanian wars between 1443 and 1479, the Debar region being borderline between the Ottomans and the League of Lezhe, was an area of continuous conflict. There were two major battles near Debar, on April 29, 1444 and September 27, 1446, both ending with the defeat of the Ottoman armies. The mountainous region resisted successfully over 30 years and two sultans famed for their conquests could not capture it.

During the Ottoman rule, Debar

Debar and Its Curing Waters


Nature

woodcarving school has been one of the most renowned. The woodcarvers from Debar were recognized for their skills in creating detailed and impressive woodcarvings, painting beautiful icons and building unique edifices. In fact Debar was one of the then famous three woodcarving schools in the region, the other two being Samokov and Bansko. The Debar masters have been carving altars all over the orthodox Christian world, from Macedonia, Bulgaria and Serbia, to Ukraine and Russia. The Debar School of Macedonian woodcarving became noted for its artistic excellence, and its amazing example that can be seen today is the iconostasis in the nearby Monastery of Saint Jovan Bigorski, near the town of Debar. The monastery was rebuilt in the 19th century on the remains of an older church dating from 1021. Another local profession that had gained high esteem throughout the Ottoman Empire was the masons. There was a popular saying at the time: “When Istanbul burns, it is Debar that builds it”.

But apart from this rich history and skilful craftsmen, one of the things which make Debar unique is the thermo-mineral water sources with an optimal temperature for the human body of 38ºC. One survey suggests that they are the most potent curing waters in all Europe and third in the whole world. Making use of the sources, two spa centres have been built north of Debar in Banjiste and Kosovrasti on the slopes of the mountain Krcin 870 meters above sea level. Good asphalt road makes the centres easily accessible.

Archaeologists found evidence that baths existed in the area since Roman times. Currently the oldest surviving buildings of the spa resorts date back to the 18th and 19th centuries and are built in traditional Ottoman style. They are situated near the modern hotels and are on the national cultural heritage register.

Old travelogues describe the design and structure of the old baths. Banjiste is first

mentioned in an Ottoman census register in 1467 while the Austro-Hungarian traveller Johan Han has made a detailed description of the bath. There were special places for changing clothes and the bath basin was located in the central room. Later new side baths were added to the building, probably for users from a different social group or to separate men from women. The bath is preserved in its original form with Ottoman architectural design. It has never been restored or renovated as part of a heritage preservation project. There is visible damage and the whole structure is in a dire state. A fragment of a document written in Arabic script, now in the possession of the present owner of the spa centre, points to the historic ownership of the baths by high Ottoman aristocrats. But recent historical research claims the bath centre existed as early as the14th century.

In the recent times the water from the sources has been redirected to the new spa centres. Three different streams with different temperatures and levels of radio-activity are used in the new hotels. Once a favourite resort and recreation place of the former Yugoslav army generals, the centre has remained an attractive destination and has been well maintained and renovated under strict ecological and energy saving rules. It is claimed that the waters at the resort cure different kinds of rheumatism and skin diseases, help purge and cleanse internal organs, and even cure lighter forms of diabetes. The spa centre is nowadays one of the best choices for recreation and overall recovery and relaxation. The surrounding area has spectacular views over the valley of the city of Debar, including the artificial lake on the River Crni Drim and surrounding forests and slopes. The warmth of the Mediterranean climate can be felt coming through the riverbed of the Crni Drim.


In early January, when the dry cold finally gives way to the white and wet snow, old pre-Christian traditions, start appearing from under the white surface. Christianity

is known to have assimilated and adopted many of them but the ones surfacing in January are the most loosely connected with the monotheistic ethics. They have survived millennia and in the years after the advent of democracy in Macedonia, they have also recovered alongside other traditions, particularly in rural areas. Parallel to the strengthening of the official Orthodox religion, people tend to nourish back to life older folk traditions. Even on the official level, municipalities support the appearance and renewal of the different pagan festivities in the hope that they will encourage the development of rural tourism.

Most spectacular and vivid in their performances are the customs falling between Christmas and Epiphany. These twelve days of the year between the feasts celebrating the birth and baptism of Jesus Christ are known in the old folk

tradition as ‘unbaptized’ or pagan days and accordingly they are regarded as the most dangerous in the whole year.

In the pagan tradition because these days of the year were the shortest, it was believed that demons were at their most powerful and were able to harm humans. After the advent of Christianity this belief was reinterpreted in terms of ‘unbaptized’ and impure days. In order to ward off the demons and protect themselves from evil, people burn fires which are an imitation of the sun and its positive and protective energy.

Rusalii: recovering happiness and prosperity

At this time some people hide their faces behind the masks imitating and mocking the demons while trying to rebut them and scare them away from their village. In different regions throughout Macedonia they are known as vasilicari, survari, babalari, dzhamalari and rusalii. Russalii is one of the most interesting folk traditions performed at this time of year and still preserved in the south-eastern part

Old Traditions Lurking under Winter Surface

By Jasmina Mazgalieva

Traditions


of Macedonia. The customs arrived to this territory with the population that had fled the Aegean Macedonia. This link can still be traced as rusalii traditions are also practiced in Kilkis (Greece).

Rusalii is also the name applied to the people enacting the ancient tradition. They are known for exciting dances with swords in their hands. They wield the swords in the air chasing away evil and diseases. It is believed that they have enormous powers to resist evil demons. Rusalii bands are willingly received in every home and are given gifts such as meat, flour and wine. Gifts that are gathered from the population are never kept by band members but exchanged for money that is then used for building or supporting some project for the good of the whole village. The band wanders through the village and the surrounding area in order to oust bad spirits and diseases. Every house where rusalii would dance would be protected from diseases, and would be blessed with happiness and prosperity. But if in one village more than one rusalii band forsed, special care is taken by them to avoid meeting each other. In case of a meeting one band must recognize the supremacy of the other by passing under their sabres. But since no band is willing to show weakness in front of the other, severe fights may occur.

Members of rusalii bands follow very strict rules before their admission to the group. For twelve days they are silent, they

do not greet others, cannot be baptized or blessed, they cannot turn back when walking, they are not allowed to sleep with women and drink wine.

Rusalii usually end their dances on the eve of the Epiphany. Returning to the village, they first go to the church where the priest sings the prayers. It is believed that after twelve days of lurking, if they do not get such prayer they can become mad. They enter the church with their sabres up and go out after the prayer with sabres inverted as a tribute to the Christian faith.

Today rusalii rituals are still practiced in Susica village in the Strumica region, although not in the traditional form described above. Today it is more of a festival with a looser agenda that tends to turn into a massive celebration attracting tourists and guests from all over the country and especially from the neighbouring regions.

The ritual dance is performed by around twenty to thirty men dressed in long white shirts, white shorts and red scarves around their necks and with swords or sabres in their hands. Lead by a man with an axe, they make rapid circular movements and swing their sabres.

Rusalii is a unique ritual dance purporting to protect villagers from demons and evil spirits and Strumica region is the only place where they are still practiced today in Macedonia, albeit in a modified and modernised way.

Traditions


More than 500 years of Ottoman rule left a rich architectural heritage of mosques, kervansarays, hamams and other

typical Ottoman buildings in Macedonia. In the 19th century, during the Ottoman Reform Period, a new architectonic attraction, the saat kula or clock tower, was introduced in most towns of the Empire. The clock tower can be considered a sign of modernization implying a radical change in the perception of time. Since then not only the muezzin’s calls from the minaret, but also the clock marked the passage of time for the population. In Macedonian 21 saat kulas were either newly built or adapted from older towers. Twelve of them are preserved, although two are in ruins.

The saat kula in Skopje is outstanding in structure as well as in beauty. It was built on top of an older structure as early as 1623, thus being the oldest clock tower in the whole Empire. Its massive

square stone base transforms into an eight-sided body in striking red brick. Above the cornice a double tambour is covered by a rare onion-shaped dome. After the 1963 earthquake it was well restored and continues to be a landmark in Skopje.

The saat kula in Bitola was raised on a much older base with a beautiful arched stone door. A graceful structure with marble columns on top of the rather high stone tower contains the clock mechanism. The tower is crowned by an eight-sided tambour. In the old times different melodies produced by fifteen bells of different sizes could be heard every six hours. Unfortunately, this charming mechanism was replaced in 1936 by a modern clock.

Architecture

The Clock TowerBy Teresa Waltenberger


Located close to the recently destroyed mosque, the clock tower in Prilep is a hexagonal structure without a base. Each side of the tower has an arched window topped by a decorative circle in brick work. The tambour with three delicate columns at each corner contains the clock mechanism. Another small open tambour with more columns and a little conic roof crowns the tower. This Ottoman monument embellishing the town is one of the few remaining ones in Prilep.

The so-called clock tower of Kratovo is one of the six famous preserved towers in this charming little town. More accurately, it should be called ‘bell tower’ because instead of a clock a big bell was added at its top in the 19th century. The tower itself was built during the first period of Ottoman rule for defence purposes and for storing valuable minerals extracted from nearby mines, but also for living in the upper floors. Balconies and windows on the upper level, as well as chimneys in its interior attest to this function.

Architecture


Architecture

The saat kula of Gostivar is considered one of the most beautiful in Macedonia. Its oldest part, dating back to the 17th century, is a solid square stone base with the original arched entrance in hewn stone. From this base rises the newer eight-sided structure, the lower part of stone contrasting with the dark wood panelling of the upper part. After having served as a notorious Ottoman prison it was restored to its former glory.

The saat kula of Stip was built as a defensive tower by an Ottoman Bey during the 17th century. On top of the

massive stone structure of the old tower there is a slightly set back upper part in whitened brick that contains the clock. As one of the oldest monuments in town the tower has recently been restored.

The clock tower in Sveti Nikole is a massive structure consisting of three segments. The two upper ones are slightly receding in relation to the one beneath. The stepped profile together with big arched windows on each side and loopholes at the lower levels interrupting the monotony of the otherwise plain façades contribute to the harmonious overall appearance of the building. It has been restored recently, but lost much of its character due to plastering.

The clock tower of Kocani is the only surviving feudal tower of four in the town. Its loopholes and machicolations for dropping stones or pouring boiling oil on to the enemy testify to its defensive function in the past. Like many other such towers it was turned into a clock tower in the 19th century when a tambour

with clock mechanism was added to it. The tower is perceived as a treasure from the past in this little town and has accordingly been restored to its full glory.


The saat kula of Veles, the emblem of the town, is yet another example of transforming an obsolete military tower into clock tower. The original building was made of coarse

stone with horizontal wood binding, a technique more frequently used in house building than in military construction. A well-crafted arcaded gallery with the clock mechanism in its centre was added later. The tower is covered with a delicate wooden structure with an onion-shaped dome. The tower is in an excellent condition.

Together with a mosque and a bezisten (both now destroyed) the saat kula of Negotino was endowed by a local Bey in the 19th century. Its rather unusual hexagonal base built of broken stone extracted from destroyed buildings – rare inscriptions on some stones point to this origin – must have been a most graceful structure when it was topped by a receding wooden tambour with the clock. Unfortunately, when the town was burnt during the Balkan Wars, the flames also

devoured the wooden part of the tower. It has never been rebuilt.

Built in 1725 by an Ottoman Bey, the clock tower of Ohrid overlooks the flat part of the town. It is a solid square structure made of stone while the upper third is panelled with vertically placed wooden planks. The

clock is inserted in a hemispherical roof. An open tambour covered by a pyramidal roof gives the monument a balanced appearance.

The saat kula in Dojran is to be found in the upper part of town where the Ottomans preferred to live. It was strongly damaged by bombardment during World War I. The 16th-century square structure is made of coarse stone interspersed by brick layers. Originally it was built with three levels, each higher level slightly set back in relation to the lower one. This tower has never been restored even though it represents one of the scarce historic buildings in town.

Architecture


Sport

The moderated mountainous relief of Macedonia is just perfect for all winter outdoor activities. Thanks to many sport clubs, individual enthusiasts,

non-government and government projects Macedonia is becoming a hotbed for many fast growing sports activities such as paragliding, mountain biking, hiking, mountaineering, rock climbing, skiing and snowboarding.

As I am a visual artist, climber and mountaineer, mountains are not only my favourite place for physical activity, but also an important source of artistic inspiration.

Invitation toCross-Country Skiing

This article has been contributed by Ilina Arsova, Macedonian mountaineer and

artist. In 2012, along with sixteen other women from around the world Arsova, was

selected as a female sports leader to be part of the Global Sports Mentoring Program conducted by espnW and

the US Department of State. She is currently the highest

ranking female climber from the Balkans. In 2013

DMWC will be hosting an exhibition of Arsova’s

art work in support of her expedition to

Mount Everest.

www.ilinaarsova.blogspot.com

by Ilina ArsovaVisual Artist


Sport

Even though during my mountaineering career I have explored the Alps, the Andes and the Himalayas, Macedonian mountains do not cese to amaze me. And I am not saying this just because I am a patriot of my country. Every time I come back to Macedonian mountains I discover stunning beauty I hadn’t seen before. And there are plenty of people who share my passion for these mountains. When I present my climbing experiences at public events there is always a great audience of nature lovers from all around the country.

I have represented Macedonia on some of the highest and most challenging summits around the world, including Matterhorn, Kilimanjaro and Denali (Mt. McKinley). In the spring of 2013 I will try to climb to the top of the world, Mt. Everest, (8848m), the first Macedonian woman to attempt this. This is a very serious project that needs huge logistical, organizational, and financial support. Psycho-physical Antennae, the Shar Mountains

Descent from Solunska Glava, 2,540 m, near Veles


Sport

preparedness of the climber is crucial. I will use the winter season 2012-2013 for diverse cardio and fitness training, mostly in the Balkan region.

I would like to invite Macedonia Welcome Centre Magazine readers to join me on recreational cross-country ski trips in the Macedonian mountains.

Winter sport in Macedonia is first and foremost associated with downhill skiing and snowboarding. This is not surprising as 65% of the terrain is mountainous.

But at the moment we barely have five winter resorts offering decent services to snow sports tourists. I suggest you try to take advantage of our mountains without recourse to ski lifts and professionally maintained slopes, but with no less excitement and enjoyment of magical scenery and no smaller fitness benefits.

We are currently involved in marking the trails, measuring their length and estimated time for completion. Cross-country skiing equipment is not easy to find on the Macedonian market, but we are working with our friends from outdoor stores on ordering some equipment and making it available for rent. We are also looking for new partners for promoting this sport in Macedonia.

Cross-country skiing is rather new for Macedonian winter lifestyle. Although almost all mountains are accessible for cross-country skiing, do ask someone experienced before you attempt to do it yourself. Do respect our mountains: even though they are not as high as the Alps, they can be unpredictable and really cruel, especially in the winter.

I would like to invite our readers to join me this winter on

recreational cross-country ski trips... We are working with our friends from outdoor stores on

ordering equipment and making it available for rent. We are looking for new partners for promoting

this sport in Macedonia. Contact: [email protected]

Titov Vrv, 2,748 m, the Shar Mountains


Interview with Mr.Valon Saracini,Minister of Economy

The economy, both national and international, is in the focus of the whole nation as never before. Even the most developed countries are fighting for new growth, for Greenfield investments, and for attracting foreign capital. How does it feel to be at the head of the Ministry of Economy in times when the whole nation expects so much?

It is evident that the competitive struggle among the economies in the world arena is in the spotlight, especially in this period when the world economy is faced with prolonged crisis. Starting from the fact that the entry of foreign capital is a generator of economic development, we as the Government are directed towards the attraction of foreign investments, initially with the improvement of the business climate and then with intensive promotion. Therefore, I consider that we have advantages that should be used by potential investors, such as the lowest tax rates in the region, as well as the exceptional benefits provided to foreign investors in the Technological Industrial Development Zones, which are the most favorable in the region and represent a basis for economic development of the country. According to the international reports all of these efforts are recognized and appreciated, so pursuant to the latest report entitled “Doing Business” of the World Bank for 2012/13 the Republic of Macedonia is at the 23rd position out of a total of 185 countries and is the fifth reformer worldwide in the period from

2005 until 2012, with 30 conducted reforms. It remains the leader for doing business in the entire region and behind it on the list are also 20 EU member countries. The American business magazine Forbes ranked Macedonia at 37th place in the list of the best countries for doing business out of a total of 141 countries. The Republic of Macedonia is ranked at 80th place pursuant to the Global Competition Report of 2012-2013 (GCP) of the World Economic Forum (WEF). Under conditions when all countries of the region show a fall in their ranking, Macedonia succeeds at retaining the competitiveness of its economy. Pursuant to the Agency “FITCH”, the credit rating of the country

I envisage Macedonia as a distinguished European tourist destination based on rich cultural and natural heritage


is a stable BB+. The one-stop-shop system for registration of companies is well established in Macedonia, whereupon Macedonia is fifth in the world for the speed of opening a business (4 hours) and the first country in Europe and in Central Asia. Also, in the Customs Office the one-stop-shop information system was introduced and the control of single representation (EXIM). The one-stop-shop

system was established for cross-border trade. The biggest progress achieved during the last year was where Macedonia placed in the part of freedom of business - we are ranked at the 35th position on the world level, which represents a jump of 60 positions in relation to 2010.

As regarding the issue of how it feels to be Minister of Economy in a time of crisis, from my current experience I can only state that the effective leading of the economy is not merely about making speeches and the like but about producing results. And even more so, if those results are achieved during times of crisis. Or, according to the words of the famous statesman Nelson Mandela: if the leadership is undertaken when danger peers, then the people will appreciate what has been done. Sincerely, I hope that I will succeed in my goal.

Are you satisfied with the overall economic development of the country? What is your vision to turn Macedonia into a success story? Economists speak about the BRICS countries, the leading emerging economies, being joined by Turkey, Indonesia and Mexico. What are the chances for Macedonia to end up in such a branded bloc?

The Republic of Macedonia runs an open economy, and the growth of the domestic economy is liable to higher and lower risks provoked by changes in the world economy, including the year’s upcoming crises. The projection of growth of the Macedonian economy is based on the expectations of the flow in the global economy. Financial consolidation remains a priority in the Euro-zone and the Republic of Macedonia is ready to follow the financial and economic challenges of that consolidation, because a high percentage of its trading belongs to European economic areas and the region within free trade access.

The intention of the Macedonian economy is to create a horizontal

Interview


Interview

framework that results in a competitive economy based on knowledge and innovations, a modern democratic society with a favorable investment climate and better quality of life. This has a great influence on defining the relevant structure of economic development that will follow the development of successful countries. Also, many strategic documents are prepared that have direct influence on strengthening the Macedonian economy in export promotion, industrial policy, and innovation policy according to the initiatives and priorities of the European Economic Strategy, the so-called EU 2020.

Investments are our key objectives, and attracting foreign investments in our technological-industrial development zones is our success story. Today in those zones you can find companies from various countries and continents (USA, Europe, Asia), companies that are renowned in their businesses. Their experiences of working with the Macedonian Government and all the incentives for investing here are a positive signal for new investors to make a final decision to choose Macedonia as a favorable investment destination. The investment inflow is increasing each year, and last year it reached over 300 million euro, which is a relatively high flow of investments for an economy of Macedonia’s size.

Countries such as China, India, and others in the region of Southeast Asia started to participate in the world GDP by developing merging economies referring to appreciation of stock exchange paper, low inflation, increasing of state reserves of foreign currency, and rapid growth of GDP compared to the growth of the developed countries. This reflects the creation of new society groupings, high-tech innovations, nano-technology and new brands. As a developing country, the Republic of Macedonia has relevant strategies and documents that provide an opportunity for Macedonian exports

to become more well-known outside of Macedonia.

You have adopted the policy of aggressively promoting Macedonian economic advantages and potential, but so have many other countries in their efforts to attract foreign capital. Even countries of Asia and Africa are daily present in the global magazines and other media channels. Is it easy to fight in the world arena? Are there secret weapons Macedonia can use in becoming a faster developing country?

The promotion of a country in order to attract FDI is a global process, and Macedonia is one of many countries active in this competition. In this sense it is not easy to “fight in the world arena” to use your expression. However, the Government has undertaken various initiatives over a long period of time in order to improve the business environment and thus attract FDI. This is slowly but surely making the country more attractive to investors.

What is unique in Macedonia’s investment promotion approach is that the Government has joined hands with the business community and the civil society to reduce the systemic risks that investors usually face when doing business in developing countries. Our country was among the first two countries in Europe where the Government, as early as 2008, adopted a comprehensive mid-term policy for promoting Corporate Social Responsibility. This was our response to instances of unethical business practices in other developing countries caused by affiliates of large multi - and transnational corporations, that tarnished the reputation of such foreign investors, and had a negative impact on their market value and performance. We are therefore committed to creating a business environment where investors would not face unreasonable risks stemming


from adverse environmental and social impacts, and where both the legal system and the corporate culture would honour the principles of ethical governance. Creating sustanable value is the goal that we have set both for our society and for the business community.

Regarding the second question, neither Macedonia nor any other country possesses “secret weapons in becoming a faster developing country” to quote your question. Our main “weapon”, which is in no way secret but powerful nevertheless, lies in our location and the fact the we are a European Union Candidate Country. This, together with our package of incentives, promotion campagns, and business environment reform initiatives means that we are increasingly well-positioned to attract investment and thus grow faster. Furthermore, the process of harmonizing our legislation with the the EU’s Acquis Communautaire means that the perception of investment risk in Macedonia is gradually being reduced.

Do you have a strategy for Macedonia’s large community of foreign diplomats, businesspeople, and International Organization staff, as well as other long-term foreign residents? Do you consider this community in regard to development plans?

The Diplomatic Corps in the Republic of Macedonia, foreign businesspeople organized in business associations, and representatives of international organizations are regularly informed about our development plans and concrete projects. That communication is developing through formal meetings, during preparations for official visits to foreign countries, at official presentations of our strategic documents and projects, in regular meetings with those business associations who are our dear guests, and during the development of certain projects

in the Republic of Macedonia. With some of the international organizations we also work on common projects so that the partnership relations, to my great pleasure, are already established and are developing continuously, so we only upgrade and deepen them. So, I would like to express huge gratitude for the current and ongoing projects that we collaborate on with USAID, World Bank, GIZ, UNDP, EBRD, IFC, SEED, the diplomatic representations in the Republic of Macedonia, and many others.

Macedonia has a strong potential for attracting tourists. Are you satisfied with the number of visitors and foreign tourists? Your Ministry is responsible for the strategy on tourism. Many countries are using different strategies, including landmarks and cultural events or some unique characteristics for promoting themselves and for creating a well-recognized international image. What is your vision for Macedonia in this regard?

Generally, it can be stated that we are satisfied with the number of visitors in the Republic of Macedonia as well as more specifically with the number of tourists. For a long time the tourism in the country was stagnating, but the trend of constant growth of the number of visitors and tourists during the last five years is getting closer to the numbers we had in the past, which is a satisfactory result of our efforts to promote Macedonia as a tourist destination. The Ministry of Economy is responsible for the creation of all of the policies for the development of tourism and catering. We delivered and edited the National Strategy for the Development of Tourism including an action plan. It contains 5 clusters of development of touristic products: the lakes, rural areas, wine, mountains with sports, and cultural tourism. Within the frames of cultural

Interview


Interview

tourism we have numerous activities, and our manifestations are profiled as unique examples in the region and beyond. The vision of the Republic of Macedonia is to create an image of a recognizable European destination for tourism, which is based on a rich cultural and natural heritage and will be recognizable by the products and services that are sustainable and of high quality on the level of the best world experiences. That is what we have focused on in the Strategy for Tourism and that is also our vision.

When you meet potential investors, how do you “sell” the country as worth investing in? Do you draw their attention to its values, people, landmarks and cultural achievements, or any other factors?

As you can notice from the current Government campaigns, it was necessary for Macedonia to be presented in several layers, taking into consideration the fact that until a few years ago it was completely unknown in the world and due to the fact that attention was not paid to promotion activities. Certainly, promotion is made continuously, pursuant to the target groups and states, so now we can talk about the general recognition of the country, which is shown in the number of foreign tourists and the number of foreign reputed investors. In that direction is also the institutional setup, from the Ministers for foreign investments, the Agency for promotion of exports, the economic promoters, road-shows of Government delegations… Certainly, there are also business forums in the country and abroad and participation in fairs, as well as direct meetings with potential investors.

And while the tourists are interested in facts about cultural heritage, the mentality of the people, and landmarks, from my personal experiences with potential investors I have to mention that businesspeople most frequently wish

to be introduced to concrete projects and markers. They are interested in arguments in favor of the realization of the envisaged business story: procedures, duration, human capital, infrastructure, communications, market, safetyTherefore, the guarantee for national treatment of all investors is especially important, along with the secured protection of foreign investments against political risk through membership in MIGA, the 37 bilateral Agreements for stimulation and mutual protection of investments, the 40 bilateral Agreements of double taxation avoidance between Republic of Macedonia and other countries, the free access to a big market – 650 million buyers, enabled with the Free Trade Agreements (EU, EFTA, CEFTA, Turkey, Ukraine) and the stable exchange rate of the Macedonian Denar which is connected to the Euro.


There were times in Macedonia, especially under the previous system, when fashion design was

a highly stereotyped artistic activity. It was considered marginal and elitist, never fully approved as profession, but just a voluntary obsession of a few freaks from the socially degenerated, however high society.

Then, after independence in 1991, it still took the Macedonian fashion scene more than ten years to be recognized, to find opportunities for educational and professional growth, to find space to work, exhibit and sell their creations, to create showcase and artistic events, and to organize and to influence society.

Now Macedonian fashion is one of the highest booming scenes, recognized and supported by many. Especially with the advent of buzz words like “creative industries and innovation” fashion is part of both national and local strategies for cultural development. Events like Skopje Design Week are most appreciated, and many designers have already made international careers without any public backing.

In this text, we would like to point out some key moments in this u-turn and development and to present a few of the design “freaks” who pillared the scene from the very beginning. This is just a personal selection and is not final or exhaustive.

The boom started in 2005 with the establishment of the Macedonian Fashion Formation (MFF), the first association of Macedonian fashion designers and other professionals involved in the field of fashion. Since then, the main task of MFF has been to initiate projects for connecting fashion designers with textile companies and to organize fashion shows, trying to reanimate the local fashion scene. The association established the Fashion

and Design Cluster in 2007 and became partner to international agencies as well as local ministries in important regional and national projects.

In 2011, Skopje Design Week was launched as a multidisciplinary platform that aimed to affirm the cultural industry and develop creative potential. It immediately became a success, showcasing the work of both emerging and established artists, designers, and architects.

Another important point in the development of the domestic scene was the opening of the Centre of the Academia Italiana in Skopje, one of the best European institutes for artistic and professional training. This international institute for Art, Fashion and Design extended a teaching programme already in existence in Florence, Rome and Thailand. The centre in Skopje has the role of a regional centre, also available for students from neighbouring countries, and offers design degrees recognized in Macedonia and valid in more than 40 European countries.

The Academia Italiana has engaged the brilliant Macedonian designer Nikola Eftimov to teach in all centres of the institute, which has boosted his career and further developed his talents.

Here are the short biographies of some of the most remarkable figures of the recent period of Macedonian fashion.

Aleksandar NoshpalGraduated from Ecole Superieur Des

Arts et Des Techniques de la Mode– ESMOD-Paris, France Designing & Pattern Cutting (Stylisme et Modelisme). Specialized Haute Couture. Worked as Chief Assistant Designer/Pattern Cutter at differenet fashion houses in Paris: GRES Fashion House, Frederic Molenak’s Prêt-a-

Fashion

The Macedonian Fashion Pillars


Porter Studio “Atelier Metissage”. In 1996 he established his own Atelier for Haute Couture “NOCHPAL” in Skopje. He has been costume designer for many plays in different Skopje theatres. He has designed the costumes for several Macedonian music bands including the Macedonian representatives at Eurovision: XXL, Karolina Goceva, and Toshe Proeski. He has regularly collaborates with numerous advertising agencies for all sorts of projects and promotions. Took part in many fashion shows in Macedonia and abroad.

Nikola EftimovGraduated from the Faculty of Fine

Artists, Graphic Art and Fashion Design University “Saint Kiril and Metodi”-Skopje. Master course Fashion as Art, Accademia Italiana, Florence. Worked as Designer for Saatchi and Saatch, Advertising Balcans, Skopje Jaka 80, Makedonija Sport. In 2005 and 2006, he worked as a professor at Chanapatana-Accademia Italiana, Bangkok. His current position

is Professor and Academic Manager at Accademia Italiana, Skopje. Took part in many graphics and illustration exhibitions in Macedonia and abroad. Participated in many fashion and costume design events.

Danijela SimonovskaGraduated in Fashion Design from the

University of Textile and Technology in Zagreb, Croatia. The founder and the president of FASHION FORMATION, first Macedonian association of fashion designers. Currently working as a freelance fashion designer, stylist, costume designer and fashion journalist.

Nenad Sekirarski Nenad Sekirarski is an experienced

designer who specializes in made-to-measure designs. His style of work is elegant but practical clothing with a touch of the client’s personality.

Fashion


Cinematography

By Agne Limante

You will never learn about the local culture if you don’t watch movies produced in the country. Movies from

the US, Italy, France, Yugoslavia, India, Soviet Union and other countries are all different and very well mirror the mentality and life style of their home countries. That’s why we suggest you to take some time to watch a few Macedonian movies – and below there is a short introduction to them. For your convenience we have include the ranking of each film by the International Movie Database (IMDb, www.imdb.com), where movies are rankedon the scale from 1 to 10, 10 being the highest mark awarded by viewers.

Milestones of Macedonian cinematography

The Macedonian film history begins with the Manaki Brothers, pioneering photographers and the first filmmakers in the Balkans, who in the beginning of the XX century created several movies in their studio in Bitola. You might have noticed that in September Skopje was full of advertisements of the Manaki Film Festival in Bitola – a tribute to these artists.

However, a strong initial move towards cinematography was confronted with two World Wars. Although some cinemas opened in the country between the wars, film production slowed down for a while. In 1952 “Vardar Film” produced the first Macedonian feature film drama Frosina (Фросина). During the next decade films such as a historical Miss Stone (Мис Стоун), crime story Visa of Evil (Виза на злото), psychological film Three Girls Named Ana (Три Ани), the first Macedonian comedy A Quiet Summer (Мирно лето), and another historical movie Assassins from

Salonika by Zhika Mitrovic (Солунските атентатори, available on Youtube) were introduced to public. They were followed by several feature films, and the second comedy A Weekend of Deceased Persons (Викенд на мртовци, IMDb 6,8) premiered in 1988.

The success1994 was the year of the great success for

Macedonian cinematography. The feature film Before the Rain (Пред дождот), directed by Milcho Manchevski (an article about him appeared in September 2012 edition of our Magazine), won the “Golden Lion”, the highest prize at Venice Film

Festival, and was even nominated for an Oscar. This film is a “must see” for those living in Macedonia and its DVD is a good present for movie lovers world-wide.

The film is divided into three episodes - Words, Faces and Pictures. The story revolves around the destruction of personal relationships in the face of war and shows wonderful nature as well as brutality. The narrative structure is circular, and the link between the parts is left for the viewer to find.

The first episode, Words, starts with breathtaking scenery of a monastery situated above the Ohrid Lake. A young

Macedonian Movies: a Mirror of Culture and History


monk hides a young Albanian girl who is accused of murder and is on the run. Warm friendship, however, does not last long.

Faces, the second episode, transports us to London. Anne, a picture editor, is torn between the love of her husband Nick and the attraction she feels for Aleksandar, a war photographer from the Balkans. The action starts when the rivalry between Macedonian Christians and Albanian Muslims lights a bloody massacre in the restaurant where she is having dinner with her husband.

The third and final story, Pictures, brings the two previous stories together. Aleksandar returns to his village in Macedonia and finds that his family is involved in a bloody feud with Albanian Muslims. To make it more complicated, an Albanian woman he was in love with, asks him to take care of her daughter Zamira. Thus the film returns us to its beginning.

Movies continueThough Before the Rain remains the

most promoted movie, several other films are definitely worth noting and seeing.

Gipsy Magic (Џипси меџик), about Roma families’ life, was awarded the Grand Prix at the Mediterranean Film Festival in Montpellier and is very artistically done. The Great Water (Големата вода) revolves around a childhood story in Stalinist Yugoslavia. I am from Tito Veles (Јас сум од Тито Велес) tells a story of three sisters eager to escape from Veles which seems to be sleeping after the death of Tito, whose name it bears. And just to mention a few more: Across the Lake (Преку езерото); Milcho Manchevski’s Dust (Прашина); and Shutka Book of Records (Шампионите од Шутка), a controversial movie about the Roma people in Shutka.

The latest success!This autumn Macedonia released a

new movie – The Third Half (Трето полувреме), which with the rating of 9,6

is probably one of highest rated movies in IMDd! And there is definitely no mistake about that.

This film by Kino Oko Production is directed by Darko Mitrevski and inspired by a true story. Rudolph Spitz, the German-Jewish coach, comes to Skopje to train the local football team during World War II. Under his leadership, the team fights to become the champion of Bulgaria’s National Football League. The main storyline, however, evolves around the love between a football player from Spitz’s team and a Jewish banker’s daughter. As Nazis enter the city, all the main characters are faced with their brutality. The film depicts the tragic history of Macedonian Jews deported to the gas chambers of Treblinka by the Bulgarian authorities upon German request.

Being politically sensitive, the film has already elicited some controversial comments. Bulgarian members of the European Parliament were outraged by the film. They have stated their concern over the film as an “attempt to manipulate Balkan history” and “spread hate” against its neighbors on the part of an EU candidate country. On the other side, the Jewish community has strongly supported the film, while Macedonians seem to be actively going to watch this movie. Indeed, the film is superbly made with an engaging story line, incredible camera work and acting, and it is overall probably one of the best films about genocide.

Cinematography


Nature

Macedonia is rich with wild animals, birds and other fauna. Since it is a country covered with huge and

dense forests, its wild world is impressive. Within this world, the wolf, the bear and the wild boar are the most common, while the deer and wild sheep are considered rarities. People and especially hunters consider the wild boar to be the King of the Macedonian wilderness. The capture of an animal of this species is considered to be the most valuable trophy. Along with the large quantity of highly priced meat, the skin and the head of the boar are valued, and especially the male tusks. Due to its existing in large quantities and always naturally re-populating, in Macedonia it is permitted to hunt this mammal.

The Wild boar (Sus scrofa), also known as the wild pig, is the wild ancestor of the domestic pig, an animal with which it freely hybridizes. The Wild boar is native across Europe and much of Asia. Populations have also been artificially introduced in some parts of the world. In 1493, Christopher Columbus brought eight hogs to the West Indies. Populations have also become established after escapes of wild boars from captivity, such as in North America or Australia. The body of the wild boar is compact; the head is large, the legs relatively short. The front part of the body is higher than the back part. Its back is sharp while the body and breasts are narrower. This construction enables it to move even through the densest bushes. The hide consists of stiff bristles and usually finer fur, which becomes much denser during winter. The colour usually varies from dark grey to black or brown.

Adult males develop tusks, continuously growing upper and lower canine teeth that protrude from the mouth. These serve as weapons and tools. The upper tusks are bent upwards in males, and are regularly

ground against the lower ones to produce sharp edges. The tusks normally measure about 6 cm but in exceptional cases they can grow even to 20 cm. Females also have sharp canines, but they are smaller, and not protruding like the male tusks. Wild boars are very fast animals and good swimmers, so in the wilderness it is very hard to hunt them.

The importance of the wild boar dates back to medieval times when the boar was considered a ‘beast of venery’, the most prestigious form of quarry. It was normally hunted by being ‘harboured’, surrounded on all four sides and slowly driven into a trap. There are many medieval chronicles and poems describing how dangerous the boar could be when hunted. If surprised or cornered, a boar (particularly a sow with piglets) can and will defend itself and its young with intense vigour. The male lowers its head, charges, and then slashes upward with its tusks. The female, whose tusks are not visible, charges with head up, mouth wide, and bites. The wild boar and a boar’s head are common symbols in heraldry. They represent what are often seen as the positive qualities of the boar, namely courage and fierceness in battle. The coats of arms or crests of many families include an erect (upright) and erased (violently torn off, leaving a jagged edge) head of a wild boar. The boar is a long-standing symbol of the city of Milan in Italy. Even further back in history, in Roman times, at least three legions are known to have had a boar as their emblem. Boars were also sacred animals or even represented gods in many mythologies, such as Celtic, Norse, Irish, and Hindu.

However, it is due to hunting that in recent centuries the range of the wild boar has changed dramatically, and it has become extinct in Northern Europe. A revival of boar populations did begin in the middle of the 20th century, when captive animals escaped from specialist farms and

The King of the Macedonian Wild World


Nature

began to survive in the wild. Apart from the physical differences, there

are also social differences between male and female boars. Adult males are usually solitary animals outside of the breeding season, but females and their offspring live in groups called sounders. The normally solitary males move into female groups in autumn, and rival males fight for dominance. Wild boar forage in early morning and late afternoon or at night, but rest for periods during both night and day. They are omnivorous scavengers, eating almost anything they come across, including grass, nuts, berries, roots, insects, small reptiles, and nests of ground nesting birds. In search of prey the wild boar will travel long distances, up to 40 kilometers.

On the other side, boars are hunted by tigers, hyenas, and big snakes. But all predators of boars are opportunistic and avoid tackling mature male boars. This is why boars are at the top of the food chain, and grow in large numbers. In Macedonia, wolves are the major predators of boars. Wolves mostly feed on piglets. But when comes to clashes, they rarely attack boars head on, preferring to tear at their perineum, causing loss of coordination and massive blood loss.

In Macedonia, as well in many countries, boar meat ranks among the highest priced types of meat. But since boars are not farmed for their meat, it cannot be found for sale in butcher shops. However, the meat can be bought directly from the hunters. It is offered in some restaurants as one of the most expensive delicacies. The Macedonian

traditional dish is “tava” with wild boar. The boar meet is slowly cooked in the oven for hours, together with fresh and seasonal spices, and then vegetables, mushrooms and potatoes are added. One of the facts that make boar meat relatively easy to find is the size of this mammal; Macedonian hunters often hunt exceptionally large specimens of up to 170 kilos. Living on the edge of the woods near water, enjoying the mud as relief against skin parasites, boars are easily discovered by groups of hunters. They usually follow the boar, then encircle it and try to shoot it. But wild boars can be dangerous to humans, especially when they have piglets. Wild boars attack aggressively with their large, hard-skulled heads, causing wounds by ramming the tusk upwards into a person’s upper legs. But if the prey is shot then the hunters are again faced with trouble, because they have to drag the huge animal for hours to the first vehicle parked at the end of the road.

Another reason for the easy access to the boar hunt and the boar meat in Macedonia is that the public enterprise “Makjedonski shumi” (Macedonian woods) operates 8 hunting grounds, where many wild species such as ordinary deer, fallow deer, roe deer, mouflons, chamois, and wild boars are raised, bred, and protected in optimal conditions. The natural habitats are created in the lowland parts, along the rivers. These very controlled living conditions are hunting grounds of great quality. They are connected with access roads and equipped with hunting and technical facilities such as hunting houses and boarding houses. The terrains are rich with running water and different types of forests, and include mountains and valleys. Multiple types of services are available on the hunting grounds: all-terrain vehicles, horses, guide service, game driving, and equipment rentals such as dogs, weapons and ammunition. You can also engage in the activities of observing the terrain from hunting blinds and ‘shooting’ game with a camera.


Poetry

IGOR ISAKOVSKI is a poet, prose writer, translator and editor. He was born in 1970 in Skopje, Macedonia. He has a BA in World and Comparative Literature from Sts. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje, and MA in Gender and Culture, CEU, Budapest, Hungary. Currently he is a PhD candidate at Sts. Cyril and Methodius University. He is founder and director of Blesok Cultural Institution (www.blesok.mk) where he has been working as Editor-in-Chief since 1998. Blesok is an on-line project promoting Macedonian literature and introducing world literature to Macedonian readers. It incorporates an on-line journal, translations, reference materials and an on-line store.

Isakovski has edited four anthologies (the latest is the bilingual Six Macedonian Poets, published by ARC Publications, UK, 2011) and two CD-ROMs. He translates poetry, prose, and essays from English and all ex-Yugoslavian Slavic languages. 53 books with his translations into Macedonian have been published. He travels frequently and sometimes participates in European literary festivals and events. His works were included in a number of anthologies

in Macedonia and abroad. His works have been translated and published in eighteen languages in more than twenty countries.

Books by Isakovski: Letters (1991, novel), Black Sun (1992, poetry), Explosions, Pregnant Moon, Eruptions... (1993, short stories), Vulcan – Earth – (1995, poetry), – Sky (1996, 2000, poetry), Blues Phone Booth (2001, prose etchings), Sandglass (2002, short stories), Way Down in the Hole (poetry, 2004), Swimming in the Dust (2005, 2010, novel, award Prose Masters 2005), Blues Phone Booth II (2006, prose etchings, 2007 annual prize for best visual and graphic design of a printed book), Interning for a Saint (2008, poetry), The Night Is Darkest Before the Dawn (2009, poetry, unique award winner of the 4th Belgrade Poetry and Book Festival in 2010) Vulcan – Earth – Sky (2010, poetry), Love (2011, poetry).

Igor Isakovski

Letters BlACK SuN Explosions Pregnant Moon ERuPTIONS Vulcan – Earth SKY Blues Phone Booth SANDGlASS Way Down

in the Hole SWIMMING IN THE DuST Blues Phone Booth II INTERNING fOR A

SAINT The Night Is Darkest Before the Dawn VulCAN – EARTH – SKY love


Poetry

REClINING ON VERSES

i have verses all aroundme, they float through the airtrembling under my fingerslike a fire in front of a cigarettethey shove into my hairitch me under my nosethey scratch my back

they await me in the bedlike a tender warm smooth womanthey sneak over my legs lickingmy breasts the verses shoveinto my navel and deepen there

all around me verseson top of me verses beneath me verses like tender butterflies like golden dust they run away like a flock of mute fishin the sky’s pond that shines in goldgolden as silence

18.06.2008 15:48

SulTRINESS OVER MOuNTAIN WATER

look, i said to myself, howyour hand gets heavier whileyou lift your glass. look,how the world is slow,sluggish as a summer sultriness.look, i mumble, how slowlythe drops pour into your gullet –like pearly drops over sand.

look at your chest, lookhow calmly it liesunder your chin, look, almostnot moving – your chestis silent, full of clear mountain water which sunrise colors pour. look,slowly something flashes.

look, i say to myself, your glassis empty as a confused silence,look, open your eyes wideand look – how it is to live alone.

11.07.2008 18:34

I AM A lOG IN THE HEART Of THE WORlD

i burn white, i burn fast,i burn tender as a firein a lighthouse

i look for my reflectionwhile i give away my tendernessto dears and strangerswith a slow touch instead of poetrywith toasts instead of kisses

i burn blue, i burn yellowas a ripe orange i unripi burn red and in lilac i burn

i look for my verse in the noisethat thunders through my breastsas a freight train full ofcoal, kerosene, red bloodsplit atomsas unfinished voicesas swollen words halted before burstfull of crunches full of sparks

i am a fire of my own bodya log in the heart of the worldpart of the trunk full of blossom and juicy drops

19.06.2008 18:24


Art

The latest exhibition of Tanja Balac marks a transition from the geometrically abstract language of

her earlier work to a new representational mimetic style of expression.

These representational pastels reveal, yet also hide, the idea of what is represented. Symbols obscure the presences and replace the absences indicating possibilities of something different. In order to see the symbol as a metaphor we need to make distinctions between the visible, the represented,

and the invisible lurking behind the representation, beyond the obvious.

With her personal intimate reminiscences Balac is trying (in contrast with the modern visual technological trend) to accommodate the various forgotten or wiped out cultural artefacts from our collective memory in barren urban areas and landscapes. The slow lapidary narrative action of Balac’s paintings unfolds in a known-unknown, almost romantic, mythical context.

In most of her pastels she applies different collage motifs citing and entering in a dialogue with her predecessors, framing fragments of antique sculptures in landscapes or cinematographic sequences, simulating the poetics of the renaissance baroque masters. This is a sophisticated and seductive play between the visible and the invisible, the present and the absent.

The observation of the atmosphere of silence and meditation in Balac’s paintings

The Poetics of Silence and Distance

TANJA BAlAC was born in 1968 in Skopje. In 1991 she graduated from the Department of Painting, Faculty of Fine Arts in Skopje. After a study visit to Paris in 2003, she got her Master’s degree from the Department of Painting in Skopje. She is a member of the Artists’ Association of Macedonia (DLUM) since 1996 and its President since 2006. She has had seventeen personal exhibitions, most recently, in Skopje (Oko Gallery), Ohrid, Pristina, Sofia and Malme, and participated in over 80 group exhibitions in Macedonia and abroad. She lives and works in Skopje.


Art

has a beneficial therapeutic impact on the viewer. It relaxes the viewer and seduces him or her to dive into an adventure of a hedonistic and sentimental journey through solitary, exterritorial, and yet realistically virtual places.

Beside the cryptic symbols there are abandoned traffic signs and graphemes which direct us to the empty roads leading us into dreams. Watching over silences under the obsessive presence of distance, Balac shares with the viewers the delight of the contemplative sensual power of her poetic dream-like language.

Abridged by lyubov Gurjeva from the text by Koncha Pirkovska

Awards of Tanja Balac2003 - Skopje, Macedonia, “Landscape”

Exhibition, DLUM Gallery2001 - Skopje, Macedonia, “Nikola

Martinovski” award for drawing at the “DLUM-drawing” Exhibition, National

University Library “St. Kliment Ohridski”1996 - Skopje, Macedonia,

“Metodija Ivanovski - Mende” Award at the“Small Scale Painting” Exhibition,

Cultural Information Center1995 - Skopje, Macedonia, “Konstantin Mazev” Award for young artists at the

“Small Scale Painting” Exhibition, Cultural Information Center

1992 - Skopje, Macedonia, Award at the Exhibition “The Woman - Symbol and

Inspiration”, Cultural Center “Koco Racin”


Habitat and nest site loss are at the heart of Macedonia’s owl population decline. Loss of nest sites is, without a doubt, one of the major factors in the overall decline of the barn owl. Even a single nest-box can mean survival for owls. QSI Level 6 has been assisting Macedonian Owl Trust (MOT) in raising money to erect nest-boxes for barn owls in Macedonia by selling owl pillows.

Mrs. Ana, Mr. Bobbie and Mr. Vojo from MOT paid a special visit to our classroom to thank the students for their efforts. They brought along Papa and Tyto, two real owls! These two owls were found injured and MOT is taking care of them. Within three weeks, Tyto- the barn owl will be released in the wild again. It was an amazing experience for the children who were able to see and pet the owls.

We sold 64 owl pillows and raised 16.000 denars! It was a WHHOOOOge success!

When Was The Last Time You Heard an Owl Hoot?

QSI Fall FestivalOnce again the Fall Festival was a huge

success. Special thanks go to Mrs. Dinevski for taking on the leadership role for this special day. Of course, it would not have been possible without the work of all the

parents, students, and staff coming together. Everything was great: from the games, music and food to costumes and the Haunted House. A great time was had by everyone. The winners of this year’s pumpkin carving contest were: the Kampen Family, the Bjersten Family, the Gustavsson Family, Mila and Gala Tosanova, and Stefan Manev and Eli Muftic. Congratulations to everyone who participated in such a wonderful event!

Focus on the International Community


History


The 2012 DMWC International Charity Bazaar dedicated to the International Children’s Day took place on Saturday, 9th June 2012 from 10:30 to 16:00 in front of the Army Hall and the Memorial House of Mother Teresa. The Charity Bazaar was hosted by the Municipality Centar Skopje. The Charity Bazaar was opened by addresses by Emilija Miladinova Avramcheva, DMWC President, and H.E. Allen Brian Bergant, the previous Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia to the Republic of Macedonia and the Honorary President of the Charity Bazaar.

They yielded the stage to the children from the following schools:• Cvetan Dimov Macedonian Art and Culture Society,• Piano Forte Music School,• American School of Macedonia,• Nova School,• Sumnal Roma Centre, • St. Cyril and Methodius School, Kuceviste,• Yahya Kemal Junior School,• Bratstvo School, and• Hristian Todorovski Karpos School,the children showed their talents in front of an audience of their friends, families, and representatives of the Macedonian diplomatic corps and business community, as well as many other residents of Skopje.

In the afternoon the Children’s Theatre Centre of Skopje presented a show titled “Let Me Tell You a Secret about the Environment” based on the brochure published by the European Commission.

2012 Dobredojde Macedonia Welcome Centre International Charity Bazaar

“Be the change you want to see in the world” Mahatma Gandhi


Charity Bazaar Stall Donors • Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria• Embassy of the Republic of Croatia • Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany• Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands• Embassy of the People’s Republic of China• Embassy of Romania• Embassy of the Slovak Republic• Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia• Embassy of Republic of Serbia• Embassy of the Republic of Turkey• Embassy of the United States of America• Delegation of the European Union • Jewish Community in Macedonia

lottery Donors• Embassy of Austria• Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria• Embassy of the Republic of Croatia• Embassy of the Czech Republic• Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands• Embassy of Romania• Embassy of the Slovak Republic• Embassy of the Republic of the Slovenia • Embassy of the Republic of Turkey• Delegation of the European Union • Dobredojde Macedonia Welcome Centre (DMWC)

• Aci Badem Sistina Clinical Hospital• Alpina Hotel, Mavrovo • Aurora Resort and Spa, Berovo• Denti Zar Dental Clinic • Kroacija Osiguruvanje – Zivot AD• L&T Apartments, Ohrid• One Telecom Slovenia Group• Pegasus Airlines• Pitt Stop Car Wash• Promedika Medical Centre• SOBIM Bicycles• Stveti Naum Hotel, Ohrid• Watch ID• Winner - Vienna Insurance Group AD Skopj

Cash Donors• H.E. Allen Brian Bergant, Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia • H.E. Jozef Broun, Ambassador of the Czech Republic• H.E. Kjetil Paulsen, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway• Halkbank AD Skopje

Participants in the DMWC International Charity Bazaar 2012

The Charity Bazaar celebrating International Children’s Day was a family event enjoyed by our members and supporters as well as hundreds of Skopje residents who shopped at the stalls and watched performances by Skopje school children.


“The Jewish community of Macedonia had the pleasure to participate in and support the 2012 Dobredojde Macedonia Welcome Centre International Charity Bazaar. In our booth, we offered our traditional falafel dish of fried chick pea balls inside the pita bread with tehini sauce. The falafel was a great success and many people from Macedonia and other countries enjoyed the authentic Israeli taste.”The Jewish Community of Macedonia

“The Bulgarian Embassy in Skopje took a very active part in the International Charity Bazaar 2012 because it believes that children in need deserve our support and sympathy. The Bulgarian mission was one of the main promoters and supporters of the idea to get together all embassies in Skopje for this humanitarian event. We are ready to support such noble causes in the future as well.”

Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria

“The Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia in Skopje welcomes the initiative of “Dobredojde Macedonia Welcome Centre” to organize the humanitarian International Bazaar. We hope it will become a traditional charity bazaar and that Skopje will join other capitals around the world which organize humanitarian events on the occasion of the World Children’s Day. Those noble events remind us of the importance of the participation of individuals, organizations and institutions to help the most vulnerable group in society - children.”

Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia

“The Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany gladly supported the 2012 Dobredojde Macedonia Welcome Centre International Charity Bazaar. The Bazaar offered a great opportunity to present

typical German food, drinks and products to interested visitors, and we are very pleased to contribute the proceeds from the sale of our goods to the renovation of the Idnina School Day Care Centre project.”

Embassy of the federal Republic of Germany

I would like to thank Mrs. Emilija Miladinova Avramceva and staff and students of the Yahya Kemal Junior School for their part in the International Charity Bazaar 2012. I wish you much success in the future and hope that every year there will be more and more participants in the Charity Bazaar and that we will be able to jointly contribute to the realization of such charity projects.

Muteber Saknazan Advisor for Culture and Information

Embassy of the Republic of Turkey

Delegation of the European Union


Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria Embassy of the Republic of Croatia

Embassy of the Kingdom of the NetherlandsEmbassy of the Federal Republic of Germany


Embassy of the People’s Republic of ChinaEmbassy of Romania

Embassy of the Slovak Republic Embassy of the Republic of Slovenia


Embassy ofRepublic of Serbia

Embassy of the United States of America

Jewish Community in Macedonia

Embassy of the Republic of Turkey


Love, Peace, HopeA Children’s Art Workshop exploring these themes was conducted by Zaneta Gelevska Veljanovska at Dobredojde Macedonia Welcome Centre on Saturday, May 26 2012. Pupils from eight Macedonian and international schools participated in the workshop: Bratstvo, Hristian Todorovski Karpos, Petar Poparsov, QSI, American School of Macedonia, Queen Language School, Nova, and Yahya Kemal Junior. Their works were exhibited and sold at the Exhibition and Art Sale on May 31 and at the Charity Bazaar on June 9.


Art Exhibition and SaleArt Exhibition and Sale within the framework of the DMWC International Charity Bazaar 2012 took place on May 31, 2012 at NLB Tutunska Banka’s Gallery. The Ohrid Art Gallery “Bukefal” in collaboration with DMWC organised the exhibition and sale of art works donated by 30 Macedonian artists, as well as several art works created by schoolchildren from Skopje at their “Love, Peace and Hope” Workshop. The Exhibition was opened by H.E. Alain Brian Bergant, Ambassador of the Republic of Slovenia and Honorary President of the Charity Bazaar. Paintings of the following artists were sold: • Dimitar Gaspar• Dimitar Dimitrov• Zani Gelevska Veljanovska• Eli Ain• Miroslav Masin• Natasa Milovancev• Resat Ahmeti• Sveto Manev

All the proceeds from the sale of art works were contributed to the joint DMWC International Charity Bazaar 2012 fund and donated to a renovation project at the Idnina School for children with special needs in Cair Municipality in Skopje.


The Charity Bazaar, Lottery and Art Sale raised € 5 000 which were donated to Idnina School for children with special needs in Cair Municipality in Skopje. The beneficiary was chosen by the DMWC International Charity Bazaar Committee, who stressed that they would like to “demonstrate [their] commitment to equal rights, developmental and educational opportunities for all children”. The Committee stressed their desire to “help the children that most need help and protection and at the same time promote awareness, humanity and responsibility in society”.

Day centre after the renovation With the grant from DMWC International Charity Bazaar 2012 the following work was completed: installation of new insulated windows, floor insulation, restoration and renovation of walls, including insulation with gypsum board and painting, installation of two entrance doors and new tiles in bathrooms.

Day Care Centre before renovation


The renovated day centre was opened on October 25 2012 in the presence of ambassadors of Bulgaria, the Netherlands and Slovakia, representatives of the

Jewish Community, and DMWC members and volunteers. The children who will be using the renovated Day Care Centre received gifts from Ramstore

Mall. The opening ceremony was hosted by Idnina School and its director Aneta Petrova.


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