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HE Dr. Pande Lazarevski – Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Macedonia in Romania

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HE Dr. Pande Lazarevski – Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Macedonia in Romania 1 Contents Testimonial…………………………………………………….pg. 3 Special Guests…………………………………………………pg. 4-6 H.E. Dr. Pande Lazarevski – Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Macedonia in Romania Economic Highlights………………………………………. pg. 7-12 Trade Shows in Macedonia………………………........pg. 13 Focus on Legal Issues……………………………………...pg. 14 Focus on Lifestyle…………………………………………...pg. 15 Cultural Landmarks………………………………….........pg. 16 Focus on Tourist Attractions…………………………….pg. 17 Info Macedonia…………………………………………..…..pg. 18-29 2 TESTIMONIAL As the second edition of the Macedonian Bulletin is ready to meeting its readers, in our turn, we are ready and honored to welcome in these pages the new Ambassador of the Republic of Macedonia in Romania – dr. Pande Lazarevski. We are confident that the bilateral Romanian- Macedonian relation will continue to develop with better and better results as our mutual interest and involvement is a priority goal, especially that the current global economic environment is such a complex equation. There are still many opportunities to be explored, valorized and capitalized in our bilateral relation, that is why we think that our involvement and determination will be really favorable in this common approach. The valuable and solid expertise of His Excellency Mr. Pande Lazarevski, His excellent notoriety as important promoter of the modern concepts in the social and economic Macedonian, regional and international environment are useful premises in order to continue to materialize our bilateral cooperation activity. As for us, The Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Macedonia in Romania, along with Prahova County Chamber of Commerce and Industry, we reaffirm our entire cooperation availability, in order to promote, to develop and to valorize as better as possible, the cooperation potential between Romania and the Republic of Macedonia. We know by now, from the very beginning of His Excellency’s diplomatic mission in Romania, that we are having an excellent partner and friend in this ambitious goal. Aurelian GOGULESCU Honorary Consul of the Republic of Macedonia in Romania President of Prahova County Chamber of Commerce and Industry 3 INTERVIEW, Q & A H.E. Dr. Pande Lazarevski, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary EMBASSY OF THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA TO BUCHAREST 1. What’s Your Excellency’s opinion on Romania? Have you been in Romania before your designation as Ambassador of Macedonia? How would You describe the current bilateral relationship between Macedonia and Romania? I’ve been in Romania once before, back in 2007, at a NATO-SCEPC Conference. Although back then I did not have the chance to see much of the country, I am truly honoured to have the opportunity to be Ambassador of Macedonia in Romania. Our bilateral relations are based on solid ground. In the past few years, we have had official visits on the highest levels. In October 2011, the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov came in official visit to Romania, and we are expecting a visit of the Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs to Macedonia in the forthcoming period. Yet, I believe there is potential for greater and more intensive cooperation in almost every field, especially in the field of economy. We need to motivate our business communities to cooperate more closely and use the opportunities provided by the relative closeness of the countries. We also need to foster the cultural cooperation. In 25-28 October this year I plan to organize Days of Macedonian culture in Romania, presenting an opportunity for Romanians to taste Macedonian food and wine, to experience Macedonian art and folklore and to be informed about the Macedonian tourist destinations. In the field of education, we have many students from Macedonia studying in Romania, and we are looking forward to even stronger and deeper academic cooperation. There are certainly good basis for this, such as the Lectorate for Macedonian language based at the University of Bucharest, with a section in Craiova, and the Lectorate for Romanian language at the University of St. Cyril and Methodius in Skopje. 4 2. What are the bilateral cooperation areas that have a greater development potential, in Your opinion? As I mentioned before, I believe there is potential for greater and more intensive cooperation in almost every field, especially in the field of economy and cultural cooperation. In a time when the world is still recovering from the economic and financial crisis, economic cooperation is not only possible, but necessary. For Macedonians, Romania has always been a space for economic progress. A century ago, Macedonians came in Romania as economic immigrants. Today, the descendant of those Macedonians who came as economic immigrants and who in Romania found their second home, today are proud Macedonians and loyal citizens of Romania, and have their own association – the Association of Macedonians in Romania, which is represented by one member in the Parliament of Romania. This would have not been possible without the extraordinary contribution and efforts by the late Liana Dumitrescu, who we remember with great piety as a great champion of Macedonian-Romanian cooperation. The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Ianov decorated her posthumously with a high award for everything she did for the affirmation of Macedonians in Romania. Today, Macedonia and Romania cooperate on the level of economies. Romania is a great country, with a great potential to become an important investor in Macedonia. Having ten times the population of Macedonia, Romania also possesses a potential to be a major market for Macedonian products, especially food and wine. I strongly believe that this is what we should strive for. There is still room for improvement of the bilateral economic cooperation. I believe we should also think outside the box and see if our business communities can jointly approach third markets, if we can organize joint events and projects. 3. Do You see any similarities between Macedonia and Romania? The similarities between Macedonia and Romania result from the ties between our two nations and peoples. The spiritual ties that are best reflected through St. Nicodemus of Tismana. Born in Prilep, Macedonia, Nicodemus transferred from Mount Athos the ideals of monastic isihasm in the Romanian lands, and his heritage continues to feed Romanian spiritual culture. As a tireless builder, Nicodemus built monasteries and monastic settlements in Mehedinti, Gorzh, Ardzhesh and Hunedoara, and according to the living tradition it is believed that he was the builder of the monasteries Topolnica and Bistrica. The links between our countries and peoples are also educational. Romania was the place where numerous Macedonian reformists came, such as Gjorgjia Pulevski, lexicographer, historian, author of the first printed Macedonian grammar book and of one of the first Macedonian dictionaries, a person who was actively involved during his lifetime in the liberation wars of the Macedonian and other Balkan nations. Also, many members of the Macedonian enlightenment came and published in Romania, such as Jordan Hadzi Konstantinov-Dzinot, Rajko Zhinzifov and Parthenius Zografski. Romania was not only the space of spiritual revival and enlightenment, but of national and political revival of Macedonian people. Thus, for the Macedonians Romania has always been a beacon of freedom, a refuge from slavery and a second home. Romania was a space of freedom-loving people who wanted to achieve freedom. Macedonia will never forget the support following the declaration of autocephality of the Macedonian Orthodox Church in 1967, when a delegation of three archeries of its Synod were received by the Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church, His Beatitude Justinian, who gave them sacred myrrh. 5 4. Is it Macedonia still – as it was designated 3 years ago by the World Bank - one of the most welcoming countries in terms of facilities provided to the foreign investors? Thanks to the diligent work, reforms and commitment over the past years we have also become recognized as a good foreign direct investment destination. Macedonia is open for cooperation and has a lot to offer. This is proven by the global rating lists; Macedonian free market guarantees the ownership rights. We have skilled and highly qualified but relatively cheap labour force. As crossroads of Southeast Europe, the location of Macedonia is excellent for transit and distribution of goods. Not to forget the low and flat taxes of 10% and the extremely easy process of registration of companies - in only four hours. However, there is a lot more than that. We have a low budget deficit of 2.5% of GDP, and as of November, a low level of inflation of 3.2%. The banking system in the country is stable. With debt rate of 30.6%, Macedonia is among the 4 lowest-indebted countries in Europe. According to the index of economic freedom in the world for 2012, we are ranked on the 43rd place, better ranked than seven countries from our region. According to the Forbes Global Ranking for 2012, Macedonia is ranked at the high 37th position in the world according to the category of best country for business. In the last 4 years, through the foreign investments in Macedonia, about 1 billion and 550 million Euros have entered. And, yes, we are the world’s third best reformer. 5. What do You expect - in terms of reinforcement of the bilateral cooperation- from the Honorary Consulate of the Republic of Macedonia in Ploiesti, Romania? It is a great pleasure to emphasize that many of the activities in the field of economic bonding between the two countries are happening thanks to the engagement of the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Macedonia in Romania, who is also the President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Prahova, Mr. Aurelijan Gogulescu. The idea of opening a sale salon in Ploesti with Macedonian products, where, at the same time, the Macedonian tourist offers would be presented, is one of those steps.
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