Full Coverage: Macedonia (FYROM)

27.11.2006 The On.Net Internet provider and several cable operators may become the first companies to enter the landline telephone services market and compete with “Macedonian Telecommunications” Co. at the start of next year. The potential operators complain of the high interconnection charges as the main obstacle to their entry in the market.

27.11.2006 The Union of Women Organizations of Macedonia – SOZM is involved, once again, in the “16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence” Global Campaign, which is implemented for 2006 under the motto “Violence has Many Faces!” The 2006 campaign is implemented by the SOS Phone for the Youth working with the National Women Council of the Republic of Macedonia.

26.11.2006 The political will to improve the situation in the area of telecommunications and ICT does exist in Macedonia and is getting stronger, judging from the announcements made by the new Government that the Law on Information Society is in the process of being adopted, but also from the intention to establish a Ministry of Information Society, expected to become operational by the end of this year. At the E-Society regional conference that took place just ten days ago, Minister of Transport and Communications Mile Janakievski announced a number of projects that will be implemented next year, including a project to secure free computers for Macedonian schools.

23.11.2006 Easy access to concrete, accurate and, above all, needed information contributes to improved quality of life, increased perspectives for the youth and greater inclusion of the youth in society.

21.11.2006 The Media Development Centre (MDC) and the Association of Private Electronic Media of Macedonia (APEMM) publicly oppose the initiative for a Law on Changes and Amendments to the Law on Broadcasting, which provides for extension of the deadline for transformation of local public radio stations for additional six months.

21.11.2006 Second International Conference „e-Society.Mk“ was organised by the Metamorphosis Foundation in Holiday Inn Hotel in Skopje on November 15-17, 2006.

16.11.2006 The Second International Conference e-Society.mk started yesterday, November 15, in Skopje. The conference, which will close on Friday, November 17, 2006, gathers Macedonian and international ICT experts, to facilitate exchange of experiences and create policies based on the latest information related to information society.

14.11.2006 The Foundation Open Society Institute Macedonia (FOSIM) and the NGO Support Centre – Strumica, on the behalf of the Civic Platform – Macedonia, organize the Regional NGO Fair in Strumica, November 24-25, 2006.

13.11.2006 Last Wednesday, November 8, the European Commission released the first Progress Report for Macedonia in its preparations for EU membership since the country was granted the status of candidate country. This is the first report on progress made by this country in preparing for EU membership. The period covered by this report is 1 October 2005 to 30 September 2006.

10.11.2006 The representatives of the Civil Platform of Macedonia used the Parliamentary Office for Contacts with NGOs to present their initiative for changes in the Law on Associations in the 3rd Session of the Parliamentary Committee on Political System and CommunitiesÂ’ Relations of November 1, 2006. The initiative was later submitted for review to all 120 Members of Parliament.

09.11.2006 AEGEE-Skopje, JEF Macedonija, the Union of High-School Students of Macedonia, the Youth Education Forum, Balkan IDEA and the Association of Scouts organized street action against the visa regime for citizens of Macedonia, under the motto “Visa, No Thanks!”

08.11.2006 The Children Embassy for All Children in the World, headquartered in Prilep, Macedonia, accused state institutions of manipulation and violations of the Law and the rights of children in order to tend to party interests.

02.11.2006 “Horizon” humanitarian organization from Kriva Palanka demanded from the Government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to invest greater effort to solve the problems of Macedonian citizens living and working in Italy and emphasized the need to sign Agreement on Seasonal Workers with Italy.