Friday, 11 March 2011
THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA, MS. SVETLANA JAKIMOVSKA, HAD A MEETING WITH MS. LIA SHEMTOV, CHAIR OF THE FRIENDSHIP GROUP ISRAEL- MACEDONIA OF THE KNESSET OF THE STATE OF ISRAEL
In the framework of the official visit of the Republic of Macedonia and on the occasion of the opening of the Memorial Centre of the Holocaust of the Jews from the Republic of Macedonia, Ms. Svetlana Jakimovska, Vice President of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia had a meeting with Ms. Lia Shemtov, Chair of the Friendship Group Israel- Macedonia from the Knesset of the State of Israel.
The gusts conveyed the impressions from the opening ceremony of the Memorial Centre of the Holocaust of the Jews from the Republic of Macedonia, underlining that the good and close friendly relations between the Republic of Macedonia and the State of Israel are reaffirmed. It was underlined that the Republic of Macedonia should be an example for richer and more developed countries in dealing with the challenges of the multiethnic society, respecting the citizens with dignity.
Ms. Jakimovska informed the guests on all steps towards the realisation of the humanitarian project of great importance and underlined that the Republic of Macedonia has always tended to cherish close friendly relations and the overall political and economic relations with the State of Israel. The Republic of Macedonia has adopted the Law on Denationalization, which contains 4 special provisions which refer to the property of Jews in the Republic of Macedonia who do not have legal heirs. The law has a special provision on repatriation of the properties of Jews who do not have legal heirs. In April 2002 the Decision Establishing a Holocaust Fund for the Jews in the Republic of Macedonia was adopted by the Government. This Fund aims to manage these taken properties of the individuals without legal heirs. Thus, the Republic of Macedonia became one of the rare states which has paid due respect to the issue of the properties of the Jewish Community and its members.
Opinions on the present political situation in the Republic of Macedonia were exchanged, as well as on the work of the Macedonian legislative house, the future cooperation between the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia and the Knesset of the State of Israel, especially on the level of parliamentary Cooperation groups, the overall bilateral relations between the Republic of Macedonia and the State of Israel which are broadening in the past two years and the realisation of the highest level visits. The participants are convinced that the parliamentary cooperation should continue and that it must contribute for better and constructive cooperation on bilateral level, which will positively reflect in the area of economic diplomacy considering the potentials and possibilities of both sides.
The participants expressed hope that the relations between the two countries will be promoted in all areas, especially in the area of parliamentary relations and further cooperation on the level of parliamentary groups for cooperation.