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The process of the disintegration of the multinational Yugoslav federation at the end of the 80s and the beginning of the 90s had a strong impact on the process of the constitution of an independent Macedonian state. In those years, the Yugoslav Federation underwent a transition from the one-party rule of the Union of Communists to the establishment of a pluralistic multi-party political system. After the legalization of the possibility to create new political parties in the Socialist Republic of Macedonia, various parties and associations emerged, which brought great diversity to the political life of the republic and laid the foundations of party pluralism in it. The grouping of the parties is based on the attitude towards the future development of Yugoslavia, which divides them into “pro-Yugoslav” and “national”. Along with the Macedonian national parties, political parties and associations on a national and ethno-religious basis are being created in the SR Macedonia. The difficulties in the Republic of Macedonia started parallel to the process of declaring its independence and especially after the breakup of Yugoslavia. Thus, in the early 90s, after the collapse of the multinational federation and the declaration of independence of some of its republics, such as Slovenia and Croatia, the Republic of Macedonia faced serious problems in its own state. Internally - the final independence of the state and liberation from the Yugoslav People's Army, and externally - its international recognition. And while the last decade of the 20th century was mainly related to the international recognition of the Republic of Macedonia, the first decade of the 21st century saw the country face serious international problems and confrontations mainly between the Macedonian and Albanian ethnic groups in the country, as well as the dilemma of further and steps towards membership in the Euro-Atlantic structures - in the EU and NATO.

Processes of political changes escalated in the Republic of (North) Macedonia in recent years -- the second decade of the 21st century, and especially after 2015. With the help of the external factor and as a result of the internal political events during those years, the situation in the RNM is characterised with three key changes: of the power, name and Constitution of the state. The ten years during which the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organisation -- Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity (IMRO-DPMNU) and Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski were in power (2006--2016) generated tension among some of the leading political parties, notably the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDUM). They accused him of corruption and of stopping the processes of NATO and EU accession. A real opportunity for change of the rule in the RNM was created with the Pržino Agreement (2015) and with the active assistance of the EU representatives. Prime Minister Gruevski's firm stand against the change of the country's name under pressure and on its evaluation with a view to NATO and EU accession was not well received in the Western world. On its part, precisely SDUM was the party whose president Zoran Zaev openly and clearly supported the name change. That was a painful issue for a large part of the population of the RNM, but real conditions for a change of the name existed on account of the country's ethnic composition. The Albanian community took a firm stand in support of the new name. They skilfully used the signing of the Prespa Agreement between the RNM and Greece in 2018 to expand their rights and to make the Albanian language official over the entire territory of the country. Improved relations with the neighbours were an important prerequisite for NATO accession and for the start of the EU negotiations. In this connection, the agreement with Greece was preceded by an agreement between the RNM and Bulgaria. A serious challenge before the stabilisation and the process of EU integration of the RNM is perceived not only in the internal influence expressed with weak political elites, enormous economic problems, constant tension in the inter-ethnic relations, failure to cope with the corruption and the existing political revenge seeking, but also in the external influence, complying with the implementation of the agreements with the neighbours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subject of research interest is the presentation and promotion of cultural content in the period of the coronavirus pandemic via the social network Facebook by the NI Archaeological Museum and the NI Drama Theater from the Republic of Macedonia (RM). The main research question is: "How did the selected national cultural institutions from RM present and promote cultural content during the first months of the coronavirus pandemic via the social network Facebook?" The aim of the research is to identify: ways of using the social network Facebook by selected national cultural institutions during the first months of the coronavirus pandemic to present and promote cultural content and, thus, to communicate with its audience; presented and promoted cultural content; and changes in the way of presenting and promoting cultural content, that is usually followed live, within the virtual space. As a methodological technique, we used qualitative content analysis.

Copyright of Knowledge: International Journal is the property of Institute for Knowledge Management and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

As the Republic of Macedonia (RM) is on its way to the European Union (EU), we consider it important to analyze the level of rule of law as one of the preconditions for membership. The issue of rule of law in the RM has been debated by other scholars over the years, but not from a ten-year perspective involving the evaluation of relevant international authorities. The purpose of this research paper is to analyze the shortcomings in the functioning of the rule of law in RM. As a framework of this research, the relevant data on the rule of law in the countries of Southeast Europe, the annual progress reports of the European Commission on the rule of law in the RM, the evaluations of other international actors, the results of previous research, such as government documents and institutional reforms devoted to the rule of law are used. The critical assessment of the functioning of the rule of law in the RM in this research should create a positive and motivating effect for the political authorities to reform the justice system in accordance with the needs of the citizens and the key Eurointegration processes. Finally, we will draw conclusions and make suggestions to serve the wider academic community, policymakers, and stakeholders who may raise issues as a problem that requires appropriate treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pandemic caused by COVID-19 has led to serious changes in the lives of citizens. In a time of restricted mobility, people had to rely on media news and information to help them understand the COVID-19 crisis, hear the latest information on the extent of the spread of the disease, and learn how they can protect themselves and their families. In conditions when the media become a single window to reality and events, the role of journalists is especially important, as in any crisis situation. Hence the research interest is on difficulties faced by journalists in carrying out their mission. The research question was defined as: "What are the challenges of journalism in the Republic of Macedonia during the pandemic? What did journalists actually face in the process of providing timely information to the public?" The definition of the research problem was aimed at examining how the pandemic affected journalism in terms of the safety of journalists' physical and mental health, changing working conditions, use of information sources, exposure to pressures and influences from various factors and / or institutions. The ongoing research aims to test the assumptions that journalists and media professionals in the country work in unpredictable, stressful and difficult conditions related to their physical and mental health, amid increased pressure from state authorities in the pandemic reporting process, as well as an increasing amount of misinformation, fake news and hate speech. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cuius regio, eius historia – Macedonian Historiography and Identity Narratives, 1944–2011 Macedonian historians – by calling upon certain past events perceived as traumatic and mobilizing deep-rooted stereotypes and prejudices against the neighboring countries – sought to manipulate public opinion. It seems that also today many representatives of the Macedonian elite still see the fight for position in the historical culture as a primary aim of their existence in the public sphere. They linked the current political and social situation to the so-called historical traditions and saw Macedonian national identity threatened by Albanian, Bulgarian, Greek, and Serbian nationalists. Past and current events are explained in such a way that they became part of mythological narrations.

Macedonia gained its independence at the beginning of the last decade of the 20th century. Not only in the Balkans but also in Europe, the '90s began with a great sense of optimism. After gaining its independence, the next important goal for the new state was gaining international recognition, for which the Republic of Macedonia demonstrated readiness to accept the conditions given by the international community. However, the European Community was either not ready or lacked the will to recognize the new state a priori. In the meantime, Macedonia was steadily building good relations with its neighbours. Based on these facts, the goal of this paper is to analyze the bilateral relations between the Republic of Macedonia and the neighbouring countries in the new millennia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bankocentric character of the financial market in the Republic of Macedonia reflects the dominant participation of banks in financial market activities, including those that traditionally do not form the basis of banking operations. The transition from traditional to universal banking operations is the result of intense competition in the banking market that took place in the Republic of Macedonia at the beginning of the 21st century, and this change has also influenced the operations of insurance companies and the emerging trends in the insurance market. Bancassurance represents a model of selling insurance products through a distributive sales network of banks, which offers various benefits for both banks and insurance companies. This paper presents modalities of bancassurance, trends in the development of bancassurance and analysis of the financial results of the bancassurance activities in the Republic of Macedonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phenomenon Duvalo in the vicinity of Ohrid has always been subject of interest among scientist and the general public. All geological manifestations occurring at this locality are a constant challenge for anyone attempting to research or explain them. So far, some researchers consider this structure is representing a solfatara while others consider it a mofette or fumarole. There are even articles in newspapers stating it represents the only “active volcano” on the Balkan Peninsula. With the aim to clarify some important facts for the location and eliminate the multitude of arbitrary and unprofessional interpretations and information, within the frame of this article are presented results of analysis of all the available geological and geomorphological existing documentation for the phenomenon. Based on such detailed analysis with taking into consideration the character of its activity, the composition and the measured temperature of the gasses, geomorphological futures etc., the occurrence is classified as a “dry moffete”. The presence of the H2S gas in mofettes appearing on non-magmatic regions is very unusual and requires further research. Therefore, at the end of the paper are presented the minimum required investigations which will help define the origin of gasses at the Duvalo occurrence.

Data analytics and predictive analytics are among major trends companies are facing worldwide. In a highly digitalised environment, it is not only to question the usage of data analytics but how analytically mature organisations are. The goal of this paper is to assess organisational maturity in predictive analytics of telecommunications companies in the country. In order to assess the level of organisational maturity in predictive analytics, we use Predictive Analytics Maturity Framework Assessment (PAMFA) (Capgemini, 2012), since it best describes maturity levels in the telecommunications sector. The method of analysis is based on interviewing managers with a questionnaire that guides respondents through all dimensions and levels proposed by the framework. According to the PAMFA five dimensions are analysed (Vision and strategy, Enablers, Competence, Deployment and Governance). For each dimension, four maturity levels are defined: Level 1: Impromptu, Level 2: Solo, Level 3: Ensemble and Level 4: Symphony (Capgemini, 2012). Survey results confirmed that analysed companies fully understand the benefits of predictive analytics as a valuable source of gaining competitive advantage from data. The overall level of predictive analytics maturity is set between levels 2 or 3 for almost all dimensions. This research is the first attempt to analyse organisational maturity in predictive analytics in the country. Its originality derives from the specific characteristics and development of the telecommunications sector. This sector is one of the most advanced service sectors in the country and hence represents a benchmark concerning digital transformation. Results of this survey provide useful information needed to design a roadmap for migrating towards higher maturity levels.

The international law which regulates the formation, functioning, and legal capacity of international organizations, and also the international law in the United Nations system, is always relevant and subject to progressive development because international relations are in constant dynamics. Each newly created state has one major foreign policy goal during its first years of formation or after obtaining independence – admission to the membership of the United Nations. That is because the decision of admission to the membership of the UN guarantees the country’s statehood which can no longer be questioned. The country becomes part of a global community of nations – the international community. Therefore, the present paper is qualitative research regarding the admission of new states to the international community and the decision-making process concerning the admission of new Member States to the UN.

The data show that the media in the Republic of Macedonia became associates of government propaganda, circumventing the professional and democratic principles of informing. The Government is one of the biggest advertisers in the country and there is concern that the funds are allocated to the television channels which support the Government. The collected data will be illustrated through analysis and comparison of the annual reports of the Organization “Reporters without Borders” and the annual reports of the European Commission, but this does not mean that other academic research will be excluded. The survey results show that in Macedonia the media freedom is not achieved, but on the contrary, we have drastic deterioration of the freedom of expression. Because of this, the media lose its mission to inform and educate their audience, regardless of any political pressure.

The primary motive of this research is the specific form of soft power the EU uses in its policy, especially the enlargement policy. Thus, over comprehensive analyze of its policy, researching the previous experiences in this field, the ongoing process with the candidate members, and using the method of case study with the Republic of Macedonia in particular, we can see closer how the soft power works in this part of its policy and in which forms it is expressed. According to the research and the results, we could see the differences between the other power of the EU used in its policy and the specific form of soft power used in the Enlargement policy. This type of power is collocated of various elements such as Copenhagen criteria, progress reports, and for the very first in the case with the Republic of Macedonia is launched the High-Level Accession Dialogue. Despite the complicated process and endless framework followed by the slow development in the state policy, the survey results with positive public opinion on the sole enlargement process and the EU membership.

Mentoring as a form of strengthening the competencies of teachers is widely accepted in the educational system of the Republic of Macedonia. Generally, experienced teachers and those who are new perceive this process as inevitable for strengthening and retaining quality staff. The goal is to explore what teachers think about mentoring novice teachers in teaching. In line with the stated goal, we tried to answer the following questions: Are there differences in teachers’ views and opinions about the mentoring process regarding their work experience? Does mentoring as a process contribute to/for teachers’ professional development? Are there differences in views and opinion of teachers for the mentoring process regarding their experience and involvement in the mentoring of novice teachers? The obtained results pointed to the weaknesses that the mentoring process in our country is facing with. Although mentoring as a process is regulated by law, in practice there are still inconsistencies in its realization, both from the aspect of the approach and from the aspect of effectiveness. The recommendation to schools is to try, in addition to mentoring, to offer other forms of support to novice teachers and to try to support the teaching profession through a continuous investment (staff and financial).

Abstract Background The healthcare system in developing countries is limited; particularly, medical specialties such as emergency and trauma medicine are underdeveloped. Consequently, trauma injuries sustained in traffic accidents result in chronic morbidity more often than similar cases in developed countries. Multiple rib fractures induce significant patient morbidity. Current international guidelines recommend a multidisciplinary, surgery-based treatment approach to achieve optimal clinical benefit. Case presentation We admitted a 41-year-old Albanian man to our emergency department following a pedestrian-vehicle accident 5 days earlier. He presented with severe upper thoracic pain, chest deformity, dyspnea, tachycardia, subcutaneous emphysema, and hematoma. Chest radiography pointed to hypoventilated lung fields and a minor pleural effusion. Computed tomographic scans indicated displaced fractures of right lateral ribs 5 –11, hyperdensity regions from bone fragments, and pulmonary contusion. The treatment consisted of surgical fixation of ribs 7–10 using titanium reconstruction plates and cortical locking screws. The patient’s clinical condition rapidly improved postoperatively. Follow-up at 6 weeks confirmed a full return to preoperative daily activities and a high quality of life. Conclusions In this case report, we present a novel and promising development in the field of trauma medicine in the Republic of Macedonia. Trauma injuries can be treated via advanced multidisciplinary medical care according to international standards, allowing optimal health recovery.

For a scientists is a challenger to explore the beginning and the course of tourism in smaller cities.The emergence of tourism in Shtip is from a recent date. However, through the example of tourism in Shtip, we identify two historical periods: the preturism and the period of tourism.Thus, the first period lasts until the appearance of the first hotel in 1912, and the second from the middle of the twenties of the 20th century.Serious data on the tourism in Shtip are obtained from the end of the 1950's onwards.The analysis is based on primary and secondary data sources. From the analysis we learn that the tourism in Shtip in recent years has been growing with real development perspectives of diverse tourist offer and production.

The Bukovik-Kadiica mineralized system is hosted by Tertiary dacitic and andesitic volcanic rocks which have intruded the basement of Palaeozoic schists in the Serbo-Macedonian Massif of eastern Macedonia. The latest geological exploration has confirmed that this porphyry copper mineralizationis characterized by a dominance of chalcocite and covellite with associated chalcopyrite, emplectite, and bornite, with the highest grades in a zone of supergene enrichment. Silicification is the dominant alteration within the mineralized system, whilst zones of potassic, phyllic, argillic, propylitic, and advanced argillic alteration are also present. Silicification and sulphide mineralization are located in stockworks in altered dacite and andesite breccia. Dissolution of primary sulphides and chemical leaching are evident in the zones of oxidation, dominated by limonite breccia.The main copper mineralization has a vertical extent between 90 and 220 m. Fluid inclusion studies of mineralized quartz veins have identified three separate groups of fluids: saline inclusions which homogenize at 326-501 °C and have a salinity of 32-45 wt% NaCl equiv., vapour-dominated inclusions which homogenize at 438-497 °C and have a salinity of 6–16 wt% NaCl equiv., and more dilute, two-phase vapour–liquid inclusions that homogenize at 360-627 °C and have a salinity of 3-24 wt% NaCl equiv.

Apple production in the Republic of Macedonia is an important sector that highly contributes to theeconomy in terms of employment and income, especially for the small farmers in Prespa Region. Despitecooperatives’ efforts and governmental support to attract members through the provision of inputs,technical advices and other incentives to farmers, membership adherence is low and slow. The TransactionCost Economics Theory (TCE) provided the basis for this study where the choice is conditioned by relativecomparative advantage in terms of lower transaction costs. Based on the research, following conclusions are underlined: a. from the perspective of farmers andthe cooperatives there are factors that positively influence the choice of cooperative membership; b. fromthe cooperative’s side, some of the positive influences are its regular flow of price information, constanttechnical advices and secured market; c) for farmers who aim at increasing production and improving theirincomes, membership to cooperative signifies security of accessing cheaper inputs especially chemicalfertiliser, security of market for the produced apples and higher frequency of transaction cost. Farmers’choices are not exclusive to one type of structure or the other. Farmers can transact with the cooperative andtrader at the same time, influenced by the differences in the price among the “Idared” and “varieties”. Bothof them, members and non-members are limited connected to the “middlemen” in choice of transactions.

Th e Macedonian-Greek agreement to change the name of the Republic of Macedonia resulted in a referendum. The columns of relevant opinion leaders published in electronic media during the official referendum campaign was the focus of interest and research presented in this article. The sample comprised 57 columns by 19 columnists. The discussion of the fi ndings in this paper is based on framing theory with media content analyses; the template for media monitoring was used as an instrument based on human coding. The main research question addressed in this paper is: "How are opinion leaders setting frames?" The hypothesis is that opinion leaders use diff erent themes and scripts to construct media framing due to narrow public opinion "for" or "against/boycott" the change of the constitutional name. Two negative, emotionally charged frames were identified: the frame "for" promoted positive messages reinforced with ideas about the EU and NATO membership; the frame "against/boycott" promoted messages that Macedonian identity will be lost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phenomenon Duvalo in the vicinity of Ohrid has always been subject of interest among scientist and the general public. All geological manifestations occurring at this locality are a constant challenge for anyone attempting to research or explain them. So far, some researchers consider this structure is representing a solfatara while others consider it a mofette or fumarole. There are even articles in newspapers stating it represents the only "active volcano" on the Balkan Peninsula. With the aim to clarify some important facts for the location and eliminate the multitude of arbitrary and unprofessional interpretations and information, within the frame of this article are presented results of analysis of all the available geological and geomorphological existing documentation for the phenomenon. Based on such detailed analysis with taking into consideration the character of its activity, the composition and the measured temperature of the gasses, geomorphological futures etc., the occurrence is classified as a "dry moffete". The presence of the H2S gas in mofettes appearing on non-magmatic regions is very unusual and requires further research. Therefore, at the end of the paper are presented the minimum required investigations which will help define the origin of gasses at the Duvalo occurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compositional variations of the epidote-supergroup minerals from the different magmatic, metasomatic, and metamorphic formations of the Pelagonian Massif (Republic of North Macedonia), the Urals (Russia) and the Eifel Mountains (Germany) were studied. The new data on isomorphism in these minerals were obtained. Nine potentially new mineral species belonging to the epidote supergroup including the minerals, in which Cr, Ga, La, Ce, Nd, and Pb are the species-defining components, as well as a number of varieties with unusually high Zn and Cu contents, were identified. The relationship between the chemical composition of epidote-supergroup minerals and their Raman spectra is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to explore the influence of bank-specific and macroeconomic determinants of all non-performing loans (NPLs) to enterprises and households in the Republic of Macedonia. The analysis is performed for the whole banking sector for the period 2003Q4 to 2014Q4, by applying the Autoregressive Distributed Lag Modelling Approach (ARDL), the co-integration model implementing quarterly time series. The results of the research indicate that the profitability of banks, the growth of loans to enterprises and to households respectively, as well as the growth of GDP, all have a negative impact, while banks' solvency and unemployment have a positive impact on the rise of non-performing loans in both models. In addition, regarding enterprises, we found that the exchange rate has a positive and statistically significant impact on the level of NPLs, while inflation has a negative and statistically significant impact on the increase in non-performing loans to households. The main contribution of this paper is that the results obtained by econometric analysis may be used for forecasting non-performing loans several years in the future, as well as for stress-testing both the entire banking system and the individual banks operating in the Republic of Macedonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Every European country now has some distinctive heraldic conventions and traditions embodied in the designs and artistic representations of the emblems forming part of its national corpus. This paper deals with these matters in the period from independence in 1991 to the recent change of name in 2019. It deals with the successive designs proposed for the emblem of the state itself, some of which conformed to international heraldic conventions closely enough to be called “arms” or “coats of arms”, not including the emblem adopted in 2009. Special attention is given to the distinctive conventions created for municipal heraldry, including its novel legal framework, as well as those governing personal heraldry developed in the twenty-first century. The paper examines the evolution of heraldic thought and practice in Macedonia in the three decades in question, especially in the context of the Macedonian Heraldic Society and its journal, The Macedonian Herald, and its Register of Arms and the Civic Heraldic System it created.

In this paper Solanum pseudocapsicum is reported for the first time for the flora of the Republic of Macedonia. This adventive plant species was found in Ohrid, on walls near the Monastery of St. Jovan Kaneo

Concession as a precondition for relatively reserved right, gives the foreigners almost equal rights as domestic citizens of the Republic of Macedonia. My goal is to address the legal aspects and the procedure of giving the right to concession. This paper is mainly qualitative research of desk work on International private Law, Law on Public procurements, Law on concessions and Public Private Partnerships in the Republic of Macedonia along with a case study on Concession on power plants in the Republic of Macedonia. Renewable energies are the future, which is why law researchers and law makers need to contribute in making of better laws that adapt to upcoming events in the energy field.

Bovine tuberculosis is a chronic infectious disease in cattle caused mainly by Mycobacterium bovis and to a lesser extent by Mycobacterium caprae. The other members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) can also cause the disease in domestic and wild animals and all of them have a zoonotic potential. The main purpose of the study was to determine the presence and distribution of the tuberculous lesions in reactor cattle, and to isolate and identify the causative agents of bovine tuberculosis in the Republic of Macedonia. Lymph nodes and affected organs from 188 reactor cattle slaughtered due to a positive intradermal comparative cervical tuberculin test were analyzed by detection of tuberculous lesions, followed by isolation and molecular identification of the isolated mycobacteria. The isolation was performed on selective media – Lowenstein Jensen with glycerol, Lowenstein Jensen without glycerol and Stonebrink medium supplemented with pyruvate. The molecular identification of the MTBC members was performed by analysis of the Regions of difference (RD1, RD9 and RD4) and detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the lepA gene for Mycobacterium caprae. Typical tuberculous lesions were detected in 62 animals (33.0%) and the lesions were most prevalent in the mediastinal lymph nodes (47.5%). The isolated mycobacteria in the MTBC were identified as Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium caprae and were found in both animals with visible lesions (82.2%) and animals without visible lesions (27.7%). The slaughterhouse postmortem examinations and laboratory investigations should be included on regular bases in order to improve the National eradication program.

Constitutional changes are something that is necessary in order to improve democratic governance or adapt to political, economic and social changes. The procedure for changing the constitution is special, more complex and more difficult than the procedure for changing laws. It is preferable that constitutional changes are adopted with formal amendments and respect for the democratic processes established in the constitution, and not informal changes. It is neither possible nor desirable to try to formulate in abstracto the best model for constitutional changes. The significance of the balance between rigidity and flexibility can vary from state to state, depending on the political and social context, constitutional culture, time, details and characteristics of the constitution, as well as a number of other factors. The 1991 Constitution of Macedonia is a milestone on the road to democratic transition, although it is alleged that it was created in the 'lab' and not in the state institutions. The 1991 Constitution belongs to a group of flexible constitutions, despite the fact that a double majority is required for its change. Amendments to the Constitution of Macedonia were applied seven times (in 1992, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2009 and 2011) and they have become an integral part of the Constitution. More than twenty years of 'constitutional development' since the passing of the Constitution through the numerous amendments that followed clearly describe the transformation of the modern Macedonian state, as well as the issues, the causes and problems which have appeared and the steps which have had to be taken. A number of constitutional changes in Macedonia from 1992 to 2011 show a strong tendency for democratization and integration of ethnic communities, they also have (probably unintended) supportive effect in cementing ethnic cleavages in the Macedonian political system. Finally, the external influence played a major role in the adoption of a number of changes in the 1991 Macedonian Constitution. In spite of the significance of formal rules for changing the Constitution, however, it has been established that the political and social context is far more significant for many changes. The Macedonian Constitution is an example when adapting to social and political changes was the basis for changing the constitution and the way for its revision several times with 31 changes since 1991. Also, while the formal right to initiative should be within national political actors, a particular initiative may sometimes come from abroad (for example, BiH, Sudan and Iraq). In Europe, in recent years it has become common place for states to change their constitutions in order to comply with the requirements that are necessary in order to achieve their goal of joining the European Union or the Council of Europe, which often require the states to undertake constitutional reforms aimed at harmonizing with the commitments they made when they became members of those organizations.

Pyraloidea (Lepidoptera: Crambidae & Pyralidae) were sampled in the territories of southern Serbia, Montenegro, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Albania on a total of 53 occasions during 2014, 2016 and 2017. A total of 173 species is reported here, comprising 97 Crambidae and 76 Pyralidae. Based upon published data, 29 species appear to be new to the fauna of Serbia, 5 species are new to the fauna of Macedonia and 37 are new to the fauna of Albania. The data are discussed.

The international law which regulates the formation, functioning and legal capacity of international organizations, and also the international law in the United Nations system, are always relevant and subject to progressive development, because the international relations are in constant dynamics. Each newly created state has one major foreign policy goal during its first years of formation or after obtaining independence – admission to the membership of the United Nations. That is because the decision of admission to the membership of the UN guarantees the country’s statehood which can no longer be questioned. The country becomes part of a global community of nations – the international community. Therefore, the present paper is a qualitative research regarding the admission of new states to the international community, and the decision-making process concerning the admission of new Member States to the UN.

This study represents the first systematic investigation of the spatial distribution of different chemical elements in the soil of the city of Skopje, Republic of Macedonia. For this purpose, surface soil samples from 234 locations were analyzed to determine the content of 20 major and trace elements (Ag, Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Sr, V and Zn) to assess the size of the areas eventually affected by heavy metal pollution. All samples were analyzed by atomic emission spectroscopy with inductively coupled plasma (ICP-AES). Cluster and factor analysis (R-mode) were applied in order to show the associations of chemical elements. Four factors were obtained: Factor 1 (K, Na, Ba and Al), Factor 2 (Cr, Ni, Mg and Fe), Factor 3 (Zn, Cd and Cu) and Factor 4 (Sr and Ca). It was established that the distribution of the associations of F1, F2 and F4 are mostly as a result of the complex geology and lithology of the region while the association of F3 represents an anthropogenic association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The horological data for two new plant species of the flora of the Republic of Macedonia are presented - Anisantha diandra (Roth) Tutin and Ochlopoa infirma (Kunth) H. Scholz (Poaceae). The species Anisantha diandra is registered in several localities in the Republic of Macedonia (Skopje, Ohrid, Tetovo), while the species Ochlopoa infirma was found only in the vicinity of Bogdanci. A short description is given of the differential morphological characteristics of both species, as well as the habitats to which they are registered. Both species can be considered as native autochthonous for the flora of the Republic of Macedonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The corporate governance is concerned with both the rules and regulations and institutions that influence the management mode within corporations as well as the manner in which they allocate their resources and returns. The globalization process, especially, the global integration of financial markets, puts pressures on national systems and models of corporate governance to converge i.e. comply with the global trends and developments in the area of corporate governance by opening their economies towards the global markets. This paper analyzes this very issue, or, in other words, the impact of the globalization on corporate governance, with special focus on the Republic of Macedonia. Consequently, it is demonstrated that the Republic of Macedonia is included in the process of globalization, companies are interested in presence and competition on the global market, and therefore building a good corporate governance system is a need, not a choice. Moreover, the Republic of Macedonia has substantially harmonized its regulations pertaining to the corporate governance on the basis of the principles commonly accepted at an international level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Knowledge: International Journal is the property of Institute for Knowledge Management and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Knowledge: International Journal is the property of Institute for Knowledge Management and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of this study was to investigate the distribution of chemical elements in topsoil and subsoil, focusing on the identification of natural and anthropogenic element sources in the area of the Crn Drim River Basin, Republic of Macedonia. For that purpose, by using sampling network of 5 × 5 km, 124 soil samples from 62 locations (topsoil and bottom soil) were collected. In total 60 elements were analysed, from which 18 elements (Ag, Al, B, Ba, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, V и Zn) were analysed by inductively coupled plasma - atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) and an additional 42 elements were analysed by ICP - mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Multivariate statistical analysis was applied to the obtained data. Factor analysis applied to the ICP-AES results produced four geogenic factors: F1 (Ba and K); F2 (Ag, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn), F3 (Cr, Fe, Na, Ni and V) and F4 (Al, Ca, Mg and Mn). Data obtained from the distribution maps and data analysis on soil samples, indicate the natural occurrence of the analysed elements as well as low concentrations of heavy metals in the studied area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with the two new species for the flora of the Republic of Macedonia - Moenchia erecta (L.) G. Gaertn., B. Mey & Scherb. and Catapodium marinum (L.) C.E. Hubb. and their distribution on the territory of the Republic of Macedonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data analytics and predictive analytics are among major trends companies are facing worldwide. In a highly digitalised environment, it is not only to question the usage of data analytics but how analytically mature organisations are. The goal of this paper is to assess organisational maturity in predictive analytics of telecommunications companies in the country. In order to assess the level of organisational maturity in predictive analytics, we use Predictive Analytics Maturity Framework Assessment (PAMFA) (Capgemini, 2012), since it best describes maturity levels in the telecommunications sector. The method of analysis is based on interviewing managers with a questionnaire that guides respondents through all dimensions and levels proposed by the framework. According to the PAMFA five dimensions are analysed (Vision and strategy, Enablers, Competence, Deployment and Governance). For each dimension, four maturity levels are defined: Level 1: Impromptu, Level 2: Solo, Level 3: Ensemble and Level 4: Symphony (Capgemini, 2012). Survey results confirmed that analysed companies fully understand the benefits of predictive analytics as a valuable source of gaining competitive advantage from data. The overall level of predictive analytics maturity is set between levels 2 or 3 for almost all dimensions. This research is the first attempt to analyse organisational maturity in predictive analytics in the country. Its originality derives from the specific characteristics and development of the telecommunications sector. This sector is one of the most advanced service sectors in the country and hence represents a benchmark concerning digital transformation. Results of this survey provide useful information needed to design a roadmap for migrating towards higher maturity levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]