Macedonian Encyclopedia

The Macedonian Encyclopedia is the first scientific encyclopedia of Macedonia. It was published by the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts. The encyclopedia was prepared by the Lexicographical Center with 260 associates involved in its preparation under the guidance of chief editor, Blaze Ristovski. The encyclopedia was printed in 2,000 copies, financially supported by the government of the Republic of Macedonia. About 300 copies are sold or given away. The remaining 1,700 copies have been withdrawn from sale. The Encyclopedia secretly circulated around the internet at the beginning, and can now be downloaded for free.^[1]

The Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts had been planned to be published in an expanded edition with more volumes which would cover areas that were not addressed in the two volume set and then be translated into English.

Content

In the encyclopedia has about 9,000 entries.

Promotion

At the launch of the Encyclopedia George Stardelov, president of the Academy stated: This is the first Macedonian encyclopedia free of foreign deposits and historical interpretations resulting from the principle of multiculturalism instead of ethnocentrism. It's not just an encyclopedia of the Macedonian people, but the Macedonian state.

• While the project may not display all life and development of Macedonia, this work authentically present a view of the Macedonian cultural and national political past and present and aspire to become objective, integral information about us and our country. Said Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski convinced that his objectivistic approach and scientific arguments will contribute "authoritative presentation of Macedonia's centuries-old survival of this clastic Balkan ethno-cultural space and truth to us in the past".^[2]

Controversy

The issuance of the encyclopaedia caused a storm of protest in terms of its content and its authors have been subjected to severe criticism.

• United States Ambassador to Macedonia Philip Reeker in an interview with Radio Free Europe He said it was good that Gruevski and opposition leader Ahmeti sat down together at the table, after the publication of the Encyclopedia. "It is important that Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and DUI leader Ali Ahmeti together sat down to end the cycle of insults and threats that aim to break the positive direction in which Macedonia moves. For me it is clear that the vast majority of citizens of this country for a peaceful and prosperous future in Europe as part of the Euro-Atlantic family, as part of the European Union and NATO. And we can not allow individuals, who may have their own agenda, to distort this. I think that the leaders of this country demonstrate that."
• Menduh Thaci, president of the Democratic Party of Albanians announced the establishment of a parallel Academy of Albanians in Macedonia which will prepare an encyclopedia of Albanians in Macedonia. Furthermore the Party called on Albanians in the Academy Aljadin Abazi, Luan Starova and Ali Aliu.
• New Democracy asked Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski refrain from writing in the Encyclopedia.
• First Macedonian encyclopedia threatening constitutional multiethnic character of Macedonia , promote inter-ethnic hatred , falsifies the history of the Albanian people , it insults the feelings of every Albanian , harm the relations with our American and British friends and entire civilized world. We ask MANU soon withdraw scandalous encyclopaedia , engage Albanian experts in the preparation of the history of Albanians in Macedonia, publicly apologized to the Albanian American and the British people and to condemn the views of Blaze Ristoski. Otherwise, we will consider these views are shared by the MANU. The same demand by the Government, which is a supporter of this project. He said Limani Obadiah, a representative of the civil movement "Wake Up".

Announcement of a new publication

After the withdrawal of this edition of the Macedonian Encyclopedia, the MANU announced a new edition of the encyclopedia, with editor Mitko Madzunkov, who emphasized the need to make a new expanded edition adding that the old one is completed, but that it has many errors, not only material but also factual errors in terms of whole regions and peoples regarding Albanians in the Macedonian culture at large, recalling that he had received an order from Parliament to make second expanded edition. Thus, as he said in his interview for Nova Makedonija, the first issue is to toss or recycle and change more milestones.^[3]

References