Koce Trajanovski

One of the fake galleons that were one of the most ridiculed features of the former government's faux-historic Skopje 2014 revamp of the capital is to be removed by mid-April on the order of the city authorities.

The new Mayor of Skopje, Petre Silegov, who was elected in October, has said he has ordered the removal of three imitation galleons from the Vardar river - installed by the previous government - for safety reasons.

"The 'ships' hinder the normal water flow and, if the water level rises, it could result in spillage," Silegov told TV 24.

As the two leading candidates for the post of Mayor of Skopje try to woo ethnic Albanian voters ahead of the vote on October 15, both are avoiding the kind of divisive ethnic language that marred last year's general elections.

Authorities in the Macedonian capital have denied claims that they are scrambling to collect the cash to complete the 18.5 million euro project for a London Eye-style big wheel on their own, after the new government cut funding for what it calls unproductive investment.

Football fever has gripped the Macedonian capital Skopje as thousands of fans from all around the world arrived for the spectacle that will pit Real Madrid against Manchester United on Tuesday evening at Skopje's Filip II Arena.

The Democratic Renewal of Macedonia, DOM party - the country's green political force - has accused the authorities of not doing enough to curb the dangerous air pollution in Skopje and other major towns.

Sofia has attracted over half a million tourists since the beginning of 2016, stated on Tuesday Tourism Minister Nikolina Angelkova at the first meeting of the mayors of capitals in Central and Eastern Europe and China "16+1".

Macedonia's opposition Social Democrats, SDSM, have demanded an emergency parliamentary session on the subject of air pollution, calling also for the resignation of the Mayor of Skopje, Koce Trajanovski.

A large fountain which is part of the freshly revamped central square in the Macedonian capital, was unveiled this week. For 2.4 million euro, the revamp also saw the laying of white and grey cobblestones that form floral patterns on the ground.

BELGRADE - Skopje Mayor Koce Trajanovski, who is attending the Capital Summit in Belgrade, has voiced readiness to help Serbia by sharing with it the experience concerning the introduction of building e-permits.