Macedonia Buried President Trajkovski
Politics | March 5, 2004, Friday // 00:00| views
Thousands of Macedonians and scores of foreign dignitaries accompanied late President Trajkovski to his last home. Bulgaria's presidential couple bowed heads in front of the coffin, exposed for public homage in the Parliament. Photo by Kanal5,MK.
Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski, who died in a plane crash last week, was buried in the Alley of the Honored at Skopje's main Butel cemetery with full state and military honours.
A volley of shots was fired over the open grave.
Trajkovski was seen as a new-generation leader with a Western outlook and an ability to build contacts with foreign diplomats and politicians.
Leaders from the Balkans and central Europe, as well as 200,000 Macedonians bid farewell to the Macedonian leader, lining up the streets to see his flag-draped coffin. Presidents and prime ministers from some 50 countries, including Bulgaria, were represented at the graveside.
European Union president Romano Prodi said the European Union is looking forward to Macedonia's membership application. "If that were dedicated to anyone, it would be to Boris Trajkovski, " he said.
The tragedy of Boris Trajkovski's death will consolidate Macedonia's citizens and the political factors, will bring together the Macedonian society, Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov said at a briefing after paying last respects to Macedonia's late president. Taking up a question on Macedonia's future and stability, President Parvanov said that the country needed to receive a clear sign for its European prospects and full-hearted support from its neighbors.
Bulgaria's President Georgi Parvanov and his wife Zorka laid a wreath of flowers by the coffin of Macedonia's late Boris Trajkovski. Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Solomon Passy, ex-President Zhelyu Zhelev, former Prime Minister Ivan Kostov, Nadezhda Mihaylova, leader of rightist Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) and a number of Bulgarian MPs also attended the funeral.
A volley of shots was fired over the open grave.
Trajkovski was seen as a new-generation leader with a Western outlook and an ability to build contacts with foreign diplomats and politicians.
Leaders from the Balkans and central Europe, as well as 200,000 Macedonians bid farewell to the Macedonian leader, lining up the streets to see his flag-draped coffin. Presidents and prime ministers from some 50 countries, including Bulgaria, were represented at the graveside.
European Union president Romano Prodi said the European Union is looking forward to Macedonia's membership application. "If that were dedicated to anyone, it would be to Boris Trajkovski, " he said.
The tragedy of Boris Trajkovski's death will consolidate Macedonia's citizens and the political factors, will bring together the Macedonian society, Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov said at a briefing after paying last respects to Macedonia's late president. Taking up a question on Macedonia's future and stability, President Parvanov said that the country needed to receive a clear sign for its European prospects and full-hearted support from its neighbors.
Bulgaria's President Georgi Parvanov and his wife Zorka laid a wreath of flowers by the coffin of Macedonia's late Boris Trajkovski. Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Solomon Passy, ex-President Zhelyu Zhelev, former Prime Minister Ivan Kostov, Nadezhda Mihaylova, leader of rightist Union of Democratic Forces (UDF) and a number of Bulgarian MPs also attended the funeral.
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