TELEPÜLÉSI ÖNKORMÁNYZATOK ORSZÁGOS SZÖVETSÉGE - TÖOSZ
UNGARISCHER LANDESVERBAND KOMMUNALER SELBSTVERWALTUNGEN
HUNGARIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES
Budapest, H-1067. Eötvös u. 10. Address for letters: H-1386 Bp. 62. Pf.: 908
Tel.: (36-1)321-2496, Fax: (36-1)413-0482
Homepage: www.toosz.hu E-mail: toosz@toosz.hu
Twinning link request form
Name of municipality: Municipality of Ohrid
Country: Republic of Macedonia
Zip Code: 6 0 0 0
Region: South Western Region
Population 55 749 people
General Characteristics of the municipality
Ohrid, located in the Southwest part of the Balkan Peninsula, is one of the major municipalities
in the Republic of Macedonia. It is 30 kilometers from Albania, 80 kilometers from Greek
border and 171 kilometers from Skopje, the capital of the Republic of Macedonia. Nestled on
pristine lake, this ancient city is 695 meters above sea level and is surrounded by rugged
mountains in excess of 2.000 meters.
Ohrid Lake came into being about 4 million years ago, as a result of tectonic shifts. The Lake
is 30 kilometers long; 15 kilometers wide and the maximum depth of 292 meters. Its water is
so clear, that it permits visibility to the depth of 21 meters. With its exotic flora and fauna, the
Lake is one of the largest biological reserves in Europe. It has preserved primeval life forms no
longer existing in other ecosystems. It is an ideal laboratory for research by limnologists,
marine biologists, botanists, and ecologists. These features, together with its overall
landscape, make Ohrid Lake a focal point for scientists and lovers of nature.
Ohrid, or Lichnidos which means "White City", as it was previously known, has been a living
town for more than 2.500 years. It is a town whose achievements were woven into the tapestry
of a powerful ancient civilization. The town of Ohrid is indeed a major spiritual and cultural
heritage focal point for the Republic of Macedonia.
It was an Episcopal center in the 4th century A.D., and for the past millennium Ohrid has
served as a main Archbishopric for the Southern Slavs. In the 9th century Ohrid played an
important role in the revival of Macedonian culture. Today Ohrid serves as the spiritual hart of
Macedonia and is a mayor tourist center. Since 1980, Ohrid Lake and the town of Ohrid have
been a world cultural and natural heritage area under the protection of UNESCO. In Ohrid and
its environs, more than 250 archeological sites with material remains dating from between the
Neolithic period and the late Middle Ages have been excavated. The archeological evidence
has revealed that the shores of Ohrid Lake have been inhabited since prehistoric times;
archeological findings from Neolithic settlements date back 8.000 years. Ohrid is indeed an
archeological treasure. King Samuel Fortress, Antique Theater, many Byzantine-era
Churches, center for icon painting and wall frescoes are marks that make Ohrid unique,
spiritual and bright.
Although, in Ohrid there are some Companies in clean industry, small business, agriculture
ets., from the above mentioned you can notice that the main branch in Ohrid area is tourism.
Economic activities of the municipality
1)Agriculture
In the frames of the river basin of Lake Ohrid, in the Municipality of Ohrid there are 16.000
hectares of cultivable soil with registered 15.000 farmer properties in the region, with an
average size of 1 of 3 hectares. This size is too small to earn for normal life and therefore
most of the land is farmed during the free time. Only 10% of the employed in agriculture are
full time employed.
Ohrid geographic and climate factors allows cultivation of different species of agriculture
products. We use and improve those natural factors in order to increase agriculture products.
We provide activities for identification of local products and services, organize workshops…
The aim of those workshops is to educate individual farmers and local producers. Based on
these preparatory activities will be financed local micro projects for local branding of products
and services.
Also we organize educational and informative workshops and seminars on the opportunities
for using funds from the IPARD program as well as funds from the Agency for rural
development.
.2) Industry
We are permanently working and searching stimulating measures for opening new MSE, but
we are also supporting existing capacities in our Municipality, to search new markets in order
to improve their compatibility. The aim of this activities are: development of local economy,
opening new jobs in order to degrease unemployment in Municipality of Ohrid.
3) Tourism
The city of Ohrid is a UNESCO WH mixed site (natural and cultural) and one of the oldest
human settlements in Europe. The city and its historic cultural region are located in a natural
setting of exceptional value, while its architecture represents the best preserved and most
complete ensemble of ancient urban architecture of the Slavic lands. In 1979 the Ohrid Lake
has been inscribed to the WH List under natural criteria and in 1980 also the cultural value of
the area was recognized making Ohrid a mixed site. Ohrid indeed possesses extremely
valuable Neolithic archaeological sites and others from the Bronze Age and the Hellenistic
period: more than 250 archaeological sites have been excavated. Within the very heart of the
city, lies the antique city of Lichnid, then named Ohrid, turning out in one the most significant
medieval cities in the Balkans.
Due to the acquired status of world cultural heritage, as well as to its natural and urbanarchitectural values, the spirit of the past times, and the preserved authenticity, the City of
Ohrid has a great potential for development of tourism.
The city of Ohrid is host to many cultural events and gatherings such as the Ohrid
Summer Festival, the Balkan Festival, the French Film Festival, the International Seminar for
Slavic Languages, as well as numerous other events which contribute to increasing the
number of tourists within the frames of this period, who visit the region, thus making it a
popular tourist destination. This offer is further enriched with the qualities of the clear lake with
developed nautical tourism.
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Regarding the hotel capacities in the region, each year the region is enriched with
quality hotel accommodation in the form of apartments, mostly located along the coast of the
lake.
Tourism represents one of the most significant socio-economic processes in Ohrid.
Thanks to the natural and cultural treasure located in this region, there is a wide interest for its
touristic attendance. Therefore tourism is one of the most significant branches because it
represents criteria and content and is an accelerator of the social and economical life of the
city.
Municipality of Ohrid through the Department for Tourism is carrying out activities for
sustainable tourism development, promotion of the touristic offer in the region and broader and
stimulating measures for tourism development in the rural areas.
4) Other
Crafts
Ohrid has many crafts which can not be briefly described. One of these landmarks is the
Filigree. Filigree is one of the traditional crafts in Ohrid that has been practiced in the area for
centuries and is still cherished in the original manner. The masters from Ohrid are still spinning
the silver wire creating thus beautiful works of filigree jewelry in their workshops such as
bracelets, necklaces, earrings, rings etc.
The Ohrid pearl also which is widely popular in Europe but also it is widely known in the world.
Its value increases because of its natural origin and the fact that it is made only by hand
through centuries.
Having in mind the great tradition developed through the years and the immense traditional
value that handcrafts have for local economy, the Municipality of Ohrid supports projects and
programs related to the traditional crafts. Through these programs Municipality is funding
projects to assist the handicrafts to produce their products, but also to regulate the exhibition
place for their products. Particularly the Municipality is taking care for promotion of traditional
crafts in passive and undeveloped rural areas.
Educational Institutions
1)Kindergarten
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Name of kindergarten:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Jasna Risteska
Razvigorce
Biljana
Rosica
Lihnida
2) Primary school
Name:
1. Hristo Uzunov
2.Grigor Prlicev
3.Sv. Kliment Ohridski
4. Bratstvo Edinstvo
5. Kocho Racin
6.Zivko Cingo
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Number of Children
Number of students
794
4904
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7.Vanco Nikoleski
8.Sv. Naum Ohridski
3) Secondary School
3
Number of students
2600
Name, type:
Secondary School “St. Kliment Ohridski”
Secondary School “Vanco Pitoseski” – tourism and catering school center
Secondary School “St. Naum Ohridski” – electro and machine school center
Educational Institutions
4) Other: Faculty for tourism and catering Ohrid
Faculty for informatic technology Ohrid
5) Language taught: Macedonian, English
Communal institutes, buildings (
1) Sport: Public Enterprise for dealing with sport objects
2) Culture National Institution for Protection of Cultural Heritage and Museum of Ohrid
3) Other
Public Communal Enterprise “Ohridski Komunalec”
Intermunicipal Public Enterprise “Proakva”
Public Enterprise for ground construction “Niskogradba”
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Reasons of wish to establish twinning links
1) Which countries, municipalities do you wish to twin with? Please supply the order of
preferences.
1.EU Countries
2.Municipalities listed in UNESCO
3.Towns licated by lake
2) Why would you like to establish a twinning link, what type of twinning link do you wish to
establish, in which programs would you like to?
With aim to develop cooperation lins,friendship relations, exchange in sport, cultura....
expirience exchange etc
3) Do you already have a twinning link to other municipalities?
Yes
X
No

You'll find attached list
Name of municipality
Country
Date of establishment of
twinning link
4) Please name any other international relations that you maintain presently.
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Municipal decision makers
1) Name of Mayor: Aleksandar Petreski
2) Postal address: " Dimitar Vlahov" 59 , 60000 Ohrid
3)Telephone: +389 46 262 469; 279 520
Fax:+ 389 46 279 521; 262 545
E-mail:protocol@ohrid.gov.mk
4) Do you have a twinning committee ?
Yes

No
X
5) Name of person responsible for twinning, president of twinning committee
____________________________________________________________________________
____
6) Address
______________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____
7)Telephone
Fax
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E-mail __________________________________________________________
Internet__________________________________________________________________
Date : 28 12 2012-12-28
 Local government journal
Signature and stamp of mayor
Documents to attached
 Pictures
 Motivation letter
Map of town, situation of town
 Tourist pamphlets

Please post the requested documents to the address bellow::
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Települési Önkormányzatok Országos Szövetsége
1386 Budapest, 62. Pf. 908
Further questions:
Krausz Veronika Secretary of International Affairs, krausz@toosz.hu, +1-36-1321-24-96
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