No. 7 (2016): Monograph dedicated to North Macedonia
When the staff responsible for Balkania journal contacted Casa Mediterráneo, proposing a collaboration to publish and distribute this academic project, the institution welcomed it and showed its support without hesitation. The reasons are various and of different nature. Casa Mediterráneo is part of the network of Houses of the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation (MAEC) as a tool for the implementation of public diplomacy, the one that makes civil society one of the participants in international relations. The academic world is undoubtedly an example of this civil society to which public diplomacy directs its attention. In the same way, the activities of this Casa cover the Euro-Mediterranean area and, since its establishment in 2009, it has shown great interest in the Balkans. Another reason is the fact that this journal has been previously published by the Embassy of Spain in Belgrade. In this sense, the vision of the diplomat Javier Hergueta, then second ranking officer in Spanish diplomatic corps was decisive for the promotion of the collaboration of this academic project with Spanish public institutions. Finally, this collaboration acquires great value for this Casa since it accesses the contents of the previous copies of Balkania, for the undoubted quality of its socio-political studies and relevant intellectual category of its writers. For all of the above, Casa Mediterráneo is excited to start this collaboration with the journal, participating in the publication, distribution and presentation of this seventh issue. For those interested in getting to know Casa Mediterráneo better, I invite you to visit our website: http://casa-mediterraneo.es/.
I would like to congratulate the publisher of Balkania, Miguel Rodríguez Andreu, for the effort and determination demonstrated by publication of each issue of the journal. In doing so, he contributes, in an excellent and invaluable way, to cover a space of the Balkan studies by Spain, which deserves the greatest recognition, recognition I extend to Javier Hergueta, for his exceptional political, academic and cultural vision of this project, and Carlos Flores Juberías, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Macedonia in the Valencian Community, for his interest in the continuation of the same. Likewise, Casa Mediterráneo appreciates the unselfish efforts of the translators of this bilingual edition and, of course, the help of the MAEC and the Spanish Embassies in Belgrade, Skopje and Athens.
Miguel Oliveros
General Director, Casa Mediterráneo
