People: Vangel Spiroski

Never keep silent if you are prevented from the realization of your rights

Professional experience: Final year at the Faculty of Tourism in Ohrid, sales representative at "AMAK SP" - AD Ohrid.

Engagement in the civic sector: Active engagement in the promotion of the legal regulation for protecting the citizens as consumers, one of the initiators for opening the Counselling Bureau of the Macedonian Consumer's Organization in Ohrid in 2001. At the moment he is the coordinator of the Counselling Bureau.

Hobbies and Interests: Archery - I have been active in the sport archery with small-calibre gun, martial arts - karate, aikido.

Toughest decision: I am not one of those people who make any kind of decision quickly, and then bring themselves in a position to change their mind. I am guided by the principle "measure twice, cut once". Therefore, I never face the historic dilemma: "If you decide like this, you will regret later, and if you decide like that, you will regret the same".

Ambitions: My ambition are directed towards my professional perfection and applying the models and methods used by the modern world in my job. Unfortunately, in our country we get to know these methods when they are no longer "in".

In his free time he reads: In my free time I mostly read fiction from my professional engagement, economic literature, feuilletons and memoirs. 

Where does he go in his free time: When I don't read or do sports, I use my free time to be with my friends, to go to the cinema, and since the entertainment in Ohrid is more intense in the summer period - I pay much attention to the festivals, such as "Ohridsko Leto".

At weekends: I want to use some of them for being with myself. I visit the wider Ohrid or Struga surrounding, while in the winter period I visit the ski-centre Mavrovo.

Which national/local problem does he find especially important and why: Of the national problems, which, unfortunately we have a lot, I give the priority to: solving the name question, remaining far from the so-called Shengen-zone, that is the closure of borders and the unacceptable visa-regime, the malfunctioning of the legal system in the country, failing of certain measures for reviving the economy, the inconsistent economic policy that should provide development of the country, the big unemployment and the poverty. In my opinion, if we solve the economic conditions, we can create an ambience for solving other problems.   

Which global problem does he find especially important and why: Disrespect of human rights, military threats and military conflicts, terrorism, trafficking with people and drug abuse. All these problems present a threat to the development of the civilization and an obstacle for equal development of all people and countries.

What would he change in Macedonia and the world: If I could, I would try to strengthen the self-confidence of our people. We often underestimate ourselves as individuals as well as citizens, and we underestimate our land as a country. In the world, I would like to be able to change the still present separation, mistrust and to bridge the gap between the extremely poor and the extremely rich countries.

Advice/message: To answer this question, I would use the motto of the OPM association, with which I have been particularly engaged lately: Never keep silent if you are prevented from the realization of your rights. Those rights are given to you because they are universal and you should enjoy them, regardless of their kind.

I could never: Harm the innocent or anyone who does not deserve it. In fact, I cannot think badly of anyone. That is who I am.