by Hakob Asatrian The first Armenians appeared in Macedonia as early as the 17th century. The Balabanovs (Balabanians) were one of the first Armenian families to migrate from Van to Macedonia. The Balabanov brothers were engaged in pomegranate trade. They settled in the city of Shtip and became involved in the social life of the city. In the words of Jasmina Balabanian, a Macedonian Armenian architect, her great-grandfather Manyoil Balabanian was the mayor of Shtip in the 20th century. Her father Kosta Balabanian served as Japanese honorary consul in Macedonia. Jasmina works in a museum in Skopje. The museum staff has an intention to collect the Armenian heritage of Macedonia. Work is also being done to open an Armenian school where the Armenian language, history of the Armenian people and music will be taught. According to Armine Piloyan-Vrteska - a former resident of Armenia, currently a potter residing in Macedonia, in all likelihood the Armenian Saturday school will open in October 2009. Armenians aged 5-65 will attend the school. There are about 25 children, the same number of adults expressed an intention to study there. The school does not have its own building yet, and measures are being taken to acquire one. Armenian textbooks and methodological guides will be sent soon to the Armenian Saturday school in Macedonia with the assistance of the RA Ministry of Diaspora and the RA Ministry of Science and Education. Armine Piloyan-Vrteska, who married Jan Vrteski, has been living in Skopje since 2005. She organizes several exhibitions of her pottery in Macedonia a year. Her husband Jan is the Chairman of the Armenian-Macedonian Society. It is envisaged bringing a khachkar from Armenia to Macedionia soon and erecting it in Skopje. The Armenian community in Macedonia is not large: it has 300 members (60 families). Among its members are well-known Armenians. A lot of famous Armenian doctors, including Kandikian, Khurdian, Davitian, Knalian and others live in Macedonia. Among other famous persons of Armenian descent are poetess Liliana Dirian, painter Dafina Balabanian, while Davitian - the soloist of the rock band Bread and Salt has toured various European cities and enjoys wide popularity among local youths. Charles Aznavour has recently visited Macedonia. Within the framework of Days of French Culture, he met with representatives of the Armenian community at the Cinema Hall of Skopje.

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