Starting from January 1 the retired persons living on lower income than the average pension in Macedonia will be entitled to free health care, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski told reporters on Friday.

This is an additional measure (along with the raise of pensions, and free spa vacations) for improving the standard of retired persons and one that fulfills the ruling party's pre-election promise.

Such pensioners will acquire free care for all medical treatments they may need, Gruevski said.

In the meantime the Ministry of Health will design a special program for implementing of this Government's measure, he added.

PM Gruevski: Construction of four skyscrapers in Skopje kicks off on Monday

Turkish company 'Cevahir Holding' will launch Monday the construction of four skyscrapers in Skopje settlement 'Aerdrom' - a EUR-100million-investment, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski said Friday.

The projects envisages a construction of four 42-storey towers for residential and commercial purposes.

"We have been working on this investment for a longer period of time...Following our presentation for doing business in Macedonia - low taxes, favorable construction land price, simple administrative procedures - the owner of the (Turkish) company has decided to invest in our country," Gruevski said.

This investment will offer job to domestic construction companies, he added.

The fours skyscrapers are going to be the tallest buildings in Macedonia.

Tourism growth - a result of government's policies, says Gruevski

The 8% growth in tourism in the first five months comes as a result of government's policies to support this economic branch, Premier Nikola Gruevski stated on Friday.

"This year as well, prior to the official start of the tourist season, there is already an eight percent tourism growth mainly owing to an increase in the tourism offer. For instance, tourism in the capital Skopje has been increased due to the many new attractions offered by the city. The government provides subsidies for tour operators to bring tourists in Macedonia. The opening of the new airport, an investment of 100 million euros, also played a role," PM Gruevski told reporters.

Tourism, he added, is yet to experience growth, because lot of investments are planned, such as construction of hotels and subsidies for tour operators and airlines, new tourist offers are being made, etc.