Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my special pleasure to address today the 23rd Annual Session of Crans Montana Forum, one of the most respected forums on a global scale. It is a distinct honor for me today to address the special session co-organized by UNESCO and ISESCO. I would like to extend special gratitude to the honorary chairman of this event, my host, Ms. Mehriban Aliyeva, the First Lady of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Distinguished Attendees,
History testifies that not always the concept of human freedoms and rights has involved in itself the principle of gender equality. Various social traditions, values acquired throughout the history of peoples and their persistence, their mutual relations within the community, entitled women with different role and rights compared to those attributed to men. Such divided roles and rights in certain circumstances have gone so deep that have limited the freedom of women, her choice in various segments of life, and with that, her contribution to the promotion of coexistence.

Women’s rights movements have experienced the peak of their real promotion in the global definition of women’s rights as postulates of contemporary society in the 20th century. In the largest international organization, the UN, women and women’s rights have a special place. The organized world conferences on women’s rights, the adopted declarations, the enacted resolutions and platforms for action, as well as their implementation in the UN member states, are a global foundation for further eradication of gender discrimination, and even stronger promotion of women’s rights and women’s equal access to opportunities.

Since then, increasingly, through various forms of individual and joint action, women have the opportunity to attain and fulfill their rights. Existing obstructions of different kind to women’s rights in certain parts of the world - gender disparity compared to fundamental rights, access to opportunities, work and education, health care, politics, decision-making - are proof that this category of rights has not everywhere and always been fully recognized and implemented. In this regard, we all need to focus our energy and strength; we should play less by accident, but be more organized and active at local, national, regional and global level, so that women everywhere and always receive the deserved treatment of equality in terms of rights and equal access to them.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
The image of a woman in the Macedonian society and the treatment she receives is a combined expression of centuries-old traditions, culture and mentality of people whose paths have met on this territory, on the one hand, and the political will and commitment of women in the past twenty years of Macedonian independence, on the other hand.

Thus, my country, the Republic of Macedonia, which deeply in its history, tradition and culture, has embodied benefits from the ancient period up to present time, from East and West, from Christianity and Islam, has also established the values of each generation we constantly learn from and continuously upgrade.

With the amendments in the legislation of the Republic of Macedonia, despite the guarantee provided by the Constitution, gender equality is regulated in other legal regulations and international agreements that are an integral part of our legal order. Numerous laws have been adopted, such as the Law on Equal Opportunities and the two consecutive five-year National Plans for Action for Gender Equality. More importantly, a lot is being done in view of specific policies, priorities and actions for women in terms of human rights, in decision and policy- making processes, health care, social protection, education, employment, media, regarding the environment. Particularly important to note is that in the Republic of Macedonia women's rights do not recognize any divisions, ethnic, or religious, linguistic, or any other criterion. Availing myself of this opportunity, I would like to stress that the commitments of the Republic of Macedonia in terms of women and gender equality are not only declarative, but are observed, applied and upgraded on a daily basis.

In the Republic of Macedonia, there is a growing number of senior civil servants and political officials who are women. Their minimal representation in political life is guaranteed with participation of one third in the representative bodies at local and national level. Women with their perseverance and commitment are more successful in significant social reform projects, in the health care system, in education, culture. In the area of business and economic development of the Republic of Macedonia, women entrepreneurs are taking an increasingly important role. Many successful companies today are run by women who understand market conditions, who invest their creativity, promote new society-responsible concepts in doing business.

I support all activities of women in my country, individual and joint, as well as the organizations for women's rights and equality and equal access to opportunities, in different ways, through my direct patronage, through active involvement and engagement of all social resources in achieving their noble goals.

Respected Participants,

Today, I am especially proud that women leaders are successful in addressing social needs, in initiating social action, and at the same time they manage to preserve family and traditional values. Exactly that makes us different. Exactly that gives a new dimension to the sustainable development. Development in which sustainability rests in a woman. A woman able to unite, a woman able to establish balance between reason and feelings. A woman capable of facing success and defeat. A woman - leader of today and conceptual creator of tomorrow.

At the end, inspired by the greatness of the deeds that have warmed the hearts of the entire world, guided by modesty and humbleness of her spirit, I would like to conclude my speech with the words of my fellow citizen Blessed Mother Teresa, "Do small things with great love. The smaller the things are, the greater the love is". I urge everyone to be persistent on the road to change and to contribute with his or her own deeds.

Thank you.