ITAR-TASS: How do you assess the bilateral relations between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Macedonia and what are your expectations concerning their future development?

Our two countries enjoy high-level of friendly relations and cooperation and according to my opinion there is mutual interest for their further enhancement. Taking into consideration that the Republic of Macedonia gives much importance to the relations with the Russian Federation as one of the most significant international factors, but also given the long-standing historical and cultural tradition, I can confirm we are interested in further strengthening and deepening of relations and cooperation. In this spirit, I would like to reiterate the gratitude to the Russian Federation for its unreserved support to Macedonia's constitutional name at all levels in the bilateral official communication and within the international community. Continual bilateral political dialogue has also been developed at the highest level in the past period. My predecessors met with presidents Putin and Medvedev, and recently I had an exceptionally useful meeting with the First Deputy Prime Minister Sergey Ivanov in Munich. I hope for a meeting with President Medvedev in the course of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in June this year. Moreover, an invitation has been sent to President Medvedev to visit the Republic of Macedonia, and we would be exceptionally honored to welcome President Medvedev in our country. I say this in order to point out that the political dialogue and the regular top level meetings contribute a lot to the further positive impulse for the institutions for strengthening the ties and intensifying the cooperation. I expect the overall cooperation to be enhanced in the coming period, with special emphasis on the economic-commercial and investment cooperation and use of existing potentials. This should be our common priority, and I would like to express my satisfaction with the positive developments in this context.

ITAR-TASS: The Russian Federation and the Republic of Macedonia have signed a Declaration of Friendship and Cooperation. Your predecessor Branko Crvenkovski promoted an initiative for an inter-state treaty of friendship and cooperation, which could be seen as the basis for mutual legal relations. Is this proposal still valid? What is your opinion regarding the proposal?

I welcome this initiative. It is my opinion that both parties should give high importance to the Agreement for Friendship and Cooperation and undertake all required activities to harmonize the text and prepare it for signing. Twelve years have passed since the signing of the Declaration of friendly relations and cooperation in 1998, years in which I may say we have developed a new quality in the bilateral relations. However, in this period of twelve years many things have changed on the international scene. Such quality in the relations of friendship and mutual understanding should be engraved into a framework legal document, tackling the principles of friendly and partnership relations between the two countries. This Agreement would represent an incentive for more intensive cooperation in a number of areas. Here I will reiterate that such an incentive would be a stimulus for strengthened economic cooperation, something that is our common interest, a priority we should focus on.

ITAR-TASS: The President of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Medvedev, has proposed an initiative for European Security Agreement, intended at establishing a single Euro-Atlantic space, thus putting an end to the Cold War legacy. Medvedev's goal is to strengthen the principle of indivisibility of security in the international law. It is a legal commitment where no country or international organization can enhance its own security on the account of the security of other states. Will Macedonia's leadership support this draft-proposal and maybe you, representing the Macedonian side, have something to add to this agreement?

Republic of Macedonia will provide its insight in the framework of the current OSCE debate. In any case, it is important to say we provide a clear and constructive contribution to Europe's long-term stability and security.

ITAR-TASS: This year marks the 65th anniversary of World War II Victory Day. Historic forgeries regarding the participants and events of the war have increased in the past period, something which can seriously damage the youth's awareness, topple the ties between generations and cause hostility and mistrust towards fathers and grandfathers. Are there cases of misinterpretation of historic facts on the territory of the Republic of Macedonia for this period and what steps has the country leadership undertaken in this regard?

Republic of Macedonia actively took part in the anti-fascist struggle. Those who took part in that struggle are respected by all generations, while their contribution towards the building of a modern Macedonian state is positively perceived. Let's not forget, the Macedonian people achieved its century-old idea for its own state after the end of World War II. It is my opinion, and I believe it is the opinion of the entire Macedonian expert elite, that there are no cases of falsifying and misinterpretation of historic facts regarding the anti-fascist struggle in Macedonia.

ITAR-TASS: The St. Petersburg Economic Summit will be held this June. Will you take part at the event? In this regard, do you expect improvement of the economic cooperation between the two countries?

The Summit in St. Petersburg is on my agenda. The Republic of Macedonia is interested in building dynamic economic relations with the Russian Federation, especially in the energy sector, traffic, construction and tourism. Therefore, it is very important to complete the process of regulating the Russian clearing debt towards Macedonia. It is our wish the Agreement to be signed as soon as possible. Furthermore, the entering into force of the Agreement on Mutual Travels for the citizens of both countries has enabled a facilitated visa regime for several categories of citizens. In the meantime, upon my personal insistence, I was informed that the Government of the Republic of Macedonia has reviewed the possibility of additional liberalization of the visa policy for Russian Federation nationals, for their entry and transiting through the territory of the Republic of Macedonia. As you are aware, the Republic of Macedonia is part of the European visa-free regime, and every Russian citizen can travel freely to Macedonia with a Schengen visa. I am certain these efforts will have a positive reflection in the fields of economic, scientific-technical, tourism and other types of cooperation.

ITAR-TASS: The introduction of LUKOIL in Macedonia resulted in improved standards of services offered to the clients, European eco standards of fuel quality, urging the competitors to work harder and reconstruct their facilities. Do you see LUKOIL as the locomotive in attracting Russian and other foreign investments, taking into consideration that LUKOIL resumes with investments in Macedonia despite the global economic crisis?

The Republic of Macedonia is strongly interested in the increase of Russian investments. LUKOIL is an illuminating example and I hope new and bigger investments will follow. I was personally acquainted with the LUKOIL operations and investments in the visit I paid to some of their gas stations by the Director of LUKOIL for Macedonia, Mr. Kuku. The Republic of Macedonia undertakes concrete steps to create favorable conditions for investments through additional fiscal, tax, customs and other exemptions and benefits. Strengthened economic bonds, increased commercial exchange and Russian investments are on the top of our priorities, and I believe this is in Russia's interest too.

ITAR-TASS: Mr. President, once again, I would refer to the situation in the region developments where many antagonisms still exist. How do you as President, but also as professor in political science see the current situation and the future of the region?

Although the region has always been associated to antagonisms, I have to say that only 200 years out of the past 3,100 that are documented have been peaceful. The greatest paradox is that the longest periods of peace were on the Balkans, known in the history as Pax Romanae and Pax Ottomana. Although they were tyrannies and despotisms respectively, today we can learn something from them. Being a region which interweaves different religions, civilizations, languages, cultures, the Balkans lives in peace only when in open space. When there is a single market, a single currency, a communication code and a neutral force. Unlike the poor file of our region from the recent past, there are nowadays new circumstances. In our region, for the first time in history, by the end of the 20th and the start of the 21st century, we have democratically elected governments. And again we have the need for open space. Our region today needs what I call Pax Europeana. Now is again the time for the European idea to produce peace, stability and prosperity through the Balkans. It is something that generations of statesmen and visionaries in Europe have already done. The region spends energy on borders, recognitions, the fundamental human right of self-identification, the right of human dignity even in the 21st century. I and almost all presidents in the region are trying to present our common vision of cooperation and toppling stereotypes, aiming towards our common presence and future in the big European family. Unfortunately, there are still open regional issues, which justify our concern and could initiate destabilization. If only all countries move forward, we can count on sustainable, permanent stability and security. An extended status quo situation in the region brings risks, both political and security ones. The EU integration agenda is the one mobilizing our societies, this agenda has enormous motivating power in the reform processes, and it guides regional states towards close cooperation in all spheres. This is an agenda that all citizens consider not as imposed, but one leading towards better life, higher standard. The future of our region is in the EU and we believe in the wisdom and vision of Europe's political elite, which needs to extend its arm to the region.