The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov today received the Head of the OSCE Monitoring Mission to the Republic of Macedonia, Ambassador Jose Luis Herrero.
At the meeting, President Ivanov was informed on the activities and the involvement of the OSCE mission in our country, as well as on the joint projects implemented with OSCE participation.
At the meeting, opinions and information were exchanged regarding the internal political state of play in the previous period. It was noted that the activities of the OSCE Mission are carried out in completely changed circumstances today as compared with the period when this mission initially launched its projects, and also views and information were exchanged regarding the future OSCE engagement.
Ambassador Herrero brought forth his position which he conveys before all relevant political factors in the Republic of Macedonia and the international community that there is no justification of the use of violence, regardless of the nature of all possible demands and needs.
 The two interlocutors concluded that the Republic of Macedonia is in the stage of democratic development when the institutions work with full capacity and all the requirements and needs, regardless of their nature, should have their institutional progress.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, today received the Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Vasko Naumovski.
At the meeting, Naumovski briefed President Ivanov on the actions taken by the Government of the Republic of Macedonia in order to meet the remarks noted in the last Progress Report drafted by the European Commission. The Deputy Prime Minister of the Government Naumovski also presented the priorities of the Secretariat for European Affairs in the forthcoming period.
President Ivanov, at the meeting, underlined the importance of the Euro-Atlantic integrations for the prosperity of the Republic of Macedonia as a country which, with its values, fully belongs to the European community of states and peoples.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, congratulated all Orthodox believers and all citizens of the Republic of Macedonia today’s national holiday, May 24th, the Day of Macedonian and Slav Teachers, the Holy Brothers Cyril and Methodius
Dear citizens,
Let me congratulate you the Day of the Holy Brothers Cyril and Methodius, May 24th. This holiday is particularly important for Macedonia and for the entire Slav world. The work of the holy brothers Cyril and Methodius, declared as protectors of Europe by His Holiness Pope John Paul II, is permanent and indelible testimony of the power of man’s spirit and his endless virtue. The holy brothers were against the closed and narrow understanding of their opponents, who wanted to limit knowledge and science to only few languages spoken at that time. Their major victory for equality of nations, for human freedom and spread of literacy and science, ensured expansion of the European knowledge to the most distant parts of the world.
I wish you blessed holidays.

On the occasion of the National Vlach Day, May 23rd, the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov sent the following letter of congratulations to the members of the Vlach community in the Republic of Macedonia:
Respected,
Allow me, on my personal behalf and on behalf of the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia, to congratulate you the National Vlach Day, May 23rd.
The celebration of the day, when 105 years ago, the Turkish Sultan Abdul Hamid II issued a special document recognizing the existence of the Vlachs as distinct ethnic, linguistic and cultural subject, is of great importance for the Vlach community, but also for the Macedonian state.
As inseparable part of Macedonia's multiethnic mosaic you are devoted citizens of your country and your community, successful in all fields of social life. The welfare and prosperity of the Republic of Macedonia, as our common home, depends on us all and Vlachs certainly have special contribution to this goal.
With sincere wishes for further success in nurturing and disseminating Vlach tradition and culture in our country and in the world, once again, I cordially congratulate you the Vlach day, May 23rd.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia d-r Gjorge Ivanov today met with Clare Birgin, Ambassador of the Commonwealth of Australia to Macedonia (residing in Belgrade), who is soon leaving the position. At the warm meeting, President Ivanov expressed his gratitude to Mrs. Birgin for her contribution in the development of close and friendly relations between the two countries. President Ivanov said that the large and well integrated Macedonian community living in Australia is a major link in the strenghtening the friendship of the two countries. The President also expressed his opinion that a decision on the part of Australia to begin using the constitutional name of the Republic of Macedonia in billateral relations would even further strenghten the relations.
At the meeting, both parties talked of their satisfaction stemming from the intensive schedule of meetings and contacts, namely the visit of the President of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia Nikola Gruevski to Australia, as well as the visit of the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Parliament of Australia Harry Jenkins to Macedonia. As a future move, President Ivanov expressed his hope that Australia will open a resident Embassy in Macedonia.

President of the Republic of Macedonia d-r Gjorge Ivanov today met with Hadi Nezir, Minister in the Government of the Republic of MAcedonia, Kenan Hasipi - President of the Democratic Party of the Turks in Macedonia (DPTM) and member of Parliament, and Kadir Sali, Secretary General of the DPTM.

The cordial meeting was dedicated to the position of the significant Turkish community living in the Republic of Macedonia, and its contribution to the overall development of the Macedonian society. Also, a topic of discussion were the excellent relations that the Republic of Macedonia has with the Republic of Turkey, which are greatly increased by the activities of the Turkish community in Macedonia and the individuals of Turkish ethnic origin that hold distinguished positions in Macedonia.  President Ivanov expressed his expectations that the excellent political relations, followed by a large number of mutual visits between high ranking officials from Macedonia and Turkey will lead to equally good economic relations, adding that a number of meaningful, specific economic projects are already in the works.