The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, is participating in the 73rd General Assembly of the United Nations in New York.

President Ivanov attended the high-level meeting - Global Call for Action on the World Drug Problem, chaired by the US President, Donald Trump, and the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres.

The Macedonian President attended the opening ceremony of the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit 2018, held on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the birth of the former South African leader.

Late in the evening local Macedonian time, President Ivanov attended the official reception organized by the President of the United States, Donald Trump, for the participants of the 73rd General Assembly of the United Nations.

President Ivanov is scheduled to address the General Assembly of the United Nations on September 27th. President Ivanov is also scheduled to meet with the UN Secretary-General, Mr. Antonio Guterres, as well as to hold several bilateral meetings with heads of state and government, participants in the General Assembly.

It depends on us whether we will preserve the decision from the first referendum on the Republic of Macedonia to be what we are or we will cease to exist as a nation legally and allow someone else to interpret our past and take away our future, said the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Gjorge Ivanov, during his visit to the Macedonian community in New Jersey.

"I want to be clear. The ultimate responsibility is in the Macedonian citizens. Because, we will live in a kind of Macedonia that we will build. It depends on us whether we will preserve the decision from the first referendum on the Republic of Macedonia to be what we are and never refrain from saying that we are Macedonians, that our ancestors were Macedonians. Or, it will be decided to annul the decision of the previous referendum of September 8, 1991. Whether we will legally cease to exist as a nation and allow someone else to interpret our past and take away our future", President Ivanov said, who visited the Macedonian Orthodox Church "St. Cyril and Methodius" in Cider Grove, New Jersey.

The Macedonian President reiterated his stance that he will not vote in the scheduled referendum on September 30th.

President Ivanov begins his participation in the 73rd General Assembly of the United Nations in New York today. President Ivanov is scheduled to address the General Assembly of the United Nations on September 27th.

No politician has a term to negotiate the identity of a nation. The majority of Macedonian citizens did not vote for a program that stipulates a change of the Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia for the purpose of changing the constitutional name of the state. So, neither the current government got the people's mandate to change the identity, to give up of the Diaspora, to erase history and memory, said the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Gjorge Ivanov, during the visit to the Macedonian Orthodox Cathedral, Nativity of Virgin Mary in Detroit.

"The Republic of Macedonia is a permanent benefit. But with the agreement with Greece and the upcoming referendum, that lasting benefit is now being relativized. As if it is not understood that by relativizing the permanent, we also relativize us as nation. This agreement attempts to humiliate us, as no nation has ever been humiliated. They want to make us foolish, believing that we do not know what our name is", President Ivanov said, reiterating his stance that he will not vote in the referendum on September 30th.

"Revivalists fought for freedom from spiritual slavery. Revolutionaries fought for freedom from political slavery. Are we now, after all these sacrifices, entering into a new slavery? Will we deny the freedom to call ourselves according to our own name. Will we be constrained to say the Republic of Macedonia exists, fearing if we mention the Republic of Macedonia not to offend someone? To say the Republic of Macedonia is neither shameful nor fearful", President Ivanov said.

The Macedonian President attended liturgy and consecration of the fresco painting in the church, and visited the children of Macedonian origin who study Religious Studies.

"When you write, speak and create in Macedonian, you actively participate in the construction of our ideal homeland. Macedonia is a homeland of the old Slavic ecclesiastical language. Our duty, as Macedonians, is to keep and continually improve our Macedonian language. Therefore, my appeal to you today is not to forget the Macedonian language. To teach your children, to encourage your loved ones, to be an example and encouragement for the Macedonians in the Diaspora, but also in the Republic of Macedonia", President Ivanov told the representatives in the church community in Detroit.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, gave a lecture at the prestigious Wayne State University in Detroit, at the start of his working visit to the United States.

Announced as a supporter of the principles of market economy and political pluralism, the Macedonian President spoke on "The Birth of a New World: Challenges and Opportunities for Generations Y, Z and Alpha".

Talking about the hyper-connectivity, the challenges and opportunities of the new generations through the prism of the famous philosophers, President Ivanov explained the changes in the world, caused by the rapid advancement of technology, migration, demagogy, climate change.

"There is a period of post-democracy. It is when democracy enters a different phase, when it is seen that it is not affected by those elected by the politicians, but spin doctors. Spin doctors are policy-creators, as they create the programs and activities of politicians", President Ivanov said.

Speaking about the crisis in 2008 and the reasons behind the changes, both in reality and in thoughts, he suggested that ethics had been lost and encouraged young people to exploit their potential at this time of hyper-connectivity in a digitally transformed world . According to the Macedonian President, such a new world of sharing philosophy, block-chain technologies and start-up businesses is created by young digital generations through social networks.

"Knowledge does not make sense if it is not used; it should be applicable - to apply the knowledge and make use of it in your life. It is assumed that one of those most secret teachings is that everything that is human creation, everything that is created by man, whether it is politics, sports, war, medicine, culture, everything is subject to the same four rules. If you respect them, you will always find a solution. These four golden rules are four wisdoms: be patient, learn from the other, use the moment and, if you want to succeed, be ready for sacrifice", President Ivanov said.

The Macedonian President told the audience that he was delighted with their confidence, courage and readiness to be socially active on numerous issues, but at the same time he urged them to channel the unique potential of their generation to achieve lasting values.

The Wayne State University, founded in 1868, is among the top 50 US state universities for research. Within this university is the Mike Ilitch Business School, which is named after the American businessman with Macedonian descent, Mr. Mike Ilitch.

During his stay in Detroit, President Ivanov will be awarded the Global Statesman Award, the highest recognition given by the United Macedonian Diaspora. The visit of the Macedonian President is on the occasion of the participation of the 73rd General Assembly of the United Nations in New York, where he is scheduled to address on September 27th.

Today, the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, received Ambassador Clemens Koja, the new Head of the OSCE Mission to the Republic of Macedonia.

President Ivanov congratulated Ambassador Koja on his appointment as Head of the OSCE Mission to the Republic of Macedonia, wishing him success in his work.

At the meeting, President Ivanov stressed that the Republic of Macedonia appreciates the role of the OSCE and the support it gives to the Macedonian authorities in several spheres - rule of law, electoral process and legislation, support in areas such as police and judiciary, promotion of interethnic relations and coexistence, in the sphere of media and freedom of expression.

In that direction, the Macedonian President expressed expectation that the Republic of Macedonia will continue the cooperation with the OSCE in the future in order to support the reform processes.

The meeting also discussed the current political situation in the country and the activities of the OSCE/ODIHR observation mission on the eve of the upcoming referendum. The Macedonian President expressed expectation that the OSCE/ODIHR observation mission will professionally carry out its task within its strictly defined mandate.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, held a farewell meeting today with the navy captain Gorazd Bartol, Head of the NATO Liaison Office in the Republic of Macedonia.

The two interlocutors exchanged views on the course of the reform processes that the Republic of Macedonia implements in defense and security, which are fully in line with the NATO recommendations and standards.

At the meeting, President Ivanov expressed gratitude for the ongoing direct cooperation, as well as readiness for further closer cooperation and support from NATO’s liaison office in the field of defense and security.

The Macedonian President said at the meeting that NATO and EU membership remain strategic goals of the Republic of Macedonia that are of broader significance for the peace, stability and prosperity of the entire region.

President Ivanov thanked the navy captain Bartol for his engagement in the Republic of Macedonia and wished him success in his future career.