The Macedonian model of integration without assimilation is a model for the future, because in its essence it implies respect for differences, pointed out President Ivanov in his lecture at the Uludağ University in Bursa.

"With every passing day we upgrade and perfect this shared model of ours, which implies enjoyment of rights, but also respect and sharing obligations and responsibilities which arise from the constitutional order", underlined President Ivanov, emphasizing that Macedonia does not want to selfishly keep this model for itself, but to share it with the world, which, according to him, is especially important today.

"The Macedonian model of coexistence created people with open mind who accept and respect differences. People like Mother Teresa who is born in 1910 in Skopje, Macedonia. In a radius of no more than 100 meters from her birth home there were a Catholic church, an Orthodox church, a Jewish synagogue and a Muslim mosque. Mother Teresa became a synonym for a person who lives in oneness within difference", said President Ivanov in his lecture at the Uludağ University in Bursa.

Coexistence, stressed the Macedonian President, was also present during the fight of the Macedonian people for freedom and independence. All of the appeals, calls, manifests and declarations point out the respect for differences. According to President Ivanov, the Republic of Macedonia has installed and promoted this experience in its democratic model of integration without assimilation.

Republic of Macedonia, emphasized President Ivanov, is committed to intercultural and interreligious dialogue. "In 2003 we initiated the first Forum for Dialogue among Civilizations and we are active participants in the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations that was established in 2005 at the initiative of the governments of Spain and Turkey. Macedonia reaffirmed its commitment by hosting four World Conferences on Dialogue among Religions and Civilizations", said the Macedonian President.

According to him, the Macedonian model of coexistence is still a challenge for some of the countries in the Balkans, and in Europe. However, one thing is clear, said President Ivanov, our model ingrained on top of the positive experiences from the past, is in the same time model for the future. "If we were able to live and progress together in the past, we can and we must try to achieve the same thing in the future . The difference between open and closed space is in communication and integration. I oftentimes say that the one who communicates – integrates and the one who does not, ghettoizes himself and invents enemies", stressed the Macedonian President in his lecture at the Uludağ University in Bursa.