The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, today attended the 59 National Prayer Breakfast organized by the US Congress in Washington.

We consider the United States a really honest friend respecting all undertaken actions by us in meeting our NATO aspirations. Evident is their commitment to contribute in every possible aspect in finally finding a solution for Macedonia to enjoy the privileges of NATO membership, not only to share the responsibilities, President Ivanov assessed.

It was stressed at all the meetings with US administration representatives that Macedonia deserves to be in NATO and that what happened at the Summit in Bucharest was a great injustice. We hope that, according to the latest developments, we will find a solution. Every our visit, all the meetings that we have are exactly in function of finding a solution, President Ivanov said.


At the meetings with all interlocutors, nine senators and several congressmen who are well informed on the state of play in our whole region and in Macedonia, the latest developments in the country and in the Balkans were discussed, but also a topic of discussion was the situation in Egypt, an issue that the US administration is fully mobilized for.

On the margins of the Prayer Breakfast, President Ivanov held Informal meetings with US officials and shared opinions on the developments in the region and on Macedonia’s membership in NATO through the perspective of the name dispute. At the Prayer Breakfast, attended by over 3.000 guests from all over the world, Ivanov was introduced as the President of the Republic of Macedonia.

The event was attended this year by Culture Minister Elizabeta Kanceska-Milevska, Minister of Environment and Physical Planning Nexhati Jakupi, MPs Vlatko Gjorcev, Hristina Runceva and Slavica Grkova, as well as Vilma Trajkovska -  wife of late President Boris Trajkovski - and the President of the Supreme Court Jovo Angelovski.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov today in Washington met with the Director of Peace Corps volunteer organization, Aaron Williams, Senators Bernard Sanders, Patrick Leahy, Jim DeMint and Jeanne Shaheen, as well as with UMD representatives.

At the meeting with the Director of Peace Corps volunteer organization Aaron
Williams, President Ivanov thanked for the support that Macedonia receives from this influential organization. President Ivanov invited Williams to visit Macedonia in spring, when he will be awarded with the Order of Merits for Macedonia. All past Peace Corps volunteer who served in Macedonia will be invited to attend this awarding ceremony. Currently in Macedonia there are 76 Peace Corps volunteers, and additional 40 volunteers are to arrive in the country in September to support the development of the NGO sector. It is believed that over 200 Americans served as volunteers within the Corps since the beginning of the program in Macedonia in 1996. Peace Corps was established by executive order of US President John Kennedy in 1961. This state agency works for promotion of peace and partnership in the world. Since its establishment, total 200.000 people served as Peace Corps volunteers for a better understanding between the Americans and the citizens of 139 countries in the world.


President Ivanov met with Senators Bernard Sanders, Patrick Leahy, Jim DeMint and Jeanne Shaheen and exchanged opinions on the developments in the country and in the Balkans, as well as for Macedonia’s membership in NATO through the perspective of the name issue.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov met with
United Macedonian Diaspora members, an organization that for years has been representing the interests of the Republic of Macedonia in the world and helps in maintaining ties between the homeland and the Macedonians living abroad.


UMD representatives presented to President Ivanov the activities they take to inform US administration representatives, congressmen and senators on the importance of Macedonia’s integration processes. UMD representatives briefed President Ivanov also on the cooperation of the organization with other related organizations in Washington. President Ivanov briefed on the latest developments related to the priorities of our country, with particular attention to the problem that the Hellenic Republic has with the name of the Republic of Macedonia which impedes the EU and NATO integration processes. UMD members welcomed President’s initiative for regular contacts between the leaders of the political parties in Macedonia and assessed that it is for the interest of Macedonia the relations between the parties not to deteriorate.

The President of the Republic of Maceronia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov is paying three-day working visit to Washington to attend the 59 National Prayer Breakfast, organized by the US Congress on Thursday.

President Ivanov today addressed the Atlantic Council in Washington on the topic “Why Macedonia needs NATO membership and why NATO needs Macedonia”.


President Ivanov stated that the desire for NATO membership has been uniting factor of the entire Macedonia's society, regardless of ethnic, religious and political affiliation, which is demonstrated by the fact that Macedonia’s membership into the Alliance enjoys support of over 90 percent of its citizens, underlined President Ivanov and assessed that Macedonia-NATO relations are tight because they are based on mutual trust and over 10-years of close contacts marked with upward trend. President Ivanov expressed his hope that the ties will be crowned with meritorious accession of Macedonia to NATO.


Elaborating why NATO needs Macedonia, President Ivanov said that there could be no stable Europe without stable South-East Europe (SEE). The lessons from the past have shown that there could be no stable SEE without stable Macedonia, whose long-term stability depends on its membership in the club of democratic, prosperous Euro-Atlantic nations, President Ivanov said, adding that without Macedonia’s security and stability, the security and stability of the Balkans and the SEE region is hard to imagine.


Macedonia's accession to NATO, according to President Ivanov, will eliminate the existing security vacuum, bringing the Alliance closer to turning its goals into reality - Europe whole and free, Europe that shares same values.


President Ivanov pointed out the fact that at the moment the Republic of Macedonia is sharing same responsibilities with NATO countries, but is not enjoying the same rights and privileges deriving from NATO membership only because of one irrational dispute. We strongly believe that dialogue, trust and better understanding will result in reaching mutually acceptable solution. We are ready but we need your help, President Ivanov said to the leadership of this reputable think-thank organization.

President Ivanov stressed that for Macedonia, in spite of its disappointment for not joining the club after meeting all necessary criteria, membership into the Alliance is a priority and remains high on Macedonia's agenda and it cannot be overshadowed by the attitude of one NATO member state.






The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov today had a meeting with Senators John McCain and James Inhofe and with Assistant State Secretary, Thomas Countryman.

Macedonia must assume its deserved place in NATO as soon as possible, U.S. Senator John McCain told President Ivanov at the meeting. Senator McCain saluted the excellent relations between Macedonia and the United States, stressing the importance of the country's accession to the Alliance for regional stability and prosperity, as well as Macedonia's role and contribution in international security. At the meeting with the Macedonian President, the Senator also thanked for Macedonia's support in Iraq and Afghanistan peacekeeping missions.

On the occasion of the re-election of Anibal Cavaco Silva to the office of President of the Portuguese Republic, the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov sent the following congratulation letter:
On the occasion of your re-election to the office of President of the Portuguese Republic, it is with special honour and pleasure that I would like to extend cordial greetings. At the same time, I would like also to sincerely wish you success in the performance of your high and responsible state function, as well as good health, and personal happiness.
I avail myself of this occasion to underline the conviction that, in the forthcoming period, we will develop and strengthen the friendship between our two countries and peoples. It is my belief that, with joint efforts, we can contribute to deepening and intensification of the relations and ties between the Republic of Macedonia and the Portuguese Republic, in all fields of common concern, at both bilateral and multilateral level. To this end, I would like to assure you of the full preparedness of the Republic of Macedonia and of my own.

On such note, Your Excellency, please accept the assurances of my highest consideration.

Dr. Gjorge Ivanov

Following the attack at the airport Domodedovo in the Russian capital Moscow, the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov sent the following letter of condolences to the President of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Medvedev

Dear Mr. President,

With great sorrow I received the news of the terrorist attack at the airport Domodedovo and I deeply regret for the loss of lives and human sufferings of this cowardly act.

There are no adequate words that would reduce your and the citizens’ of the Russian Federation grief, but let me, on behalf of the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia and on my personal behalf, convey my most sincere expressions of condolences. The fight against terrorism, being the major evil of today, has no alternative, except increased global cooperation. We all must be united in combating these challenges.

Please convey the expressions of deepest condolences to the families of the victims. I would like to assure you that the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia and I personally earnestly regret for this tragic event.

Dr. Gjorge Ivanov

In the hunting lodge of Jasen, near Katlanovo, a meeting was held between President Gjorge Ivanov and the leaders of VMRO-DPMNE-Nikola Gruevski, SDSM-Branko Crvenkovski, DUI-Ali Ahmeti and Nova Demokratija-Imer Selmani.
At the meeting, Macedonia’s foreign policy priorities were discussed, with an emphasis on NATO and EU integration, the name dispute, the recommendations and priorities of the European Commission Report, as well as the celebration of the two important jubilees this year - two decades of independence and ten years of the Framework Agreement and the upcoming census.
At the meeting, information were exchanged and shared on the latest developments concerning the name issue, which is a burden for us for already two decades and is used to block Macedonia’s Euro and Euro-Atlantic integration.
Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski said after the meeting that he briefed on the meetings with his Greek counterpart George Papandreou.
Asked about Macedonia’s position regarding the name, the head of the state stressed that the position is clear and constantly repeated, that the decision should be sought within the UN resolutions.
- Any solution beyond that frame, encroachment on our identity, opening the issue of our name and our language, in a way hinders the settlement of this problem. Therefore, we always tell our positions to Nimitz that the solution must be within the UN resolutions and it is possible then to find a mutually acceptable solution that will really unblock the key processes for us – Ivanov said.