On the occasion of November 22, the Day of the Albanian Alphabet, the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov sent the following letter to the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia, members of the Albanian ethnic community.

Dear fellow citizens,

On behalf of the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia and on my personal behalf, I would like to congratulate you the Day of the Albanian Alphabet, November 22.

The Republic of Macedonia is proud that the city of Bitola was the centre of the efforts for unification and standardization of the Albanian alphabet. We are proud of the significance of Bitola Congress in the development of the Albanian science and culture, which cannot be imagined without a unified and contemporary alphabet.

As President of a country that appreciates utmost the contribution of all ethnic communities in our cultural and scientific progress, let me express hope, on this day, that the Albanian community in the Republic of Macedonia will continue freely and successfully to promote its culture and nurture the Albanian tradition in the Republic of Macedonia.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, will be the patron of the Macedonian Chairmanship of the European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction 2010-2011.
The Macedonian Chairmanship of the Forum is a serious contribution of our country to the regional and global efforts for building a more secure world. The European Forum for Disaster Risk Reduction is a leading European forum, part of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction System, working on prevention of accidents and disasters caused by natural
and man-made factors and their mitigation. The Republic of Macedonia and the Macedonian National Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction, contributing to preparedness and better risk reduction and disaster respond, as well as the Macedonian Chairmanship of the European Forum will be an additional impetus for the institutions and stakeholders in the Republic of Macedonia constituting the National Platform. As a country, Macedonia has a highly esteemed and developed model and system for risk assessment and risk preparedness.
As a patron of the Macedonian Chairmanship with the European Forum, President Ivanov has initiated a Summit of heads of states from the region of Southeast Europe and the surrounding EU member states.

Participation at the meeting of Heads of States and Governments at the NATO Summit in Lisbon

The President of Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, at the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Lisbon, held several informal meetings.
The US President, Barack Obama, at today’s meeting with President Ivanov, expressed his regret that the Republic of Macedonia is not yet a member of the Alliance and extended his congratulations for Macedonia’s outstanding contribution to the mission in Afghanistan. He also conveyed his gratitude for the partnership that the Republic of Macedonia has been nourishing with the US.

The meeting was also used to discuss the latest developments in the process of settling the differences over the name.

President Obama stressed that US will remain committed and is willing to assist in finding a mutually acceptable solution to this issue as soon as possible. President Ivanov said that the Republic of Macedonia is the one seeking for a solution and added that Macedonia has been suffering concrete consequences due to this imposed dispute. He also stressed that we stand ready for a solution.
President Ivanov told President Obama that the US involvement in this process is of exceptional importance for the Republic of Macedonia.

At the meeting with the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, upon her request, President Ivanov briefed her on the process of settling the differences over the name with Greece.

President Ivanov underlined that the Republic of Macedonia stands ready to resolve this issue and added that, unlike before, a more favorable ambience has been established concerning this issue and frequent meetings and contacts are held, which, according to President’s belief, could result in finding a mutually acceptable solution.

Chancellor Merkel expressed hope that with a constructive approach of both sides a solution may be found as soon as possible, so that the Republic of Macedonia can take its deserved place in the Alliance.

The US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, during the meeting with President Ivanov, reaffirmed the readiness for further close cooperation with the President and with the Republic of Macedonia, expressing hope that with joint efforts Macedonia will soon be able to take its deserved place in the Alliance.

Secretary of State Clinton extended her appreciation for President Ivanov’s leadership and for the outstanding support to the global goal with Macedonia’s participation in the ISAF mission.

President Ivanov met with the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, who personally apologized for the recent case concerning the UN register by stressing that the UN holds due respect to the Macedonian language.

At the meeting with the President of Turkey, Abdullah Gul, it was stressed that the Republic of Macedonia may count on overall and comprehensive Turkish support.

The Afghan President, Hamid Karzai, at the meeting with Ivanov, thanked on the engagement of the Macedonian peace-keepers and on their dedication for building prosperous Afghanistan.

President Ivanov emphasized that only with joint efforts the ultimate goal can be reached – democratic society based on the rule of law and respect for human rights.

At the meeting with the President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy and with the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, the readiness for further close cooperation in the integration process of the Republic of Macedonia to the European Union was reaffirmed.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, on the occasion of the religious holiday Kurban Bayrami sent today a congratulation letter to the Head of the Islamic Religious Community, Reis Ul Ulema Sulejman Efendi Rexhepi.
Distinguished Reis Ul Ulema Sulejman Efendi Rexhepi,

Allow me, to you personally, to the members of Rijaset of the Islamic Religious Community, to the muftis, imams and all the citizens of Islamic religion in the Republic of Macedonia, to extend my most cordial congratulations on the religious holiday Kurban Bayrami.
May all of you spend the holiday in good health, happiness, joy and harmony along with your beloved ones.
Kurban Bayrami is a holiday of solidarity and rapprochement, a day when welfare offers hand to poverty, a day highlighting all human virtues. May this be the spirit of this year’s festivities.
I believe that the Islamic Religious Community and all its believers as an inseparable part of the Macedonian society will continue to be active stakeholders in establishing coexistence and understanding between different faiths and ethnicities in the Republic of Macedonia.

I congratulate you the holiday Kurban Bayrami!
Dr. Gjorge Ivanov

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, today, in Split, attended the formal opening of the 12th Conference of Croatian Academic and Research Network – CARNet CUC 2010, where he delivered a lecture.
The conference was also attended by the Croatian President, Ivo Josipovic, the Mayor of Split, Zeljko Kerum, and CARNet Manager, Zvonko Stanic.
The Croatian Academic and Research Network - CARNet was established in 1991 as a project of the Ministry of Science and Technology of the Republic of Croatia. In 1995, the Government of the Republic of Croatia passed the Decree on founding of the CARNet. Its activities are focused on providing internet services, facilitating progress of the information society and education for the new era.

The Minister of Information Society, Ivo Ivanovski, is a member of the delegation led by the Head of State to Split.
Before the formal opening of the 12th Conference of Croatian Academic and Research Network – CARNet CUC 2010, President

Ivanov met with his Croatian counterpart and discussed the Macedonian-Croatian relations. Both Presidents agreed that there are no open issues between Macedonia and Croatia. The political and economic relations between the two countries are excellent and the cooperation should be nourished further.

Except for the bilateral relations, Presidents Ivanov and Josipovic also shared opinions on the EU-integration processes and on the developments in the region. They reaffirmed the successful cooperation within NATO and the constructive politics of both countries, which has been contributing to positive climate in the region. Both Presidents addressed the possibilities for further boosting of the good economic cooperation, mentioning projects for infrastructure connection of the Adriatic Highway with the Corridors 8 and 10.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, today visited the Macedonian peace-keepers deployed in the ISAF Mission in Afghanistan.
Macedonia should be proud with the participation of our peacekeepers in the ISAF Mission in Afghanistan, because they demonstrate in the best way all army reforms, as well as the country's preparedness for full-fledged NATO membership, said today the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, visiting for the first time the Macedonian troops in Afghanistan.
President Ivanov stressed that although Macedonia is not yet a NATO member, it acts like all Alliance member-states in the ISAF Mission, fulfilling all its obligations. He also underlined that the Macedonian peace-keepers in this mission have their contribution to global peace and institution-building in Afghanistan.

Our soldiers are professional in their tasks, respected by their colleagues, but also by the local population. Although a small country, Macedonia contributes to the stabilization of a piece of the world, President Ivanov said and added that this experience will be beneficial for our soldiers in their upcoming missions.

President Ivanov met with the NATO's Senior Civilian Representative to Afghanistan, Mark Sedwill, and with the ISAF Commander, General David Petraeus.

At the meetings, Ambassador Sedwill and General Petraeus briefed President Ivanov on the achievements and contribution of the Macedonian troops within the ISAF Mission, praising their professionalism and commitment in the execution of their tasks.
Talks also focused on the contribution of the Republic of Macedonia to ISAF, on the achievements in the transition process, progress of democratic processes in Afghanistan and capacity building of Afghan security forces.
Macedonia's ISAF contribution began in August 2002, with a symbolic deployment of 2 officers within the Turkish contingent. The Republic of Macedonia currently has 242 soldiers in ISAF Mission, deployed in four larger contingents. A total of 1,500 Macedonian soldiers have participated in the mission thus far.