The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, met today with representatives of the National Association of the Blind of the Republic of Macedonia, on the occasion of marking the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the organization.

The representatives of the National Association of the Blind of the Republic of Macedonia informed President Ivanov about the current and future activities of the organization, about the results achieved in the improvement of the position of the blind, especially in terms of education and employment.

President Ivanov expressed his support for the activities implemented by the National Association of the Blind and noted that he will continue to strive for the promotion of the rights of the blind, both through improvement of legislation and through its consistent implementation.

"The state and society as a whole must take continuous and systematic care for the blind. It requires a common and coordinated approach through specific mechanisms for promotion of their rights and their position. Especially important is the engagement of local institutions, municipalities, as well as the support to the families of the blind", the Macedonian President said at the meeting.
The representatives of the National Association of the Blind expressed gratitude to President Ivanov for his overall support and his personal commitment to people with disabilities and expressed satisfaction with the cooperation with state institutions.

"In the past 5-6 years we have incredible and fruitful cooperation with all institutions in the Republic of Macedonia. A day care center for pre-school children is opened and many other projects aimed at promoting the rights of the blind are being implemented", Koce Dimov from the National Association of the Blind of the Republic of Macedonia said. He stressed that in the future their organization will focus on drafting a law on dogs - guides and organization of care center for retired blind people.

On the occasion of the 70th anniversary, which is organized under the motto "70 years Vision of Light", the National Association of the Blind of the Republic of Macedonia awarded President Ivanov with the "Golden Plaque", which is the highest award of the National Association of the Blind of the Republic of Macedonia and is awarded for special merits for improvement of the rights of this category of citizens.

The main objective of the National Association of the Blind of the Republic of Macedonia, which was founded in 1946, is creation of better conditions of life and work of blind persons in our country. The organization includes more than 2,550 blind and visually impaired persons from all over the Republic of Macedonia.

In the Cabinet of the President of the Republic of Macedonia, today, a ceremonial change of the national flag was held. The ceremony was attended by President Ivanov and students from the elementary school "Koco Racin" from Kratovo and "Braka Miladinovci" from Skopje.

The change of the national flag of the Republic of Macedonia in the Cabinet of the President was performed by the Guard Unit of the Army of Republic of Macedonia.

The ceremony is aimed at raising the sense and respect for the flag of the Republic of Macedonia as a sign and symbol of the statehood of our country.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, today signed the Book of Condolence in the Embassy of the Slovak Republic, on the death of the first President of the Slovak Republic, Mr. Michal Kovac.

President Ivanov conveyed his condolences on the death of President Kovac and stressedhis contribution to the democratization of the Slovak Republic and its European and Euro-Atlantic integration.

"Thanks to his efforts, the Slovak Republic today is an important and respected member of the European Union and NATO. It was in his time when the Republic of Macedonia and the Slovak Republic established diplomatic relations, built on the deep roots of the Slovak-Macedonian friendship", President Ivanov wrote in the Book of Condolence.

Michal Kovac was the first democratically elected president of the independent Slovak Republic, who served his term from 1993 - 1998 and was also a founding member of the Movement for Democratic Slovakia.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, today visited the company that produces drugs, processes botanical raw materials, manufactures cosmetics and chemical products,"Alkaloid AD" Skopje. The Macedonian President, during the visit that he paid on the occasion of the 80thanniversary of the establishment of"Alkaloid AD" Skopje, was informed about the production capacity of the company, as well as about the future business plans, strategies and initiatives.

President Ivanov, extending congratulations on the jubilee, noted that "Alkaloid AD" Skopje is an example of successful Macedonian company meeting the highest European standards, with their commitment and professionalism on a daily basis is established as a leader in the pharmaceutical, chemical and cosmetics industry in Macedonia.

In the talks with the Director of "Alkaloid AD" Skopje, Mr. ZivkoMukaetov, President Ivanov said that the company should use all potentials for further development, progress and better performance in the Macedonian and the world market. To this end, the state, in the future, will strive to improve the overall conditions for development of the Macedonian companies, President Ivanov said.

Mr. Mukaetov noted that this visit is an honor and a significant recognition by President Ivanov for the 8 decades of tireless research, development, innovation and continuous investments in the vision of Alkaloid for a healthier life. At the meeting, Mr. Mukaetov presented the current business plans and development objectives of the company in terms conquering new markets in the world, emphasizing the generations of Alkaloid, thanks to whose selfless efforts "Alkaloid" is now one of the most modern pharmaceutical industries in Southeast Europe with over 1,600 employees, 50,000 square meters of production plants and presence in more than 30 countries worldwide.

The Macedonian President welcomed the support of"Alkaloid" Skopje for the various initiatives and projects for the benefit of the society, community and especially the support to the young people in Macedonia.

President Ivanov visited the new Quality Control Center of"Alkaloid AD" Skopje which was launched this year.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, received today the members of the Macedonian national U21 football team on the occasion of their qualifications for the European U21 Football Championship.

At the meeting, President Ivanov congratulated the young players, the coaches and the representatives of the football federation for the first place won and stressed that he, as the entire Macedonian public, is proud of yesterday's victory over the national team of Scotland and the placement of the forthcoming European Championships in Poland.

"In the year when we celebrate the anniversary, 25 years of our independence, you brought us the greatest joy. Your success has shown that we can be together, united and cheer for Macedonia. I thank each of you for his share in this victory, especially the head coach, the coaches and all who have invested in you. We believe in you, said the Macedonian President. Yesterday, on October 11 - Day of National Uprising, you made a football revolution in Macedonia. You have symbolically shown what comes next and what to expect - new victories and endeavors", President Ivanov said.

He stressed that these young players will make an upturn in football in independent Macedonia! You are a generation that will achieve remarkable results in future.

"We expect what you have started to continue it together as a generation, to be united as you were at the matches. Stick together and know that the whole nation is with you. Whether we, at the National Arena are Macedonians, Albanians, Turks, Vlachs, Serbs, Bosniaks, Roma, in such moments, we are all Macedonia. Macedonia as successful as yesterday", President Ivanov told the young players.

The head coach of the youth football team, Mr. Blagoja Milevski, thanked for the reception hosted by President Ivanov and said that they will continue with their hard work in the future.

"Yesterday's victory brings great satisfaction after a hard work and great effort invested in these qualifications by these guys, awarded with participation in the European Championships. It is a great pleasure for me as the head of the professional staff, and I think that the players have a sense of satisfaction with the game played not only at yesterday's match but at all qualification matches, at the level that I think no one expected here, in our country nor in Europe", Milevski said.

The national U21 team of Macedonia won the first place in the third group and directly qualified for the UEFA European Football Championship, which will be held next summer in Poland.