The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, attended this evening and addressed the gala ceremony marking the International Day of Bosniaks.

As part of the Macedonian model of coexistence, the Republic of Macedonia respects and accepts the Bosniak community with all its peculiarities and specificities as inseparable part, told President Ivanov the attendees, adding that the essence of our model is the understanding that the other cultures and religions are not a threat for anyone's identity, but a potential source of its enrichment.

"Therefore, we respect and accept diversity. The respect and acceptance are based on mutual trust. Our covenant is to build bridges of friendship in the future as well and to walk together towards our common European future", President Ivanov said in his address.

President Ivanov, on behalf of the Macedonian citizens, once again congratulated all members of the Bosniak community the holiday and welcomed the establishment of the Association of Bosniaks from Macedonia as nonpartisan Association.

The ceremony was also addressed by the President of the Bosniak Cultural Community in Macedonia, Dr. Cemil Bektovic, and the President of the Association of Bosniaks of Macedonia, Mr. Sead Kocan.

The ceremony was enriched with an exhibition of paintings by professors Fehim Huskovic and Trajce Blazevski, as well as with cultural performances.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, decorated the former President of the United States, George W. Bush, with the Order of the Republic of Macedonia, the highest state decoration of the Republic of Macedonia.

The decoration is awarded to the former US President George W. Bush for outstanding contribution to the development and strengthening of the friendly relations and cooperation between the Republic of Macedonia and the United States, especially in affirming and improving the international standing and reputation of the Republic of Macedonia and in promoting the Euro-Atlantic future of the country with his personal involvement as President of the United States.

Former US President George Bush is a great and sincere friend and supporter of the Republic of Macedonia in the implementation of our foreign policy goals and priorities - membership in NATO and the EU and has an extremely important role in developing and strengthening the excellent bilateral relations between the Republic of Macedonia and the US as strategic partners. During his tenure, the United States, in 2004, recognized the Republic of Macedonia under its constitutional name. In 2008 at the NATO Summit in Bucharest, President Bush wanted and lobbied hard for the Republic of Macedonia to receive the deserved NATO membership, which, unfortunately, due to the Greek blockade and the veto, was not realized. In the same year, the Declaration on Strategic Partnership and Cooperation between the United States and the Republic of Macedonia was signed, which is the most important bilateral document in the Macedonian-American relations.

On the occasion of the Muslim holiday Kurban Bairam, the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, visited the Mosque in the municipality of Suto Orizari, where he attended the Morning Prayer and congratulated the holiday to the Muslim believers.

"I congratulate all Muslims the great holiday of Kurban Bairam. This is a holiday when we are supposed to help all those in need, to give comfort to all who need comfort, to be in solidarity and to help people with good deeds. I wish everything you do on this day to be your practice throughout the year", President Ivanov said.

In the spirit of our tradition is to respect each other, to respect our differences, to respect our customs, and be united and in togetherness as were our ancestors and our parents, the Macedonian President said.

The Member of the Parliament, Amdi Bajram, congratulated the holiday Kurban Bairam to all Roma and Muslims, wishing them happiness and pleasant atmosphere for today's holiday. President Ivanov was accompanied by the Deputy Minister of Education and Science, Mr. Spiro Ristovski.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, received today the representatives of the Association for people with epilepsy and parents of children with epilepsy in the Republic of Macedonia, "Epilepsy Macedonia".

The representatives of the Association "Epilepsy Macedonia" informed President Ivanov on their activities aimed at ensuring protection of the rights and needs of the people with epilepsy and parents of children with epilepsy and reducing prejudice and discrimination against people with epilepsy and providing their equality.

They аlso exchanged views about the challenges faced by people with epilepsy and the possibilities for their resolution. In this context, the representatives of the Association "Epilepsy Macedonia" briefed President Ivanov on their demands to the institutions in the country.

President Ivanov encouraged and supported the efforts of the Association "Epilepsy Macedonia" in implementing the program activities, with an aim of improving the quality of life of all people with epilepsy and their families. The Macedonian President said that it is necessary to increase the public and professional awareness for this disease and encourage institutions for timely and adequate response to the needs of the people with epilepsy.

The Republic of Macedonia and Montenegro have symbolic trade of about USD 12 million in the first six months of 2015. The biggest problem for greater economic cooperation is the poor traffic connections which prevents frequent contacts between companies and businessmen, is the conclusion of today's Macedonian-Montenegrin Business Forum, which was organized within the framework of the official visit of President Ivanov to Montenegro.

The Business Forum in Podgorica presented the investment opportunities in Macedonia, the favorable environment and regulations for opening businesses to the representatives of 45 companies from both countries.

The two presidents stressed at the Forum that the peak in the cooperation between the two countries is reached in all areas except in the economy, afield in which there is great potential but is conditioned by poor road infrastructure.

The communication between the business communities will be improved by connecting the Adriatic-Ionian highway with Corridors 8 and 10, something that President Ivanov said should be completed as soon as possible. Faster solution to this problem is expected with the opening of direct Skopje - Podgorica and Skopje – Tivat flights which should be more frequent during the tourist season and with several flights during the week in off-season. This will be achieved through subsidizing low-cost airlines.

- This Forum is an opportunity to explore and develop cooperation in this direction. We, the politicians, remove barriers and create conditions for cooperation. You, the businessmen, need to recognize the opportunities and seize them. If Macedonia and Montenegro have joint embassies, then Macedonian and Montenegrin companies can appear jointly on third markets? Together we can be more competitive and attractive at the European and global markets, President Ivanov said and invited the Montenegrin businessmen to visit Macedonia, to become familiar with the existing facilities and with the positive experience of the companies already operating in our country.
President Vujanovic also stressed that more can be done in the economy.

- Our foreign trade is approximately at the level of EUR 30 million per year, which is not enough for the potential of our two countries. We have a very serious trade deficit; it is reduced by promoting our export opportunities, but it is not enough. Since the independence, Macedonia invested in Montenegro EUR 9.5 million. It is really insignificant though for economic partnership as a whole there is a good foundation and contractual basis for quality cooperation between the companies, as well as good institutional connectivity for promotion of the economic cooperation, Vujanovic said.

He urged the businessmen from Montenegro to contribute to the development of the economic cooperation and also stressed that the Government of the Republic of Macedonia stimulates investment with numerous quality conditions, that Macedonia is a country where investors are respected.

The investment opportunities in Macedonia were presented to the Montenegrin companies by the Minister for Foreign Investments, Bill Pavlevski.

- Particularly in the field of tourism and tourism development zones offered in Macedonia, such as the meetings we had today with AMAN-group. You may consider opportunities to invest in the construction of a luxury hotel or resort in Macedonia. But the purpose of the Forum is to deepen the bilateral trade, which at the moment is EUR 30 million annually and is at a very low level but can be significantly increased, Pavlevski said after the presentation at the Forum.
Zeljko Vidakovic, Vice President of the Union of Employers of Montenegro, said that the Forum is an opportunity to deepen the friendly relations that are not so intensive in the economy.

- Macedonia, with its potentials, has great chances of for even greater placement of agricultural products in Montenegro, which annually imports nearly half a billion euro in food. There is a chance for us to be more present in the large tourist market in Macedonia, which can be achieved by establishing permanent flights presented by the presidents of both countries. It would entail not only a tourist, but also other types of economic cooperation, Vidakovic said.

Mile Boskov, President of the Business Confederation of Macedonia, said that the Union of Employers of Montenegro has established and maintains social and economic relations. As a business community, he said, we are interested in participating in the distribution of food and other products through the establishment of cargo connection between the two countries.

The Forum was attended by Ilija Vuckov, entrepreneur, representing the entrepreneurship in Macedonia, which is in line with President Ivanov's program - young entrepreneurs, representatives of small and medium-sized businesses offering innovative services and products, to be included in the delegation of the Republic of Macedonia and to present the business opportunities.

With the Macedonian-Montenegrin Business Forum in Podgorica, President Ivanov wrapped up his second official visit to Montenegro.

The Republic of Macedonia and Montenegro should soon receive the deserved invitation for NATO membership, which would be in the interest of the regional security and stability, but also of the Alliance itself, the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, and the President of Montenegro, Mr. Filip Vujanovic, assessed after their meeting in Cetinje.

- The Republic of Macedonia undeserved and contrary to international law is blocked in the EU, even though we are a candidate country for already ten years. We are also blocked in NATO, despite the 16 Membership Action Plans, despite our participation in all peacekeeping operations and despite the Hague ruling in our favor. We are aware that the EU is facing serious challenges due to the situation in the Euro zone, the Eastern Partnership and the migrant crisis ...", President Ivanov said at the joint press conference.

Moreover, President Ivanov added, Macedonia expects the enlargement of the Union and the Alliance not only to continue but to be accelerated.

- That is the only way for the EU to become stronger and more resilient to the challenges it faces. That is the only way our region to be more stable, more prosperous and more developed, President Ivanov said.

The Montenegrin President Vujanovic said that Montenegro expects an invitation to join NATO at the ministerial meeting in December and reaffirmed the position that Macedonia deserved its membership seven years ago.

- We would very much like to the see the blockade of the NATO integration process lifted. This blockade is a result of the dispute with Greece that lasts for too long. We stress at all bilateral and multilateral activities that the process should be unblocked and Macedonia to wrap up was supposed to end in 2008 in Bucharest and get an invitation. All Western Balkan countries deserve to be part of NATO, which, as a military-security alliance, means the best guarantee of security, Vujanovic said.

Both presidents agreed that Macedonia and Montenegro have excellent friendly relations, without open issues, confirmed by numerous inter-state agreements. Still, they deem that the economic cooperation is not at the same level as the political.

President Ivanov stressed that they discussed the connecting of the Adriatic - Ionian Highway with Corridors 8 and 10.

- This is a very important road infrastructure project for the Republic of Macedonia and for the region. Realistically, if we are not connected with roads and railways, we cannot expect any notable economic cooperation. Only through increased economic cooperation can we further strengthen the relations between our two countries, as well as the markets and capital with the other countries in the region, President Ivanov said.

According to President Vujanovic, there is room for economic cooperation in all areas, and most likely, as he said, in tourism and agriculture, i.e. in healthy food production. Infrastructure is a precondition for cooperation in the economy and trade.

- A serious handicap is the poor traffic connection between Montenegro and Macedonia. It cannot be overcome in the short term and is an obstacle for the contacts among the companies, people and businesses, as well as for a better and quality cooperation, Vujanovic said.

According to him, the avio connectivity will contribute to the increase of the contacts, which can be realized by motivating the low-cost companies to introduce subsidized charter flights.

The presidents at the meeting in Cetinje today discussed the regional and multilateral cooperation, as well as other issues including the current migrant crisis.

During an official visit to Montenegro, President Ivanov will meet Prime Minister, Mr. Milo Djukanovic, and the President of the Assembly, Mr. Ranko Krivokapic.

President Ivanov welcomes the appointment of the special prosecutor

The President of the Republic of Macedonia,Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, during the official visit to Montenegro, welcomed the appointment of the special prosecutor in Macedonia.

- I welcome the appointment of the special prosecutor and I hope that the remaining obligations arising from the agreement between the political parties will be met in time and that only then we can demand from the European Union to fulfill its promises and Macedonia to find a way to leave the status quo in terms of our European integration process, President Ivanov said at the press conference with the President of Montenegro, Mr. Filip Vujanovic in Cetinje.

Meetings with the President of the Assembly, Mr. Ranko Krivokapic, and Prime Minister Mr. Milo Djukanovic

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, during the official visit to Montenegro, held meetings in Milocer with the President of the Assembly of Montenegro, Mr. Ranko Krivokapic, and the President of the Montenegrin Government, Mr. Milo Djukanovic.

The meeting exchanged views and information on the current political and economic situation in both countries, the Euro-Atlantic integration and for the overall security and political situation in the region, including the refugee crisis.

Common conclusion is that both countries foster excellent political relations and share identical foreign policy priorities and goals, EU and NATO membership, which, in turn, are ideal preconditions for intensifying the cooperation in all spheres of mutual interest, especially in the field of the economic cooperation between the two countries.

In this regard, President Ivanov welcomed the initiative of holding a joint meeting of the governments of the two countries and stressed that he encourages the contacts between the business communities of Macedonia and Montenegro, as is the tomorrow's business forum in Podgorica.

The meetings reaffirmed the need for infrastructure connectivity (road and rail) between the two countries and expressed satisfaction that the Adriatic-Ionian highway, through the Brdo-Brijuni Process, is set as the highest priority of the Berlin Process.

The Macedonian President held a meeting with Prime Minister Djukanovic and stressed that the "connecting to Corridors 8 and 10 with the Adriatic-Ionian highway will irrevocably change our region, will facilitate the economic cooperation and will make our economies more attractive to the foreign investors".

President Ivanov said that the European integration of the Western Balkans is essential for the regional stability, expressed satisfaction with the mutual support and stressed that the Republic of Macedonia is fully prepared for cooperation with Montenegro.