On the occasion of the great Muslim holiday of Ramadan, the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, visited the "Yeni Dzhamisi" mosque in Radovish, where he congratulated the faithful Muslims the holiday and the end of the Ramadan fasting.

"I wish you joy, happiness and success in life. May we continue, in the spirit of our tradition, to respect and help each other! Not just for the holidays, but throughout the year!", President Ivanov said.

On the occasion of Ramadan, the Macedonian President traditionally attends the Iftar dinners, and sends messages that inter-religious respect is our common goal which can only bring a prosperous future and prosperity for all citizens of the Republic of Macedonia.

The Army of the Republic of Macedonia will be engaged to assist the police in dealing with the influx of migrants. It would be engaged on the southern and northern border and along Corridor 10 where most migrants are transiting, announced today the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, in Gevgelija where he visited the southern frontier of the Republic of Macedonia.

The Head of the State at the Bogorodica border crossing point was informed by the competent police officers about the activities and measures taken and the overall situation on the ground. He stressed that as a country, we sympathize with these people who were forced to flee their countries because of the situation therein. Therefore, President Ivanov said, we do everything that is necessary to help them while they are transiting through Macedonia.

"Since the amendments to the Law on Asylum, over 14,000 migrants have been registered so far. It will be necessary the police to be assisted because there is a need for additional engagements given that, in this part, it is about 50 km borderline where refugees come mainly from Greece to Macedonia. I as the President and the Government must take action to engage the Army to assist the police in dealing with these challenges. The Army will be engaged in protecting this part of the border, as mentioned about 50 km in the southern part, and to protect the northern part at Tabanovce. The police also needs to be assisted in securing Corridor 10 through which all refugees transit", President Ivanov said.

He pointed out that all measures taken by the Macedonian authorities are in accordance with the measures taken by the EU.

As a country, we will follow all the measures and actions taken by the EU and our actions will correspond with their actions. So, everything taken by them we have to be taken here, because lately there are threats of violent extremism and radicalization coming from the Middle East and North Africa. When it comes to national security, we as a country have to take all measures and actions that would prevent all adverse effects", President Ivanov said.

The Macedonian President visited today the Bogorodica border crossing point, the station of the Ministry of Interior located at the railroad station in Gevgelija where certificates are issued expressing intention to claim asylum, as well as for illegal crossing of the border with Greece that most migrants use to enter Macedonia.

According to the latest Ministry of Interior records since the application of the amendments to the Law on Asylum of June 19 to date at 08:00 am, certificates expressing intention to seek asylum are issued in total to 14,311 foreign nationals. Of them, based on their citizenship, prevail nationals from Syria (10,336), followed by Afghanistan (1,182) and Iraq (761).

Since the commencement of the issuance of certificates to date, 32 requests have been submitted to the Asylum Department within the Ministry of Interior for recognition of the right to asylum based on previously issued certificate. Most of them (23) are also Syrian nationals.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, today in “Villa Biljana” in Ohrid, received the organizers of the “Ohrid Summer Festival”, as well as some of the members of the ensemble La Fura dels Baus of Spain, who will perform at the opening ceremony of the 55^th festival edition.

President Ivanov welcomed the artists and wished them successful performance at the festival opening evening, adding that their stage performance will give a special importance to this edition of the “Ohrid Summer Festival”.

The members of the ensemble La Fura dels Baus expressed satisfaction with the possibility to meet the Macedonian President, stressing that their initial impressions of the festival and the entire organization are extremely positive and that they feel wonderful in Ohrid and in Macedonia.

At the meeting, the organizers of the festival informed President Ivanov of the annual program which includes a large number of foreign artists, many of whom are participating for the first time in Ohrid, and expressed hope that this edition of the “Ohrid Summer Festival” will be included in the series of successful cultural events in the Republic of Macedonia.

The Macedonian President noted at the meeting that the festival provides a significant contribution in promoting the Macedonian culture in the world, but also in presenting the world’s most famous cultural achievements to the Macedonian audience.

The manifestation “Ohrid Summer Festival” which is traditionally held under the auspices of the President of the Republic of Macedonia, this year will open with the scenic cantata “Carmina Burana” by Carl Orff, performed by the ensemble La Fura dels Baus of Spain, accompanied by the orchestra of the Macedonian Opera and Ballet and the Macedonian Philharmonic.

Srebrenica is a warning for all of us, for the entire human civilization, speaking of what those who are filled with hatred and intolerance are prepared to do, the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, said today attending the commemoration of the 20^th anniversary of the crimes in Srebrenica, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

From the memorial center “Potocari”, President Ivanov asked for European prospects for the Republic of Macedonia and for the countries of the region for the purpose of peace and stability.

“This is an opportunity for sending a message to the authorities in the European Union what does it mean when one nation, one state is denied its future. It is necessary all the EU member-states of our region to show solidarity to all of us who are not in the European Union in enabling European prospects, first and foremost for the future generations to live in peace and harmony. We have seen where hatred and intolerance lead to. That is the message to every one of us - to ask what do we do to prevent such atrocities, which already seen in other parts of the world as well”, President Ivanov said.

The Macedonian President attended today the main commemoration held in the memorial center in Potocari, which was addressed by the President of Slovenia, Mr. Borut Pahor, the former US President, Mr. Bill Clinton, the President of the Organizing Committee “July 11, 1995” and the Mayor of Srebrenica, Mr. Kamil Durakovic, as well as by other officials, followed by the “Srebrenica - Potocari 1995-2015” exhibition.

The Srebrenica commemoration was attended by more than 90 delegations from around the world. Among them were the presidents of Croatia, Slovenia and Montenegro, Ms. Kolinda Grabar Kitarovic, Mr. Borut Pahor and Mr. Filip Vujanovic, the prime ministers of Serbia and Turkey, Mr. Aleksandar Vucic Mr. Ahmet Davutoglu, the US Assistant Secretary of State, Ms. Victoria Nuland, the former US President, Mr. Bill Clinton, as well as a number of other delegations and world political representatives.

President Ivanov, 5 years ago, attended the celebration of the 15^th anniversary of the crimes in Srebrenica.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, today, within the official visit to the Republic of Croatia, visited the municipality of Djakovo, where he laid flowers at the tomb of Josip Juraj Strossmayer, marking the 200^th anniversary of his birth and 110 years since his death.

“Today, in Djakovo, we pay tribute to the great friend and supporter of the Macedonians who were active and created their works then. Djakovo has preserved the treasury of the Macedonian poetry, literature and culture because here the Collection of the Miladinov Brothers was printed. Macedonians are eternally grateful that with the help of Strossmayer our literary work is preserved”, President Ivanov said.

Strossmayer is one of the first priests in the Catholic Church who has revitalized the work of the Thessaloniki brothers Cyril and Methodius, funding the printing of the Collection of the Miladinov Brothers 154 years ago.

The Archbishop of Djakovo and Osijek, Djuro Hranic, at the meeting with President Ivanov stressed that Strossmayer took from Vienna Konstantin Miladinov to Djakovo, where he was copying the songs in Cyrillic for three months and then went with him in Zagreb where those songs were printed.

President Ivanov met with the Mayor of Djakovo, Mr. Zoran Vinkovic, with representatives of the local Macedonian community and attended a cultural - artistic program of the Macedonian ensemble “Miladinov Brothers” from Croatia in the Cathedral in Djakovo. In honor of the Macedonian delegation, the singer group “Vardarki” sang several traditional Macedonian songs.

With the visit of Djakovo, the Macedonian President rounds up his two-day official visit to Croatia. Yesterday in Zagreb, President Ivanov met with the President of the Republic of Croatia, Mrs. Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, and with the President of the Croatian Parliament, Mr. Josip Leko.

This was the third official visit of President Ivanov to the Republic of Croatia.