The countries in the region are too small for the too big challenges imposed by globalization. Greater cooperation between them is needed and the new era agreement should rest on building confidence and greater security in the region, the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, said today at the "Summit 100", held in the Slovenian town Portoroz.

Addressing the leaders from the Southeast Europe countries and the representatives of the business sector, President Ivanov said that Macedonia is still waiting to join the European Union and NATO and that what remains for Macedonia is to invest in its economy and education.

- Macedonia is stuck in an elevator for already 24 years. We are not moving –we are stuck both in terms of NATO and the European Union, the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative and the Black Sea Initiative. Out of spite. See what our specificity makes for us. What remains for us - to build Macedonia in height and therefore we invest in the economy and knowledge. But this is not in someone's favor, the Macedonian President said.

According to President Ivanov, greater connectivity between the countries in the region is needed and to channels for cooperation to be found that will result in rail, energy and ICT connections.
The Macedonian President welcomed the practice the "Summit 100" to be held before the Summit of the Brdo - Brioni Process and in that context stressed that the synergy between the business community and the countries is particularly necessary in present circumstances.
The Summit, despite President Ivanov, was attended by businessmen from the Republic of Macedonia. On the sidelines of the Summit, President Ivanov held bilateral meetings with the host, the Slovenian President, Borut Pahor, and the Croatian President, Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, where theMacedonian President urged for immediate start of accession negotiations with the European Union and admission to NATO.
"Summit 100" is held in Portoroz for the fourth consecutive year. In 2011, the first Summit was held in the Republic of Serbia, in 2013 in Montenegro, and in 2014 in the Republic of Croatia.

Immediate start of accession negotiations for EU membership and admission of the Republic of Macedonia in NATO urged President Ivanov at the today's meetings with the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Mr. Borut Pahor, the President of the Republic of Croatia, Mrs. Kolinda Graber Kitarovic, during his participation at the "Summit 100", which takes place today in Portoroz.

At the meetings with the Slovenian and Croatian presidents views and information were exchanged on a number of topical issues of mutual interest.

President Ivanov briefed the presidents of the Republic of Croatia and the Republic of Slovenia on the current political and security situation in the Republic of Macedonia. Assessing that the political crisis and the boycott of the institutions lasts for too long, the Macedonian President stressed the need and the expectation that the political leaders, through political dialogue, should urgently come to a solution, which would be in the interest of the citizens and the Euro-Atlantic integration of the country. Most important is, President Ivanov said, normalization of the political dialogue and resolution of all challenges within the institutions and under the Constitution and the applicable laws. On the other hand, unblocking the Euro-integration and Euro-Atlantic processes in the Republic of Macedonia, which greatly affect the current situation, can only positively affect the entire region. In this context, the Macedonian President expressed expectation that the Republic of Slovenia, the Republic of Croatia and the countries of the Brdo-Brioni
Process will provide strong support for immediate start of accession talks with the Republic of Macedonia, as well as support for the country's admission to NATO, according to the ICJ ruling and the Interim Accord.

Presidents Pahor and Kitarovic at the meeting stressed that the position of the Republic of Slovenia and of the Republic of Croatia on the Republic of Macedonia is clear and constant, expressed as absolute, continuous and consistent support for EU and NATO integration processes, with a pronounced readiness to transfer of their respective experiences in this regard. The meeting reaffirmed mutual interest in further promotion of economic cooperation, increased trade, attracting Slovenian and Croatian investments in the Republic of Macedonia, as well as in examining opportunities for joint appearance on third markets.

The upcoming Summit within the Brdo-Brioni process to be held in Montenegro was also discussed, as well as the situation in the region of Southeast Europe.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, today, with Mr. Spiro Ristovski, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Macedonia, and Mr. Ioannis Ververidis, Principal of the "City College" - School for International Studies at the Sheffield University of the UK, located in Thessaloniki, Greece, signed a cooperation protocol for awarding 20 "Boris Trajkovski" scholarships for the academic 2015/2016, for the Business Administration Program - MBA.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, met today with Mr. Ivan Simonovic, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Human Rights.

At the meeting, they exchanged views on the current political situation in the Republic of Macedonia, as well as on the activities that are undertaken in order to overcome it.

President Ivanov stressed the importance of normalization of the political dialogue and resolution of all challenges within the institutions and under the Constitution and legislation. In that context, it was noted that the prolonged boycott of the institutions, the long absence of political dialogue, does not affect positively the democracy and are not in the interest of the European and the Euro-Atlantic integration of the Republic of Macedonia.

The UN Assistant Secretary-General expressed concern about the events in Kumanovo, stressed the necessity of credible, professional and transparent actions of all institutions and political factors, and welcomed the launch of the political dialogue under the auspices of the European Union in overcoming the political crisis.

Also, the Macedonian President stressed that in this situation responsible behavior of all social factors is needed and reaffirmed the commitments of the Republic of Macedonia to respect human rights and the rule of law.

At the meeting, they also exchanged views on the latest developments in the region and the respect for human rights in regional context.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, in the wake of May 23 - National Day of the Vlachs, received today representatives of the Vlach community in the Republic of Macedonia.

At the meeting, they exchanged views on the status of the Vlach community in the Republic of Macedonia in the context of the exercise of their rights, as well as views on their active participation in the overall political and social life in the Republic of Macedonia. President Ivanov supports the activities of the Vlach community, their constructiveness on the political scene and welcomed their efforts in promoting the Vlach culture, language and traditions in the Republic of Macedonia. The representatives of the Vlach community thanked the Macedonian President for his commitment to equality of all ethnic communities in the Republic of Macedonia and expressed satisfaction with his involvement in building a multi-ethnic, multilingual and multi-religious democracy.

At the meeting, the representatives of the Vlach community expressed their views and positions about the current political situation in the Republic of Macedonia, where the interlocutors agreed that responsibility of all political actors in the country is essential, as well as soonest settlement of the political crisis in the country, so that the Republic of Macedonia can continue the reform process and the implementation of the European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations.

President Ivanov congratulated the National Day of the Vlachs, adding that the Vlachs have always been socially valued and loyal citizens and encouraged them in the future to continue their activities which mean contribution in building the Macedonian model of coexistence.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, received today representatives of the National Union of Labor Invalids of the Republic of Macedonia, marking the 60th anniversary of the active functioning of the organization.

The Union representatives informed President Ivanov on the activities of the organization in the past years and the challenges they face as labor invalids. In this context, they exchanged views on the proposals of the Union aimed at resolving the problems of disability insurance, as well as their initiatives to improve the normative regulation of specific issues.

At the meeting with President Ivanov views were also exchanged regarding the support that the Union receives by the state institutions, as well as their cooperation with other international organizations.

The Macedonian President said that, as before, he will continue to support the activities of the National Union in order to improve the position of the labor invalids and full exercise of their rights and needs. Moreover, President Ivanov expressed support for quick resolution of the priority requirements of the unions of disabled persons and for improvement of the legislation and its consistent implementation.

Marking the 60th anniversary of their active functioning, the representatives of the National Union of Labor Invalids awarded the President of the Republic of Macedonia a token of gratitude for the ongoing support and successful cooperation.