The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, on the occasion of World Environment Day, met today with representatives of 15 environmental protection civic associations.

At the meeting, which was attended by the Deputy Minister of Environment and Physical Planning, Mr. Stevo Temelkoski, the interlocutors exchanged views on several aspects of environmental protection.

President Ivanov expressed support for the activities implemented by these organizations, highlighting the importance of raising awareness on issues related to environmental protection.

Civic association representatives attending the meeting thanked President Ivanov for the reception and informed him about their current activities, projects and initiatives undertaken in relation to environmental protection, climate change, improving energy efficiency and using renewable energy. They referred to the current projects undertaken in cooperation with the local authorities for the purpose of environmental protection and promotion.

Both sides agreed that further actions are needed to raise public awareness and knowledge about the importance of ecology and environmental protection, as well as to strengthen the international cooperation in the field of nature protection.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, met today with representatives of the "Democratic Renewal of Macedonia" political party, led by its President, Ms. Ljiljana Popovska.

During the meeting, they exchanged views on the ways of future coordination and cooperation on issues in the field of ecology, environmental protection, preservation of natural resources in the Republic of Macedonia, as well as in dealing with the climate change challenges.

President Ivanov welcomed the ongoing engagement of the "Democratic Renewal of Macedonia" as a political party in the Republic of Macedonia, representing the green option, its contribution in this field and expressed expectation that in the coming period, their efforts will continue and be stronger than before, as part of the standards that the Republic of Macedonia should meet on its Euro-Atlantic integration path. The Macedonian President noted that, as before, ecology and environment issues will remain high on his agenda.

The collocutors agreed that there is a need for greater commitment to the inclusion of the Republic of Macedonia in overcoming the challenges in the fight against climate change, both at regional and planetary level.

Macedonia's state and church delegation, led by the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, today visited and worshiped at the tomb of St. Cyril in the Basilica "St. Clement" in Rome.

The prayer at the tomb of the Slavic educator was officiate by the Metropolitan of Europe Pimen, accompanied by Father Clement Mishanj of Piacenza.

The celebration of St. Cyril in the Basilica of St. Clement was attended by more than 300 believers from the Macedonian Diaspora parishes in Italy. Their number increases each year, hence, in addition to the state delegation the holiday is celebrated also by the Macedonian people in Italy.

The state delegation attending the prayer at the traditional event honoring the founders of the first Slavic alphabet, Cyril and Methodius, included the Minister of Culture, Kanceska-Milevska and the Macedonian Ambassadors in Rome and the Vatican, Oliver Sambevski and Zvonimir Jankuloski.

The first tribute ceremony at the tomb of St. Cyril in Rome was organized in 1969, marking the 1100th anniversary since the death of St. Cyril and since then every year on May 24 marks it with the highest honors by the church- state delegation.

President Ivanov held a meeting today with the Macedonian national minority in Italy.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, delivered a lecture at the Italian Institute for International Affairs in Rome, and stressed the importance of transport and communication corridors in the region and in Europe from the past to the present.

The topic of the lecture by the Macedonian President was "From Via Egnatia to Via Europe".

Before attending diplomats and students at the Institute, the Macedonian President reiterated the message of today's talks with the Italian President, Giorgio Napolitano, the importance of linking Corridor 8 and the Adriatic-Ionian high way. It is expected this proposal to be on the agenda of the Italian EU presidency that starts on July 1.

Visiting the Institute led by the former EC Vice-President and Italian Foreign Minister, Franco Frattini, a memorandum of cooperation was signed with the institute within the Macedonian Foreign Ministry.

Also today a memorandum of cooperation between the law faculties at the Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje and the University "La Sapienza" in Rome was signed.

President Ivanov in Rome is leading the Macedonian delegation on the occasion of the manifestation "Macedonia Honoring St. Cyril". Last night in the Vatican Museums an exhibition "Macedonian SLAVIC manuscripts from the 13th to the 19th Century" was opened.

Along with the 46th edition of the event, the 20th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Macedonia and the Vatican is marked.

The program of the event continues tonight with a performance of the ballet "14 Hours", produced by the Macedonian Opera and Ballet. Kiril Dzajkovski is author of the music, choreography and scenography designer is Igor Kirov, Aleksandar Noshpal is costume designer, and Natasha Poplavska is director. Aleksandra Mijalkova, Natasa Josifovska, Sasa Evtimova, Biljana Basmadzhieva, Angela Velevska, Vasil Chichijashvili, Igor Velanovski, Jan Kisilev, Agim Baftii and Ivan Boiko perform the modern ballet.

Central event in the celebration of St. Cyril event is the sermon at St. Cyril's grave in the Basilica "St. Clemente" in Rome. The service will be officiated by the European Metropolitan Pimen, accompanied by Father Kliment Mishanj of Piacenza.

During the visit of the Italian Republic and the Holy See, the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, met today with President of the Italian Republic, Mr. Giorgio Napolitano.

The Republic of Macedonia has full support from Italy in its efforts to NATO and the EU accession, and rightfully stands on the position that international law needs to be respected. In the future EU presidency of Italy, the enlargement remains high on the agenda, and the Macedonian state can count on maximum support for infrastructure development and support in other areas as well.

The two presidents discussed the outstanding issues facing the EU, the blockade of Macedonia in the past period and how to find a way to succeed in the efforts to join NATO and the EU.

"As before, we have the overall support and assistance from Italy and it will be our voice during their EU presidency," President Ivanov said.

A joint assessment of the Macedonian and the Italian President is that the political dialogue between the two countries is at the highest level and it is a good basis to deepen cooperation in all areas.

"Not coincidentally my first bilateral visit in the second term is Italy, as the next European Union chair and a great friend of Macedonia. Last year we marked the 20th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations and in the years Italy has become Macedonia's fifth trade partner. Italy supports all our endeavors and is a real friend of Macedonia. President Napolitano and I discussed that during their EU presidency, the enlargement will remain high on the agenda," President Ivanov said.

The two presidents discussed the international law in the context of the International Court of Justice in The Hague ruling, stating that Macedonia rightly persists on the generally accepted principles of its respect.

We discussed, President Ivanov said, particularly in the context of the statement he made in Warsaw, saying that the EU is still not Europe and that with the inclusion of the Western Balkans, the EU will finally be able to speak on behalf of whole Europe.

"In that context, our case was mentioned, especially the Judgment of the International Court of Justice in The Hague, because lately there are cases where European leaders are calling for international law, and other cases in which they forget to do so in the case of Macedonia. The Italian President said that international law must be respected, that the international community has an obligation to respect the established standards worldwide, i.e. the international law. Macedonia rightly endures on the generally accepted principles to be respected by every country, because we have taken with Greece mutual obligations with the interim agreement, but Greece does not comply with it, and we filed our case in The Hague, said Ivanov emphasized that the attitude towards the Hague ruling does not guarantee that Greece will respect any future agreement or contract," President Ivanov said.

Macedonia expects support from Italy and in its efforts to join the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative, where the Italian state is one of the most important partners. "Above all, it will allow our region infrastructure development and connectivity with other countries in the region. Therefore, Italy's effort is Corridor 8 to be finalized and they will support this process because it is in their interest, too," President Ivanov said.

Macedonia's President in Italy leads the Macedonian state delegation celebrating St. Cyril. The forty-sixth traditional event in honor of St. Cyril, according to President Ivanov, is also a tradition that brings Macedonian and Italian culture closer. The cooperation in the area of education, among other things, will deepen and memorandums of cooperation between Macedonian and Italian universities will be signed during the stay in Italy.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, presented today the achievements and contribution of the Republic of Macedonia to international law in a lecture delivered at the "Federico II" University in Naples.

President Ivanov's lecture was titled "From Taurisius to Constantinopolis – from Corpus Iuris Civilis to International Law".

The cooperation with "Federico II", a world-renowned higher education institution, was formalized by signing the Cooperation Memorandum with the St. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, in the presence of the Minister of Education and Science, Spiro Ristovski, and the Rector of the Napes University, Prof. Massimo Marrelli.

The visit to the "Federico II" University and the signed memorandum, according to Minister Ristovski, is of an exceptional importance for further intensification of the cooperation.

"As part of the visit to the Italian Republic, together with President Ivanov, we visited "Federico II", the second oldest university in the world. Today's visit was of paramount importance because a cooperation memorandum was signed with St. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, and President Ivanov gave a lecture on the Republic of Macedonia's achievements and contribution to international law," Minister Ristovski said.

"Federico II" University in Naples was founded in 1224. Its students were Thomas of Aquitaine and Giordano Bruno, as well as several Italian presidents, among whom President Giorgio Napolitano, who will receive tomorrow the Macedonian President.

The first school of Macedonian language abroad was opened at this University 45 years ago. In addition to "Federico II", cooperation will be established with the La Sapienza University. A cooperation protocol between the Faculties of Law of the St. Cyril and Methodius University and La Sapienza will be signed tomorrow.

"We expect fruitful cooperation in future, with the support of the most prominent universities in the world located in Italy," Ristovski said.

President Ivanov is heading the Macedonian delegation in Italy, marking the 46 edition of the event "Macedonia Honoring St. Cyril". The event will be opened tonight with the exhibition "Slavic Manuscripts from Macedonia between XIII and XIX Centuries" in the Vatican museums.

A bilateral meeting between the Macedonian President and his Italian counterpart, President Giorgio Napolitano, is set to take place tomorrow, as well as a visit of the Franco Frattini Institute, where he will deliver a lecture titled "From Via Ignatia to Via Europa".