Volunteers at the People's Office of the President of the Republic of Macedonia in Skopje, hosted today a New Year reception for the children of the public institution for children with educational and social problems "25 May" from Skopje.

Congratulating New Year and Christmas holidays, the volunteers wished the children much happiness, joy, good health and gave them Christmas presents.

At the reception, animated film was displayed, and a workshop was organized where children shared their impressions of the meeting through drawings.

The New Year reception was organized by the volunteers at the People's Office in Skopje, supported by the Cabinet of the President of the Republic of Macedonia.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, hosted today a New Year reception for the children of the members of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia, serving in "ISAF" and "Althea" peacekeeping missions.

President Ivanov gave the children Christmas presents and wished them good health, happiness, success in learning and happy childhood days in the New Year.

Moreover a video link was established with the Macedonian peacekeepers in Kabul and Sarajevo, and the children had the opportunity to talk to their parents.

President Ivanov congratulated the New Year and Christmas holidays to the members of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia serving in "ISAF" and "Althea" missions, commended their professionalism and commitment in the execution of their duty and wished them good health, happiness and greater successes next year.

Macedonian peacekeepers expressed their thankfulness for the wishes of the President and Supreme Commander of the armed forces and also wished him a happy New Year and Christmas holidays.

"The mission and the trust in us will be accomplished successfully", the peacekeepers in ISAF mission said on behalf of the entire contingent and wished hum happiness, good health and further successes in the New Year.

The members of the "ALTHEA" mission in Sarajevo also wished the President, all the members of the Army and the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia a Happy New Year and said that the Macedonian contingent, professionally, consciously and very responsibly performs all mission-related duties.

The reception was also attended by the Chief of Staff of the Macedonian Army, Major General Goranco Koteski.

Volunteers at the People's Office of the President of the Republic of Macedonia in Tetovo, on the eve of New Year and Christmas holidays, visited the children with special needs in the Primary Schools "Lirija" and "Andrea Saveski – Kikis" in Tetovo. Congratulating the New Year, the volunteers wished the children from both schools in Tetovo much happiness, joy, good health and gave them Christmas gifts.

"It is a great honor and pleasure, as a volunteer at the People's Office of the President of the Republic of Macedonia in Tetovo to be in the presence of these children who deserve attention and joy in these pre-new year moments, to give them presents and wish all their dreams to come true in the coming year", Pranvera Imeri said, a volunteer at the People's Office in Tetovo.

The Director of the primary school "Andrea Saveski – Kikis", Slavka Mitrusevska, expressed gratitude to President Ivanov's Office and volunteers for the visit and for the organization of this gathering today. The children, as a token of appreciation, sang Christmas songs to the guests.

This pre New Year's gathering was organized by the volunteers at the People's Office in Tetovo, supported by the Cabinet of the President of the Republic of Macedonia.

Dr. Katerina Baceva, holder of the recognition "2012 Best Young Scientist", awarded by the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, last night gave a lecture in the People's Office of the President of the Republic of Macedonia in Skopje.

The attendance heard Dr. Baceva's lecture on "Distribution of Heavy Metals in Environmental Samples in the Vicinity of the Mine "Alshar"" and some of the results of her doctoral dissertation research.

"Alshar site research for me was a challenge. In that small area, there are more than 45 different minerals of arsenic, antimony and thallium, 7 thallium minerals are found only in Alshar and nowhere else. In the vicinity of Alshar, there are seven endemic plant species, adapted to the specific environment there. It is, indeed, a specific topic that motivates me to further research", Dr. Baceva said.

The "Best Young Scientist" award, President Ivanov's initiative, aims to encourage development, stimulate investment in science, support scientific institutions and young scientists, and to reward the best scientific achievements.

"In my opinion, initiatives such as awarding the "Best Young Scientist" recognition are an incentive for many young people interested in scientific research. I am glad that by awarding the recognition, our entire efforts as young scientists are valued and rewarded", Dr. Baceva said.

The public call for the election of the "Best Young Scientist" in 2013 is open until December 31, for all young people up to 30 years of age who have achieved scientific results in their current scientific work that contribute to the positive development of the society and the environment in which they live.

Eligibility criterion is the interested candidates to have received an international award, international or domestic recognition for scientific research work, the results of the research to be published in relevant domestic or international journal and to have adequate applicability.

The application should include a CV, list of projects implemented in 2013 and proof of citizenship of the Republic of Macedonia.

Interested candidates should submit their documents to the Cabinet of the President of the Republic of Macedonia no later than December 31, 2013.

In a completely renovated and fully equipped area, in the presence of the President of the Republic Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, and his spouse, Ms. Maja Ivanova, today, the first specialized Children's Emergency Room in the country was opened, located in the University Clinic for Children's Diseases in Skopje.

The financial means for the reconstruction and adaptation of the premises within the Clinic were collected within the National Donor Campaign under the motto "Help on Time" which was implemented under the auspices of the Spouse of the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Ms. Maja Ivanova. The Emergency Room is constructed with the support of the Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency - TIKA, while the additional donations will be used to equip the Emergency Room and the new hospital premises.

For the purposes of the new organizational unit, several construction operations were carried out, the premises were refurbished and the latest medical equipment is provided.

Ms. Ivanova, in her speech, said that as patron of the National Campaign she was enthusiastic, strongly inspired, and was mostly encouraged by the unreserved support of her husband, the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov.

"The Emergency Room will contribute greatly to the health services offered in our country for the children, especially for emergency cases, for the most necessary first aid provided by the medical staff. The urgent cases, as of today, will be treated in the Emergency Room, as it is practiced in many advanced countries with well-developed and highly efficient health care systems", Ms. Ivanova said.

She said that everyone has an obligation to make a personal contribution to the activities relating to the common good of our fellow citizens and society.

"These activities make us noble, venerable, humane and give light to our virtues and our values. Therefore, with vast desire and motivation I supported National Campaign as patron", Ms. Ivanova said and thanked all those who supported the campaign and made donations via the telephone number 14321, as well as the media which enabled the campaign to reach every citizen.

The Minister of Health, Mr. Nikola Todorov, said that the Children's Clinic must be fully equipped to meet all challenges in modern medicine. Therefore, a lot has been invested, windows have been changed, energy efficiency, increased standard of accommodation for children and toilets in every room, purchase of a new vehicle for neonatal pediatric transport, purchase of new medical equipment in the amount of more than 100 million MKD.

What we have today, said Minister Todorov, is an indication that there are alternative ways of investment in the Republic of Macedonia in the health care, that the principles of investing in health that apply in all developed countries are can also be implemented here, at a high level of social responsibility, including the highest authorities in the country, the embassies and citizens, which can result in improvements to the system. He added that this is one of the major reforms undertaken in the Macedonian health care system.

The Director of the Clinic, Dr. Aspazija Sofijanova, expressing satisfaction with the opening of the Children's Emergency Room, said that the initiative for its establishment was initially only a modest prospect supported and upgraded by its closest associates and advisers.

The wife of the US Ambassador, Ms. Mary Joe Wohlers, noted that the expert care and compassion of the medical staff of the Emergency Room will save many of the lives of some 20,000 children, expected to visit it next year.

Mr. Mehmet Sureyya Er, Vice President of the Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency – TIKA, said that the adaptation and reconstruction works implemented by this Agency were completed in only 60 days.

"The Emergency Room Project" included complete reconstruction, adaptation, medical gases, thermal equipment, electrical installations, medical equipment and fully furnishing", Mr. Sureyya Er said, adding that it is a gift of the Republic of Turkey to the Republic of Macedonia.

He emphasized that the Emergency Room, with the best and highest quality standard of operation, will offer good conditions.

The Turkish Ambassador, Mr. Gurol Sokmensuer, wished healthy future for the children in the Clinic and pointed to the willingness of the Republic of Turkey to always support, as he said, the friendly and brotherly Republic of Macedonia.

The Specialized Children's Emergency Room has four main and two extra beds, covers six areas of specialist clinics, a laboratory and a waiting room. The clinics will cover the fields of neonatology, cardiology, hemato-oncology, endocrinology, gastroenterology and nephrology.

"Sectron" Business Premises, designed by Jana Gugulovska-Djordjevic, Architect, and Biljana Filipovska and Kata Stoeva, Consultants, as part of the team of the Architecture and Design Bureau "Studio 2000", is the best architectural work in 2013.

The award was presented by the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjirge Ivanov, who is traditionally patron of the award.

"May this award for the best constructors be, in a way, satisfaction and a lesson for the others, because the best constructors are awarded so that we can praise their work and turn them into reality, and thus to become lege artist", President Ivanov said.

Expressing her gratitude for the award, Architect Gugulovska-Djordjevic said that when she was designing the winning project, she felt a responsibility towards the citizens of Skopje that they should have a facility that would be representative.

"I experience this as a crown of my previous work and a legacy for all future projects I will work on as architect", Architect Gugulovska - Djordjevic said.

The award ceremony was organized by the Association of Architects of Macedonia.