With this military exercise, the Macedonian Army has once again proved that it is ready to address all possible threats, to carry out the most complex combat activities and, as before it meets all NATO standards, the President of the Republic of Macedonia and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, said following the today's "Macedonian Flash 9" exercise in Krivolak and Pepeliste.

With these exercises, President Ivanov said, the condition of the members of the Army is maintained.

"This is yet another confirmation that the place of the Macedonian Army is in NATO, that is not a matter of whether, but when the Army will be part of the Alliance", the President of the Republic of Macedonia and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces said. This exercise proves that the ARM members are ready to confront all possible threats; that can perform very complex and offensive combat actions which are in line with all NATO standards. I hope these exercises demonstrated today by the ARM members will receive the highest grades", President Ivanov said.

Chief of Staff Koteski said that today the largest and most complex exercise was performed by the Macedonian Army since its establishment, which included all military formation units.

"We evaluated the declared unit which has 1,200 members with logistics of 400 other members of the Army", Koteski explained and said he, as Chief of Staff, is very proud from what was demonstrated today.

The military-tactical field exercise "Macedonian Flash 9" took place in real time with live ammunition. We expect NATO assessment level 1 by the NATO Allied Joint Force Command team from Naples att the Polish hospital "Row 2".

During the Day meant for Distinguished Visitors in Krivolak, despite the practical application of tactics and procedures for conducting offensive combat actions, the ARM members demonstrated their preparedness in performing various firings of infantry and artillery weapons.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, visited today Prilep, where he attended the celebration of October 11, the Day of National Uprising, and laid flowers at the monument of Metodija Andonov-Cento and surveyed the arms and military equipment used by the Army of Republic of Macedonia.

After Prilep, President Ivanov went to the mountain peak Solunska Glava, where he visited the stationary units of the Army.

"This was an excellent opportunity to visit Solunska Glava, and the soldiers, commissioners and police officers who are here to congratulate them the holiday, October 11. Since it is a rare opportunity to visit such facilities, we took these last sunny days in Macedonia in October to visit the unit. In Prilep we participated in the survey of the all arms used by the Army, where people could see the equipment of our military forces. Exactly on the day of the fighter to see who are those who continue the tradition of our fighters, who participated in the anti-fascist uprising and who incited the National Liberation struggle on October 11. Thus, in a convenient manner, we have marked the holiday, by paying tribute to the soldiers who are followers of our bright tradition", President Ivanov said during his visit to Solunska Glava.

Macedonians in Albania must encourage every progress of the country they live in, because it is in the interest of the European integration, the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, said at the meeting with the representatives of the Macedonian community in Pogradec.

According to the Macedonian President, it is important that they should have a positive share, to be loyal citizens of Albania, promoters of positive trends and processes.

"Political organization makes them political life stakeholders, achieving all their rights and needs through the institutions. If there is minority in the neighboring countries, one should always have to think positively and creatively. It is not that we, the Macedonians in Macedonia, seek rights for Macedonians in Albania, but rather it is needed in the Balkans - Albanians in Macedonia to fight for the rights of Macedonians in Albania and then results in solidarity between the two communities and mutual assistance, using positive experiences in the interest of the countries where communities live", President Ivanov said.

President Ivanov said that it is necessary to change the minds of the members of the Albanian community in Macedonia, to contribute to the rights of the Macedonians in Albania, because it encourages interstate cooperation, it brings the two societies together. There are opportunities to apply for various European Union grants relating to regional projects which imply cross-border cooperation, beneficial for the entire Balkans.

"The Balkans needs to open, not only through infrastructure connectivity, but also mentally, so that people start thinking positively and implement all the initiatives towards improvement of the situation in the countries and of the communities", President Ivanov said.

The Macedonian President expects results soon of all initiatives of Macedonians in Albania to be in favor of the state, which should be granted candidate status, to begin the Euro-integration process in the interest of the entire region.

Main problem of the Macedonian community in Albania, as pointed out at the meeting with the Macedonian President, is education in native language and employment opportunities.

Jovan Shkambi, President of the Macedonian Association "Prespa" from Pogradec, said that they support the Government in Tirana in making a step to employ Macedonians and develop economy.

The statement of the Albanian Prime Minister, Edi Rama, is seen by Petre Shkambi Spiroski as a great hope for the Macedonians in Albania.

- Macedonians must receive help, because one can not claim rights for Albanians abroad without providing rights to minorities here, Shkambi Spiroski said, recalling the message of President Ivanov all requirements to be attained in Albania, with the local authorities, because their future is in Albania.

The meeting today, according to the President of the Alliance for European Integration, Edmond Temelko, gave the Macedonians an opportunity to share their problems and challenges with the Head of the Macedonian State, hoping that there will be positive political will to solve the problem by introducing the Macedonian language in schools.

- We have initiated this issue of re-employment of the Macedonians in the Albanian Army, who were dismissed in 1996 with the formation of the National Army, for their re-socialization. In the municipality of Porgradec, although majority Macedonian population, there is not a single Macedonian employed in the local administration, Temelko said, adding that the Macedonian minority is not taken care of.

The meeting of President Ivanov with members of the Macedonian community in Pustec, Korca and Pogradec was held on their own initiative and arranged during his last visit to Albania.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, and his wife Ms. Maja Ivanova, attended the event "Pomegranate Day" today in Valandovo, which is organized as part of the campaign "Healthy Food for Faultless Childhood", whose patron is Ms. Ivanova.

At the event, which was attended by Nikolce Curlinovski, Mayor of Valandovo, Naumce Mojsoski, handball player and former footballer Mile Boev, children from the primary school "Josip Broz-Tito" in Valandovo had the opportunity to pick pomegranates and learn about the nutrition facts of this fruit.

"Today we are in Valandovo, the city of pomegranates and the city I have very pleasant memories of. I am very happy today that the campaign "Healthy Food for Faultless Childhood", organized by "OHO", is supported by my husband, who actually supports it from its very beginning, and here we are today - in his birth place. This event is organized today in a different manner than the previous, with performances and presentations, whereas last time we visited the rice factory, and here we are today in the field, where children picked pomegranates. Children could see how pomegranates grow, how we pick pomegranates, and about its nutritious facts. Once again, from here, from Valandovo, we pledge all those who are involved in the proper development of children, to raise public awareness of the entire society about the importance of healthy food for young generations because healthy offspring means healthy state", Ms. Ivanova said.

"I am here today in my birth town, to support the campaign "Healthy Food for Faultless Childhood", primarily because we need healthy offspring. Children should learn of the nutritious benefits of fruits, vegetables, and everything that grows here in this area. I am really glad that children practice these habits constantly, eat healthy food, live in a healthy environment, and we need to invest in youth for the future. We are the ones who have to think about the future of our youth", President Ivanov said at today's event.

The goal of the campaign "Healthy Food for Faultless Childhood" is to raise awareness of healthy food consumption among children and pupils. The campaign is realized third school year in kindergartens and schools as part of the program "Integration of Environmental Education in the Macedonian Educational System", in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Science and the Association "OHO".

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, today, in his birth town Valandovo attended the sporting and cultural event, as part of the project "Social and Ethnic Integration through Sports (Sportsmanship)". The event was attended by students from the following municipalities involved in the project: Valandovo, Kavadarci, Rosoman, Aerodrom, Debar, Centar Zupa and Tearce.

According to President Ivanov, this project teaches children to make friends and behave in a sports manner. "To learn to be tolerant, to respect and congratulate the winner. Both the defeated and the winner to be in the same place and feel that they participate in something that contributes to the strengthening of the winning spirit because sport improves both body and spirit. People need to feel that they should behave that way in everyday life, to help each other, to show solidarity and respect all the diversity we have as a country. Young people come here from different parts of the country. They should understand that there are Muslims, Christians and Jews in Macedonia, that there are Macedonians, Albanians, Turks, Serbs, Roma, Bosniaks and Vlachs. Everyone should feel the spirit of youthful life, because we were young too and we remember the need we had to find a partner to team with. As a team, we can win and feel that life is a battle that we must fight for. If we do not fight, we cannot win", President Ivanov said. The project aims to promote sport as a social activity which, through to play, fun and socializing among children and young people from different ethnic backgrounds, the inter-ethnic relations in the Republic of Macedonia are strengthened.

"Namely, for the first time, in agreement with the President, we tried to promote here sports games which are forgotten, that new generations do not have much knowledge of, just to show the children and thus to show that through sports we can socialize and take them away from the computers, because children today spend all day long in front of their computers, to take them on the street, to make them be together, to socialize and make friends. Simply, that is the message of the Sportsmanship, together with all authorities, certainly with the highest authority in the country, President Ivanov, Ivan Anastasovski said, representing the Geostrategic Institute "Global", as initiator of the project.

"Is there anything better than to see children make friends here? The aim is that children should be separated from the computers, somehow forgotten games to fulfill their childhood again. We, the parents, should help in this, while the authorities should participate and make these cities closer", Nikolce Curlinovski, the Mayor of Valandovo, said.

Today's event is the one before the last in a series of sporting and cultural events within the project implementation, which will be finalized with an event in the municipality of Aerodrom.

The Spouse of the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, Ms. Maja Ivanova, and their son, Ivan Ivanov, participated today in a humanitarian action "Read a Book and Give Health" in the City Library "Braka Miladinovci".

The humanitarian action is organized and aimed at equipping the playground-library in the Pediatric Clinic.

Ms. Ivanova and her son Ivan, in the role of librarians, enrolled children in the City Library Braka Miladinovci". The income from the membership fees is intended for the Clinic.

"It is great to be here, in this temple of books where, in the role of librarians, with my mother, we have shown immense support for humanitarian and noble actions. Young people today read books less, due to the living in the era of Internet, technological progress. My father would often say – these are audio-visual generations", Ivan said, President Ivanov's son.

He said that he admirers good books and is very fond of reading.

"I would like to send a message to all young people, particularly to my peers, to be fond of reading and admire books, to be curious and thirsty for knowledge because all messages and secrets we need are hidden deep in a book", Ivan said, President Ivanov's son.