The President of the Republic of Macedonia and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, today, on the occasion of August 18th – the Day of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia, received the generals of the Army of Republic of Macedonia.

The meeting was attended by the Chief of Staff, Major General Goranco Koteski, the Deputy Chief of Staff, Major General Neser Sejdini, the Director of Staff, Brigadier General Dimce Petrovski, the Commander of the Joint Operations Command, Brigadier General Methodija Velickovski, the Chief of Staff of the Joint Operations Command, Brigadier General Muhamet Racaj and the commander of the First Mechanized Infantry Brigade, Brigadier General Stojan Dimcov.

President Ivanov and the leadership of the Army exchanged views and information on the situation in the Army of the Republic of Macedonia, the involvement of Macedonian soldiers in peacekeeping missions in "ISAF" and "Althea", as well as on the future plans for development, modernization and improvement of the level of combat readiness of the Army the Republic of Macedonia.

During the reception, President Ivanov held a video conference with the Macedonian members of the peacekeeping mission "ALTHEA" in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the peacekeeping mission "ISAF" in Afghanistan.

President Ivanov congratulated the Macedonian peacekeepers the Day of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia and praised their dedication and professionalism in carrying out their noble mission. "The Republic of Macedonia is proud of you and your courage. The contribution you give in building world peace is the best proof of all the reforms in the Macedonian Army and thus you promote the Macedonian path to the Euro-Atlantic integration. We admire your professionalism", President Ivanov addressed peacekeepers.

The Macedonian peacekeepers expressed their thankfulness for the words of congratulations and praise, as well as for the continued support given by President Ivanov. The members of the peacekeeping missions in the conversation with the Macedonian President said that they will bravely and honorably perform their tasks in the future too, defending the common values - peace, freedom and democracy.

Total of 42 participants and 30 lecturers from Macedonia, Europe and the world, will be part of the School for Young Leaders, which, upon the initiative of the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, for the fourth time this year will be held in August, 19 to 31, in Ohrid.

The idea of the School is to enable young, talented and ambitious people from Macedonia to upgrade and improve their skills, to develop their creativity and leadership skills.

"The program of the School includes lectures and trainings in the areas of leadership and management by eminent lecturers and guests from top educational and professional institutions, management simulations and practical leadership exercises. The goal of this School is, above all, to encourage positive values among young leaders and future political, cultural and economic leaders of our country. The School is intended for young people with a university degree who wish to develop their leadership skills and capacities and to contribute to the future positive development of the society and the environment in which they live and work", says Gordica Karanfilovska, Project Coordinator.

This year the School is attended by two participants from the Institute for International Leadership of the US Senator John McCain.

At the first day of School, lectures will be delivered by Dr. Vaclav Klaus, former President of the Czech Republic and H.E. Cui Zhiwei, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the Republic of Macedonia, and a speech by Mr. Ivo Shlaus, President of the World Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Among the lecturers of the 4th School for Young Leaders are Mr. Donald Dave Meredith, Canadian Senator, Mr. Tafsir M. Awal, Director of Multimode Group from Bangladesh, Mr. Alexandre Sevigny, Director of post-graduate studies in communication management at McMaster-Syracuse and McMaster University in Canada, Mr. Boris Porkovich, Vice President of the Research Institute for European small states of Monaco, Mr. Donald Steel, Director of the British company Johnson Associates and former chief media spokesman at BBC, and Mr. Dragan Stefanovic, retired US Army officer and professor at the Master of Public Administration program in the Appalachian State University in North Carolina. Among the lecturers are prominent individuals and successful leaders in companies and educational institutions in Macedonia, Spain, New Zealand, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Israel and other countries.

In the past three years, the School was attended by 115 young people and 70 lecturers, including ambassadors, officials from the European Union, directors of international institutes and successful business companies, professors from renowned universities worldwide.

The participants of the previous schools are organized in the ISLAA Alumni Association, registered as a separate association, which is a proof that the project is alive at constantly produces new ideas and initiatives.

In the Cabinet of the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, today, a ceremonial change of the national flag was held. The act of changing the flag was carried out by the Guard Unit of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia, in the presence of the employees working within the Cabinet of the President of the Republic of Macedonia.

The ceremony of changing the national flag aims at raising the feeling and respect for the flag of the Republic of Macedonia, as a represent and symbol of the statehood of our country.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, attended this evening in Skopje the traditional Iftaar dinner organized by the Islamic Religious Community in the Republic of Macedonia.

President Ivanov congratulated the attendees and all the members of the Islamic religion in the Republic of Macedonia the Ramadan fasting and the holy month of Ramadan, wishing them peace, love and understanding, adding that Ramadan fasting mark the spirit of the old tradition of Islam in the Republic of Macedonia. In our society, which is multiethnic, multilingual and multi-confessional, diversity is respected, and the tradition of coexistence and respect should be nurtured further and thus be a role model for the young generations, President Ivanov said in his address to the attendees.

The Head of the Islamic Community, Reis Ul Ulema Suleiman Efendi Rexhepi, expressed his gratitude for President Ivanov's presence and commended the established practice of attending the traditional Iftaar dinner every year, adding that, with this gesture, the President shows respect for Islam and the Muslims in the Republic of Macedonia.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, attended this evening in Skopje the traditional Iftaar Dinner organized by the Democratic Party of Turks in Macedonia.

Addressing the present representatives of public and political life, diplomats, businessmen and civic association and organization representatives, President Ivanov said that Ramadan fasting marks the spirit of the old tradition of Islam in the Republic of Macedonia.

"Cohabitation and knowing people and nations implies mutual respect. Respect is possible only if we surpass each other in goodness, if we compete in charity, in the assistance we offer to other people. Ramadan is the month dedicated to such noble deeds, a month in which we do not only think of ourselves and our needs, but we think of the others, our neighbors, relatives and friends. In these moments of celebration, may the feelings of peace, love and understanding prevail in all Muslim believers. May the values that bring and connect people and nations together prevail", President Ivanov said in his speech.

"The Republic of Macedonia is diligently nurturing the old tradition of coexistence. Tradition based on the experience of our multiethnic, multilingual and multi-confessional society which has enabled for centuries peaceful coexistence between religions. Traditions that has created strong friendships between people of different religions. Tradition which is our great achievement we are proud of. Benefit that shows that we live according to the European principles and that the place of our country is within the European family of nations and states. Once again, I congratulate the Ramadan fasting to you, the attendees, and all believers of Islamic faith in the Republic of Macedonia", President Ivanov said in his speech at the Dinner.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, H.E. Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, attended the presentation of the multimedia project "Skopje Remembers" which took place at Macedonia Square tonight.

This is the central event marking the 50th anniversary of the catastrophic Skopje earthquake.

Through their performances, the Macedonian Philharmonic Orchestra, actors and members of the Macedonian Opera and Ballet presented stories on love, bravery and solidarity – stories from the Skopje earthquake.

Previously, President Ivanov visited the exhibition "Skopje, July 26, 1963" in the Museum of the City of Skopje.