The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, received today the members of the Macedonian karate team, who participated at the European Championship for cadets and older juniors, held in the period February 8 - 10 in Konya, Turkey.

The reception for the delegation of the Karate Federation of Macedonia was organized to commend the achieved success of the Macedonian karate team members, who won one gold and two bronze medals at the European Championship, which was attended by 800 competitors from 44 countries.

The Macedonian karate team member, Viktor Pendarovski, won a bronze medal in the category of juniors, Monika Pendarovska won a bronze medal in the category of cadets, while Berat Jakupi won a gold medal in the category of older juniors, being the third gold medal in his career and also became the only Macedonian athlete who is a three-time continental champion in three different age categories.

At the meeting, President Ivanov congratulated the Macedonian karate team members on the achieved great success, adding that they should, in the future, with maximum commitment and zealous sports life, continue to be the worthy represents of the Republic of Macedonia at the great sporting events in senior competition.


”Sport successes are successes all young people identify with. With the best results you consistently achieve, namely, the won medals at the European Championship, you have shown that you are an extremely positive example for current and future young generations. Victory brings people together, and we, united, in the new sports victories, can bring the joy back we experienced with the victories of the national basketball and handball teams”, President Ivanov said. At the same time, the President stressed that sport is particularly important area for integration and development of mutual tolerance, which can be seen in the implemented project “Sport as Factor for Tolerance, Unity and Respect”, which was accepted by the young people with great interest. “Sport is an activity that greatly strengthens the spirit. Sport as an activity primarily means self-confidence and mental victory over the spirit, and then real sport victory”, President Ivanov said.

The members of the Macedonian karate team informed President Ivanov on the current activities as part of the preparations for participation in future championships, hoping that karate will qualify as Olympic sport in the near future. In this context, President Ivanov expressed confidence that if karate becomes Olympic sport, Karate Federation members will undoubtedly be potential winners of Olympic medals.

At the same time, Macedonian Karate Federation members expressed appreciation for the continued support and for the acknowledgement of the Macedonian President.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, met today with the Minister for Education and Science, Mr. Panche Kralev and the Minister of Economy, Mr. Valon Saraqini.

President Ivanov, at the meeting, was informed of the process of preparation of common interest projects under the competence of the respective ministries, which are supported by the Macedonian Head of State, in the field of innovation, entrepreneurship, renewable energy sources, as well as of the ongoing preparations of the project “Technological Parks”.

In this context, President Ivanov, Minister Saraqini and Minister Kralev stressed the need for harmonization of the legal framework in order to ensure easier access to the EU funds, designed to support innovation. At the same time, they exchanged views and information on the possibilities for improving the conditions for obtaining international student scholarships.

President Ivanov welcomed the initiatives aimed at encouraging the educational and professional potential in our country, and also pointed out that the educated staff, ready to implement applicable scientific research, is essential for ensuring economic growth and overall progress of the society.

In this respect, President Ivanov referred to the established tradition of awarding the title “The Best Young Scientist”, through which the President continuously encourages young scientists from different fields to provide their scientific contribution in the developing processes of our country, as well as the project “Entrepreneurship”, aimed at promoting entrepreneurial spirit among young people.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, today, at the vineyards of “Dalvina” in Hamzali, municipality of Bosilovo, attended the celebration of the Orthodox holiday “St. Trifun”, the protector of vine growers. After the liturgy for successful harvest, held by the European Metropolitan Pimen, with the symbolic vine pruning, the start of the season was announced in the vineyards of “Dalvina”. President Ivanov wished all growers and winemakers in Macedonia successful harvest this year. Today, on St. Trifun, I wish all growers and winemakers plentiful and quality harvest. This message is typical for this day when the vines are pruned, and, with this custom, we continue a very long tradition, helping the work of the vine growers and wishing them plentiful and quality harvest. This time we are in Strumica, which means that not only Tikves and Povardarie are wine regions, but also there are investments and viticulture is developed here, President Ivanov said. At the invitation of the Macedonian President, the event was attended by the Ambassador of the United States, the Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the Ambassador of the French Republic, the Ambassador of Hungary and the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland. President Ivanov together with the guests visited the winery “Dalvina” in Hamzali, which is becoming a serious competitor with its quality wine, both at the domestic and at the international market.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, received today Ambassador Ralf Breth, Head of the OSCE Mission in Macedonia. President Ivanov stressed that Macedonia highly appreciates the cooperation with the OSCE Mission and expressed expectation that ODIHR will closely monitor the local elections in March this year. At the same time, the Macedonian President expressed satisfaction with the recent meeting with the OSCE Secretary General Lamberto Zannier, when they exchanged views on domestic policy developments in Macedonia and sent a joint message that  all political forces should focus on the EU agenda and the country’s progress in the EU integration process.

At the meeting, they exchanged views and information on the current political situation in the country, the boycott of parliament and the opportunities to overcome the situation. President Ivanov briefed the interlocutor on the activities and initiatives taken to overcome the situation, and expressed his hope that the interests of the state and the citizens will prevail over party or personal interests of certain individuals. Ambassador Breth commended President Ivanov’s efforts, and both agreed that essential for the further integration process of the Republic of Macedonia is the internal unity, full capacity functioning of the institutions and overcoming the political situation.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, today received the delegation of the Special Olympics Macedonia, which took part in the World Winter Olympics, being held from January 25 to February 5, 2013 in Pyeongchang, South Korea, where our Olympians won outstanding results. In the competition of the 3014 athletes who competed in seven sports, Dimche Mihajlovski won a gold medal in alpine skiing, Daniela Panevska and Dimitar Megerov won one silver and one bronze medal in alpine skiing, while Katerina Krsteva was two times ranked at the fourth place in the alpine slide.

President Ivanov congratulated the members of the delegation on the achieved success and noted that he is continuously monitoring and firmly supporting the activities of the Special Olympics Macedonia. On behalf of all citizens of Macedonia, I congratulate you this great success, which warmed the hearts of all of us. Every goal is achievable and every dream can come true, if we are committed and responsible. You have proven this and made Macedonia proud, President Ivanov said. The Macedonian President stressed that the sport is one of the most successful ways of integration and socialization of persons with disabilities, and of raising awareness among the general public for providing appropriate assistance and support of these individuals. President Ivanov noted that the participation in such international sporting events contributes to the affirmation of our country.

The members of the delegation of the Special Olympics Macedonia commended on all previous initiatives of President Ivanov to support and promote their activities and expressed hope for even greater success in the future. President Ivanov also organized a reception for the members of the Special Olympics Macedonia after their participation in the World Summer Games in Greece in 2011 and the European Special Olympics in Poland in 2010.

In the Army Hall in Skopje, a briefing was held today on the combat readiness of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia in 2012, which was attended by: the President of the Republic of Macedonia and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, Defence Minister, Fatmir Besimi, Chief of General Staff of the Army, Major General Goranco Koteski, commanders of subordinate commands and units, key personnel from the Ministry of Defense and heads of organizational units of the ARM.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces was informed by the Chief of the Army General Staff about the implementation of the plans and tasks in 2012, according to the Army functional areas related to: personal management, force protection operations, trainings and exercises, logistics, relations and communications and budgeting. Based on the comprehensive annual analysis of the Army General Staff, it was concluded that the Army, in the past year have successfully carried out its mission and tasks, and, despite objective difficulties and limitations, the combat readiness was at the necessary level. On this occasion, the Chief of General Staff, in particular, pointed out the successful execution of the key tasks and projects of the Army that marked the past year, such as: celebration of the 20th jubilee of ARM, new combat uniform, successful execution of international missions outside the Republic of Macedonia, assistance provided to institutions in time of natural disasters and rescue missions, adoption of a number of rules and regulations governing the life and work in the Army and the execution of regular tasks.

Main challenges, but also measures, which will contribute in 2013 to the further enhancement of combat readiness and morale of the Army are: proposal and adoption of the plan for modernization of the Army by the Government of the Republic of Macedonia, sale of the unusable and old equipment of the ARM, allocation of funds in the budget of the MoD from the sale of property owned by the MoD, implementation of the project “ARM my Home”, recruiting staff from the professional Army Reserve staff, better functioning and coordination of the key sectors of the MoD with appropriate sections in the Army GS and further enhancement of the level of preparedness of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia.