On the occasion of the 15th anniversary, the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, today visited the Broadcasting Council (BC), and met with the President, Zoran Trajchevski and with members of the Council. The meeting discussed the current situation in the field of electronic media, as well as the activities of the BC. The discussions focused on the challenges facing this regulatory body, in particular the problems with regard to the cable televisions.

“The Broadcasting Council is one of the first regulatory bodies in Macedonia and was an example of how these bodies should function. A period of various challenges and different influences is behind, but, today, the BC is really a respectable institution. It was assured of this today by inspecting the process of monitoring of all TV and radio programs, and the proposed solutions to the new situations that occur in the cable operators, which are not regulated yet and are not in the competence of the Council”,  President Ivanov said after the visit.

President Ivanov, during the visit, was acquainted with the process of implementation of the Law on Broadcasting, with the procedure for monitoring of broadcasters and operators of public communications networks. The president and members of the Council informed the President of the projections for the functioning of the BC in the future with new technologies and new media.

“Congratulations on the achievements the Council has made so that our media room is really regulated and functions as required by the European standards and principles. As these adjustments and reforms required by the EU are being implemented, the Council assumes the true role that such a body in the society should have”, President Ivanov said.

During the visit we also discussed the issue to which certain viewers reacted, namely why football matches are not transmitted in Macedonian language, which is due to the work of the cable operators, an area that needs to be regulated.

In context of the situation with the cable televisions, the President of the BC, Zoran Trajchevski, informed that the Council proposed legislative solutions acceptable to overcome the current situation.

"We hope that for a short period of time all these weaknesses that arise in the field of regulation of cable televisions will be overcome", Trajchevski said, adding that the BC in the past 15 years has contributed to the development of the Macedonian democracy in the field of media development.

He noted that for him and for the members of the Council the visit of the President at its 15th anniversary is a great honor.

The Head of State is authorized to propose members of the Broadcasting Council.

On the eve of his visit to Brussels and the meetings with high EU and NATO representatives, the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, today said that he expects positive European Commission report on Macedonia’s progress in 2012 and a date to start negotiations by the European Council in December.

This is a regular visit to Brussels prior to the submission of the report which we all expect to be positive. Reforms give results and this is evaluated by the European Commission. According to all that has been done I think this report will be positive and that finally in December we will be given what we are expecting - start of negotiations. With the High-Level Accession Dialogue we really open chapters, but we expect what every candidate country expects - a date to start negotiations”, President Ivanov said after his visit to the Broadcasting Council.

The Head of State, referring to the name issue, mentioned the recent visit to Macedonia by the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, accompanied by the mediator in the name row, Ambassador Matthew Nimetz, and assessed it as an extremely substantial meeting.

“I assess the visit of Ban Ki-moon and the UN mediator Matthew Nimetz as a very substantial on. We had very comprehensive talks. At this meeting with Ban Ki-moon, we opened all issues, all aspects and all that we as a country have taken and initiated to prove our willingness to come to a solution. However, the other side constantly has excuses for it to be postponed. Once due to the elections, than the economic crisis, and later is unwillingness. All this was acknowledged and stated in a press conference by Ban Ki-moon. Our side in terms of this two-decade dispute has a clean record”, the President stressed.

Asked about the relations within the governmental coalition following the event in Slupcane and the latest case with placing boards with new names of several schools in the municipality of Cair, President Ivanov said that it is a daily political issue.

“There are institutions and these institutions need to function and to take what is in their jurisdiction. It is a daily political issue, we should leave the coalition partners to find a solution”, President Gjorge Ivanov said.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, had a telephone conversation today with the Olympic and world record holder, Olivera Nakovska Bikova, and congratulated her the great success achieved, the world record and the first place and the gold medal in archery at the Paralympic Games in London.

President Ivanov, on his personal behalf and on behalf of the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia, extending cordial regards to Olivera Nakovska Bikova said that her success has made all our citizens proud and happy and that it is an inspiration for young people and future athletes in our country.

Thanks to the achievements of Macedonia’s athletes our country and our culture is promoted, President Ivanov said. My doors are always open to young athletes and they can always count on my full support, President Ivanov said.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, tonight at a ceremony in Ohrid presented certificates for participation and successful completion of the intensive leadership training to this year’s participants of the School for Young Leaders.

Addressing the participants of the School, President Ivanov stressed that these certificates should be a compass that will guide them through life, on the path called “the pursuit of happiness”.

“I wish you, from the port where we are tonight, to continue your journey and all the knowledge, experience, all the skills you have acquired to apply in your life ... Let’s make Macedonia proud of you, but also, you should be proud to participate in a project that aims to make Macedonia a country of successful people”, President Ivanov told the third generation of young leaders.

He urged young leaders to apply the acquired knowledge, to use the contacts, to share the experience with others, because it is the only way all these virtues to get real value.

“We badly need innovative and creative people. We expect you to erect spiritual and physical buildings and material constructions, structures that will elevate Macedonia in height”, the President said.

He urged the youth to adhere to the four golden rules - to be patient, to learn from the others, to seize the moment and to be prepared to any sacrifice, underlining the philosophy that unites all these rules, noting that they all come true only at one point.

Aleksandra Panovska addressed on behalf of the third generation of the School for Young Leaders, and pointed out, to the mutual satisfaction of all young people involved in the project, that the past few days were days of wisdom of world leaders, people willing to share knowledge, skills, life experience.

"Each of us here came with his own thought, vision, idea. After every lecture we had new perspectives, new questions, but we were always richer for another experience ... All united with one purpose, to continue the noble initiative of President Ivanov, not only to learn but also to apply knowledge and to justify your trust", Aleksandra said.

The School for Young Leaders, held for the third time, is a project of the President Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, established to stimulate positive values among young leaders and future political, economic and cultural leaders of our country, and to develop their capacity to cope with global technology challenges, international competition and cultural and religious diversity.

President Ivanov first initiated this idea in his election program, with a vision to enable young, talented and ambitious people from Macedonia to upgrade their skills, to develop their creativity and managerial skills.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, on the occasion of the great Christian holiday of the Assumption of the Mother of God, attended today the Liturgy in the monastery in Matka, led by the Archbishop of Ohrid and Macedonia, H.H. Stefan.

President Ivanov congratulated all Orthodox believers the Assumption of the Mother of God.

“This is the holiday when glorifying the Mother of God we celebrate the role of the mother in the family, the role of the family, the dedication to the family, to the children and the love for them. Indeed, with this holiday we maintain the tradition of our believers. These are moments when we are reminded of all that was in the past and what can we expect in the future”, President Ivanov said.

The celebration of the Assumption of the Mother of God is a celebration of the fact that all people are highly elevated in Christ’s holiness. This holiday is a sign, trust and celebration of the fulfillment of all those lives, whose souls glorify God, committed to listening and keeping the word of God which is given to men by Mary, through the Savior of the world.

Differing views of the government coalition partners are typical in a democracy, but all issues need to be settled through dialogue, the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanovm, said, commenting on the latest developments in the government coalition VMRO-DPMNE and DUI.

The President stressed that the behavior of the government partners should be responsible and in the interest of the Macedonian citizens.

“It is common, in a democracy, coalition partners to have different views, however, they are partners in the coalition and have to find a solution to all issues through dialogue. In a democracy, such situations are always possible and we must be prepared that, after 21 year of experience in a democracy, different activities are possible. Therefore, this is normal. Most probably the government coalition partners would find a solution and this would be a lesson to them too, and that all should act responsibly in the interest of the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia”, President Ivanov said.

The Head of State, being also the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, said that those persons who appeared in army uniform in the flower-laying ceremony at the monument of the former NLA in Slupcane should bear responsibility.

"We reacted immediately, at the beginning. I would like to clarify to the public, since there is a lot of speculation. I ordered an investigation to be conducted and the ARM General Staff of the investigation conducted concluded that the Army did not participate in the Slupcane event. It was found out that staff from the Ministry of Defence, i.e. from the Cabinet of the Minister, abused the military uniform population and led the population to a misconception to think that the Army attended the ceremony. All procedural actions were initiated and those people involved are expected to be hold liable and bear responsibility, because it is strictly prescribed who and when can wear a uniform and that all related provisions are infringed. The ARM General Staff will propose to the Ministry to take responsibility for those persons”, President Ivanov said, who attended the celebration of the Assumption of the Mother of God in the monastery in Matka.