President Ivanov in Ohrid today opened the third School for Young Leaders with a message that Macedonia needs leaders not only in politics, but comprehensively established personalities capable to organize people, to create teams that will change the reality and the society they live in.

"Now is the time not only to create a future for the young people, but also young people for the future with ideas and initiatives", President Dr. Gjorge Ivanov said in his address to the participants of the third generation of the School for Young Leaders.

The president, who is patron of the School and its initiator, urged young people to use the next few days of their stay in Ohrid to learn new skills, to be initiative and creative, to exchange valuable experiences that will be beneficial for them in future.

He urged the young participants of the School to be true leaders and to motivate others to learn and to be leaders.

"Our goal is to be part of Europe in order to respect the European standards, criteria, values. We need not to go to Europe, we need to create Europe here, to be Europeans, people with open minds, accepting everything positive and rejecting everything from the past that burdens us", President Ivanov said.

The participants of the Leadership School were also addressed by the President of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, Felix Unger, who welcomed President Ivanov's initiative, announcing that similar activities will be organized by the EASA. Unger, among the other things, pointed out the necessity to make a distinction of the terms managers and leaders.

"It is about two different things. The manager in the society is in a secondary position, implementing his own tasks, goals, while the leader is a person that motivates, a person who is constantly creating new and better ways of living with his actions", Unger said.

Referring to the European values, the President of EASA emphasized freedom as one of the greatest benefits, stressing that it would lose its value if it is not accompanied by human virtues such as the desire for justice, enhanced with education.

At an invitation of President Ivanov, lecture to the participants of the School for Young Leaders had also the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and former Ambassador to the Republic of Macedonia, Philip Reeker, who congratulating President Ivanov for initiating this project, assessed the School for Young Leaders as an excellent initiative, which has emerged as a standard, as something that is needed to the wider community.

"The School for Young Leaders is an exceptional forum and I am very glad to be part of President Ivanov's initiative again. We will discuss with the young leaders of Macedonia their perspectives and the challenges faced by modern society. This initiative does not only present an opportunity for Macedonia to make the most of its potentials and resources, but is also very important in regional and global context. These young leaders will not only play a significant role in the future of Macedonia, but they will be the creators of the regional structure, something the United States is actively supporting within its commitment to full Euro-Atlantic integration of the region", Riker said.

"It is a privilege to be here at the School for Young Leaders, which I think is a fantastic initiative. The inspiration of President Ivanov to encourage and connect young people and thus to improve their leadership skills, can only be commended", the British Ambassador Christopher Yvon said, who also gave a lecture today to the young leaders on the concept of active leadership and how to transform it into reality.

The School for Young Leaders was 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 the challenges of the global technology, international competition and cultural and religious diversification.

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

The Army of the Republic of Macedonia today with a parade in the “Ilinden” barracks in Skopje marked the 20th anniversary. The state leadership, led by the President and Supreme Commander, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, the Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, the Speaker Trajko Veljanovski, ministers, MPs, ambassadors, military attaches, were presented the echelons of all units of the Army, the combat resources, the technique and aircrafts part of the formational composition of the Army. The parade was also attended by echelon of the United States Armed Forces, and was followed by a many citizens.

On the occasion of the Army Day and the 20th anniversary, President Ivanov awarded posthumously Medals of Bravery to 57 Macedonian service members. President Ivanov has adopted a decree to posthumously award Medal of Bravery to all members of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Macedonia who courageously and sacrificially gave their lives for the country, including the 11 members of the Army who on January 12, 2008, returning from the ALTHEA mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina, were killed in a helicopter crash near Katlanovsko Blace.

Today, as President Ivanov stressed in his address, we remember all those who gave a sacrifice for the country, defending freedom, independence and sovereignty of Macedonia, defending the territorial integrity of the single homeland we have - the Republic of Macedonia.

Within the celebration of the jubilee in the past days a solemn academy was held in the Army Hall, flowers were laid at the monument to fallen military members, promoted officers were formally decorated and awards to retired generals, military personnel and civilians were presented. There was also honorary artillery fire in the “Ilinden” barracks yesterday.

Development, training and education of ARM members began in March 1992 with the weapons and equipment of the Territorial Defence, after the withdrawal of the former Yugoslav People’s Army (JNA) from the then Third Army area.

On December 23, 1993, the Assembly validated the decision for a full-fledged NATO membership as a strategic goal. In November 1995, Macedonia became the 27th member of the Partnership for Peace initiative and in March next year was admitted to the North Atlantic Cooperation Council. The Army in 2002 launched its reform process, which should result in deserved invitation to join NATO, which is delayed due to the Greek blockades.

The combat readiness level of the members of the Macedonian Army is practically demonstrated with the engagement of certain units of ARM in international missions in Afghanistan, Iraq, Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as with the participation in multi-national peacekeeping brigade SIBRIG.

On the eve of the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Army of Republic of Macedonia, President Ivanov adopted a decree to decorate the Vermont National Guard, United States, with the Order of Military Merits, for outstanding contribution to the successful maintenance and advancement of the relations and cooperation between the armed forces of the United States and the armed forces of the Republic of Macedonia and their joint participation in international peacekeeping missions.

On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia, the President of the Republic of Macedonia adopted three decrees to decorate with the Order of Military Merits:

1. The Special Operations Regiment of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia, for outstanding contribution to the strengthening and development of defence capability of the Republic of Macedonia in the preservation of its independence, safety and territorial integrity, as well as for the successful presentation and affirmation of the Army of Republic of Macedonia in international peacekeeping missions.

2. Lieutenant General Mitre Arsovski, for outstanding contribution to the achievement of independence, autonomy, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Macedonia and strengthening its defence capability, serving as the first Chief of Staff of the Army of Republic of Macedonia.

3. The Military Academy of the Republic of Turkey, for the results achieved in the area of military cooperation, in particular through the education provided for the members of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia, and for the outstanding contribution to the development of friendly relations between the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Turkey.

In honor of the Krushevo Republic – the first Republic in the Balkans, the President of the Republic of Macedonia, H.E. Dr. Gjorge Ivanov laid a the wreath at the tomb of Macedonian revolutionary Nikola Karev, and also paid tribute to the fallen heroes at the Sliva Memorial.
The Macedonian state delegation led by President Ivanov also attended the memorial service held later in the church of St. Nikola.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, met with Australian MP Stephen Jones, President of the Australian – Macedonian Friendship Parliamentary Group.

The two interlocutors expressed their satisfaction with the upward trend of political relations between the two countries and the interest in boosting economic cooperation, at the same time underlining the role of Macedonian Diaspora in Australia as the foundation for building strong friendly relations.

In order to deepen the economic cooperation, President Ivanov emphasized the need of strengthening trade exchange and stimulating the entry of Australian investments in the Republic of Macedonia. In this sense, President Ivanov pointed out the importance of signing bilateral agreements for avoidance of double taxation and mutual protection and promotion of investments.

The President also expressed his satisfaction with the decision by the Australian Government to withdraw the 1994 discriminatory directive labeling the Macedonian community as “Slavic-Macedonian” and underlined that the official recognition of the constitutional name and facilitation of the visa regime for the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia will indeed provide an impetus and promote bilateral relations between the two countries.

Macedonian President expressed his hope to realize an official highest level visit and thus contribute to the intensification of political dialogue, along with the expectation that in future, an Embassy of Australia in the Republic of Macedonia will be opened.

Both the President and Mr. Jones expressed their satisfaction with the level of cooperation in the area of defense, President Ivanov stating that membership in the EU and NATO remains the highest priority of the Republic of Macedonia, with a focus on reaching a mutually acceptable solution to the imposed dispute and unblocking integration processes.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov and Mrs. Maja Ivanova attended the Buckingham Palace Olympics Opening Ceremony reception for Heads of State and Government hosted by Her Majesty Queen Elisabeth II in the wake of the 30th Olympic Games in London.

Queen Elisabeth II greeted each guest and expressed her gratitude for their presence in Buckingham Palace. During his brief encounter with Her Majesty, President Ivanov congratulated her, on behalf of the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia and on his personal behalf, on the Diamond Jubilee and 60 years of reign. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and husband of Queen Elisabeth II was interested in the Macedonian Olympic team and Macedonian sport in general.

Yesterday, President Ivanov visited Macedonian Olympians in the Olympic Village where playing the national anthem and raising the national flag marked the official promotion of the Macedonian Olympic team in London.

”Every time the Macedonian national flag is raised in the presence of our athletes is a special and magnificent moment”, stated President Ivanov yesterday.

Macedonian Olympians, swimmers Marko Blazhevski and Simona Marinova, and track and field athletes Kristijan Efremov and Hristina Risteska thanked the President for his support before they start the Olympic competition. As the Macedonian flag bearer at the Olympic Opening Ceremony, marko Blazhevski stated – “The pressure is big, but I feel more calm and relaxed after the conversation with President Gjorge Ivanov yesterday – along with the other Macedonian Olympic team members, we have had great support by him here in London”.