The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, today traveled to London to personally support the Macedonian athletes participating in the 30th Olympic Games in London. The Macedonian flag is already waving in the Olympic Village.

With fanfaronade, intonating the anthem and raising the national flag, the Macedonian Olympic team in London was officially promoted. Solemn, well organized celebration attended by President Ivanov and the First Lady, Ms. Maja Ivanova.

“I am here together with all representatives and head of states and governments, to highlight the opening of the Olympic games, especially today, when the Macedonian flag is raised in the presence of our athletes, is a magnificent moment”, President Ivanov said.

The Olympic Games are a unique event for all inhabitants of the planet, and as the President said – at the Olympics, we are all the same. “There are no big and small, strong and weak. All countries are equal. Sports has always been preferred as peace is”, the Macedonian president said.

“During the Olympics we all sit behind the TV screens. We watch all contests, expect new records, look for new stars. We watch all sports, even those not familiar to us. We learn about them at the Olympics”, President Ivanov added.

Macedonian Olympians for already two days stay in the Olympic Village in London. Swimmers Marko Blazevski and Simona Marinova and athletes Kristijan Efremov and Hristina Risteska are undergoing preparatory trainings in the eve of the greatest most sport challenge.

Marko Blazevski holds the honorary obligation to be the Macedonian bearer at the ceremonial opening.

"My heart trembles with joy to be only the third active Olympian honored to carry the Macedonian flag at the opening of the Olympic Games, and also the first swimmer to do so. The pressure is great, but honestly, I feel very calm and relaxed after the talk yesterday with President Gjorge Ivanov from whom I and the other Macedonian Olympians in London received great support", Blazevski said.

The official opening of this year's Olympics is expected to be a spectacular event. There will be 10.490 athletes from 203 countries around the world who will present themselves walking the Olympic Stadium in London. According to the organizers announcements, the opening of the biggest sporting event on the planet is meant for all, and it will abound with creativity. The Olympic Games will be opened the Queen Elizabeth II.

The Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, who is paying an official visit to the Republic of Macedonia, announced that he would personally urge the Greek authorities to accelerate the process to resolve the name issue. The first man of the World Organization, following the meeting with the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, in Ohrid, said that he would work on the respect the judgment of the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

“I stressed my commitment to facilitate the process for a quick solution. We will invest maximum efforts in the talks with the Greek authorities. Immediately after the visit, I will dispatch my special envoy Matthew Nimetz to Greece to brief authorities over the talks held here. I will personally try to contact Prime Minister Samaras in order to help accelerate the process. I regret two neighboring countries not to have managed to use their potentials fully for regional cooperation, reconciliation and development. The UN will do everything in their capacity to facilitate the process. This is a long-standing problem. Aware of the International Court of Justice ruling, we will take into consideration all its aspects”, the Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said.

President Ivanov said that at the meeting they tackled the issues concerning the implementation of the Interim Accord with Greece and the judgment of the International Court of Justice in The Hague, as well as the expected involvement of the UN over their observance.

“We discussed that there should be no abuse of bilateral disputes, but a solution in accordance with international agreements and voluntarily accepted obligations. We talked about our already 20-year dispute with Greece. I asked the Secretary General and mediator Nimetz to ensure respect for international resolutions, to ensure the name talks to be led within the established framework, defined by the UN resolutions. It is a prerequisite to reaching a mutually acceptable solution. Any stepping out of this framework is only taking away from the solution”, President Ivanov said.

Macedonia, stressed the Head of the State, insists the judgment of The Hague and the obligations undertaken by Greece with the Interim Accord of 1995 to be respected and observed.

"I sincerely believe the Secretary General will support and will strive to fulfill this principle request we have. I expect the other party is urged to respect the ICJ ruling and the Interim Accord it has voluntarily signed in 1995. The other party is expected to prove constructiveness and political will to find mutually acceptable solution, not to undermine the talks with constant delay and tackling other issues which enter in the sphere of individual human rights, the right to self-identification and human dignity. The framework is defined by the United Nations. Macedonian language and Macedonian identity are undeniable fact and a reality. We will never accept them to be subject of talks or negotiations. We are waiting for the southern neighbor to sit on the negotiating table, to build our common present and future. We stretch our hand of friendship and good neighborliness, President Ivanov said, reflecting that he has sent 4 invitations to his Greek counterpart Karolos Papoulias for a meeting.

Regarding the judgment of The Hague, the Macedonian President stressed that the court verified the correct policy of the Republic of Macedonia pertaining to this issue and therefore, it shall be an incentive to quickly resolve the name dispute, for a solution that will not be to anyone's detriment, a solution that will not disturb the dignity, but rather will restore confidence between the two peoples, the two countries and will contribute for a better perspective of the entire region.

Concerning certain unfounded attempts of some parties to present Macedonia as a threat to peace and security, President Ivanov stressed that the state over the past 20 years has emerged before the international community as a factor of stability in the region, confirmed with facts and arguments.

"Everything we have done so far denies all absurd allegations that we are not building good neighborly relation and that we have certain territorial claims. We were constructive and responsible to our neighbors, raised initiatives for regional cooperation and were consistent with all international commitments. Guided by the basic principles of the World Organization, we were loyal and credible partners of the UN, we managed to prevent internal conflict and solve all problems peacefully", President Ivanov said, recalling that the Republic of Macedonia in a peaceful manner and in accordance with international law has demarcated its borders, which is a rare case in the region.

The President stressed that it is not only in our, but in the interest of Europe and the world this region to be stable and prosperous. It requires integration and absence of mutual blockades and obstructions.

President Ivanov and Secretary General Ban discussed the region situation, the developments in Kosovo, as well as the Macedonia's chairmanship over the South-East European Cooperation Process.

The Secretary General of the United Nations, after his meeting with the Macedonian President, visited Plaoshnik, the church St. Bogorodica Perivlepta and the Gallery of Icons, as part of the significant cultural and historical monuments in Ohrid, the city protected by UNESCO.

As part of his visit to the Republic of Macedonia, Ban Ki-moon in Skopje met with Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and Parliament Speaker Trajko Veljanoski, and addressed the MPs in the Macedonian assembly.

The Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon, arrived this evening at the St. Apostle Paul Airport in Ohrid, and thus launched his official visit to the Republic of Macedonia.

The first man of the World Organization was welcomed at the Ohrid Airport by the Minister of Culture, Elizabeta Kancheska-Milevska, the Macedonian Ambassador to the U.S., Zoran Jolevski, together with the UN mediator in the name talks, Matthew Nimetz.

Upon arrival, the delegation immediately headed to the residential Villa Biljana, where Ban Ki-moon was greeted by President Ivanov, who hosted a solemn dinner in his honor.

The United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, met with representatives of the Ivanov School Leaders Alumni Association (ISLAA).

At every meeting with heads of state, governments, ministers, MPs I stress the need to do more for the youth, to meet their needs and ambitions. We are witnessing their capacity. Many would say that young people are the future of the world, but what I would like to emphasize is that they are already leaders of today”, said among the other things, the UN Secretary General.

According to him, any open issue of the modern world is somehow related to the youth.

"All areas of life are related to youth in all aspects. I sincerely hope that young leaders would extend our views, our horizons", Ban Ki-moon said, appealing to the young leaders to expand their activities for a better future not only of Macedonia and Europe, but the entire world.

"The realization of any idea, or your dream, requires energy and strong personal commitment. My message to you is to invest your energy, the passion you have. Focus your ambition to provide better living conditions, not only here in Macedonia, but in the entire world, become global citizens", Ban Ki-moon said to the members of the Ivanov School of Leaders Alumni Association (ISLAA).

The Secretary General thanked President Ivanov for his vision in establishing such an institution as the School for Young Leaders.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, received today in a farewell meeting, the Ambassador of the Czech Republic, H.E. Mr. Josef Brown.

At the cordial meeting, the President of the Republic of Macedonia thanked the Czech Ambassador for his dedication and commitment to deepening the bilateral cooperation in almost all spheres, and also expressed gratitude for the continued and open support of the Czech Republic for Macedonia’s integration processes.

Regarding the Euro-Atlantic integration of the Republic of Macedonia, President Ivanov reiterated the position that the integration blockades will not increase the likelihood of finding a solution to the name issue.

“On the contrary, greater communication and interaction will boost confidence and create an environment for finding a solution without winners and losers. But it requires will from Athens as well, and strict adherence to the framework in which the talks are led”, the President stressed.

At the meeting with the Ambassador who is about to leave the country, the Macedonian President added that the Republic of Macedonia does not require anything different from what other member states require of the Euro zone - Greece to respect international commitments.

“The judgment of The Hague, and the international obligations under the Interim Accord, must be respected, and the Republic of Macedonia should be given fair treatment and application of the positive model of parallel movement in the integrations and in resolving bilateral issues”, President Ivanov said at the farewell meeting.

Both interlocutors expressed satisfaction with the achieved level in the overall relations, as well as with the permanent political dialogue, with an expectation that cooperation will continue and be intensified in future.

President Ivanov conveyed his regards to the President of the Czech Republic, Vaclav Klaus, with an expectation that his successor will pay a return official visit to the Republic of Macedonia.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, today paid a working visit to Bitola and visited the industrial zone Zabeni along with Mayor Vladimir Taleski.

Mayor Taleski informed the Head of State on the investment and construction activities in the industrial zone Zabeni where the construction of the largest Greenfield foreign investment in the country has been officially launched - the factory of the German company “Kromberg and Schubert”, but also on the interest of other companies to develop their business in Bitola.

“I wanted to see the progress of this investment which opens up perspectives, especially for young people and for those who opt for technical vocations. Such a plant in our region is a rarity. The construction progresses thanks to the favorable conditions and benefits offered to the investor”, President Ivanov said.

He pointed out that the investment of “Kromberg and Schubert’ in this industrial zone creates a different environment and will encourage other foreign investors. “This will open new jobs and will provide employment for young people. Thus, it will improve the overall situation in the country”, the President stressed.

Mayor Taleski announced that soon a new call for investors will be published, who have sent to the Municipality a Letter of Intent to invest in the industrial zone Zabeni. He expressed expectation that in the course of the coming few years there will be an additional three to five thousand jobs opened in the zone.

President Ivanov, as patron of the International Cinematographers' Film Festival "Manaki Brothers", was acquainted with the preparations for the upcoming event and attended the film set where the latest film directed by Stole Popov is shot, and had a conversation with the team and the actors engaged in this film.

Within the working visit to Bitola, the President visited the volunteers at the People's Office, who informed him about the interest of the citizens who regularly visit the Office, the number of submitted proposals, complaints and initiatives.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, today attended the ceremony of laying the cornerstone, which officially launched the construction of residential and business complex of the Turkish company Cevahir Holding, in the municipality of Aerodrom.

The complex consists of four skyscrapers with 42 floors, each 130 meters high, business and shopping center, at an area of 33,000m². According to the announcements of the Turkish investor, Cevahir Ibrahim, the project is expected to be completed in three years and the total investment of the Turkish company is 300 million Euros.

The foundation laying ceremony, despite President Ivanov, was attended by Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and several government ministers, mayors and MPs.

This is the biggest investment of Cevahir Holding in the Balkans, a company that is high ranking in the construction sector with projects implemented in Turkey and abroad, and among the most serious foreign investments in the Republic of Macedonia. This construction project opens up opportunities for engaging professionals and companies from around twenty other branches, which will be an additional impulse for the construction dynamics in the country.

The construction of these four skyscrapers is the biggest residential investment in the construction sector. Upon completion, they will be the tallest buildings in the recent Macedonian history. The new complex in the municipality of Aerodrom will contribute to the modernization of Skopje and Macedonia in general, as well as its development and promotion. As stressed by the Turkish Ambassador to Macedonia, Gürol Sökmensüer, amid the global downturn, economic and trade relations between our two countries continue to develop in a positive direction.