These summits ensured relaxation of neighborly relations and thus contributed to stabilization of the whole region. Leaders of Southeast Europe countries agreed that regional cooperation is the best proven way to achieve strategic goals, namely NATO and EU, as a prerequisite for lasting stability and prosperity in the region.

This is the conclusion of the joint press conference of the regional leaders attending these two days in Mostar the 10th UNESCO Summit on “Religious, cultural and historical heritage as a basis for intensifying cooperation between states”, where, among the key speakers, was the Macedonian President Dr. Gjorge Ivanov.

The first such summit within the forum “Dialogue among Civilizations”, initiated by the Republic of Macedonia, was held in Ohrid in 2003, at the initiative of late President Boris Trajkovski.

During the Summit, a declaration was unanimously adopted, binding the leaders of each country to protect cultural heritage on its territory and increase cooperation in the fight against illegal trafficking in artifacts and other historical and cultural heritage, as well as to be committed to fostering peace, understanding, trust and cooperation in SEE, building a prosperous common European future.

These meetings helped us a lot in changing the image of the Balkans. First, in strengthening mutual cooperation in areas of common interest, both in cultural, economic and political terms”, President Ivanov said at the press conference after the summit.

Relations between our countries have long been burdened with historical prejudice. For long time and even today we are dealing with the past instead with the future.

"Only through dialogue we can overcome prejudice, conflicts and fear of diversity. The one who communicates becomes integrated and the one who does not communicate becomes ghettoized, saddled with imaginary enmities", added the Head of State.

When asked to comment the allegations of the leader of New Democracy, Antonis Samaras, that together with Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski they destabilize security and stability in the Balkans, President Ivanov said: "If it is a statement of a party leader who, along with Slobodan Milosevic, 20 years ago, was drawing new borders on the maps of the Balkans, then I have no comment".

The Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bakir Izetbegovic, noted a high level of consent of all participants at the Summit, that culture, as well as religious and cultural-historical heritage, can play a significant role in deepening good-neighborly relations between the countries.

We managed to re-build political dialogue and good neighborly relations, said the Albanian President Bamir Topi, adding that the countries in the region are proud of it and that today's summit is devoted exactly to upgrading relations.

"In this regard, I would like to emphasize again that all "stakeholders" should be present here when we are discussing in the spirit of tolerance and restoration of monuments that belong to the entire humanity", said the Albanian President Topi.

The joint press conference of the leaders of the countries and the other dignitaries in Mostar wrapped up the two-day Summit. Next year, marking the tenth anniversary, the Summit supported by UNESCO will be hosted by the Republic of Macedonia.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, tonight in Mostar, on the sidelines of the 10th UNESCO Regional Summit of Heads of State of SEE, held separate bilateral meetings with the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bakir Izetbegovic and the President of Montenegro, Filip Vujanovic.

Topics that presidents discussed at the meetings were strengthening of regional cooperation, European and Euro-Atlantic integrations and countries’ internal political state of play.

At the meeting with Izetbegovic, on the sidelines of the Summit, President Ivanov expressed his full readiness to support the integration and integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, noting that every change of borders can be a risk to regional stability.

Both interlocutors determined the future dynamics of meetings at the highest political level and expressed satisfaction with the positive trend of trade cooperation. Izetbegovic, at the meeting with President Ivanov, praised the functioning of the national Bank of the Republic of Macedonia in time of economic crisis.

In the talks with the Montenegrin President Vujanovic, the Head of State stressed the need to intensify regional cooperation with an emphasis on infrastructure and connecting the Adriatic-Ionian Highway with Corridors 8 and 10.

During the summit, President Ivanov held a bilateral meeting with his Albanian counterpart Bamir Topi, where the successful cooperation between the two countries was confirmed. The Macedonian President expressed appreciation for the support at the NATO Summit in Chicago and was assured that Albania, in the interest of stability of the entire region, further strongly supports Macedonia and other countries for NATO membership.

The Head of State tonight met with the Director General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, and expressed satisfaction with the excellent cooperation between Macedonia and the world organization.

Bokova congratulated on the initiative of Macedonia for such forums, which, as she said, is strongly appreciated and supported by UNESCO. Future cooperation and co-organization of the next summit to be held in Macedonia next year was arranged at the meeting.

The Director of UNESCO accepted the initiative of President Ivanov, the next summit to be a summit of concrete results, and the proposal of the President the next meeting to be dedicated to the young leaders and to the future.

President Ivanov in Mostar participates at the Summit of Heads of State from SEE on "Religious, cultural and historical heritage as a basis for intensifying cooperation between states", and will address the first plenary session. First such Summit within the forum "Dialogue between Civilizations" was held in Ohrid in 2003 at the initiative of the late President Trajkovski.

Previous Summits were focused on interregional and interethnic dialogue, cultural corridors in SEE, cultural diversity and management, as well music as a metaphor for cultural dialogue.

The project "Dialogue among Civilizations", which is supported by UNESCO, in 2013, after 10 years of establishment, will be again organized in the Republic of Macedonia.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, today laid flowers at the memorial monument of the late Macedonian President Boris Trajkovski in Rotimlje near Mostar, the place where in 2004, in a tragic plane crash, the president and eight members of his cabinet lost their lives.

President Ivanov in the Bosnian town will participate and address the 10th UNESCO Regional Summit of Heads of State of Southeastern Europe within the forum "Dialogue among Civilizations", first initiated by the Republic of Macedonia in 2003.

The Head of State today at Rotimlje was accompanied by the Chief Secretary of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Macedonian medical team from the camp "Butmir" in Sarajevo, which is part of the mission Althea 12.

The medical team expressed great gratitude for the support of the Macedonian President and promised maximum results in their further engagement in the camp.

The Macedonian President tonight, on the sidelines of the Summit, will meet the Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bakir Izetbegovic, the President of Montenegro, Filip Vujanovic, and the Albanian counterpart, Bamir Topi.

Tomorrow, the Head of State will address the first plenary session of the Regional Summit, titled "Religious, cultural and historical heritage as a basis for intensifying cooperation between states".

Under the auspices of the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, today, at the square “Macedonia”, the sport-cultural event started, as part of the project “Sport as factor for tolerance, unity and respect”.

More than 300 students from six municipalities went to the Cathedral “St. Kliment Ohridski”, where participants from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds had the opportunity to learn the basics of the Christian religion, history and the significance of the cathedral, the process of its construction and the meaning of the frescoes.

The last point of the youth sports caravan was the football field of FC “Rabotnicki” in the City Park, where the participants attended UEFA-led sports training.

The project, which over the past two months, was implemented in the six partner municipalities, aims to enable primary school students through sport, socializing, communication and visiting local cultural sites, to become better acquainted with their peers who come from different cultural or ethnic communities, to develop a spirit of unity and mutual understanding and respect.

President Ivanov at the square “Macedonia” which the caravan began said that through this activity we enable young people to practice sports, to socialize intensively, and to better acquaint their homeland.

”We started in Prilep and today we are in the Municipality Centre, with children who socialize and entertain themselves through this project. Evident is the need children to socialize with each other and we clearly see that there children have no prejudice”, President Ivanov said.

The Head of State said that today’s visit of the cathedral all children will learn about the basic values of Christianity. He informed that next week when the caravan will be in Tetovo, they will visit the Painted Mosque, where they will have the opportunity to become familiar with the basic values of Islam.

”That is a huge advantage, due to the fact that the Republic of Macedonia is a country of diversity”, the President said.

The Mayor of the Municipality Centre, also host of today's event, Vladimir Todorovic, said that the municipality will always support and participate in the organization of such events.

"With special pleasure we are participating in this project and in all similar initiatives aimed at representing the traditions of all ethnic communities in the Republic of Macedonia", Mayor Todorovic added.

The project is implemented by the Association for Development Initiatives - Geostrategic Institute "Global" in partnership with the municipalities involved in its implementation - Prilep, Tetovo, Center, Staro Nagoricane, Suto Orizari and Vrapciste.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, received in his Cabinet students with the highest GPA from the social science faculties within the University “Goce Delchev” - Stip.

As President Ivanov stressed that continuous improvement of education quality is of exceptional importance, and therefore it is necessary to take into consideration the opinions and suggestions of the students, future academic citizens of the Republic of Macedonia, on whom future development of our society and state directly depends.

During the two-hour meeting with the President, 20 best social science students presented their views, problems and challenges they are facing, as well as their proposals for improvement of specific processes and conditions in the higher education.

Blagica Panova, a student of Economics at the University “Goce Delchev” expressed satisfaction with the studies, indicating that after graduation the students of this faculty have the opportunity to enroll in a second cycle studies abroad, and their diplomas are recognized worldwide. She added that there is a possibility for mobility of students from the University “Goce Delchev” to other world universities.

According to Panova, Bologna credit transfer system is good in general but, as she pointed out, the only thing missing is the oral examination of students, because exams are only in writing.

”On the other hand, positive thing is that we work on drafting seminar papers which can be presented orally, and the possibility to use translations of many world literature titles”, said the student from the Faculty of Economics, Blagica Panova.

President Ivanov said that the practice under which the student must memorize and the professor to assess, has been eradicated. The new Bologna system requires greater interaction. Students receive materials in advance and prepare for his class, and together with the professor they cover the subject matter, through discussion and analysis.

”Oratory is practiced during lectures, not at the exam”, President Ivanov said.

At the meeting with the President the need for greater specialization of professional profiles was discussed. Today, the President said, Europe faces a surplus of general profile graduates, and European countries now have to spend huge financial resources to train staff, and open opportunities for implementation of their knowledge in the market, and thus to maintain high employment rate.

"Therefore, in practice, this concept is changing to profiling of specialized professions. The credit transfer system enables the student to individually create his profile and the specialization sphere", President Ivanov said.

The students of the University "Goce Delchev"- Stip said it is necessary to have a better organization of mandatory practice since it is not possible for everyone to undergo the practice in the summer period only, as it is now foreseen. Although some faculty libraries, such as the Faculty of Economics, abound with translated scientific literature, through the programs supported by the Government, vast part of the students from other faculties noted that the libraries are not sufficiently rich in books and professional journals.

This is the third in a series of planned meetings of the President with students from all universities in the Republic of Macedonia. In March this year, President Ivanov received the best social science students of the University "Ss. Cyril and Methodius" and at the beginning of May the students from South East European University, Tetovo.

The students from both universities who already met with the President were unanimous in the view that for them it is a great honor that he showed interest and concern for their student and everyday life, and the curriculum upon which they upgrade their knowledge.

President Ivanov congratulated the students on their success, emphasizing that he is glad to hear an open discussion regarding their problems and challenges, which indicates their willingness to contribute to the advancement of the overall educational system.

”We can be proud of our soldiers and their readiness, alongside other armies, to take part in such complex military missions. The Army of the Republic of Macedonia is ready, for all operations where invited, to follow all new endeavors. Our determination is to nurture and persist on our strategic goals”, the President of the Republic of Macedonia and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov said, who, along with the Minister of Defence, Fatmir Besimi, the Chief of Staff of the Army, Major General Goranco Koteski, the Commander of Madrid NATO Command, Alfredo Cardona, attended today the largest international exercise “Cooperative Longbow/Lancer 2012”, at the army field Krivolak”.

Asked whether following the NATO Summit in Chicago, Macedonia would again address the International Court of Justice in The Hague, President Ivanov clearly stated that there is a judgment which must be respected, whereas the legal team monitors all possible aspects, taking into consideration that again we are faced with violation of the Interim Accord by Greece.

”The team of lawyers was hired to monitor all events. What is most beneficial for the Republic of Macedonia will be undertaken“, President Ivanov said.

Sequences of the exercise along with demonstrations were featured to the present at the army field “Krivolak”: critical point crossing, urban environment patrolling, handling improvised explosive devices on the road and headquarter securing. Thus, the exercise finished successfully which was taking place in the past ten days at the army field Krivolak. As Minister Besimi stressed, the Macedonian Brigade received positive marks and is ready to participate within the EU peacekeeping forces.

The main purpose of the exercise was to increase the level of interoperability and readiness of the units, to train headquarters’ staff according to NATO standards, and to evaluate the declared units of the Army in compliance with Operational Capabilities Concept.

In the exercise “Cooperative Longbow/Lancer 2012” participated about 2.200 soldiers, out of whom 1.697 army personnel, and the rest were members of the armed forces of Azerbaijan, Austria, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Serbia, Ukraine, Montenegro and Switzerland as PfP members, as well as from NATO member states participated members of the armies of the United States and Spain.