The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov today visited the state school for rehabilitation of children and youth with visual impairments “Dimitar Vlahov” and donated modern teaching tools for learning Braille to students.

These teaching tools, as President Ivanov stressed, will enable children with visual impairments to learn Braille easier and more effective. During his visit of the school today he was introduced with the teaching and learning conditions and the teaching obstacles faced by persons with visual impairments in gaining knowledge.

Understanding their desire for a normal childhood and progress as everyone else, President Ivanov encouraged them to develop their talents and never let their potential remain unrealized because of their physical disabilities. He also said they should continue in life to fight for their dreams with full strength and enthusiasm to achieve success.

"These persons have great abilities, although nature took them one sense away, it has given them a greater talent for developing other senses", the President said, who had the opportunity today to talk with the youngest children in primary school and with high school students who specialize physiotherapy here, soft cover graphic processing, or telephone operator's work.

President Ivanov urged businessmen and owners of companies to consider more active employment of visually impaired persons and thus support them in their efforts to lead a normal and productive life, with greater integration into everyday social trends.
The school principal, Lazar Trpchevski expressed gratitude for the visit of President Ivanov, stressing that the school is first time visited by any Head of State since its establishment in 1954.

Students from "Dimitar Vlahov" School, in honor of the President, prepared a performance and showed their remarkable talent for music and instruments.

In support of the eighth consecutive ecological action “Tree Day - Plant Your Future”, today, the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, along with his Spouse Maja, their son Ivan and the organizers of the event, planted cypresses in the City Park in Veles.

”This is our family’s contribution to our future through the action “Tree Day”. We support the citizens of Veles in all their activities intended for the environment. If their voice was heard in the past, such environmental disasters and harmful consequences for the health of its residents would never occur”, President Ivanov said, adding that the civil society initiatives directed towards the common good will always have his support.

The President stressed that the action “Tree Day” is a recognizable symbol not only for Macedonia but also wider in the region, where more often similar initiatives are raised. He stressed the necessity for each individual to start acting environmentally at local level and thus contribute to preserving the environment.

In terms of the support given to the citizens of Veles against restarting “Topilnica”, President Ivanov stressed that nothing is more important than the health of the citizens.

"I have supported the citizens of Veles and I continue to support them because nothing is more important than the health of the citizens. Besides clean air, cleaning of the soil is necessary. Its experts' turn now, they will recommend what should be done next. It is sad to leave such a polluted soil to the future generations", the President stressed.

According to the President, the economic development of Veles can be directed in many other areas which will not produce serious consequences for the health of the citizens. He noted that at the meetings with politicians and businessmen in foreign countries and at business forums he attends, he presents all potentials and investment opportunities in Macedonia.

"Let's hope that some of these investments will be in Veles. The only way to be competitive in the labor market during the economic crisis is to offer potential and quality", President Ivanov said.

The Spouse of the President, Ms. Maja Ivanova, also planted a tree in support of the action "Tree Day - Plant Your Future", and stated that this action contributes to building up healthy offspring and healthy future generations.

"There is nothing more precious than a human life, healthy offspring. I am pleased that this year, we, as a family, are in Veles, where young and old stood against pollution", Ms. Ivanova said, adding that there should be no single mother's tear for a sick child.

This is the second time President Ivanov plants trees in Veles. The first time was in 2009, near the lake "Mladost" in Veles.

The first public-private high education institution in Macedonia with dominant lectures in Albanian – the South-East Europe University (SEEU) in Tetovo was awarded today with a high decoration by President Ivanov - Order of Merits for Macedonia, marking its tenth anniversary.

 
It was founded a decade ago at the initiative of Max van der Stoel, OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities and former Dutch Foreign Minister, who died this year. Therefore, informally, this University bears his name - Stoel University.

 
”Founded in a turbulent period for Macedonia, I believe this University has justified the expectations of the ideological father, the late Max van der Stoel. And yet, more importantly, it has justified and exceeded the expectations of the Macedonian multiethnic, multilingual and multi-confessional society ... Ever since the very beginning it was one of the examples and engines of the reforms in the higher education, in accordance with the principles of the Bologna declaration”, President Ivanov said, bestowing the decoration to the Rector of the SEEU, Zamir Dika.

 
The Head of State underlined that this university became a strong promoter of tolerance, respect for multilingualism, cultural diversity in teaching and scientific research, developing curricula with an international perspective, significantly contributing to the progress of scientific thought and interethnic understanding.

 
Rector Dika thanked President Ivanov on the decision to decorate the SEEU, stressing that bestowing this high recognition to one atypical educational institution, he showed intellectual courage, honesty and sense of vision.

 
This University is atypical due to the way it was established; there was enormous financial and intellectual support from the U.S., the European Commission and other states, by people with a vision to establish a higher education institution that will not only promote the Albanian language in higher education, but will be an opportunity for education in Macedonian and English language through study programs and conditions that can proudly be compared with the highest European and American standards ... SEEU is marked as the most successful project of the international community in Southeast Europe, which was called by the EU Commissioner Olli Rehn in 2009 “European building in the Western Balkans””, Rector Dika said.

 
In accordance with the then adopted Law on Establishing Universities with Non-State Funding, in March 2001, the construction of the University began, and since November 20th that year, it became functional with about 900 students enrolled. Now, there are about 8,000 students and 5,000 graduates. There are a hundred PhDs and Masters, five faculties with 17 undergraduate and 19 graduate programs. Since 2008, there are dispersed study programs of the SEEU in Skopje.

Evliya Celebi did not only travel and observe, but he also wrote down his opinions, points of view, perceptions, thus allowed us, today, at this prestigious exhibition in Paris, like the mythical bird Phoenix in our eyes, to re-enact the world in which he lived and traveled, the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov said, opening the exhibition "Evliya Celebi - An Ottoman Traveler".

The exhibition is organized by the Arab World Institute in association with UNESCO and the National Institute of Oriental Languages and Civilizations (INALCO).

”The traveler, Evliya Celebi, contributed to building understanding between peoples, cultures and civilizations which he visited ... His records are important sources not only about history and geography, but also ethnography, anthropology, economics, architecture, literature and many other areas”, the President said in his address, adding that he was distinctly honored with the opportunity to open the exhibition dedicated to Celebi - the man who left us the civilization traces of our past as heritage.

 
”I believe that the exhibits cast light to part of his rich testimonies and reflections of a time”, President Ivanov said.

He also reminded that the Republic of Macedonia is an active member of the group of friends of the Alliance of Civilizations, thus pays special importance to dialogue among civilizations. In this context, the President expressed his conviction that only through dialogue people will re-discover the richness of diversity, of cultural exchange and of cooperation.

”Exactly the cultural and religious diversity of the Republic of Macedonia is a source of great creative potential and a bridge to mutual understanding, respect and coexistence. Macedonia, not by accident, in 2003 was the initiator of the Summit: Dialogue among Civilizations, held in our spiritual capital, Ohrid, under the leadership of the great visionary and my predecessor, President Boris Trajkovski”, President Dr. Gjorge Ivanov stressed.

"Proof of the importance of this topic is the fact that, ever since then, this type of meetings initiated by my country, are regularly held in our region with the support of UNESCO and the Council of Europe", the President said, adding that history is the best herald of what will happen in the future.

"Therefore, at the 10th anniversary, in 2013, I will be hosting a Summit dedicated to this topic", the Macedonian President announced.

In his address at the opening ceremony of the exhibition, he touched briefly upon the importance of Evliya Celebi's work, whose views were sometimes burdened with prejudices inherent in his time and his position as Ottoman nobleman, civil and religious servant, but, as the President pointed out, allow us to acknowledge his and the general view of the Ottomans on the 17th century world.

President Ivanov next year will be the patron of the event dedicated to Evliya Celebi which is to be held in the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts.

Apart from this exhibition, the French National Institute for Oriental Languages and Civilizations (INALCO) organizes a scientific symposium dedicated to Celebi. At this international symposium, President Ivanov is accompanied by the President of the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Academician Georgi Stardelov, Academician Kambovski and Professor Aruch.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov had today in Paris a meeting with the Director General of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, and discussed the ongoing and future activities and projects in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. The meeting between the Head of our State and Bokova comes after the recent election of the Republic of Macedonia as a member of the UNESCO Executive Board, being its highest body.

  
UNESCO Director General Bokova expressed her expectation Macedonia to contribute to the efforts of UNESCO in facing serious challenges. “UNESCO, as many other institutions, is faced with numerous challenges in this period, so we, as Executive Board member, share responsibility to contribute in finding solutions in these times of great challenges”, President Ivanov said after the meeting.

President Ivanov and Bokova discussed about the Summit: Dialogue among Civilizations” which will be held in Macedonia again in 2013, ten years after the initiative of the late President Boris Trajkovski. The first such Summit was held in Ohrid in 2003.

”UNESCO supported the project for dialogue among civilizations, which was initiated by my predecessor, President Boris Trajkovski, and it gives results. The so-called Ohrid Process contributed the leaders of Eastern Europe to meet and organize debates on issues of common interest for the entire region, in the area of culture, art, tradition.

This was also discussed with Ms. Bokova - a time when we should move to a higher qualitative phase, to do our best the communication that is supported by UNESCO and the Council of Europe to be enhanced and contribute to what we leave for future generations”, President Ivanov said and expressed hope that during the second decade a qualitative step will be made, i.e. implementation of regional projects with concrete actions.

He also expressed his expectation that the focus in future will be placed on training and education of young leaders from South-Eastern Europe, in every social sphere, because the future regional leaders are the ones who should benefit from the positive climate which has already been created by this process.

UNESCO Director General Bokova supported President Ivanov’s initiative and accepted the invitation to visit the next School for Young Leaders which will be held in Macedonia for the third time under the auspices of the President.

At today's meeting in Paris, President Ivanov and Irina Bokova exchanged views on the Republic of Macedonia's candidacy for UNESCO in the field of intangible cultural heritage, support for a higher establishment of the Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Seismology (IHIS), for Neolithic Observatory Kokino and other projects. The President said that UNESCO is a great supporter of many initiatives and activities in our country, expressing gratitude for the overall support given so far, as well as for the projects we hope will be supported by UNESCO in future.

After the talks with Irina Bokova, the President signed the Golden Book of UNESCO.

President Dr. Gjorge Ivanov in Paris participates at a scientific meeting dedicated to the famous Turkish Traveler of the 17th century, Evliya Celebi, held within the Alliance among Civilizations. President Ivanov will declare open the great exhibition of works "The Ottoman Traveler, Evliya Celebi" at the Institute of the Arab World.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, met today the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Austria, Dr. Wolfgang Waldner.

At the meeting, they both expressed mutual satisfaction with the increased dynamics of high-level meetings between senior officials of both countries, which is an evidence for the positive development of relations and cooperation.

President Ivanov expressed his gratitude for the open and continuous support from Austria for the European aspirations of our country, conveying his expectation that Austria will continue to support the interests of the Republic of Macedonia in the coming critical period, before December’s European Council meeting, when Macedonia is expected to finally get a date for starting negotiations for EU membership.

The President once again welcomed the encouraging voice of Austrian President Fischer, who at the last meeting in Vienna said that setting a date for opening negotiations should not wait for the settlement of the name issue, i.e. the bilateral problem with Greece can be resolved by the end of negotiations.

President Ivanov and Austrian State Secretary Waldner discussed the latest developments in the region and the European perspective of the Balkans. The two interlocutors assessed that the Republic of Macedonia continues to be active and constructive actor regionally, providing essential contribution to stability and prosperity of the region, particularly through participation and initiation of regional meetings, encouraging cooperation and engagement in joint projects of common interest.