In frames of the IX UNESCO Regional Summit of Heads of States in South-East Europe, this year hosted by Serbia, President Ivanov had a bilateral meeting with his Albanian colleague Bamir Topi. The leading conclusion of both presidents was that the two countries cultivate excellent relations, based on mutual support and constructiveness. 

President of Republic of Albania topi expressed strong support for Macedonias NATO membership, as well as readiness for cooperation in the EU-integration processes, which is shared goal of the two neighboring countries.

Presidents Ivanov and Topi reaffirmed the conclusion from the Ohrid Summit held in July this year, in which Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro and Kosovo participated, that is to continue encouraging the governments of the two countries to maximize the efforts for realization of joint projects in the areas of infrastructure, energy and eco-systems.

Regarding the forthcoming census, which this fall will be conducted in Albania, President Topi highlighted that his country guarantees the rights of every individual to freely express own will and ethnic belonging, pointing that there is no basis for concerns and that he personally would not allow for any form of pressure.

Albanian President accepted the offer for returning official visit to Macedonia this spring. President Gjorge Ivanov paid official visit to Tirana in March this year.
 

President of Republic of Macedonia Dr. Gjorge Ivanov at a solemn ceremony this evening handed over the certificates to the participants in the second School for Young Leaders, that was taking part in Ohrid under his auspices.

“We live in times of great challenges. We need people that will not only have the knowledge, but also the courage, because courage is what leads to happiness. One can never be happy if not brave. You have been through different forms of education, on different universities, you all have life experience, but I hope that what you have gained here will instigate a change in you and in others around you,” said President Ivanov in his address at the ceremony, where Oxford professors Richard Grayson and Christian Hofreiter were also present, along with the former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Hungary Peter Balazs.

Following the intense days spent in acquiring new knowledge, skills and friendships, the President called the young leaders to find ways to use their knowledge and capacities, highlighting his hope that the certificates awarded will always remind them of the beautiful moments during the School, but will also serve their future professional engagements and life in general.

“We hope we have managed to open a different perspective for you, to see the world and Macedonia from a different point of view. That we have enabled you to recognize the challenges of the times we live and what it takes to be a leader nowadays. You have experienced the meaning of offering solution as a group, but also what it means to create a group that can produce solutions,” stressed President Ivanov.

He also pointed out to the need of people, leaders in all the areas of life – “Not only people in politics, we need leaders in education, in culture, in art and sports, in every segment of society. We need those brave young people who will lead and open the pathways. People who possess all the values, that you’ve been gaining during the training. I hope this School also helped you understand that the desire for power is short-lived, but the truth and the righteousness are eternal. The search for the truth is what will inspire you to do good deeds in life. Macedonia deserves leaders like this, and we are proud to have the opportunity to contribute to your efforts of becoming even better. Young people change the world, we are only here to show them the way,” President Ivanov added. 

Around forty young people from Macedonia had the opportunity during the last 10 days to attend lectures, share thoughts and discuss with over 30 lecturers and guests from top-notch educational and professional institutions, politicians and parliamentarians form European countries, presidents of successful companies and business groups.

For Vesna Popovska, one of the young leaders attending this school, acquiring the certificate marks the completion of a very intensive 10-days training of highest quality, but also marks a life experience of tremendous value.

“We were given the opportunity to listen to some of the best world leaders, who came here not only to teach us, but also to inspire and motivate us. I was also able to see that Macedonia has great potential, lots of young people who can take the lead,” said Ms. Poposka sharing her experiences and impressions from the School. She indicated that during the training ideas for specific initiatives and projects were born, and she truly hopes that at least one part of them will be realized.  

“Through inspiring lectures and advises shared we gained knowledge and insight into the life experiences of people with impressive backgrounds from the political, business and societal sector throughout Europe. We need to implement these experiences into the companies we work for, the administration and the NGO sector we represent, but also present an example for our friends and families. Each one of us should be the example for leadership. We are leaders without titles, because the leaders with titles have certain determination and label, and the true leaders are we,” said Borce Ilioski, one of this year’s participants in the School for Young Leaders.
 

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, in a solemn ceremony in Villa Biljana in Ohrid, awarded the Order of Merits for Macedonia to the Struga Poetry Evenings manifestation in the year marking its 50th anniversary.

”It is extremely important and great jubilee, 50 years of existence of undoubtedly one of the most prestigious Macedonian cultural brands. The Struga Poetry Evenings for five decades has been devoted to promote poetry and literature, celebrating the magic and beauty of the word, again and again giving energy and sense to the language”, President Ivanov said in his address.

Launched in 1962, with a series of readings by number of Macedonian poets in honor of the Miladinovci brothers, already in a few years grew into an international poetry event, awarding the prestigious prize, the “Golden Wreath”.

In 50 years, with 4000 participants, poets, translators, essayists and literary critics from 95 countries, the Struga Poetry Evenings have become one of the most important cultural events in Macedonia, being among the most prestigious literary festivals in Europe and worldwide. But as President Ivanov noted, the real meaning cannot be expressed through statistics and data, especially given the poetry colossuses who were part of this manifestation in Struga.

The celebration of the manifestation this year is part of the official program of UNESCO. But what Struga did for poetry was also positively reflected in terms of positive promotion of the Lake Ohrid and its surrounding beauties, both natural and civilization. As President Ivanov said: Macedonia and its inexhaustible cultural and spiritual wealth are promoted.

“Again, along the river Drim, the most beautiful verses sung in the world languages will be heralded and will find their way to the hearts of all poetry lovers. I sincerely wish that in future the poetic meridians intersect exactly on the Bridges of Struga, testifying for the immortality of poetry and art”, said in conclusion President Ivanov, awarding the Order to the President of the Management Board of the SPE, the poet Slave Gjorgjo Dimoski.

Dimoski stressed that Macedonia is a rare country that has the most precious poetic anthology of latest world poetry. With the Struga Poetry Evenings, Macedonia’s poetry has found its high and dignified place in the world poetry.

The ceremony was attended by some of the young leaders participating in the School for Leaders, which is being held under the auspices of President Ivanov.
 

Ten unforgettable days spend in learning, upgrading, improving, sharing and team collaboration is what the President of the Republic of Macedonia wished to the participants of the second School for Young Leaders, being held for the second time this year in Ohrid.

As initiator and patron of this educational initiative, the President, in his welcome address at the opening ceremony of the School, said that the future of Macedonia depends on the potentials of the youth in the society.

”You are already partially and in the future you will be more and more directly involved in decision making and in creation of Macedonian society. The future of our country depends on you. I would like to reiterate that we absolutely count on you, and as President, I will do my best to help you obtain further knowledge and skills and be prepared for the challenges ahead”, President Ivanov said to the 40 representatives, emerging leaders in Macedonia.

Lawyers, managers, economists, writers, publishers, political scientists, students of master or doctoral studies are the profiles of young leaders who come from all over the country, with different experiences, interests and visions for the future of their own and of their country. The goal of the School for Leaders is through lectures, practical training and simulations to help develop their capacity to cope with challenges of global technology, international competition and cultural and religious diversity. The program includes lectures and trainings in the area of leadership and management delivered by prominent lecturers and guests from the top educational and professional institutions, politicians and MPs from European countries, CEO’s of successful companies and business groups.

The intention of this School, said President Ivanov, is to gather together the creative potential of our country in different areas, professions, interests and fields of action, and to open new space for upgrading, improvement and team collaboration.

At the opening, a speech was also delivered by the Ambassador for European Affairs in the Government of the Republic of Hungary, Georg von Habsburg, son of the great Pan-European and last Hungarian heir, Otto von Habsburg. He told the young leaders that what is important is to take steps, because it doesn’t matter how long you have worked and advocated for some issues, but whether there are positive changes introduced, even for a few seconds.

”Step by step and you come closer to the goal. You will be better judged by what you do on a daily basis as a leader”, said Georg von Habsburg.

The School for Young Leaders offers and is a new page in relation to the potential young leaders and the support they receive. In this initiative of the President, the state and the business enter into partnership, and with joint efforts, aim at creating and fostering real values. Namely, the overall financial structure of the School for Young Leaders is entirely supported by private sector and business partners.

”I am particularly glad that this training is a product of the new spirit of unity, shared social responsibility towards the young leaders”, the President said.

By the end of the training, despite the current five, the participants will hear the views of another 20 lecturers at the School for Leaders on topics related to bio-politics, energy security, motivation, cultural leadership, analysis related to the growing Asian business giants, multiculturalism and multiethnic societies, debates about art and the necessity of negotiation, lobbying, the results and consequences of EU enlargement.