The President of the Republic of Macedonia Dr. Gjorge Ivanov today in Ohrid hosted the Third Regional Presidential Meeting in which President of Albania, Bamir Topi, President of Kosovo, Atifete Jahjaga and President of Montenegro, Filip Vujanovic, took part.

The future of Macedonia, Albania, Montenegro and Kosovo is in their integration in the European Union and NATO – a strategic goal that unites the four countries. Strengthening of the economic cooperation, support of free flow of people and capital, promotion of entrepreneurship, initiation of regional investments, connection of the chambers of commerce and joint projects for attraction of foreign investments –are the ways which will contribute to the acceleration of the EU integration processes. This is the joint message of the Presidents Gjorge Ivanov, Bamir Topi, Filip Vujanovic and Atifete Jahjaga, following today’s summit held in Ohrid.

President Ivanov highlighted that at the plenary session he and his colleagues discussed several key issues which need to facilitate the integration of the countries from the region within the EU and NATO, accelerate the overall societal development in each of them, but also contribute to the stability, security and prosperity of the region in total. He assessed that meeting as this one in Ohrid, allow for nurturing and advancing of the dialogue among the countries on the highest level. According to President Ivanov, the leading message form Ohrid is that the countries in the region are facing issues and challenges which need joint approaching. 

“The thing that unites us is our future and these meetings should imply an incentive for our parliaments, governments, chambers of commerce, NGOs, educational institutions. What we are advocating for on a presidential level should be felt by citizens. On the way towards achieving our strategic goals - EU and NATO membership, we fulfill the standards and that creates compatibility of our societies, greater security for our citizens and predictable future,” stressed President Ivanov.

President Ivanov also said that bilateral issues should not present a blockade towards unstoppable processes, as is the integration in NATO and the European Union. Ivanov, at the joint press conference asked for European behavior from the side of Greece towards Macedonia, similar to the case with the dispute between Croatia and Slovenia.

“We are trying to show that the perception created for Macedonia is a perception of one member state, with which other EU members do not really agree, and that the positive experience of Slovenia and Croatia is the roadmap that should show how to reach a solution. Every country has open issues with another. But through dialogue and meetings like this, the issues are resolved, remaining to be only bilateral issues. Therefore we pledge – the way and the request for Slovenia to behave in a European manner towards the candidate-country Croatia, to be the model and expectation from Greece to behave towards us,” Macedonian President said.

President Vujanovic on the other side said that Montenegro, which will be the host country of the regional presidential meeting next year, will once again extend an invitation to Serbia to join these traditional presidential gatherings. He reiterated on the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, underlining that it’s in mutual interest for the both countries and in favour of quality and stable regional relations. Vujanovic reminded on the elaborated expectations during the second regional meeting in Prisren when the four presidents expressed support for that dialogue to commence as soon as possible, and now they are content that the dialogue has already shown effects.

“We expect Belgrade and Pristina to show readiness for the dialogue to be raised on the highest level under the patronage of the European Commission in Vienna, and to send a regional message which will accelerate this process,” Vujanovic said expressing his confidence in the democratic capacities of President Jahjaga and President Tadic in affirming the dialogue as the only way for problems to be solved. 

Albanian President Topi agreed that the Balkan today has a new reality and cannot be perceived in a fragmented way as in the past, but as a whole in which the countries are connected with the shared strategic goal – their Euro-atlantic integration. Regarding the negotiation between Belgrade and Pristina, Topi expressed hope that a natural change of positions will take over, and a wish to see concrete results from the talks between Kosovo and Serbia.

“We can only support this dialogue which will bring more peace, less tensions, increased cooperation among the countries,” said the Albanian President Topi.

President of Kosovo Jahjaga with similar expectations, that other chief of states from the region will join these presidential meetings, because, as she noted, the extension of the cooperation will allow for its faster EU integration.
 

Greece as an EU member state should behave in a European manner towards Macedonia as a candidate-country, said the President of the Republic of Macedonia Dr. Gjorge Ivanov at the joint press conference held by the new, the current and the future chairman of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) in frames of the Summit of Heads of States and Governments taking part in Sveti Stefan, Montenegro.

“We always emphasize the problem between Slovenia and Croatia and the way they have reached a solution. We call upon that experience and extend a request for every European Union member to act in a European manner towards the candidate countries. That’s what we ask from Greece as a member state – to act towards Macedonia in the spirit of the European values,” said President Ivanov.

Macedonia which next year will take over the SEECP presidency will open the issues of interest to all of the countries, primarily the natural disasters and how to deal with them, President Ivanov stressed.

“Earthquakes and floods do not recognize state borders. They represent serious threat and as countries positioned on an unstable area, we need to build joint mechanisms against natural disasters, to show solidarity among ourselves, to help each other, so that our citizens benefit from that cooperation which will feature new infrastructure and connections, as well as general awareness that the region is moving forward,” said President Ivanov during the joint press conference together with the President of Montenegro, Fillip Vujanovic and the President of Serbia, Boris Tadic.

The Cooperation Process, President Ivanov added, unites us in our common goals to transform the region through peace, openness, building of good neighborly relations, leaving the past behind and creating shared future where we will all leave in an open space, enable our people to develop open minds, people that will compete through actions that bring good for all.

President Ivanov at the sidelines of the Summit had bilateral meetings with the President of Serbia, Boris Tadic and the Foreign Minister of Turkey, Ahmet Davutoglu.
 

President of Republic of Macedonia Dr. Gjorge Ivanov as of today participates in the Summit of Heads of States and Governments from the member countries of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP), which is taking part in the Montenegrin island Sveti Stefan.

At the plenary meeting, the presidents of states and the foreign ministers of the member countries will review the report on the meetings and the activities during the Montenegrin presidency with SEECP, after which an adoption of the Annual Report of the Secretary General of the SEE Regional Cooperation Council for 2010-2011 is envisaged. The plenary will wrap-up with the adoption of the final declaration developed yesterday by the Council of foreign ministers.

At the sidelines of the Summit, President Ivanov will realize several bilateral meetings.

The South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) is a forum for diplomatic and political dialogue where the member countries are open for cooperation towards the future development of the region, as well as for defining common standpoints and sharing experiences. SEECP is a regional frame, initiated in June 1996 during the meeting of foreign ministers from the South-East European countries held in Sofia.

The SEECP presidency rotates on a yearly basis, hence the current chairmen Montenegro will hand over the presidency to Serbia. Republic of Macedonia will take over the presidency next year, for the period 2012-2013. Besides Montenegro, SEECP members include: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Macedonia, Moldavia, Romania, Serbia, Turkey, Croatia and Slovenia.
 

President of Republic of Macedonia Dr. Gjorge Ivanov presented today the mandate for constitution of the new Government to Nikola Gruevski, MA, President of VMRO – Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity.

The coalition “For Better Macedonia” lead by VMRO DPMNE won the majority of votes at the early parliamentary elections held 5 June, 2001. In accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia, the President presents the mandate for constitution of the new Government within 10 days after the constitution of the Assembly. Within 20 days from the receiving of the mandate, the holder of the mandate has to submit a program to the Parliament and propose the Government composition.
 

President of Republic of Macedonia Dr. Gjorge ivanov this afternoon in Jerusalem met the Israeli President and host of the international presidential conference “Facing Tomorrow”, Shimon Peres.

Both presidents expressed their satisfaction with the relations and the dialogue between Macedonia and Israel at all levels. Ivanov informed his Israeli colleague on the developments on the Balkans, as well as on the country’s progress in achieving its strategic goals – EU and NATO integration. He also informed Peres about the opening of the Memorial Center of the Holocaust in Skopje, forwarding an invitation to visit Macedonia. President Peres expressed his pleasure for the invitation and hope that he will visit Macedonia in a near future. He also informed Macedonian president about the situation in Israel and the Near East.

At the meeting the two presidents exchanged their views on the new technologies and research conducted by Israeli scientists, as well as the cooperation between Macedonia and Israel in the field. Ivanov and Peres also shared opinions on the topics set for the conference in Jerusalem, as are the changes in the world related to the new technologies – internet and the social networks.

The Macedonian Chief of State tonight will participate in the official opening of the conference “Facing Tomorrow”. President Ivanov will address tomorrow’s leaders’ plenary session, which envisages discussion on the global economic crisis, the solving of regional conflicts, social development, climate change and the responsibility of politicians in delivering key decisions.

The conference, being held for the third time in Jerusalem under the auspices of Peres, this year gathers over 200 leaders, representatives of international organizations, businessmen, scientists and experts. Among the participants of this event are also the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former British Prime Minister Toni Blair, former President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma, and as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador comes the Columbian pop star Shakira.

Today and tomorrow the conference panels will provide debate on the developments and the perspectives of the Near East, the fight against terrorism and the spread of the weapons for mass destruction, the medical innovations and moral dilemma related, the access to new energy sources, the relation between politics and religion, the future of humankind and outer space research.