Macedonian President Dr. Gjorge Ivanov today and tomorrow will attend the international presidential conference “Facing Tomorrow”, being held for the third time under the auspicies of the Israeli President and winner of Nobel Prize for Peace, Shimon Peres.

The conference in Jerusalem this year will gather over 200 leaders, representatives of international organizations, businessmen, scientists and experts, which will discuss 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. 

The Macedonian Chief of State this afternoon is meeting the Israeli President Peres, while tonight will attend the official opening of the conference.

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 agenda of the Macedonian President envisions several meeting with conference participants.
 

President of Republic of Macedonia Dr. Gjorge Ivanov in frames of the official visit to Austria, met today in Vienna his Austrian colleague Dr. Heinz Fischer. Austria considers that resolution of the name issue should not be precondition for setting the date for start of EU entry talks, Austria's President Fischer said after Monday’s meeting with Macedonian President Ivanov.

“Greece signalizes that resolution of the name is a condition. But, we consider that one should not wait for resolution aimed at setting date for start of EU entry talks. The problem can be resolved even at the end of the negotiations. They should start and the two processes should run in parallel. In this way the motivation will be given,” Fischer said at joint press conference with Ivanov.

According to Fischer the current economic crisis in Greece should not influence the resolving of the name issue because the two issues are not connected. President Ivanov informed Fischer on some historical aspects in the name dispute after which certain matters, as Fischer indicates, became clear to him. Problem is difficult, but not insoluble, Austrian president said.

Macedonian chief of state also agreed that the name should not be precondition for EU admission and that Macedonia’s EU integration and

 resolving the name issue can be run in parallel. He underlined as an example the resolving of the problem between Croatia and Slovenia, which opened the road of Zagreb towards Brussels.

“Greece is going through crisis and at this point has no motivation to resolve the problem. Greece will not lose anything if date for EU entry talks is set. Until the talks are completed the problem can be resolved. Macedonia meets Copenhagen criteria and expects to continue further and setting the date will be additional motivation to come to a resolution,” President Ivanov said.

Both presidents discussed bilateral relations, economic and cultural cooperation. Fischer expressed hope that economic relations will be strengthened and also welcomed resolving the problem with EVN Macedonia.

Ivanov said that Austria is included in many segments in Macedonian society and fits into 3E strategy –Europe, Economy and Energy. In all three areas Austria is present. It helps in Macedonia’s EU integration in development of its economy and is included in the energy sector, Ivanov said.

Ivanov will also meet with Austrian Chancellor Werner Faymann, while he is expected to wrap up his two-day visit to Vienna by meeting with representatives of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce.

The President of Republic of Macedonia Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, paying official visit to Austria, today in Vienna will meet his host, the Austrian President Dr. Heinz Fischer.

At the meeting which will take place at the presidential palace Hofburg, Presidents Ivanov and Fischer are expected to talk about the bilateral relations, the possibilities for intensified economic cooperation, as well as Macedonia’s EU and NATO integration. Another envisaged topic is the process for overcoming the difference with Greece over the constitutional name of Macedonia, an issue that blocks the country’s Euro-Atlantic integration.

President Ivanov this afternoon will also meet the Austrian Federal Chancellor Werner Faymann. The two-day visit to Vienna will conclude with a meeting with the members of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce which will present an opportunity for promotion of Macedonia’s economic conditions to the foreign investors.

Macedonian Chief of state started his activities in the Austrian capital last night when he met representatives of the Macedonian Diaspora engaged in the church community “St. Naum Ohridski”. At the ceremony held in the church, the building of which started in 2008 and it’s the only sacral object of Orthodox Macedonians in Austria, President Ivanov said that Macedonia cares for its expatriates. A positive step in that regard is the opportunity opened for the expatriates to vote at the last Parliamentary elections in Macedonia.

“At the outset it might be considered as a symbolic step, but still one that shows that your homeland Macedonia is thinking of you,” said President Ivanov.

President of Republic of Macedonia Dr. Gjorge Ianov as of Monday, 20 June 2011, will realize a two-days official visit to the Republic of Austria, following the invitation extended by the Austrian President H.E. Dr. Heinz Fischer.

Besides the meetings with his Austrian colleague Fischer, President Ivanov will visit the Austrian Chamber of Commerce, accompanied by the Minister of Defence, Zoran Konjanovski.

Tête-à-tête meeting is also envisaged with the Federal Chancellor Werner Faymann.