In the Presidential Villa Vodno today a Memorandum of Cooperation for implementation of the Project “Sport as Factor for Tolerance, Unity and Respect” was signed, under the auspices of the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov.

Project holders are the Association for Development Initiatives Geostrategic Institute “Global” and the municipalities of Tetovo, Prilep, Center-Skopje, Staro Nagoricane, Vrapciste and Suto Orizari. The goal is to enable elementary school pupils from these 6 municipalities, through sports, socializing, communicating 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, mutual understanding and respect.

President Ivanov in his speech after the signing of the Memorandum stated that it is his special pleasure and honor to be patron of the activities for implementation of this project. He also expressed confidence that through the projected activities we would be able to contribute to preserving and strengthening the centuries-old traditions of coexistence between ethnic communities.

“We have strong arguments that the sport, as rarely any other social activity, has the power to attract, mobilize and inspire individuals, communities and countries. Sport helps us promote the ideas of peace, tolerance, justice, nonviolence and solidarity. Sport encourages mankind to pursue positive and healthy competition. In different social contexts and situations, sport is becoming a clear factor in promoting intercultural relations, but also a factor in the European sport policy that enhances social stability”, President Ivanov said.

The President stressed that the citizens of all ethnic communities in the Republic of Macedonia, as centuries before, want to live in peace, mutual respect and assistance.

”Sustainable peace and development imply existence of responsible societies, with responsible individuals who cherish values such as teamwork, fair play and mutual respect. Same rules apply to sport as well. Sport is alternative that articulates violent impulses in contest of human spirit, will and physical strength. Alternative that is essential segment of every healthy society that steps on the path to peace and prosperity. Through the successes of our basketball and handball players, we had the opportunity to feel the uniting power of sport”, said the Head of State.

He once again urged all citizens to say no to violence, and not to be provoked and stretch a hand of friendship. He urged that all who use violence and challenge coexistence will be appropriately sanctioned according to the laws.

“There is no room in our society to stir up ethnic conflicts and intolerance. We all remember in pain the bitter taste of conflicts that happened to us over a decade ago. We have overcome it jointly, we have turned a new page, traced a fresh start”, President Ivanov said, adding that although the citizens are aware that our future and the future of our children is in the coexistence and mutual respect, unfortunately, nowadays the attempts to provoke hostility continue.

The President of the Geostrategic Institute "Global", Ivan Anastasovski, said that the entire philosophy, all our thoughts, positive intentions and actions are contained in the title of the project in which there is nothing vague and unknown.

"I sincerely hope that everyone will invest himself unselfishly in the realization of a series of events having the youngest categories in their focus – the pupils", Anastasovski added.

He informed that the activities will take place in non-working days, mostly on Saturdays at locations in the municipalities hosting the events. Sport activities include football training and demonstration of skills through which children socialize and communicate, and at the end of the day they all together will visit and learn about a local landmark that the host municipality is recognizable for.

The signing was attended by the Mayors of the 6 municipalities involved in the project implementation. They agreed that sport creates a great opportunity to strengthen inter-ethnic coexistence among children.