The Independence Day of the Republic of Macedonia, September 8, when we celebrate 21 year of independence and the start of the democratic development, was also celebrated at the Presidential Villa Vodno. More than a hundred primary school students from several schools in Macedonia, together with President Ivanov and his wife attended the changing of the flag in front of the presidential office.

The Guard unit of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia, traditionally, changed the flag of the Republic of Macedonia in front of the Office of the President, while the students, attentively, in the rhythm of the military drum, followed the ceremony. Young citizens of the Republic of Macedonia had the opportunity to see the working premises of the President and to talk to him. President Ivanov awarded all of them with a symbolic gift on the occasion of the Independence Day.

The celebration continued at the Macedonian Opera and Ballet, where President Ivanov hosted the evening gala academy. The President, at the beginning of his address, which was attended by the President of the Assembly, Trajko Veljanoski, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, ministers, representatives of political parties, religious communities, diplomatic corps in the country, reiterated that the country will be as we are going to create it, pointing at the global situation in economic and security terms, which, as he said, can not circumvent the Republic of Macedonia, and that it is our obligation to prepare Macedonian society for everything that is ahead.

“That is our responsibility. Responsibility of every individual, regardless of its ethnic, religious or any other affiliation. Responsibility of each community, each political party. Responsibility of each institution, including me as President, the government, the opposition, the judiciary, the administration, media, civil society. Simply, everyone has a stake and responsibility in attaining the strategic goals. There is no room for excuses and avoidance of obligations and responsibilities”, President Ivanov stressed.
 

Third decade of independent Macedonia has to be a decade of success. Decade of the generations born in freedom who, through their work, commitment and optimism, need to experience the well-being here in Macedonia, President Ivanov said on the occasion of Independence Day, September 8.

“Every day that we live in an independent Macedonia is an Independence Day. Independence that we will preserve, promote and hand over to the next generations only if we do not deviate from the fundamental values of our common homeland. It is a pride but also a commitment to be Macedonian. Pride is to live in Macedonia, pride and commitment is to be a citizen of the Republic of Macedonia, regardless of ethnic, religious or any other affiliation”, the President said.

In his address, President Ivanov paid greatest attention to the generations born in freedom. Generations born in independent, sovereign and autonomous Macedonia.

“These are the generations that create individually the image of themselves and Macedonia. These are the generations that are no longer slaves to the notions of Macedonia created by others. To all citizens of Macedonia we need to enable competition of results of their mind and their labor. We have to prepare them to face the challenges of life in the 21st century”, President Ivanov said.

According to President Ivanov - we will live in Macedonia as we will create it and our obligation is to prepare the Macedonian society for everything that is ahead. That is our responsibility!
 

The Gala academy was enriched with the gala opera concert with Macedonian and world opera literature program performed by the opera solo performers and the orchestra of the Macedonian Opera and Ballet. The ceremony celebrating the 21 anniversary of independence culminated in a concert at the City Stadium – the Arena "Philip II" in Skopje, where the greatest Balkan and Macedonian pop stars as special guests of the famous musicians Tavitjan, sang many Macedonian traditional songs.
 

President Ivanov and the Minister of Culture, Elizabeta Kanceska Milevska, in the restaurant "Pelister" in Skopje, met the musicians performing at the concert on the occasion of the celebration of the Independence Day of the Republic of Macedonia.