The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, met today the President of the World Jewish Congress, Mr. Ronald Lauder, accompanied by a delegation of the Secretary General of the Jewish communities in Germany, Mr. Stefan Kramer and the Honorary Consul of Israel to Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Victor Mizrahi.

At the meeting, both sides expressed mutual satisfaction with the development of bilateral relations between the Republic of Macedonia and the State of Israel, characterized by a high level of friendship, mutual understanding and cooperation.

Macedonia, as President Ivanov stressed, attaches great importance to the Jewish community in our country, and the Jewish and Macedonian people have long common tradition. The President recalled that one of the founders of the Macedonian revolutionary movement for liberation of Macedonia was Rafael Kamhi, Macedonian Jew from Bitola. Our country pays special attention to preserve the memory of the Macedonian Jews, victims of the Holocaust. Therefore, President Ivanov noted that last year, as a sign of respect and remembrance, the Holocaust Memorial Center of the Jews from Macedonia was opened in Skopje - one of four such centers in the world, despite those in Jerusalem, New York and Berlin.

The President of the World Jewish Congress, Mr. Lauder, said the entire Jewish community in the world especially appreciates the opening of the Memorial Center and the attitude of the Republic of Macedonia to the Jewish community that lives here. Therefore, the Jews around the world support Macedonia in its efforts to achieve its strategic goals and objectives, such as the Euro-Atlantic integrations.

President Ivanov announced that a ministerial meeting within the South East Europe Cooperation Process is planned to take place in March 2013, to mark the 70th anniversary of the Holocaust in Macedonia. He expressed expectation that Israel will also support this event.

The economic potential of the Republic of Macedonia was also discussed at the meeting, as well as the conditions provided for foreign investors. Both interlocutors expressed hope that in the near future the economic cooperation will be enhanced, as well as the investments by Israeli and Jewish investors in the Republic of Macedonia.