During his visit to the United States, on the occasion of the 67th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, at an invitation of Harvard University, gave a lecture to the students at the Law Faculty and the prestigious Kennedy School.

In the lecture with a focus on Macedonia, the President, in a broader context, explained the ethnic and ethno-linguistic structure in the Balkan region, underlying that in the Republic of Macedonia there is a tradition of tolerance, inclusiveness and respect for diversity in view of religions, ethnicities, languages. This tradition, and the social complexity of our state, as pointed out by President Ivanov, is reflected in the governance structure at national and local level.

The President stressed that in today’s globalized world, in which there are no longer ethnically homogenous states, ethnic democracy is facing a number of challenges, such as ethnization of civil society, of political spectrum and institutions. In such a context, the Republic of Macedonia is striving to ensure respect for human rights and related protection mechanisms.

In global terms, Macedonian President said to the students at Harvard, that there is a tendency for revoking ethnic dimensions, which are the basis for potential conflicts.

”Inclusive models offer solutions, while exclusive models of divisions on ethnic grounds are an inevitable source of conflict, tension and destabilization”, President Ivanov stressed.

Harvard University representatives surprised President Ivanov by showing him a copy of his first book “Political theories – Antique” and asked him to sign it.

Within his visit to Harvard University in Boston, President Ivanov met with the five Macedonian students who are currently at graduate and doctoral studies at this prestigious institution. President Ivanov congratulated them on their success to study at Harvard, encouraging them to invest in the future their acquired knowledge and specialization in the development and progress of the Republic of Macedonia. Macedonian students expressed their satisfaction that President Ivanov visited Harvard, for giving them the opportunity, along with the US students and other countries, to attend his lecture.

President Ivanov donated Harvard University Library the edition of 130 volumes of Macedonian literature, aimed at promotion of the Macedonian language and literature at one of the oldest and most prominent higher education institutions in the United States.