The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, starting from today, is in Munich, Federal Republic of Germany to participate at the 49th Security Conference. Munich Conference is the most eminent forum for security issues and it addresses topics which are in our interest, too, namely challenges for the region, but also of global importance. Participating at such forums, I always promote our commitments, because we have active participation in 18 rotations in the ISAF mission in Afghanistan, wherever we are invited, we participate in peace missions and contribute to stability in our region. This was stressed by the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, today after the opening of the 49th Munich Security Conference.

On the sidelines of the 49th Munich Security Conference, President Ivanov had a bilateral meeting with the Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Sweden, Carl Bildt. Key discussion topic was Macedonia’s EU integration process, everything we have to accomplish on that path, the Swedish experiences and everything that can be helpful to us in that direction. Moreover, President Ivanov stressed the importance of the start of accession negotiations with the EU. I regret that in December we did not get what we deserve. If a date was set, today, the things, internally, would have been different, the Macedonian President said. The interlocutors agreed that it is necessary the dialog to be led in the democratic institutions, they stressed the need for greater awareness and responsibility of all social and political stakeholders for the strategic goal and interest of the citizens of the state. Minister Bildt underlined that Macedonia’s realistic perspective, in terms of getting a date, should not be at stake and threatened by internal disagreements. He commended the efforts of President Ivanov to overcome the political situation in the Republic of Macedonia. The meeting also discussed the latest developments in the process of overcoming the difference over the name, under UN mediation.

President Ivanov, on the sidelines of the 49th Munich Security Conference, held a meeting with the President of the Republic of Croatia, Ivo Josipovic. The meeting confirmed the excellent relations and cooperation between the two countries. The two presidents reaffirmed the future cooperation and mutual support between Macedonia and Croatia. Both sides exchanged views and information on the current situation in both countries as well as in the region.

President Ivanov tomorrow will address the Munich Security Conference, at the session chaired by Martti Ahtisaari, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former President of the Republic of Finland, on “Security and Stability in Southeast Europe and the Caucasus”. At the 49th Conference in Munich, 350 heads of state and government, ministers, experts and other senior officials participate from more than 70 countries.