One thing that Macedonia surely deserves is a date to launch negotiations. One thing that the EU should do is give us the date we deserve, since we have done everything needed, the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, said today in Istanbul after the lecture at the Faculty of Law, Istanbul University on “The EU accession process from the perspective of democracy, human rights”. The Macedonian President said that the EU should do this so that the credibility of the European integration can gain weight and that all European standards and principles apply for Macedonian citizens. I constantly repeat that if Europe is tired of enlargement, we, in the Balkans, are tired of waiting, President Ivanov said, adding that it is responsibility of Brussels and of all those involved in this process.

Addressing MA and PhD students at the Istanbul University, the Macedonian Head of State said that the European continent is united; now the Balkans and Turkey are to be integrated. We should all adapt to the European law, President Ivanov said, adding that the enlargement process is different for every country and is becoming more complicated with the requests to meet additional criteria. Responding to a question on Macedonia’s EU integration process, President Ivanov said that the country is in a status quo. As long as some older member states abuse their position in the Union, it is considered blackmail. We are blackmailed, President Ivanov said. With the lecture at the University, the Macedonian President launched his visit to Istanbul where he is to take part at the 16th Eurasian Economic Summit, organized by the Marmara Foundation. President Ivanov tomorrow will address the opening of the Summit on “Threats and Opportunities in Eurasia” and will also address, on Thursday, the President’s session on “Uni-polar or Multi-polar world”. The Marmara Summit will be attended by representatives of 42 countries, including five presidents, four speakers of parliament, one prime minister, eight former presidents, twenty-two ministers and other prominent figures from the social and political life, NGOs and the business community. This is the fourth participation of President Ivanov at the Eurasian Economic Forum of the Marmara Foundation, which is organized every year since 1998.

Within the framework of the Istanbul summit, there will be a Women’s Session on “The Experience of Women in the Process of Modernization”, which will be attended by the wife of the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Ms. Maja Ivanova. This session will also be addressed by the President of Kosovo, Ms. Atifete Jahjaga, the President of the Albanian Parliament, Jozefina Topalli, Princess Margarita of Romania, as well as the First Lady of Albania Odeta Nishani.

Marmara Foundation is a group for economic and social research, aiming to promote relations between the EU and the countries of Central Asia and the Middle East. Established in 1985 and recognized by the OSCE, through its advisory capacity represents Turkey in the UN Economic and Social Council. The Foundation is actively involved in improving regional cooperation in order to assist in maximizing the opportunities created by the process of globalization and in minimizing its negative effects.