President of Republic of Macedonia Dr. Gjorge ivanov this afternoon in Jerusalem met the Israeli President and host of the international presidential conference “Facing Tomorrow”, Shimon Peres.

Both presidents expressed their satisfaction with the relations and the dialogue between Macedonia and Israel at all levels. Ivanov informed his Israeli colleague on the developments on the Balkans, as well as on the country’s progress in achieving its strategic goals – EU and NATO integration. He also informed Peres about the opening of the Memorial Center of the Holocaust in Skopje, forwarding an invitation to visit Macedonia. President Peres expressed his pleasure for the invitation and hope that he will visit Macedonia in a near future. He also informed Macedonian president about the situation in Israel and the Near East.

At the meeting the two presidents exchanged their views on the new technologies and research conducted by Israeli scientists, as well as the cooperation between Macedonia and Israel in the field. Ivanov and Peres also shared opinions on the topics set for the conference in Jerusalem, as are the changes in the world related to the new technologies – internet and the social networks.

The Macedonian Chief of State tonight will participate in the official opening of the conference “Facing Tomorrow”. President Ivanov will address tomorrow’s leaders’ plenary session, which envisages discussion on the global economic crisis, the solving of regional conflicts, social development, climate change and the responsibility of politicians in delivering key decisions.

The conference, being held for the third time in Jerusalem under the auspices of Peres, this year gathers over 200 leaders, representatives of international organizations, businessmen, scientists and experts. Among the participants of this event are also the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former British Prime Minister Toni Blair, former President of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma, and as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador comes the Columbian pop star Shakira.

Today and tomorrow the conference panels will provide debate on the developments and the perspectives of the Near East, the fight against terrorism and the spread of the weapons for mass destruction, the medical innovations and moral dilemma related, the access to new energy sources, the relation between politics and religion, the future of humankind and outer space research.