The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, met today the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Mr. Jean Claude Mignon.

The meeting expressed satisfaction with the traditionally good cooperation between the Republic of Macedonia and the Council of Europe. Both interlocutors exchanged views on the ongoing engagement of the Republic of Macedonia in work of the institutions of the Council of Europe, as well as on the participation in the implementation of initiatives and projects of long-term interest of the country and the region.

In foreign policy context, President Ivanov reaffirmed the position that the Republic of Macedonia, with the same dynamics, works on meeting the strategic priorities - membership in the European Union and NATO. The Macedonian President expressed his gratitude to the Council of Europe for the support and assistance which greatly helped the Republic of Macedonia today to be a country that fulfills all the criteria for membership in NATO and is ready to immediately start accession negotiations with the EU.

At the meeting, the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe stated that the purpose of the visit is to be directly informed and to exchange views on current issues in the Republic of Macedonia before the consideration of the report of the Republic of Macedonia. Also, he noted that the Council of Europe and the Parliamentary Assembly will continue to support the Republic of Macedonia in the reform processes and in the efforts for full integration of the countryinto the EU.

Your Majesty,

It gives me great honor and pleasure, on the occasion of the National Day of the Kingdom of Sweden, on behalf of the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia and on my personal behalf, to extend my cordial greetings and sincere wishes for prosperity of your country and wellbeing of the friendly Swedish people.

Let me take this solemn opportunity to express my gratitude for the support the Republic of Macedonian receives from the Kingdom of Sweden. I would also like to express my satisfaction with the development of bilateral relations, as well as my conviction that the relations will be further successfully developed and upgraded in the spirit of mutual commitment to a democratic, stable, united and prosperous Europe.

On this note, Your Majesty, please accept the assurances of my highest consideration.

Dr. Gjorge Ivanov

Distinguished Mr. President,

It gives me great honor and pleasure, on the occasion of the National Day of the Italian Republic, on behalf of the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia and on my personal behalf, to extend cordial greetings and sincere wishes for prosperity of your country and further welfare of the citizens of Italy.

I take this solemn occasion to express my conviction that good relations and understanding between our two friendly countries will continue to develop successfully in the future. I would especially like to emphasize the interest of the Republic of Macedonia to further deepen mutual cooperation in all areas of common interest.

Wishing you further professional success, good health and personal happiness, please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Dr.  Gjorge Ivanov

Letter by the President of the People’s Republic of China, H.E. Mr. Xi Jinping to the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov

Your Excellency,

Let me extend my thankfulness for the congratulation message you have sent on the occasion of my election as President of the People’s Republic of China. Between China and Macedonia, as well as between the two nations, there is traditional friendship in the past 20 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between our two countries, the mutual political trust is stronger and the cooperation in various fields is fruitful. The Chinese side attaches great importance to the development of friendly relations with Macedonia and stands ready, together with the Macedonian side, to make even greater efforts for expansion of exchanges and cooperation in various fields and for greater development of friendly relations between China and Macedonia into a new era.

Your Excellency, I wish you cordially good health and even greater success in your highly responsible mission.

Xi Jinping
President of the People’s Republic of China
Beijing, March 16, 2013

Statement of the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov:

Distinguished media representatives,

Respected citizens of the Republic of Macedonia,

I would like to inform you that I have made a decision to cancel the Summit of the South-East Europe Cooperation Process and the Forum of the Dialogue among Civilizations, which were scheduled for this weekend in Ohrid and Struga.

It is the state interest and the dignity of Macedonia that have obliged me to make such a decision.

I would like to acknowledge that the Republic of Macedonia has taken actions fully in accordance with the constitutional documents and the rules and acted as a responsible chair of the Process.

Unfortunately, the old Balkan prejudices and complexes were reinvigorated in the wake of the Summit. I will never allow the old Balkan prejudices to be broken and the interests of the Balkan states to be settled on Macedonia's shoulders, while the price for all this to be paid by Macedonia alone.

Challenges are resolved through dialogue, not by a boycott. We were preparing for this summit this whole year. Our intention was, and we did everything in that regards, to bring all the leaders of the region at the same table.

We have set a topic that is high on the global agenda too, which we thought would be beneficial for our citizens, our societies. Macedonia does not want to be an observer, even less to participate in the veto games. Macedonia does not want to be an observer, even less to participate in the boycotts games.

Respected citizens,

I wish success to the next chairman-in-office of the Process.

I hope that very soon we will all live in a different Balkan, a more European Balkan.

We, indeed, need the partnership of the European Union. Nevertheless, for the EU, this is a clear signal that reflects the reality in our region.

That reality, I expect should be the incentive and warning for the European leaders to properly understand our regional reality.

I made this decision in order not to allow the citizens of Macedonia to be manipulated, and the citizens of all countries in the region, too. Finally, the day came when we should openly admit that the regional cooperation is facing a serious, big challenge.

Macedonia has shown and proved to be the initiator and partner in the regional cooperation, that it is advocating for inclusion of all countries in the region, but it is more than clear that the region itself is faced with serious challenges.

I thank for the engagement of all involved in the organization of the Summit.

Thanks to all invited participants who unconditionally accepted the invitation.

The national interests of the Republic of Macedonia and the dignity of its citizens have no cost.

Thank you.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, met today with the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Turkey, General Necdet Ozel.

The meeting expressed satisfaction with the excellent bilateral relations between the two countries, confirmed by the intensive political cooperation and continuous high-level meetings. Both interlocutors expressed their willingness to further strengthen relations and to expand and deepen cooperation.

President Ivanov assessed as particularly important the support of the Republic of Turkey in terms of Republic of Macedonia's aspirations for membership in NATO. In this context, it was highlighted that the Turkish Embassy in Skopje, since the beginning of this year, is NATO contact embassy.

The meeting highlighted the intense level of cooperation between the two countries in the field of defence, through regular contacts at the level of defence ministries and at army level.

President Ivanov stressed that one of the strategic priorities of the Republic of Macedonia is regional cooperation and its intensification in the field of economy, energy, infrastructure and in other fields.

The Macedonian President informed the guests from the Republic of Turkey about the upcoming Summit of the South-East Europe Cooperation Process and the Forum of the Dialogue of Civilizations, scheduled to take place on June 1st and 2nd, in Ohrid and Struga.