The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, today met with the Director of the State Archives of the Republic of Macedonia, Zoran Todorovski and the Director of the Macedonian Radio and Television, Marjan Cvetkovski.

The meeting was held in order to inform the directors of both institutions of the possibility for establishing cooperation with the Qatar National Library in the area of digitization of the archive materials of the State Archives and the video archives of the national TV. At the same time, concrete steps and activities for initiating and exploring opportunities for collaboration with the Qatar National Library were agreed at the meeting.

President Ivanov, during his recent official visit to the State of Qatar, was informed about Qatar’s positive experiences in the field of preservation of cultural and historical heritage through digitization of archives, as a project of the Qatar National Library.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, on the occasion of the National Day of the Republic of Kosovo, sent a congratulation note to the President of the Republic of Kosovo, H.E. Ms. Atifete Jahjaga.

Distinguished Madam President,

On the occasion of the National Day of the Republic of Kosovo, it is my honor and great pleasure, on behalf of the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia and on my personal behalf, to extend my cordial regards and sincere wishes for further prosperity and welfare of your country and its citizens.

Expressing satisfaction with the development of relations and cooperation between the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Kosovo, I am convinced that with joint efforts, in a spirit of friendship and mutual understanding, we would be able to promote and intensify them with strengthened dynamics in all areas of mutual interest.

Please, Your Excellency, accept the assurances of my highest consideration.

Dr. Gjorge Ivanov

Претседателот на Република Македонија, д-р Ѓорге Иванов, по повод Денот на независноста на Република Литванија, упати честитки до Претседателот на Република Литванија, Н.Е. г-ѓа Далиа Грибаускаите.

Ваша Екселенцијо,

Имам особена чест и големо задоволство, по повод Денот на независноста на Република Литванија, во име на граѓаните на Република Македонија и во мое име, да Ви упатам најсрдечни честитки и искрени желби за просперитет на Вашата земја и благосостојба на пријателскиот народ на Република Литванија.
Дозволете ми, да ја искористам оваа свечена прилика и да изразам задоволство од досегашниот развој на односите и соработката меѓу Република Македонија и Република Литванија.

Изразувајќи ја својата увереност дека односите меѓу нашите две земји и во иднина успешно ќе се развиваат и надградуваат во духот на заедничките заложби за демократска, стабилна, обединета и просперитетна Европа, дозволете ми, Ваша Екселенцијо, да Ви ги упатам изразите на моето највисоко почитување.

д-р Ѓорге Иванов

Distinguished Mr. President,

On the occasion of February 15th, the Independence Day of the Republic of Serbia, let me extend, on behalf of the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia and on my personal behalf, most cordial greetings and best wishes for prosperity and welfare of the Republic of Serbia and the friendly Serbian people.

I take this solemn opportunity to express my satisfaction with the excellent relations between our two countries, which are based on the common past, traditional friendship, but also the vision of a common future in the big European family of nations.

I am convinced that we will continue, unabated, to work on fostering European values and principles, and that as good neighbors will invest all our efforts to build new bridges of cooperation between our citizens and business communities, as a positive example in the region and beyond. I would like to stress our full readiness in this regard. Allow me, Mr. President, to convey to you the assurances of my highest consideration.

Dr. Gjorge Ivanov

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjiorge Ivanov, met today with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro, Dr. Igor Luksic.

At the meeting, they expressed satisfaction with the development of relations and cooperation between the Republic of Macedonia and Montenegro and reaffirmed the common strategic goals, peace and stability in the region and membership in the European and Euro-Atlantic structures.

President Ivanov welcomed the excellent political cooperation and continuous meetings at all levels and at the same time stressed that the economic cooperation, infrastructure, regional cooperation and cooperation in the Euro-Atlantic integration should be the highest priorities in the future relations between the two countries.

Both interlocutors reaffirmed readiness for mutual assistance and support in the European Union and NATO integration processes of the two countries, agreeing that the integration of all Western Balkan countries into the European Union is essential for the stability and prosperity of the region. In this context, President Ivanov said that all outstanding issues can be resolved with a constructive approach, in a dialogue involving all concerned parties, in the spirit of European cooperation and good neighborly relations.

Both sides expressed willingness to continue the cooperation at multilateral level.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, met today with members of the European Parliament, members of the Group of the European People’s Party, Mr. Jerzy Buzek, MEP from the Republic of Poland, Mr. Tunne Kelam, MEP from the Republic of Estonia, Mr. Miroslav Mikolasik, MEP from the Slovak Republic, and Mr. Laszlo Tokes, MEP from Romania and held a separate meeting with the European People’s Party – Working Group 3, led by Ms. Corien Wortman-Kool, Vice-President of the European People’s Party, MEP from the Netherlands.

At the meetings with the MEPs and with the members of the Working Group 3, views and information were exchanged about the integration process of the Republic of Macedonia, the progress achieved in the key reform areas, as well as the European perspective of the country, anticipating the Spring Report of the European Commission and the European Council in June.

President Ivanov, at the two meetings, expressed satisfaction with the continued support of the European Parliament regarding the Republic of Macedonia’s European integration and commended, in this regard, the engagement of the European People’s Party.

The MEPs concluded that the Republic of Macedonia has made progress in the EU integration process, and thus enjoys full support of the European Parliament to start negotiations for accession to the European Union.

At the meetings, views and information were exchanged about the current political situation in the country, the boycott of the Parliament and the possibilities to overcome the situation. The MEPs welcomed the efforts and the initiative of President Ivanov to resolve the political situation and stressed that it is essential for the further integration process of the Republic of Macedonia internal unity to be demonstrated, functioning at full capacity of the institutions and settlement of the political situation. President Ivanov stressed that the Republic of Macedonia is waiting, for four years, for the start of accession negotiations, something that it has long ago deserved. If the Republic of Macedonia was given a date at the December Council, most probably today it would not face such political situation, the President said, adding that for the Republic of Macedonia and its citizens are the positive examples of parallel movement in integration and overcoming bilateral issues are obviously not applicable.

The President briefed the MEPs with the latest developments in the process of overcoming the difference over the name, led under the United Nations auspices, as well as the commitment of the Republic of Macedonia in building good neighborly relations and regional cooperation.

In this context, President Ivanov informed MEPs on the goals of the Macedonian Chairmanship of the Southeast European Cooperation Process, suggesting that this regional initiative is an opportunity to reaffirm the commitment of the region to implement the European standards and reforms.