The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, on the occasion of the great Jewish holiday Hanukkah, sent his a congratulation message to Ms. Bjanca Subotik, President of the Jewish Community of the Republic of Macedonia, as well as to all members of the Jewish community in the Republic of Macedonia.

Dear madam Subotic,
It is my pleasure, on behalf of the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia, as well as on my personal behalf, to extend to you and to all members of the Jewish community in the Republic of Macedonia cordial congratulations on the occasion of the great Jewish Holiday of Light - Hanukkah.

Light releases from darkness, as freedom frees from slavery. Light of freedom has always been a guide of numerous individuals, peoples and nations through historic turbulences, as it is today a guide through contemporary challenges. On that journey of our, we find inspiration in the members of the Jewish community who are recognized throughout history for their perseverance, commitment and defiance. Therefore, on this bright holiday, the Republic of Macedonia with gratitude recollects of all members of the Jewish community who were part of the Macedonian struggle for freedom and who laid the Macedonian independence. Indeed, the Jewish community is respected and appreciated in the Republic of Macedonia. I am convinced that the Jewish community will continue to provide a valuable contribution to our common European future.

Happy Hanukkah, to the eternal victory of Light over Darkness!
Hanukkah Sameah!

Dr. Gjorge Ivanov

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, met today with the Minister of Labor and Social Policy of the Republic of Macedonia, Spiro Ristovski.

At the meeting, attended by the Mayor of the Municipality of Gazi Baba, Toni Trajkovski and the UNDP Assistant Resident Representative in Macedonia, Vesna Dzuteska Bisheva, the National Strategy for Prevention and Protection of Domestic Violence 2012-2015 was presented, and, at the same time, President Ivanov was informed of the final activities for the opening of a new reception center for victims of domestic violence in the municipality of Gazi Baba.

President Ivanov expressed his support for the future activities aimed at implementation of the National Strategy, and emphasized the need for this issue to be raised at the highest state level, with joint efforts and coordinated approach of all relevant institutions in combating domestic violence. I believe in the successfully set up system, and I think we all need to fulfill our duties for the victims of domestic violence, President Ivanov said at the meeting, while emphasizing the role of the media in raising public awareness for prevention of this phenomenon. The President welcomed the efforts of the Government of the Republic of Macedonia to take all necessary measures to eliminate domestic violence and stressed the need for preventive action and adequate protection and proper assistance for the victims.

Minister of Labor and Social Policy thanked President Ivanov for his support in creating an environment that will continuously improve the situation in terms of prevention and protection of domestic violence. For us as, a ministry and as a government, of paramount importance is the awareness regarding this issue at the highest level. Direct involvement and support received from the Head of State today is of extreme importance for us, and for all citizens of the Republic of Macedonia. We will continue in the direction, with a quality and certainly preventive fight against domestic violence, Minister Spirovski said.

The National Strategy for Prevention and Protection of Domestic Violence 2012-2015, adopted in July 2012 by the Government of the Republic of Macedonia, will be implemented through five strategic areas: prevention, protection, assistance and support to victims of domestic violence; prosecution of perpetrators; multi-agency cooperation and increasing the institutional capacity; monitoring and evaluation.

The International Volunteer Day was celebrated today in all three People’s Offices of the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, in Skopje, Tetovo and Bitola. In Skopje, the volunteers of the People’s Office and the Red Cross of the City of Skopje met with citizens and promoted volunteering, and, in front of the People’s Office, a stand with promotional materials was placed. Volunteers of the People’s Office in Skopje and the Red Cross jointly pledged to affirm and promote volunteering, which is of great importance not only for the individual, but also for the society as a whole, thus improving the quality of life of the whole community.

Dragana Ruseska, one of 14 volunteers in President Ivanov’s People’s Offices, encourages all interested individuals to try such to volunteer since it will enable new experiences and skills. Today we mark the International Volunteer Day with the largest volunteer organization – the Red Cross, in order to promote and affirm volunteering which is very important for the advancement of the overall social life. We, as volunteers in the People’s Office of the President Ivanov, are truly honored that we are given such an opportunity. People’s Offices of the President are open to all citizens who submit their proposals and initiatives, but also for all new volunteers who are be interested in such volunteer work. On this day we would like to encourage and motivate all young people who might be interested in such a commitment in order to gain new skills, knowledge and valuable experience that will help in their future professional engagement, Ruseska said.

The representative of the Red Cross, Alexandra Volkanovska, also encourages all those citizens who are willing and able to become part of this humanitarian organization. Red Cross is the largest volunteer organization, not only in our country but also worldwide. Volunteers are the backbone of our organization and we say that they promote human values and adhere to the principles and mission of the Red Cross and the International Federation of the Red Cross. What is important today is that we want to promote volunteerism among citizens. Volunteers are carriers of the activities and they will distribute informative materials and explain the importance of volunteering to the citizens, the importance of devoting your free time to be a volunteer and help someone in need, Volkanovska said.

In all three People’s Offices of the President of the Republic of Macedonia in Skopje, Tetovo and Bitola, there are 14 volunteers.

Distinguished Mr. Pahor,

It gives me great honor and pleasure to extend my sincere congratulations on your election as President of the Republic of Slovenia. Please accept my sincere wishes for successful execution of this high and responsible mission, for good health and personal happiness.

I avail myself of this opportunity to express my satisfaction with the high level of friendly relations between the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Slovenia and to express my belief that with joint efforts we will contribute to their further development in all areas of mutual interest, both at bilateral, regional and multilateral level. I sincerely hope that we will continue the successful and fruitful cooperation which was established with your predecessor.

I would like to assure you, Mr. President, that the Republic of Macedonia and its citizens remain committed to the fulfillment of the centuries-old dream of European and Euro-Atlantic Macedonia. I would like to take this solemn occasion to express my gratitude for the support that your country gives to the Republic of Macedonia in this regard, as well as to stress the strong conviction and expectation that it will continue in the coming period.

With the hope that soon we will have the opportunity to meet, please accept the assurances of my highest consideration.

Dr. Gjorge Ivanov

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, received today representatives of the Regional team of public supporters of the initiative to establish facts about war crimes and other serious violations of human rights in the territory of the former Yugoslavia in the period between 1991 and 2001, i.e. the Coalition for RECOM.

Members of the delegation, Prof. Dr. Biljana Vankovska, Natasha Kandic of the Republic of Serbia and prof. Dr. Zdravko Grebo of Bosnia and Herzegovina, expressed gratitude to President Ivanov’s commitment to this initiative and informed him on the current activities of the regional plan.

The Macedonian President supported the efforts of the Coalition and stressed the need to do everything in this regard to establish the facts of each victim.

“Any initiative aimed at determining the fate of the missing, and thus paying tribute to the victims is important for both for the victims and for their families and for society as a whole”, President Ivanov said.

President Ivanov appraised the activities of the initiative for RECOM in the Republic of Macedonia and in the region, and stressed the need for this initiative to harmonize the legal systems, constitutional and legal possibilities in the respective countries.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, today received the Letters of Credence of the newly appointed Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway, H.E. Nils Ragnar Kamsvag and the Letters of Credence of the newly appointed Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to the Republic of Macedonia, H.E. Le Duc Luu.

President Ivanov congratulated the newly appointed Ambassadors on their new posts and wished them success in the execution of their ambassadorial duty.

At the meeting with the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway, the two interlocutors expressed their conviction that the cooperation between the two countries will continue in the future with undiminished momentum, and that the political dialogue will be further intensified. Moreover, President Ivanov expressed his gratitude for the past assistance and support of the Kingdom of Norway.

“I assume that, between our two friendly countries, there is still untapped potential for further intensification and improvement of the cooperation in all fields of common interest, particularly in the economic sphere”, President Ivanov said in his welcome address.

Acknowledging that the Norwegian Government is strongly committed to the integration of Europe, Ambassador Kamsvag expressed his commitment for further support and close cooperation with the Republic of Macedonia.

The Ambassador stressed that Norway is impressed by what Macedonia has achieved in the recent years. “Over the last 12 years Norway has contributed around 100 million Euros in assistance to Macedonia. We intend to continue this program to assist you in realizing your ambitious Euro-Atlantic integration agenda through continuing cooperation programmes in key sectors”, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway said in his address, adding that the two countries have a great cooperation in the field of defense and in the ISAF mission in Afghanistan.

At the meeting with the new Ambassador of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, interest and willingness was expressed to develop economic cooperation between the two countries.

“I encourage all the initiatives for promotion of economic cooperation and trade exchange between the two countries, with the purpose of exploiting all the available potentials of both countries. In this regard, I express my support for the initiatives to strengthen the legal framework between the Republic of Macedonia and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam”, President Ivanov said in his address.

The Ambassador of Vietnam pledged to promote the traditionally friendly relations between the two countries and to strengthen the cooperation.