The President of the Republic of Macedonia Dr. Gjorge Ivanov sent a letter of condolences to the King of Belgians, H.H. Albert II, on the occasion of the tragic traffic accident which took the lives of 22 children.

Your Highness,

I received with profound sadness the news on the great tragedy that took precious young lives and wholeheartedly regret for the lives lost in this huge accident.

It is said: ”The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit”. In these mournful moments for you, for the people of your country and the families of the victims, allow me, on behalf of the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia and on my personal behalf, to extend expressions of deep condolences. In these moments of sorrow, our prayers are with you and the families of the victims.

Please, Your Highness, convey the expressions of deep sympathy to the families of the victims in this tragic event.

Dr. Gjorge Ivanov

The President of the Republic of Macedonia sent a congratulation message to his Hungarian counterpart, President Pal Schmitt, on the occasion of the Day of Hungarian Revolution:

It is my special pleasure, on the occasion of the Day of Hungarian Revolution of 1848, on my personal behalf and on behalf of the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia, to extend cordial greetings and sincere wishes for prosperity of your country and wellbeing of the friendly Hungarian people.

I avail myself of this solemn opportunity to express satisfaction with the exceptionally high level of traditionally friendly relations and cooperation between the Republic of Macedonia and Hungary and to express my belief that with joint efforts we will be able to provide our contribution to further promotion of the relations in all areas of mutual interest, both at bilateral and multilateral level. I would like to extend our gratitude for the principled and strong support that your country gives to the Republic of Macedonia’s integration efforts in the large European and Euro-Atlantic family of nations. I am deeply confident and expect that it will continue in the coming significant period for the Republic of Macedonia, before the NATO Summit in Chicago and the European Council meetings.

I believe that in the coming period I will have the chance to welcome you in the Republic of Macedonia, which will give a strong impetus for further deepening of the established cooperation.

With sincere wishes for further professional successes, personal happiness and good health, I convey, Mr. President, assurances of my highest consideration.

Dr. Gjorge Ivanov

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, today in his Cabinet, received the OSCE Secretary General, Lamberto Zannier.

President Ivanov at the meeting stressed that the Republic of Macedonia highly appreciates the role of the OSCE and the support it provides for the Macedonian authorities in numerous areas – the rule of law, electoral process and legislation, support for the sectors such as police and judiciary, improvement of inter-ethnic relations and coexistence.

At the meeting, the interlocutors concluded that the Republic of Macedonia’s active involvement in OSCE’s activities, the successful transformation from a country- beneficiary into an equal partner and fulfilled conditions and criteria for NATO membership and start of EU accession negotiations speak enough for the country’s achieved success and progress.

President Ivanov informed the OSCE Secreatry General Zannier that the key challenge at this point for the Republic of Macedonia still remains and that is to unblock the status quo in terms of the integrations. Ha also added that the Euro-Atlantic integrations provide additional cohesive power in our society and expressed hope that in the coming crucial period the EU and NATO partner countries would demonstrate a higher vision which would allow the Republic of Macedonia to continue on its determined path.

President Ivanov added that the blocked integration process, despite the real consequences in several spheres in the country, create frustration among the citizens. Such frustration is sometimes manifested in inter-ethnic tension, similar to the one we have witnessed recently. However, these provocations are not welcomed by the citizens, whose coexistence is based on century-old traditions, which are nowadays enshrined, through the Ohrid Framework Agreement, in the Constitution and the laws. On the contrary, the President noted that the citizens and the system condemn these incidents, and the perpetrators will face adequate consequences.

Macedonian President and OSCE Secretary General discussed the implementation of the Ohrid Framework Agreement aiming at advancing coexistence, tolerance and understanding among different ethnic communities in the Republic of Macedonia. Macedonia’s model of integration without assimilation, the President said, is a positive example in the region and beyond. Human rights, especially those of ethnic communities, are respected in the Republic of Macedonia in many aspects in compliance with the highest international standards, and in that regard, President Ivanov urged for a strengthened regional cooperation of the OSCE missions in an effort the standards to be equally applied in several spheres. Our country pays special attention to integrating different ethnic communities in education as a prerequisite for a better cohesion and integration within the society.

At the meeting, views and information were exchanged on the future focus and areas of the OSCE mission engagement in support of the Republic of Macedonia.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, signed decrees on appointing officers in the Army of the Republic of Macedonia, in accordance with the new organizational structure.

Brigadier General Dimce Petreski is appointed as Director of the ARM General Staff, Brigadier General Metodija Velickovski is appointed Commander of the Joint Operations Command, Colonel Muhamet Racaj is appointed as Chief of the Joint Operations Command Staff and Colonel Stojan Dimcov is appointed Commander of the First Mechanized Infantry Brigade.

These appointments kicked off the practical implementation of the new organizational structure of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, today in his Cabinet received the Supreme Allied Commander for NATO operations, from Mons, Admiral James Stavridis, who is paying a two day official visit to Macedonia.

The meeting addressed Macedonia’s Euro-Atlantic integration, participation of Macedonian troops in international peacekeeping missions, as well as future steps in strengthening partnership and cooperation between the Republic of Macedonia and NATO member states.

President Ivanov stressed that the Republic of Macedonia in the pas period has demonstrated and proved that is a responsible member of the international community, and a country that responsibly approaches duties and tasks, as befits a real ally and de facto member of NATO.

President Ivanov expressed hope that at the NATO Summit in Chicago, the Allies will consider the new situation following the verdict of the International Court of Justice in The Hague and re-consider the conclusion from Bucharest.

Admiral Stavridis expressed appreciation for the contribution of Macedonian soldiers in the ISAF mission in Afghanistan and stressed that the Republic of Macedonia has achieved significant success and progress in achieving NATO standards, in particular modernization of defence sector. He also said that building strategic partnership will continue in future.

The collocutors agreed that granting the deserved membership of the Republic if Macedonia in NATO is particularly important for stability and prosperity of the country and the region.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, today, in his Cabinet received a delegation of the Swedish-Macedonian friendship group of the Parliament of the Kingdom of Sweden.

President Ivanov hailed the recent establishment of the Swedish-Macedonian friendship group and expressed belief that the activities of the group will contribute for even more productive bilateral cooperation between the Republic of Macedonia and the Kingdom of Sweden.

President Ivanov expressed satisfaction with the principled and constructive support of the Kingdom of Sweden for Macedonia’s integration into the European Union, especially in the period of the Swedish Presidency in 2009. He emphasized the important role played by the Swedish leadership for receiving positive report by the European Commission, as well as the contribution to the visa free regime for the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia.

The talks focused on prospects for getting a date for launching EU accession negotiations, considering the Swedish Government’s position, voiced after the judgment of the International Court of Justice in The Hague, that conditions have already been created to open negotiations with the Republic of Macedonia.

The President and the MPs discussed the prospects for enhanced cooperation in other spheres such as trade exchange, tourism, culture, defense, as well as mutual support in multilateral organizations.

At the meeting, President Ivanov underlined that there is numerous Macedonian community in Sweden, which is indeed the bridge which will always bind the two friendly countries.