Macedonian state and church delegation, led by the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, pays a three-day visit to the Republic of Italy and the Holy See to attend the manifestation “Macedonia Honoring Saint Cyril”.

The Minister of Information Society and Administration Ivo Ivanovski and the Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Relations with Religious Communities and Groups Anton Sereci are members of the state delegation, whereas the metropolitans Petar and Pimen as well as the Skopje bishop Kiro Stojanov are part of the church delegation.

According to the agenda, this afternoon, the delegation will visit the ancient temple of Pantheon, accompanied by Daniele Micheletti, Rector of Pantheon, to attend the formal opening of the manifestation - the concert of the opera singer Blagoj Nacoski, violinists Ana and Oleg Kondratenko, Alessandro D'Agostini and Marija Vrskova.

Tomorrow in Vatican, President Ivanov will have an audience with the head of the Roman Catholic Church, Pope Benedict XVI and hold talks with the Holy See Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone.

Afterwards, the Macedonian delegation will visit the St. Paul Basilica to lay flowers on the tomb of St. Paul, accompanied by Cardinal Francesco Monterisi, and in the evening, the delegation will attend a theater play about Mother Teresa, titled “Saint of Darkness”.

After the audience with the Pope and the scheduled meetings in Vatican, in the church “St. Clement” in Rome, on Tuesday, a service of intercession will take place on the tomb of St. Cyril as part of the manifestation “Macedonia Honoring Saint Cyril”.
 

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov met today with businessmen from the German Federal State of Bavaria and discussed the opportunities for investing in Macedonia. The meeting was held within President Ivanov's visit to Bavaria where he is to attend the annual conference of the German Paneuropean Union.

In the Bavarian town Bad Wörishofen, President Ivanov met with representatives from the aviation and textile industry, successful entrepreneurs in tourism, private education and with representatives of the German chambers of commerce and other local government organizations. At the meeting with President Ivanov they all expressed interest into the favorable circumstances and benefits offered by Macedonia for investing, particularly in the sector for services.

Bavaria has one of the most developed economies in Germany with many industrial giants, such as BMW, Audi and many other leading companies having established their headquarters there.

President Ivanov is due to meet with HSH the Prince of Liechtenstein Hans-Adam II and attend the official opening of this year’s German Pan-European Union Summit.

The Pan-European Union is leading international organization promoting for decades the idea for European unification, promotion of democracy and freedom. Pan-European Union members are permanent and strong supporters of the Republic of Macedonia and its European perspectives.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov received today Petar Gosev and Dimitar Bogov - the outgoing and incoming governors of the National Bank of the Republic of Macedonia.

President Ivanov thanked Petar Gosev for his work while serving as governor of the National Bank of the Republic of Macedonia and expressed hope that Dimitar Bogov, the new governor of the National Bank of the Republic of Macedonia, would successfully take over the helm of this vital post in the country in compliance with the Republic of Macedonia's strategic priorities aimed at more dynamic economic development, overcoming social issues and launching an energetic economic reconstruction of the country following the economic crisis.

During the meeting, the outgoing and incoming governors of the National Bank of the Republic of Macedonia informed President Ivanov on the ongoing activities of the National Bank of the Republic of Macedonia.

President Ivanov praised the transparent manner in which the post, governor of the National Bank of the Republic of Macedonia, was handed over, stressing that the process was completed in a dignified way and as such commended by the Macedonian business community and international economic institutions.
 

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov received today the MEP Alojz Peterle.

President Ivanov and MEP Peterle discussed at the meeting the latest political developments in Macedonia and in the region. They also discussed the situation in the European Union in terms of the enlargement process. President Ivanov extended gratitude to many MEPs and to the European Parliament in general for the strong and principled support of Macedonia's European perspective.

President Ivanov at the meeting briefed Peterle on the course of the process for overcoming the difference over the name with our southern neighbor. President Ivanov also informed on the process led at the International Court of Justice in the Hague. Ivanov and Peterle expressed hope that the name issue, which is the Greece's excuse to prevent Macedonia's EU and NATO membership, would be settled in the near future.
 

President of Republic of Macedonia Dr. Gjorge Ivanov met today the Head of the Election Observation Mission for the Early Parliamentary Elections, Julian Peel Yates.

The meeting resulted with mutual conclusion on the importance of the forthcoming parliamentary elections. Elections which need to confirm the democratic maturity of the country, as well as confirm the capacity of all the participants in the election process to conduct elections according to the highest democratic standards.

President Ivanov highlighted his appreciation for the positive messages coming from the Head of the observatory mission.

“The elections, as a highest democratic act, represent criterion and have crucial importance for reaching our top strategic goals – EU and NATO membership. I strongly believe and expect this contest to be constructive and legitimate, a contest of proposals and ideas. I would like to highlight that whoever might think of causing incidents or irregularities during the elections, thus harming all of us as a society, will have to face the strongest possible institutional response,” said President Ivanov at the meeting with the Head of the OSCE/ODIHR Mission.

The Head of the Mission, Julian Peel Yates, informed the President about the goals, authority and the responsibilities of his Mission, stressing that at the elections all the participants should fulfill their role. He also added that the Mission will evaluate the elections based on the principles of democratic election processes, responsibilities taken by all OSCE member-states, as well as the national legal regulations. The observers will analyze the conduction of the election process from various aspects – the work of the State Election Commission and other election bodies, the behavior of all the participants in the election process, media monitoring, the elections day itself. The Report of the Observation Mission will give realistic assessment based on facts, said Julian Peel Yates.

President Ivanov reminded that from the beginning of the year he personally summoned several Leaders’ meetings, aimed at encouraging and facilitating the political dialogue, as well as contributing to reduction of the harsh rhetoric and animosity in the public space, which directly reflect to the citizens.

“Since the day the elections were announced, and many times before during the Leaders’ meetings I have organized, I persistently appeal to all the participants in the election process to behave in accordance with the level of democratic development of Republic of Macedonia and the realized achievements – fulfilled criteria for NATO membership and the readiness to start EU negotiation talks. I expect the political parties, their leadership and members, in the course of the election process to respect the norms of public decency, and during their political actions to be guided by the state and the interests of the citizens. Republic of Macedonia and its citizens have proved the capacity to ensure fair and democratic elections. Macedonian citizens have high level of political conscious and maturity to conduct such elections. I strongly believe that we will once again prove this on 5 June,” said President Ivanov.

The Head of the OSCE/ODIHR Observation Mission for the early elections, Julian Peel Yates has expressed highest respect for President Ivanov’s engagement in this context.