The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, in his Cabinet today received the President of the International Federation of Automobile (FIA) and former General Manager and CEO of the Italian automobile company Ferrari, Mr. Jean Todt, who is visiting the country upon an invitation of the Auto-Moto Association of Macedonia (AMSM) and the Automobile Federation of Macedonia (AFM).

President Ivanov highlighted that for Republic of Macedonia is a great honor that AFM became a FIA member. The President praised FIA’s activities for advancement of the motorsport and of automobile traffic in general, but above all the efforts for increase of the drivers’ safety and the safety fo other participants in the traffic, being realized in frames of the Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020, initiated by the UN and FIA.

President Ivanov informed Mr. Todt on the implementation of the National Strategy of the Republic of Macedonia for Traffic Safety 2009-2014, of which the President himself is a supporter and promoter, as weel as on the challenges and the serious approach of national institutions for halting the number of traffic victims, and most importantly – total elimination of the number of children victims in traffic accidents.

Macedonian President Ivanov and the FIA President Todt discussed the perspectives for intensified development and advancement of the motorsport in Republic of Macedonia, and the possibilities Macedonia to host automobile races of international character in the future.

Mr. Jean Todt has an impressive career in motorsport. Under his direction, the Ferrari team at the Formula 1 races won 13 trophies, five of which were driven by the best racer of all times, Michael Shumacher. Todt’s leadership exceeds the frames of motorsport, primarily through his humanitarian and philanthropic activities. He is a member of the French Academy of Technological Sciences, as well as one of the cofounders and Deputy President of the Institute devoted to medical research for brain and spinal cord disorders with seat in Paris.