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.