The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov today received the President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Mr. Mevlut Cavusoglu.
Key discussion topic was the upcoming chairmanship with the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, for which, both interlocutors expressed their assurance that Macedonia will make all the efforts to successfully and productively chair the Council.  
President Ivanov underlined that strengthening the protection of human rights is the first priority of the Macedonian chairmanship with the Council of Europe, and stressed that it is necessary to consolidate and promote the human rights system at national and European level.
President Ivanov emphasized that in Macedonia there is functional multiethnic coexistence and underlined that the second priority of the Macedonian chairmanship is to promote and enhance the integration of national minorities in the European societies.
As third priority, President Ivanov pointed out the exchange of views and experiences of young people from South-East Europe and beyond which will encourage their participation in the political processes and democratic reforms in their societies in accordance with the principles, values and standards of the Council of Europe.
The President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Cavusoglu, greeted the level of respect, promotion and protection of minority rights in the Republic of Macedonia and expressed his conviction that the Republic of Macedonia will successfully address the responsible duty during its presidency and that there will be successful cooperation in terms of Macedonia’s priorities and in terms of the reform processes within the Council of Europe.