The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, held a meeting today with the heads of diplomatic missions and consular offices of the Republic of Macedonia abroad.

At the meeting, the Macedonian diplomats informed President Ivanov on their activities during 2013 and exchanged opinions and suggestions how to improve Macedonian diplomacy.

Key topic of the meeting was the most important foreign policy priorities of the Republic of Macedonia and the challenges faced. President Ivanov presented the positions, considerations and expectations of the state leadership for the next 2014.

The President expressed satisfaction with the efforts of the Macedonian diplomacy in the affirmation of the Republic of Macedonia, its achievements, its gains and values, as well as its contribution in creating a positive image of the country internationally.

The Macedonian President urged further utmost commitment of the diplomatic network in promoting the position of the Republic of Macedonia in terms of its strategic foreign policy goals, and in promoting the constructiveness of the state in the regional initiatives and the ongoing contributions and specific activities in building good neighborly relations.

For a credible diplomacy, President Ivanov reaffirmed the position for a greater freedom in the actions taken by the Macedonian diplomats, accompanied by stricter control and assessment of their work. Moreover, the need to strengthen the activities of the diplomats in the economic development of the country and to promote the economic potentials of the Republic of Macedonia was emphasized in order to attract foreign investment in the country. President Ivanov stressed the importance of enhanced public diplomacy. "We have to find a way, all the successes of Macedonia, regardless of the field, to be affirmed in the public and professional field of the host-country. The expectation that others would do the work that needs to be done by the Macedonian diplomacy, or the insufficient presence in the public diplomacy is not a luxury that we can not afford", President Ivanov stressed before diplomats.

In terms of the Macedonian national minority, the need for greater efforts was highlighted to unite the Diaspora, overcome problems and improve the situation of the Macedonian national minority in certain countries, and their commitment towards the economic development of the country.

President Ivanov expressed satisfaction with the achieved good coordination of the diplomatic network with the relevant institutions in the country, but said that in this regard there is still room for further improvement.