The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, today held talks with Mr. Moshe Ya'alon, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Strategic Affairs of the State of Israel.

Vice Prime Minister Ya’alon, at the meeting, extended his gratitude to the Republic of Macedonia for the initiative to pay respect to the Holocaust victims by opening a Memorial Centre in Skopje, and assessed this as an important gesture of Macedonia.

President Ivanov at the meeting expressed particular satisfaction with the positive trend in the development of the relations and cooperation with the State of Israel. The President assessed that the bilateral cooperation is permanent and at all levels, thus praising the visit of the Vice Prime Minister Ya’alon as a confirmation of the excellent ties. Vice Prime Minister Ya’alon affirmed Israeli's readiness for further intensification and deepening of the ties and cooperation with the Republic of Macedonia in all spheres of mutual interest.


At the meeting, opinions and information were shared on the latest developments in the region of South-East Europe and Middle East. President Ivanov informed the interlocutor on the current political and economic developments in the Republic of Macedonia, as well as on the country's efforts to join the Euro-Atlantic structures. In this respect, President Ivanov referred to the latest developments in the process for ironing the difference over the name with our southern neighbour, which is the only obstacle for resuming the Euro-Atlantic integration process, which also creates internal challenges.