The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, visited today the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts where he met with the President of MASA, Mr. Taki Fiti, and with the members of the Presidency of the Academy.

The meeting, held before President Ivanov's visit of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, exchanged views and information on the strategic directions and topics of interest to the Republic of Macedonia, as well as on the current and future activities of the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and arts.

President Ivanov and the members of MASA discussed the Euro-Atlantic integration of our country, the regional cooperation and the good neighborly relations, as well as the cooperation of MASA with the academies of the neighboring countries in view of encouraging a culture of mutual understanding and respect. He welcomed the efforts and activities of MASA for closer and more intensive scientific cooperation with the academies of the neighborhood and the region, and stressed that this way of communication and cooperation will give additional impetus to the good neighborly relations, fostering shared values and building confidence.

In this regard, President Ivanov informed the academicians on his activities undertaken in building good neighborly relations, on the priorities of the Republic of Macedonia in the regional cooperation and the priorities of the Summit of the Brdo-Brioni Process which will be hosted next year by President Ivanov.

The Macedonian President said that as before he will support the Academy in the future in its work for promotion and development of science, culture and education, and will support the initiatives aimed at creating conditions for a better future for the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia.

The President of MASA, Mr. Taki Fiti, and the members of the Academy expressed satisfaction with the meeting with President Ivanov and briefed him on the future activities and projects of the Academy, as well as on the scientific cooperation and specific initiatives jointly implemented with the academies of the other countries, especially with the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences.