Distinguished guests,
Esteemed Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my honor to greet you in the Republic of Macedonia during this Conference dedicated to the joint efforts aimed at achieving the partnership goals and capabilities of NATO forces.

We are here today because of the mutual promises given 12 years ago with the Adriatic Charter. The Charter states that "Europe will not be truly free until the entire region of Southeastern Europe is safe ... Europe cannot be united as long as there are countries in the region that are not included in the Euro-Atlantic institutions".

In the past years, many of the commitments taken have been accomplished. The partnership with the United States has prompted our countries to commit to fostering good neighborly relations and regional cooperation. We have implemented successful reform and modernized our armed forces, thus we actively contribute to peace and stability in the crisis regions.

Albania and Croatia became NATO members. Montenegro and Bosnia and Herzegovina joined the Adriatic Charter. Slovenia and Serbia are observer countries. We rejoice their success as success of the entire region.

We can say the Adriatic Group has contributed to building peace, democracy, stability and prosperity in Southeast Europe.
However, it is stated in the Charter, inter alia, that "the partners confirm their commitment to the rule of law as a foundation of the transatlantic community of free and democratic countries..."

The transatlantic community, NATO, is based on international law and its obligation is to take care for the respect of that right exactly.
The Adriatic Charter was signed 12 years ago. Only five years later, at the NATO Summit in Bucharest, the Charter was put to a test and, unfortunately, failed in the case of Macedonia.

Where NATO failed, the International Court of Justice did not fail by ruling out that the Greek blockade of Macedonia's integration into NATO is illegal and that the international obligations are violated.
However, since the publication of the judgment of the International Court of Justice to date almost 4 years have passed and 2 NATO Summits in Chicago and Cardiff were held. Greece had enough time to comply with the obligations stemming from this judgment.

NATO and its members had ample of opportunities to reassess their decision in accordance with international law.

As Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, I can say that we have met the membership criteria and standards, but we are still blocked. With 16 Membership Action Plans, 9 rotations in Iraq and 27 rotations in Afghanistan, the Army of the Republic of Macedonia is the army that has been tested and checked the most in NATO's history. For us, this creates major responsibilities and yet we do not enjoy any privileges and rights.

We are defending the interests of the Alliance, although we are not in the Alliance. It is time for the Alliance to defend its interests by giving us the long ago deserved membership.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Many things have changed since 2003. The territorial sovereign state is facing new, non-territorial, threats. Although the number of conflicts between the states is declining, the number of conflicts within the states is increasing. Unfortunately, many of these conflicts occur in the immediate European neighborhood.

The collapsed states in North Africa and the Middle East and the situation in Ukraine form a circle of conflicts surrounding Europe.
There are ruined societies in which there are no conditions for the rule of law and respect for fundamental human rights and the right to human dignity. As a consequence, we witness a new migration of the people fleeing their failed countries. Fleeing from the conflicts and chaos, most of them seek peace and security in Europe. The migration crisis is a reminder that the Balkans is a European artery, a key European corridor connecting Europe with the Middle East and North Africa. The migrant crisis is a test of Europe's consistency.

We are witnessing that the European Union is not yet ready to adequately respond to the challenges and threats.

The global threat of violent extremism and foreign terrorist fighters cannot be solved by bureaucratic procedures, but with managing the threat. Our experience shows that the intelligence and special operations are the best weapons in today's security environment.

Each country can contribute by sharing its experience. What is needed is the development of a preventive mechanism in the fight against violent extremism and radicalism and foreign terrorist fighters. It requires different cooperation and communication between the national security system entities of all countries. A unique and coordinated response to the threats is needed. The countries of the Adriatic Charter must be integrated into the architecture of the security system of NATO and the European Union, with undisturbed access to all databases.

Every military strategist knows very well the principle of Sun-tzu, who compares an army with water. Water never flows uphill, but prefers the path of least resistance. By failing to integrate Macedonia under its security umbrella, the Alliance makes a strategic mistake and creates space of least resistance.

Blocking the Euro-Atlantic integration of Macedonia is a textbook example of how the security in the region should not be built.
If the issue of inviting the Republic of Macedonia to join NATO was a purely political issue by now, as of now it is also a security issue. Each future illegal blockade of our rightfully deserved NATO membership is a serious blockade of the collective interests and fundamental principles of the Alliance.

The judgment is still here, waiting to be adhered to by Greece and NATO. The Summit in Warsaw is an opportunity for NATO and its members to reaffirm the commitment to international law. Yet, it is an opportunity to defend the collective interest of the Alliance and the interest of our region for greater security and stability.

Today you will discuss the joint efforts in achieving the partnership goals of NATO. Each of our countries is too small to face, on its own, the global challenges and the new and complex threats. We must help each other. Stability and security of each country is an important link in the whole region.

Thank you.

Distinguished members of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia, Distinguished invitees,
Dear fellow citizens,

As the Supreme Commander of the Armed forces of the Republic of Macedonia, it is indeed a true honor to salute you and congratulate you on the Armed Forces Day of the Republic of Macedonia.

A century ago, on October 21, 1915, the Macedonian front was open. Almost one million soldiers from 20 nations, grouped in a dozen of different armies clashed on both sides of this front. However, for 200.000 of those soldiers, the only difference was the uniform they were forced to wear and the flag under which they were forced to fight. Those were the Macedonian soldiers who did not have their own army, and were thus forcibly mobilized by other armies to sacrifice their lives for other interests.

An irony of history is the fact that only a day before the opening of the Macedonian front, on October 20, 1915, was the day of birth of a fighter whose name would later on become a synonym for the Macedonian army. As the grandson of a voivode, Mirche Acev, a partisan, became the connection between Ilinden and the national liberation struggle and antifascist movement.

His name will be given to the first battalion of the national liberation army of Macedonia, established on August 18, 1943. The historical injustice was thus rectified, and Macedonian soldiers finally had their own army defending the interests of Macedonia.

Fellow citizens,

More than seven decades have passed since that day, and we have won our freedom, statehood, sovereignty and independence. In this great endeavor, the Army has continuously defended the acquired privileges and permanent interests of the Republic of Macedonia.

The Army of Republic of Macedonia has become the synonym for discipline, responsibility and patriotism.

The very essence of the Army is discipline. Throughout history, small, but disciplined armies managed to achieve what large undisciplined armies were never able to achieve. The discipline of our professional army is built in every soldier and every senior. It is built with character and integrity, with bravery and honor, with respect and sense of duty.

And yet, discipline is put to the test when one least expects it. From year to year, we have been fighting natural and man-made disasters. With a swift and decisive action, the Army has always helped all stakeholders from the systems for crisis management, protection and rescue. This was demonstrated during the latest floods and fires in several areas of our homeland. And for this, we are more than grateful.

Army discipline is also strengthened by the sense of responsibility - responsibility in front of the citizens it protects, but also towards the allies it fights together with, for the protection of peace and security in the world.

Discipline and responsibility are traits of true patriotism. Patriotism is shown by loyalty to the state, by caring for the defense, territorial sovereignty and integrity of the Republic of Macedonia. Your composition reflects the Macedonian model of coexistence, respect and acceptance of diversity. With this, you are also defending this top value of ours.

We know that whoever is disciplined and responsible towards the little things, will be equally as such when it comes to the big things. And what would be bigger and more important than assuring a carefree childhood for our children, a prosperous life for young people and a peaceful old age to our elders?

With everything it has been doing, the Army managed to acquire the trust of the citizens, but also the trust of its partners. This is why, as your Supreme Commander, I take pride in hearing how highly our citizens value the Army and how much respect they have for you. I am proud of this Army, recognized and decorated in our homeland and abroad, by our citizens, by foreign officials and by partner armies.

And there is a lot to be decorated for. We have had 9 rotations in Iraq and 27 rotations in Afghanistan where, at one point, we had more soldiers deployed per capita than 90% of the NATO Member States. Our peace keeping forces are also part of the international missions "Resolute Support" in Afghanistan, ALTEA in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and UNIFIL in Lebanon.

With 16 MAPs, the Macedonian Army have become one of the most verified in the history of NATO, ready to participate in even the most complex missions and operations.

Distinguished guests,

In March of 2010, as President and Supreme Commander, I adopted the still valid defense strategy of the Republic of Macedonia. This fundamental document had a validity period of five years. In the meantime, the security environment became subject of major changes.

Threats and challenges that have a negative impact on national and international security have multiplied.

Areas of crisis in the world have provoked a domino effect that undermined the security of our region as well. We hear about foreign terrorist fighters fighting on the battlefields in the Middle East and Northern Africa on a daily basis. Their aim is to annihilate diversity and impose their sombre vision. They choose no means to achieve this aim. They spread ethnic and religious intolerance and violence, even though violence in the name of any religion is violence against that same religion.

Unfortunately, the thing that remained unchanged since 2010, are the double standards and unlawful blockade of our NATO membership. Although we have long met all the criteria for NATO membership, we have been waiting for too long to take our rightful place in the Alliance.

Macedonia is ready for NATO membership. But is NATO ready for Macedonia's membership remains to be seen at the Warsaw Summit.

International law was violated at a Summit. I do hope that that mistake will be corrected at a Summit. I take this opportunity to call upon our Southern neighbor to adapt to the decision of the International Court of Justice. I urge our partners to confirm their observation of international law and agreements, but also to defend the collective interest of the Alliance and the interest of our Region for greater security and stability. Macedonia should obtain its rightful membership in NATO as soon as possible. Until then, we must remain prepared.

Dear guests,

The blockade imposed on our entry into NATO is reflected on the efficiency of our defense system.

We are facing threats whose tackling demands a different type of communication and cooperation among services, greater transparency in the work and revision of the system of control by the Assembly and institutions. Therefore, as President and Supreme Commander, I am involved in the process of initiating reforms of the security and defense services.

The new defense strategy will stipulate the obligation to build the necessary institutions to face such threats. Institutional response must be unified and coordinated. The response must be timely and preventive.

I wish to remind you that the Army is only one part of the institutional capacities of the state's national power to face and respond to threats. The Army must have an increased budget and be continuously upgraded and modernized.

The primary mission of the Army is to defend the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty, the unitary character of the state and the protection of citizens against external threats. The assessment of such threats will provide a direction for the further transformation of the Army in order to respond to the performance of operations to defend and protect the country. Experience has shown that intelligence and special operations are the best weapon in today's security environment.

I expect to see the Ministry of Defense begin, as soon as possible, the elaboration procedure for this basic document that will shape a new vision for the development and functioning of the defense system.

These are necessary steps for preservation of the lasting state interest.

We will approach these reforms of the defense system in a decisive and self-confident manner. If, in the past, we did not have an Army to rely to, today we have an Army to be proud of. An Army worthy of our respect.

And for this respect we have to give credit to those who deserve.

Today, on Armed Forces Day, I thank the Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant General Gorancho Koteski for his entire engagement so far, whereby he completely justified the trust vested in him. Maintaining the reform condition of the Army, he provided an example that should be followed in future. With his experience and knowledge so far, he will continue to serve as Adviser for Military Affairs to the President of the Republic of Macedonia.

I wish to thank all the retired generals who, during their career, invested themselves in building this Army that we are all proud of.

At the end, congratulating you on your 23rd birthday, I also congratulate all the members of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia, all promoted and newly appointed seniors, soldiers and civilians serving in the Army.

I congratulate you and I thank you for your professionalism and discipline in the performance of your responsible duty, but above all, I thank you for the solidarity you are showing to your fellow citizens and the loyalty you are showing to the homeland.

Many happy returns of this day!
Long live the Army of the Republic of Macedonia!
Long live the Republic of Macedonia!

Respected citizens of the Republic of Macedonia,
Distinguished descendants of the known and unknown heroes who gave their lives for their homeland Macedonia,

Today, on Ilinden, from heroic Krusevo, I congratulate you the greatest Macedonian holiday, the festival of light, the holiday of freedom.

On Ilinden we proved that we are people worthy of freedom. Pavel Satev said "the armed uprising launched on Ilinden is the brightest date and event because the uprising itself expressed the unity of the Macedonian people".

On August 2, 1918, here in Krusevo, Dr. Hristo Tatarcev said that "Krusevo was the first gain - declared a free city in free Macedonia... The Ilinden Uprising laid the foundation of a free Macedonia".

25 years later, again on August 2, at the Prespa Counseling, Kuzman Josifovski-Pitu said that "the memory of Ilinden needs more than ever to shine in the eyes of the Macedonian people, in the face of all decent and freedom-loving Macedonians, all who love their country, to do their best to achieve a new, last and victorious Ilinden ... ".

Dear fellow citizens,

In our liberation struggle, we faced powerful armies and more numerous opponents. But the greatest challenge for us was our unity.

When one wanted to undermine the Macedonian liberation struggle, he sowed seeds of strife, divisions and betrayals with propaganda. Throughout our history, disunity was the weakest thread of Macedonia. However, in several historic moments, the people of Macedonia managed to dispel the divisions and be in harmony. These bright moments are our three Ilindens. And those Ilindens were preceded and followed by our manifestos.

Whenever we were at a crossroads we faced the choice between life and death, between prison for slaves and free homeland of free people, between intolerance and coexistence; and, at every major milestone we had a manifesto as a roadmap that would help us avoid the wrong and choose the right path.

The first Macedonian Manifesto expresses the last call, the last bell to wake up all asleep Macedonian souls.

"This moment is crucial for Macedonia. It is a matter of life or death", is written in the Manifesto of the Provisional Government "Unity" of March 23, 1881. This Manifesto was issued at a time when it was believed that there is a danger that Macedonia could be divided and the people wiped out. Even then the Macedonians, Albanians, Turks, Vlachs, Jews knew that only in UNITY they could win freedom.

The second Macedonian Manifesto expresses the desire for a free Macedonia in which all its citizens, regardless of their nationality and religion, can live as brothers and neighbors. The Krusevo Manifesto of 1903 is a manifesto of coexistence, mutual assistance and UNITY in times of adversity.
And we have survived a lot of troubles. In slavery and in freedom, in war and in peace, many tried to spread hatred among the children of Macedonia who worship God in different temples and speak different languages. And they are still trying, as we were recently reminded with the event in Kumanovo.

The third Macedonian Manifesto is a manifesto of reconciliation.

The Balkan Wars and the World War I finally dashed to pieces the illusions of the Macedonian activists that freedom can be begged, not won. That the freedom of Macedonia can be given, not conquered.

Therefore, on May 15, 1924, in Vienna, realizing that only united can they fight for Macedonia, the then opponents stretched their hands in reconciliation and called for establishment of a Single Macedonian Revolutionary Front.

The May Manifesto is a manifesto of reconciliation and unity of ideological opponents, of the leftists and rightists, communists and conservatives, socialists and anarchists, who had different ideologies, but ONLY ONE party, and that was free Macedonia.

The fourth Macedonian Manifesto was proclaimed at the state-founding ASNOM.

With the World War II, when for the fourth time in 30 years Macedonia was occupied and divided, came the most difficult years for the Macedonian people, which was exploited, imprisoned, tortured, denied, assimilated...

Yet, that harsh reality revived the revolutionary tradition of Ilinden. People dedicated themselves to the relentless struggle against fascism which was at the same time a just struggle for freedom.

Thus, on August 2, 1944, the ASNOM Manifesto proclaimed that "out of the severe fighting and shed blood of the best Macedonian sons, today we attend the first National Assembly, the symbol of our freedom and expression of our sovereignty, proclaiming to the whole world the full national freedom of the Macedonian people in the FIRST FREE MACEDONIAN STATE".

ASNOM was the dazzle of the state-founding will of the people of Macedonia. But the full sovereignty was postponed until September 8, 1991, the third Ilinden, when we firmly stood on our own.

Respected citizens,

Only ten years after the third Ilinden, we found ourselves at a crossroads again. When we decided to turn a new page of coexistence and respect, we again came out with a manifesto.

This Macedonian Manifesto was created by the man who knew how to depict the Macedonian spirit best. I well remember the day when Petre M. Andreevski took up the task to write a new manifesto of the new generation. It is a manifesto of survival.

He recalls that there were countless rebellions and uprisings, many soldiers killed, but we were not defeated. That there were many blinded soldiers, but not blind spiritual horizons.

He reminds and warns to level up once and for all the deep furrows of division and hatred, because there is no future or hope in hatred... and that only united and with mutual trust we will be everywhere and always stronger.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The thread that binds all our manifestos and all our Ilindens is the call for UNITY in achieving a higher goal.

For the Ilinden fighters, the highest goal was freedom.
For the ASNOM members, it was the statehood.
For us, it was independence and sovereignty.
For our children, for young people, it is the progress and prosperity of the European Republic of Macedonia.

However, we behave today as if we have forgotten the lesson that cost us so dearly. As if we have forgotten that everything we have achieved, the freedom, statehood and independence, has been achieved when we were united. But also that everything we have lost, every perspective, opportunity and chance, has been lost when we were disunited.

Macedonia is facing a major turning point again today.

Although free, it seems that Macedonia is still a slave of divisions.
Although independent and sovereign, Macedonia still seeks solutions for internal issues beyond its boundaries.
Although united in ethnic and religious diversity, Macedonia is still politically deeply divided.

Respected fellow citizens,

We are aware that disunity is a consequence of the blocked European and Euro-Atlantic integration processes. The long-lasting blockade led to three political crises in only six years, each more serious and deeper that the previous. And, with every crisis, the achievement of higher goals has been increasingly concerned.

Top strategic goals of the Republic of Macedonia are membership in NATO and in the European Union. More than 80% of the citizens clearly support Macedonia's membership in NATO and the European Union. Not a single political party in the Republic of Macedonia can win as many votes as NATO and the EU have currently supporters. For the citizens, NATO means security, and the European Union means prosperity. Together, they mean peace.

Macedonian citizens expect from their elected representatives, both from the government and the opposition, a better life in the European Macedonia.

However, due to the prolonged absence of political dialogue, there was a serious danger of missing the European perspective. We are grateful for the involvement of our friends from the European Union and the United States. Their recommendations must be taken seriously. I welcome the agreement reached between the leaders of the political parties, and urge for its implementation. However, it is sad that we are in a situation someone else to take more care for us.

As if we have not learned that best solutions are those achieved by us, through dialogue in the institutions we have created, and whose representatives we have democratically elected. That is indeed the meaning of sovereignty.

The political crisis reminded us of our strategic objectives. Yet, it reminded that sovereignty brings responsibility. However, we behaved very irresponsibly.

This crisis is also an opportunity for us, for the European Union and NATO. It turned out that the blockade does not resolve but only exacerbate the political and security situation in Macedonia. It is high time the Union to give us a date to start accession negotiations, and the name issue to be Chapter 35 in the negotiations. It is high time for NATO to respect the ruling of the International Court of Justice and hand us over the long deserved membership invitation.

I want to send a message to our neighbors. Before every summit of the European Union and NATO, our southern neighbor is doing everything to block us.

Before each Ilinden, neighboring Bulgaria is demanding a joint celebration of the past. We rejoice in the successes of our neighbors because these are successes of the region. I eagerly wait for the day when, together with the Bulgarian President, we will celebrate the ultimate success of the joint project of our scientists, artists, businessmen...

It is easy to find reasons for quarrels if we start to entangle further the already tangled knot of common Balkan history, if we begin to open the old wounds. But it is the worst possible policy of sowing fear, misconceptions and prejudices.

It is high time we, as presidents, to be the bridge connecting the most creative and innovative minds of our two countries. Only then we will work for a better future for our countries and our peoples.

The countries of our region cannot afford the past to continue to steal the present and the future of their citizens.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I will go back to the consequences of the blockade. Macedonian citizens want to work and earn a decent salary. Therefore, as a country, we have invested much time and energy in attracting foreign investors to open factories and new jobs for the citizens.

However, due to the damaged reputation of the country, there was a danger the investment to curb and the economic growth to decline. The political battle between the parties must not harm the economy because the wages, pensions, subsidies, scholarships depend on it.
But the political crisis spilled over into the domain of security. Blocking of institutions and disapproving the democratic will of the citizens lowered the security immunity of the Republic of Macedonia.

On May 9, the Europe Day, an armed group of criminals and extremists, intending to commit acts of terrorism, tried to threaten the security of the state. They tried to question the European future of Macedonia. They tried to plow the most precious we have - the Macedonian model of coexistence and respect for diversity. Fortunately, they failed in their evil intent.

The members of the Ministry of Interior defended the security while the citizens defended the coexistence. Hence, the covenant of Krusevo was fulfilled in Kumanovo!

But Kumanovo reminded us that if we are disunited and feuding, the enemy can easily slip between us. That lesson is paid in human lives and we must not forget it.

Dear fellow citizens,

The security earthquake failed to shake the coexistence. Nevertheless, the political earthquake shook the foundation of Macedonia, and that is trust.

In 1925, Krste Petkov Misirkov wrote that: "We, the Macedonian intelligence, undoubtedly bear the greatest responsibility for the situation in which our homeland is today. However, there are circumstances that lessen our guilt..."

But today, 90 years later, here, from Krusevo, I say that there are no circumstances that would lessen the responsibility of the Macedonian intellectuals, politicians, media, NGOs...

Everyone bears part of the responsibility for the irresponsible behavior in its own sphere of action.

Participation in public space means public decency and public accountability for every word uttered in public.

But what kinds of words have fulfilled the public space? In the past period, we and our children have listened to astringent, vulgar and brutal words that create mistrust among the people.

Although we speak the same language, we no longer understand each other.
Although we have gone through good and through bad together, rejoiced in the victories and mourned in the defeats, we behave as if we are strangers.
We have ceased to believe in the given word.
We have never been fighting so much since the time of propaganda.

The dialogue was reduced to a monologue in which nobody listens to anybody. The absence of the opposition from the institutions prevented for long the mechanism of control. It is unacceptable that our political system depends on the character of the leaders of the political parties.
The Macedonian citizens expect from all participants in the political processes to behave reasonably and responsibly and show political maturity. The citizens expect the government to be the creator and the opposition corrector of the political and legal decisions. But, they also expect that process to take place where it belongs - in the state institutions. The institutions must function. Without people, nothing happens and without institutions, nothing lasts.

It is needed to restore trust in the institutions in which there are gaps. In education, in judiciary, in defense and also in security.

This country has been built by educators and teachers as Goce Delchev and Gjorce Petrov, Dame Gruev and Dimo Hadzi Dimov, Misirkov and Cupovski... Therefore, the new Law on Higher Education which caused public attention should gain support from universities, professors and students.

The judiciary must finally become a true guardian of justice.

Ladies and gentlemen,

As a nation, we have many times experienced persecution. There is almost no family in Macedonia without history of personally experienced persecution in the past. Accordingly, we, as a country, helped the refugees from Kosovo in 1999. Today, a river of migrants from the Middle East, North Africa, Asia is going through Macedonia.

I was at our southern border and very well know the situation faced by the migrants and our fellow citizens.

I praise all human individuals and organizations that help migrants. But, let us not forget that the Republic of Macedonia is a transit country only. Migrants arrive from a European Union member-state and head towards other Union member-states.

As Kumanovo reminded us that we have to maintain coexistence, migrants remind us that we live on a corridor. We must protect the corridor. Therefore, as President and as Commander in Chief, I am involved in initiating reforms of the services in the field of security and defense. Additional cooperation among these important institutions is essential, as well as greater transparency and civilian control through the Parliament. Since the sovereignty of the state is protected at the border.

Respected Macedonians, Albanians, Turks, Serbs, Vlachs, Bosniaks, Roma,
Distinguished Christians, Muslims, Jews,
Dear fellow citizens,

It is high time to fulfill the last Macedonian Manifesto. It is time the clenched fist to be replaced with open arms, the irresponsible behavior with the necessary responsibility and mutual accusations with trust restored.

Trust is the need of the individual and connective tissue of the society. An individual without trust is isolated and a society composed of isolated individuals falls apart.

As President of the Republic of Macedonia, I have always been doing everything within my powers to ensure conditions for dialogue and confidence-building.
Our goal must be a state and a society based upon mutual trust. Trust between the citizen and the state and among the state institutions. The key to trust is in the responsibility because every entitlement means responsibility and everyone who makes decisions takes responsibility for his steps. Only this way the state and the future are built. Responsible citizens in a responsible state.

I said, and I will say it again: Now is awakening and sobering time.

Hence, as we live with our deepest religious and ethnic differences, we shall have to learn again to live with our ideological and political differences. Because there is one thing that transcends and levels all the differences, and that is Macedonia. It is our responsibility to the legacy of our ancestors and to the future of our children. Because our interests are the same, and the future is common.

Many happy returns on the day of Ilinden!
To our eternal freedom and independence!
Long live the Republic of Macedonia!

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear friends,

Two things deeply touch the human heart: the beauty and the suffering. But, in this world overwhelmed with so much suffering, there is nothing more beautiful and more encouraging than to see how people selflessly help those who suffer, the sick and frail, wounded and vulnerable, the poor and homeless...

Today we are here to express our gratitude to the Red Cross of the Republic of Macedonia for serving people in need for already 70 years, both in Macedonia and abroad.

70 years before the founding of the Red Cross of Macedonia, a man was born who perhaps best depicts the mission of this noble global organization: "Red Cross is a light that shows the right way through the darkness. It is our duty to make sure that light never to go out", said the great humanist and Nobel Prize winner Albert Schweitzer.

It is especially important today, when we live in a time of challenges - both human and natural. In a time of military conflict and climate change. A time of exiled and banished, immigrants and refugees who, as we speak, experience the sense of loss of their home, their own history and homeland.

If you have ever done mistakes due to ignorance, today, when news of the people's need reach us with the speed of the Internet, the failures are usually done because of the refusal to know. In that sense, ignorance is the elegant name for indifference towards the unprotected. And as the world increasingly becomes guilty of the sin of indifference, the sense of responsibility is declining, and the selfish excuses for passive surveillance are increasing.

It is in this darkness that the Red Cross gives us a ray of light. This organization, which is available everywhere and to everyone, is expressed through the basic principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntarism, unity and universality.

Thanks to that light, the Republic of Macedonia came reborn out of the ruins of World War II and the elements of nature.

Thanks to the humanity, the Red Cross helps us avoid the traps of exclusion and xenophobia, to preserve and promote the benefits of coexistence, respect and acceptance of diversity.

Generations of volunteers of the Red Cross of Macedonia for already seven decades are an example of how to treat the greatest value of all – the human life.

The Red Cross is always ready to help reactively and to cooperate with other social and institutional actors that should be prepared to act preemptively.

Passing the test of humanity and sacrifice, the Red Cross of the Republic of Macedonia gained the trust of the Macedonian citizens and became their extended hand of solidarity.

Dear Friends,

There is no exaggeration to say that with every human gesture, with every drop of blood donated, with every meal shared, with every human life saved, the Red Cross makes the Republic of Macedonia a better and more dignified place to live in.

Therefore, it is my honor, as President of the Republic of Macedonia, on behalf of all Macedonian citizens, with the Charter of the Republic of Macedonia to thank the Red Cross because, with everything it does, it restores our hope in humanity.

Thank you.

Respected Attendees,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Brothers and Sisters,

It is my honor to greet you in our common homeland, the Republic of Macedonia.

The Macedonian Diaspora has always given great people. One of them is the Macedonian revolutionary, journalist and publicist, Angel Dinev. In 1935, exactly 80 years ago, Dinev started issuing the weekly magazine "Makedonski Vesti", which played a very important role in spreading the ideas of free and independent Macedonia.

Among the numerous texts therein, one is entirely devoted to the role of the Macedonian Diaspora.

In this kind of Declaration for the Diaspora, Dinev said that the Diaspora should cultivate among its fellow countrymen the Macedonian self-awareness and the Macedonian national self-esteem, in the spirit of which it must support the love for the homeland ... The Diaspora should develop a sense of love and caring among its compatriots. To preserve the Macedonian customs, songs and sayings ... to glorify and value the high idealism and heroic deeds of the fathers and grandfathers ... And, with everything one does, to make friends of Macedonia.

Dear Friends,

Today we are here to express our thankfulness to five organizations that are fulfilling the covenant of Dinev.

The ensemble "Makedonka" is spreading the Macedonian folk dance in Canada and beyond. I very well remember the wonderful dances you played two years ago in the "St. Kliment Ohridski" church in Toronto during my visit to friendly Canada. With your dancing, you fully depicted the Macedonian spirit of defiance.

Among us here are the members of the Australian-Macedonian Theatre from Sydney, which has always managed to address important social issues and communicate important messages for Macedonia and for Australia with the authentic Macedonian plays.

The Ohrid Social Society from Melbourne remains consistent to the covenant of the great healer of the soul and the body - St. Naum Ohridski. With your investment in the healthcare, you always help your fellow countrymen from Macedonia.

With us are also the representatives of the Macedonian-French association, which for already a decade cherishes the work of the great Blaze Koneski and determines the Macedonian language as our only complete homeland.

The cultural and sports association "Prespa Birlik" from Sweden is a testimony to the multi-ethnicity of the Macedonian Diaspora, to the benefits of the Macedonian model of coexistence and respect for and acceptance of diversity.

You all are the vivid link between Macedonia and the world. You are our ambassadors in the field of culture, art, education, charity and sports.

All your successes are successes for Macedonia too. The more successful individuals there are, the more successful Macedonia is.

Therefore, as President of the Republic of Macedonia, on behalf of the Macedonian citizens and on my personal behalf, I would like to thank you for everything you have been doing for Macedonia. Macedonia remembers, recognizes and values.

Thus, with the Charter of the Republic of Macedonia we express our gratitude and invite you and the entire Diaspora to cooperate and be united, to be an example for this and for the future generations.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I have started with Dinev and I will finish with him. At one point in the Declaration for the Diaspora, he warns that with "torn forces, in a tense atmosphere, with mutual distrust ... we only harm each other ..."

This description, unfortunately, too much resembles the atmosphere in which the Republic of Macedonia is still in today.

The Macedonian Diaspora is also concerned about this situation, because everything done in the homeland is inevitably reflected in the Diaspora. We must not forget that the Republic of Macedonia is not only a state of the Macedonian people living in it, but also a homeland of its Diaspora living abroad.

I want you to know that, as we are accountable to the citizens, so we are accountable to the Diaspora, which, in the most difficult times for Macedonia, was there, and will always be there for us. I believe that you will use every opportunity to help in this challenging period. And that united we will continue to realize our common vision - to make Macedonia, with a teamwork, a better place for living.

Thank you.

Respected citizens of the Republic of Macedonia,

I welcome the agreement reached between the leaders of the political parties and the re-establishment of the political dialogue within the institutions of the Republic of Macedonia.

I expect normalization of the political climate as soon as possible and full recommitment to the European integration of the Republic of Macedonia. There are challenges exactly in this area which require unity, mutual trust and cooperation. Therefore, the European agenda must be again the first priority on the agenda in the Republic of Macedonia.

A sobering and awakening time comes. A time comes when all institutions must show their capacity and readiness to deal with everything that hinders our Euro-Atlantic path.

The parties must understand the role they play in the society and analyze the consequences of their action and inaction. Everyone should draw lessons from this crisis.

I want to express my gratitude to the representatives of the European Commission and the European Parliament, as well as to the EU and US ambassadors for the great effort invested and appreciation that in such moments we have friends who are concerned about the future of the Republic of Macedonia.

With the agreement reached, we all recognize the European power of unification. I request the European Council to value the demonstrated constructiveness of the political leaders and in the shortest possible period to make a decision on opening accession negotiations for membership in the European Union, as an important prerequisite for continuation of Macedonia's European integration and democratization, but also for prevention of such and similar crises in the future.

Many times before I have called for a dialogue and institutional resolution of all disputes, highlighting that the return of citizens' trust in state institutions is crucial for democracy in Macedonia.

The absence of dialogue and disrespect of institutions are the basis for every crisis we have had so far. Therefore, drawing on this positive step I feel obliged to call again that I, as President, remain open to all well-intended initiatives in the interest of the citizens and the state. The door of the Presidential Office remains open.

At the end, I believe the provisions of this agreement will not be a motive for a bare power struggle, but for a competition of ideas and programs that will win the trust of the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia. The essence of the political struggle lies not in the personal vanities and careers, but in the fight for a prosperous and European Macedonia.

Thank you.