Esteemed Attendees,
Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends,

It is a real honor for me to greet you as patron of this important anniversary - 60 years since the establishment of the Institute for Macedonian Language "Krste Misirkov" within the "Ss. Cyril and Methodius" University in Skopje.

The Institute marks six decades filled with studying, fostering and promoting Macedonian language, being our greatest spiritual cultural heritage. Decades of capital deeds and extensive research work on the roots, growth and fruits of the Macedonian language. Research on the mosaic of Macedonian dialects, of Macedonian toponymy and Macedonian onomastics.

It is said that if you want to learn something more about people, then study the history, if you want, however, to understand people, learn the language. Over the decades, the Institute has helped many Macedonian language students, many Macedonian friends worldwide to understand Macedonia, thereby promoting the Macedonian language and Macedonian literature and culture.

Therefore, as President of the Republic of Macedonia I have decided to award the recognition "Charter of the Republic of Macedonia" to the Institute for Macedonian Language "Krste Misirkov" - Skopje. Recognition that expresses our sincere gratitude to the Institute for these 60 years of scientific-research activity in the field of studying and preservation of the Macedonian language. Recognition that expresses our respect to the employees, the members of the scientific-research staff that consistently and with dedication, for 60 years, has been implementing the mission and vision of Krste Petkov - Misirkov.

Distinguished Guests,

Humans have essential need to communicate and be informed. Crucial in this is our quest for truth. Truth about life, meaning of life, about the past, about the world around us and our own place in it. The quest for truth passes through a maze of different worldviews, professions and identities. But regularly, the quest is through the meaningful, spoken and written word.

We live in a time of information and fast communication. A time when annually about 2,200,000 new books are published in the world. That is about 6,000 new publications daily, or 250 books in an hour. As soon as I finish my short address, global human opus will be richer for about 20 new titles. We do not know exactly how many of these books are published in the author's native languages. But it is clear that the language is indispensable in the quest for truth and the closest to the human self is exactly the native language.

All this leads to the question "What is our native Macedonian language to us?" Why the Macedonian language is inherent in whom we are? What are the benefits and challenges of the Macedonian language?

By coincidence, today is the International Children's Day. Parents and children, ancestors and offspring are strongly linked through the language. Macedonian language is the strongest and most important inter-generational communication code. Thanks to the language, we learn about the visions and aspirations of our ancestors. Using the language, we transfer our ideas, plans and projections to our children who, in turn, share their needs, desires and dreams with us. Language binds past, present and future stronger than any cultural tie.

"The few words on Macedonian literary language", written 110 years ago by the patron of this important Institute, are a vision of that kind. In the book "On the Macedonian Matters", Krste Misirkov said:

"Loyalty to the popular language is our duty and our right. We are obliged to foster our language because it is ours, just as our homeland. The first voices we have heard are the voices of our fathers and mothers, sounds and words in their native language. Through them we receive our first spiritual food, because they give meaning to everything we see with our eyes. Popular language conquers psychology of our fathers and forefathers and we become their spiritual heirs, as we are their bodily strength, with our vigor."

Ladies and Gentlemen,

For Macedonia and for the Macedonian language, lots of things have changed since the turbulent time in which Misirkov lived. We live in a sovereign, independent state, the Republic of Macedonia. Our children learn and use the native language freely. Many books and publications written in Macedonian literary language are issued without the fear of being banned, confiscated or destroyed. For already 60 years we enjoy the fruits of our Institute for Macedonian language.

Nevertheless, Macedonian language faces challenges. Some are old and local, and othera contemporary and global.

"Non-recognition or misrecognition can inflict harm, can be a form of oppression, imprisoning someone in a false, distorted, and reduced mode of being", the Canadian Philosopher Charles Taylor said. Denying our Macedonian language, they follow the fatal logic of non-recognition and exclusion.

Therefore, as a society, we react strongly to all attempts to delete the term "Macedonian language" from the international registers and reports. As a country, we are determined to protect and promote Macedonian language and Macedonian folklore, as part of world's spiritual cultural heritage. The Institute for Macedonian Language plays an important role in this regard.

The second challenge is contemporary and global. I am honored that I know a brilliant young polyglot from Bosnia and Herzegovina is a member of my Council of Foreign Relations, Muhamed Meshic. Among the 77 languages that Meshic speaks are 15 acutely endangered languages. It reminds us of the reality we live in, and that every 14 days a language dies in the world.

Given that today Macedonian language is spoken by several millions of people in the Republic of Macedonia and abroad, its future is secured and safe.

However, in the digital era, we should focus on additional promotion and modernization of Macedonian language. To adapt to the modern terminology of the new audio-visual generation, without forgetting the richness of the old genuine Macedonian words.

The Institute for Macedonian Language has, indeed, great merits in this. At the end, I wish the Institute for Macedonian language in the decades to come to continue to take care of, as Blaze Koneski says "the single complete homeland we have".

Thank you.

Honorable President of the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts,
Distinguished Heads of Religious Communities in the Republic of Macedonia,
Esteemed Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my honor to greet you at this National Conference on Political and Inter-Religious Tolerance, organized by the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts and the OSCE Mission in Macedonia. Conference focused on finding mechanisms to stop hate speech on the Internet. Conference held at the right time, on the eve of the International Day for Tolerance. Tolerance has become universal, common human value. Value upon which peace, security and stability of our societies rely.

Voltaire says that "Tolerance is the consequence of humanity". Humanity, however, is characterized by the acceptance of the other, the different. This acceptance would have been impossible without the golden rule present in almost all religions. The rule that says that we should treat others the way we want to be treated.

Humanity today, being the source of tolerance, respect and acceptance of diversity is, indeed, facing a huge challenge.

In this modern digital age, intolerance is spreading with increasing speed. If it reaches a soil soaked with resentment, isolation and bitterness will result in hate speech. The hate speech, in its expansion, unfortunately, always tries to keep up with the time.

Today, hatred makes use of the Internet to spread like a virus. As computer viruses affect computer's memory, hate speech is a virus that affects human mind. Symptoms are known: narrowed human visual field, darkened human worldview, paranoiac suspicion of the unknown, invented hostilities. Creation of stereotypes and prejudice. Victims of this virus are the others, the different, the unlike.

In the recent past, this condition was commonly associated with the Balkan region and was named as Balkanization. But today we see that intolerance is present everywhere. The consequences of the military hot spots in the Middle East and North Africa are felt in the developed countries, too. Neither Europe nor the Republic of Macedonia is unaffected by this negative phenomenon.

The European strategy for combating radicalization and recruitment into terrorism of 2005, unfortunately, has not yet provided the desired results. It is enough to look at the negative comments on the social networks. We have numerous cases of young people from the region indoctrinated over the internet. More often there are extremist messages calling for fight, bloodsheds and violence. Calls to demolish holy temples and burn holy books.
Religious extremism has nothing in common with the real faith in God, as the holy wars have nothing sacred. Exactly holiness is the first victim of the so-called holy wars. It is a serious threat to us, to the Balkans, to Europe. The question is no longer whether we should react, but how to deal with these negative phenomena?

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Open space creates people with open minds. But what should we do when the open cyberspace is not sufficient to create people with open minds? Can we blame the Internet? The Internet is a human creation and mirror. Like humans, the Internet contains potential for good and for bad. The problem is not in the Internet, but in the purposes it is used for.

Will we allow radical individuals and groups, through the social networks, to fish our young people, being the most vulnerable category? Will we allow the Internet to become a network for religious radicalism recruitment?

Responsibility should not only be sought in the extremists. They simply fill the existing vacuum up. Unfortunately, many educated people have distorted the public space decorum. In public space, harsh words are used with ease. If the Internet space is not filled with good, positive, creative and innovative contents, it will be filled with negative and destructive contents. Are messages of peace, tolerance and coexistence sent often enough?

The solution is institutional, but also non-institutional. The answer should be sought both at collective and individual level.

It is necessary to prepare well the Macedonian multi-ethnic, multi-religious, multi-linguistic society to successfully face the challenges of the contemporary world. It is necessary to create mechanisms to stop hate speech on the Internet without limiting freedom of expression. It is necessary to properly understand freedom and its limits. The limits of freedom of expression are drawn by the freedom of other people and their human dignity. These are limits drawn by inter-ethnic and inter-religious tolerance, respect and acceptance.

Only three days ago, the Republic of Macedonia was elected a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council. It is a recognition, privilege and great responsibility. Continuously and proven, the Republic of Macedonia is committed to the protection and promotion of human rights and the right to human dignity. Hate speech is a violation of the right to human dignity. Hatred, however, leads to violation of the basic human rights. Therefore, the fight against hate speech is part of the mission to protect and promote human rights.

Now, we come to the second level: How should we treat people in order to live in harmony with each other? It is necessary to go back to the basics of the Macedonian model of integration without assimilation.

Distinguished Attendees,

Tolerance is always seen in our attitude towards the others. There is no tolerance if there is no other. Nor the identity is complete without the other's identity. One belongs to a particular ethnic, religious, linguistic and cultural matrix. The Macedonian ethnic, religious and linguistic mosaic includes the identities of Macedonians, Albanians, Roma, Turks, Serbs, Vlachs, Bosniaks... Christians, Muslims, Jews... Each person, at the same time, belongs to his own matrix and is distanced from the other's matrices. Tolerance is only possible when there is a balance between belonging and distancing.

Distancing without belonging, as well as belonging without distancing have a similar result - integration with assimilation. In the first case, the denial of the other's identity and its assimilation, and in the second case, the renunciation of self-identity and assimilation in someone else's identity.

The Macedonian model, which has been built for centuries, is a model of integration without assimilation, a model of respect and acceptance of diversity. Model which primarily means creating a space in us to accept the other, without having to melt him or without having to be melted into someone else's identity. In the core of the Macedonian model is the notion that other cultures and religions are not a threat to someone's identity, but a potential source of its enrichment.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Speaking of protection of tolerance, we are aware of the paradox of tolerance. Karl Popper said that unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance. If we are limitlessly tolerant towards those who are intolerant, if we are not ready to defend the tolerant society against attacks by intolerant, then tolerance is threatened. The society must retain the right to self-sustainability.

Combating intolerance and hate speech is not at all a matter for the security services only, but for all of us. For all educational, scientific, social and religious institutions, for the civil society, the media and the citizens. We, as political, social and religious leaders should be a role model for the citizens, the youth and the believers. We should send positive messages of reconciliation and coexistence. Messages for public decency. Messages which should help preserve and promote what is most precious, which is part of our tradition of mutual trust and respect.
We have always cherished something that is more than tolerance and acceptance, and that is respect for diversity. Respect is, however, an expression of humanity of all those who live in this area.

Thank you.

Distinguished Attendees,
Esteemed Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Friends,

This year we celebrate 20 years since the establishment of the Pan-European Union of Macedonia and its membership in the International Pan-European Union. In a turbulent period when Macedonia was internationally contested, blocked and suppressed, the International Pan-European Union became our unfaltering advocate in Europe. It is with honor that we remember the words of the great European, the architect of the European Union enlargement, Dr. Otto von Habsburg, who said: "Europe will not be complete without Macedonia".

Esteemed Excellencies,

Macedonian membership in the International Pan-European Union is not the only anniversary that we are celebrating.

On November 1, 1993, exactly 20 years ago, the Maastricht Treaty on European Union came into force. A Treaty in which the European leadership reaffirmed its "attachment to the principles of liberty, democracy and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms and of the rule of law". A Treaty based upon the desire "to deepen the solidarity between their peoples while respecting their history, their culture and their traditions". These ideals have resulted in peace, hope and unity in our continent, in South East Europe and in the Republic of Macedonia and its multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-lingual society.

The values of the European Union are Pan-European values. The roots of the European Union are watered from the Pan-European spring. Whenever things seem unclear, it is necessary to go back to the spring, where the water is purest. Count Kalergi said: "There is but one radical way to a permanent and just solution of the European frontier question, and that is: not the alternation, but the abolition, of those frontiers."

Count Kalergi's words are very popular today, as Europe is facing challenges.

The European Union is still recuperating from the economic, financial and credit crisis. Some of the traditional European values are at stake. Intolerance, radicalism and extremism are on the rise again. We have expected that some of the countries of South Eastern Europe that have earlier joined the Union would contribute to the Europeanization of the Balkans. Instead, we are witnessing Balkanization of the European policies towards the Republic of Macedonia. Instead Europeanization of the Balkans, we see Balkanization of the European Union. More often veto is used as a means of blocking the European future of two million Europeans - Macedonian citizens. This is reflected on the good neighborly relations and the future of the Republic of Macedonia and the entire region.

The contemporary European challenges can only be overcome by respecting fundamental European values, the values of freedom, democracy, rule of law, respect for fundamental human rights, the right to self-identification and the right to human dignity. Only adherence to these Pan-European values and principles can help the European leadership to return Europe on the right track.

Distinguished Attendees,

Not long ago we received the fifth positive report of the European Commission on the Republic of Macedonia's progress. The fifth recommendation to open negotiations for membership of the Republic of Macedonia in the Union is an opportunity for the European leadership to overcome European challenges by adhering to the Pan-European values.

The recommendation to start negotiations for Macedonia's membership in the European Union is a message to the Union to remain faithful to its Pan-European roots. The tree and the branches should not boast against the root and the spring they are watered from. The root holds the tree, which dries up and gives no fruit without the root. European Union's consistency is necessary to maintain its integrity and credibility.

Dear Friends,

At a time when the European Union is facing challenges, it can learn a lot of the consistency that the International Pan-European Union repeatedly shows to Macedonia.

In the past two decades, Pan-Europe has never betrayed Macedonia, it has never disappointed us. Pan-Europe remained faithful to the ideals of a united European continent. Our Pan-European friends have always and everywhere supported Macedonia. Therefore, today we express our gratitude to Ms. Walburga Habsburg - Douglas with the award that is presented in honor of my great predecessor, President Boris Trajkovski. I regret that Ms. Habsburg - Douglas was unable to personally join us. The award will be handed over to her brother Georg Habsburg-Lothringen of Hungary, who is our great friend.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I shall conclude with the opening words of Count Kalergi in the foreword to the Manifesto of Pan -Europe: "Many have dreamt of a United Europe, but few are determined to create it. As an object of longing, it remains barren; but as an object of will, it becomes fruitful. The only force that can realize Pan-Europe is the will of the Europeans; the only force that can prevent its realizations is, again, the will of the Europeans".

Thank you.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear athletes,
Respected sport admirers,

It is my real pleasure to greet you all today at this celebration of sport and sportsmanship. Today we finalize the first phase of the project "Social and Ethnic Integration through Sports". The project called "Sportsmanship".

We live in a time when the run to our own success too often turns into a battle against the success of others. A time when the sport field turns from a cheer-leading arena to a battlefield of mutual insults and humiliations. A time of competitions in which, due to the lack of a fair game, all are losers, including the sports.

We realized that the only way to prevent this negative perception and practice of sport is by personal example. By returning to the values, principles and rules of the real sport, the sportsmanship.

In past few months, we successfully ran the first round dedicated to the sportsmanship in the Republic of Macedonia. Our racing track passed through seven multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multilingual communities, and indirectly included thousands of students. It all started in Kavadarci. We went to Rosoman, Tearce, Debar, Centar Zupa and Valandovo. Today we were in Skopje, in the municipality of Aerodrom.

Through this project, many children understood that the role of sport is to bring people together, to connect and integrate rather than to separate and isolate. Many young people learned that the sport is mostly play, fun, recreation. That sportsmanship means dignified competition and mutual respect. Many pupils learned that the best sporting victory is the one obtained through fair play. That the only valuable victory is the one in which there are no losers.

Playing sports together, children understood what they need to know about their friends who are different from them. That they need to know about their life, their communication and customs, their needs and desires. Children through sports understood what is necessary to really get to know their peers, regardless of their ethnic, religious, linguistic affiliation.

This project encouraged and helped sports workers, teachers and professors to continue to teach children good sporting behavior. It encouraged fans and clubs to cheer the athletes and teams in a positive way.

Distinguished Guests,

The project message is clear: there are not only rules in sports, but also rules of sporting behavior, both in the field and in the benches. These rules apply to all participants. By observing and practicing sportsmanship, sport will fulfill its role of social and ethnic integrator.

Sportsmanship restores the power of sports to connect, promote non-violence, respect and affirm common ideas and values.

The race goes on. It will be continued by thousands of children who were involved in the project.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

If sport fields and benches are places for making friends among children, then sportsmanship is the language that they can understand each other. Therefore, we continue to tirelessly promote this way of building unity and friendship among people. We owe this to our children.

Thank you.

Distinguished Attendees,
Esteemed Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my honor, as President of the Republic of Macedonia, to greet this Western China International Cooperation Forum.

More than 2300 years ago, Alexander the Great, on his expedition across Asia, conquered new territories and opened new roads. As a result of that first historic globalization, the Silk Road was expanded and upgraded, enabling development and common prosperity of many countries and peoples over the centuries. The great Chinese master, Confucius says: "Wherever you go, go with all your heart". Following the legacy of the Silk Road and the wise advice of Confucius, we have, indeed arrived in friendly China, searching for common prosperity.

Distinguished Attendees,

This year marks 20 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Macedonia and the People's Republic of China. China is one of our closest partners and our cooperation has steadily strengthened and intensified in every field. China is among the 20 countries we have the greatest trade exchange with. Our intention is to expand this positive experience in other fields, too.

There are numerous opportunities and a strong interest in trade. Recently I have learnt that about 250 million Chinese citizens already buy on-line. This is a great opportunity for placement of Macedonian products on the Chinese market. We wish, in the period to come, the cooperation between the two economies to be further elevated and to exceed the level of political relations.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

There is beauty in everything, but not everyone can recognize it, says a Chinese wisdom. This is also true for the Macedonian economy, which offers excellent opportunities for investment and business that only need to be recognized and utilized.

The Republic of Macedonia has a favorable geographical position. Two Pan- European corridors, Corridor 8 and Corridor 10 pass through its territory. Through Macedonia, you have access to 650 million consumers in Europe and beyond. In time of global economic and financial crisis, we have managed to maintain stable macroeconomic policy. Macedonia's economy is characterized by low inflation, which is in average 2% in the last 4 years. We have balanced public finances, low budget deficit, stable exchange rate and low public debt. Macedonian workforce is young, educated, hard working and loyal.

It is said that life is like riding a bicycle - if you want to maintain the balance, you have to constantly move forward. So it is with the Macedonian economy – we are relentlessly moving towards improving the business climate for foreign investors. We have implemented, in this regard, substantial reforms. Reforms that provide higher profits for the investors and increased competitiveness in relation to other companies. Here, I will refer only to a few of the numerous benefits offered by Macedonia.

We have introduced low and flat taxes of 10% - among the lowest in Europe. There is release of tax retained earnings, not distributed in dividends. There are low property taxes ranging from 2 to 4%. We have gradually reduced the social contributions for 1/3. With the regulatory guillotine, we have removed all legal and administrative barriers that potential investors could face.

Dear Friends,

My message to all of you is simple: Macedonia's economy is open to China. Macedonia's economy is open to the world. Global reports, indeed, speak of that.

According to the Forbes 2012 Global Ranking, Macedonia is on the high 37th position in the world for starting business favorability.
According to the "Doing Business" World Bank Report, Macedonia is 5th best destination in the world for starting a business.
For three years, Macedonia is the best reformer in South Eastern Europe.
Two years in a row, Macedonia is the 3rd best reformer in the world.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I started with the first, and I shall conclude with the last globalization, the globalization of today. We live in a time when every state, regardless of the size of its territory and its population, has the opportunity to be directly involved in the global race for profit. Most successful in that race would be those states that would replace the economic dependence with economic inter-dependence, those states that would invest in long-term and balanced growth and development. Our Chinese hosts acknowledge their dedication to this approach by deeds. This is proven in the openness of the Chinese economy. Openness confirmed with the "Warsaw Initiative" for closer economic cooperation between the People's Republic of China and the countries of Eastern and Southeastern Europe. The Republic of Macedonia has recognized and accepted the opportunity offered by the Chinese government for infrastructure projects funding.

If, in the past, the avenues of trade and profit were paved for decades and centuries, today, in the digital era, they are establish instantly. Wisdom says: "If you want to travel fast, go alone, if you want to reach the destination safe, travel with others". I am confident that the companies present at this Forum will recognize the momentum and take advantage of the excellent opportunities offered by Macedonia for profitable investment, for sustainable growth and development. Opportunities that will result in common prosperity.

Thank you.

Distinguished Attendees,
Esteemed Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great honor and pleasure for me to greet you and to extend my gratitude for the hospitality. The honor is even greater, since this year, our two friendly countries, are celebrating a significant anniversary - 20 years of establishment of diplomatic relations. 20 years of friendship between the Republic of Macedonia and the People's Republic of China.

This significant anniversary gives us the opportunity to look back and summarize the results achieved so far. Yet, even more importantly, this jubilee allows us to project future cooperation between the two friendly countries.

Distinguished Attendees,

Over the years, our bilateral relations have developed at different pace. Notwithstanding, as the famous master Confucius says: "It does not matter how slow you go, as long as you do not to stop". We have not stopped, thus, the cooperation between the two countries is now at its highest development level, both in the political and in the economic sphere.

People's Republic of China is one of the closest partners of the Republic of Macedonia. The cooperation between our two countries is marked with a trend of consolidation and intensification, which is also seen in the frequent highest level meetings.

Fundamentals for cooperation are found in the shared values of both cultures. Today we are here, in the Hall of Peace at the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. Exactly peace and peaceful policy are the guiding motives of these two countries. Each in its own way, the Republic of Macedonia and the People's Republic of China, contribute to building and maintaining world peace.

The two friendly countries support each other at multilateral level, in the foreign political activities and applications for international organizations, their bodies and organs.

Esteemed Excellencies,

As one of the global economy drivers, the People's Republic of China today is an inspiration to many countries worldwide. Competitiveness of the Chinese economy, numerous and significant Chinese investment and openness for economic cooperation is proven with the "Warsaw Initiative". The Republic of Macedonia has recognized and accepted the support offered by the Chinese government to develop its infrastructure.

The opportunities for economic cooperation between the Republic of Macedonia and the People's Republic of China are inexhaustible. We have good experience in the field of energy, however, we need to expand and deepen it in other fields, such as agriculture and Chinese direct investment.
Political and economic cooperation are complemented by cultural cooperation. Not long ago, I had the pleasure to open the "Confucius Institute" within the "Ss. Cyril and Methodius" University in Skopje. An Institute that will further bring these friendly nations together.

The Republic of Macedonia remains a reliable Chinese partner in the region of Southeast Europe. Macedonia's economy is open to Chinese investment. Macedonian citizens remain committed to building friendly relationships with Chinese people.

Dear Friends,

Historically, we are at the very beginning of bilateral relations between our two friendly countries. Relations that in the future will only be deepened and advanced. May we celebrate the next great anniversary with even greater cooperation and common prosperity for all of us.

Long live the friendship between the Republic of Macedonia and the People's Republic of China!

Thank you.