Dear Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Let me first congratulate the great jubilee - 50 years since the establishment of "Poraka" as a specialized civil, national and non-profit organization representing the rights and interests of people with intellectual disabilities in the Republic of Macedonia. Your activism through twenty local clubs throughout the Republic of Macedonia has a crucial role in supporting people with intellectual disabilities. At the same time, I would like to express my gratitude for the opportunity to be part of this celebration and personally to address you. I am especially honored today that I am among the people who, with their faith, perseverance, courage, are an example and an inspiration to all of us. I assure you that in me, as President of the Republic of Macedonia, you have a loyal friend and dedicated supporter.

Dear All,

On this occasion, I would like to emphasize very clearly that we all, as representatives of institutions and as individuals, must do everything to break down the barriers for the people with intellectual disabilities. Their involvement in the social processes is not only their right and benefit, it is our institutional and moral obligation. We must break down the barriers and conquer prejudices and stereotypes, working tirelessly on raising public awareness. In this context, all previous experiences, research undertaken, positive practices of "Poraka", and all the other organizations, are an outstanding basis for full implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. I hereby remind you that the Convention was ratified by the Macedonian Parliament less than two years ago. In the context of the implementation of the Convention, we certainly need to work on improving the legal opportunities and policies for people with intellectual disabilities, and to take specific actions, each institution within its jurisdiction. Civil society is, however, with its initiative and creativity, a key factor in this process, whereas the close cooperation with the NGOs is inevitable. The cooperation between the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy and "Poraka", through various activities and projects, is a good example of cooperation in the interest of the target group. Coordination and professional approach, as well as experiences at European and global level are also of particular importance. Daycare centers are undoubtedly a key factor in improving the conditions for the people with intellectual disabilities. In this context, we certainly need to work on continuous improvement of living conditions in the existing institutions for people with intellectual disabilities, although the aim remains to target a greater deinstitutionalization of these persons and their inclusion in alternative services in their respective places of residence. Part of the above mentioned is actually part of the objectives and principles of "Poraka".

At the end, let me once again greet you and wish you many more anniversaries and many successes in the programs and projects implemented by this organization.

Thank you.

Distinguished Citizens of the Republic of Macedonia,

Respected Participants in the Liberation and Anti-Fascist Struggle,
Esteemed Members of the Families of Our Heroes,

Dear Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Tomorrow, October 11, the Republic of Macedonia celebrates 72 years since the start of the people's uprising for liberation of Macedonia from the fascist occupiers. On the eve of this great holiday, we respectfully remember all fighters and heroes of Macedonia, all sons and daughters of our country who took part in the great struggle for freedom of Macedonia. We remember the 66 national heroes of Macedonia; 44 of them died during the National Liberation Struggle.

We live in freedom which was devotedly fought by the brave fighters in the National Liberation and Anti-Fascist Struggle. Our children grow up safe under the flag of freedom, flag under which Ilinden and ASNOM fighters fought. Thanks to them, we are now on our own. Therefore, we are eternally grateful to them.

Distinguished Citizens of the Republic of Macedonia,

For many European countries, the anti-fascist struggle was ideological struggle against fascism and Nazism, being the greatest evils of the 20th century. For the Macedonian people, however, the anti-fascist struggle was also a struggle for national liberation of Macedonia.

Participants in the National Liberation Struggle considered themselves as followers of the deeds of the Ilinden fighters, as chosen to fulfill their dream, dream for free and independent Macedonia.

Among the partisan units in Macedonia, we come across the names of the famous Ilinden fighters, Goce Delchev and Dame Gruev, Pitu Guli, Pere Toshev and Jane Sandanski.

Among the participants in the National Liberation Struggle, we find survived veterans of the famous Ilinden Uprising: Brasnarov, Vlahov, Shatev, Germov and hundreds of others.

As Goce Delchev was the ideological father of the Ilinden Uprising, Kuzman Josifovski-Pitu was the leader of the National Liberation Struggle, known among the people as the second Goce Delchev. In organizing the National Liberation Struggle, he was guided by the ideal of Ilinden. On August 2, 1943, at Prespa Counseling, in the document dedicated to the 40th anniversary of the Ilinden Uprising, Kuzman, among other things, said:

"Today, when the Macedonian nation is determined to fight for its national freedom, the memory of Ilinden should glow more than ever before in the eyes of the entire Macedonian people, in the face of all decent and freedom-loving Macedonians, who love their country ..."

Dear Guests,

We celebrate October 11 as the day when the armed resurrection of the Macedonian people against the fascist occupiers was launched. However, Macedonian people were much earlier involved in the anti-fascist struggle.

From the outset, the penetration of the occupying forces in the Macedonian cities and villages was welcomed with strong opposition. This is illustrated with the Ilinden demonstrations and strikes of August 2, 1941, the day of Ilinden.

In May 1941, the Military Committee for acceleration of the preparations for armed insurrection was established. In August 1941, the first National Liberation Partisan Detachment in Skopje was formed. At the beginning of September, at Slavej Planina, the units "Slavej" and "Drimkol" were formed. On September 12, the Partisan company in Prilep was formed, on October 11, the Partisan Detachment "Goce Delchev" in Prilep was formed and on October 12, the Partisan Detachment in Kumanovo.

It is known that the party organizations in Skopje, Veles, Prilep, Bitola formed special sabotage groups which caused great troubles to the occupiers. Armed conflicts of various sabotage groups were noticed in the summer 1941. One of the first sabotage actions was the destruction of the German aircraft near the airport in Skopje on June 4, 1941. In August, there was sabotage in the mine "Radusha" for explosives. The first armed confrontations with the occupiers began in September in the tunnel "Bogomila", on the railway line Veles-Prilep and in Vodno.

On October 11, 16 fighters from Prilep Partisan Detachment "Goce Delchev", divided into three groups, launched an attack on the Bulgarian police station in Prilep and killed the guard. In prison were political prisoners and Macedonian patriots. The next day, on October 12, in response to the attack, the Bulgarian police arrested about 700 Prilep citizens, including several members of the detachment.

October 11, 1941, later became a symbol of the uprising of the Macedonian people against the fascist occupiers. Uprising with hot-spots already burning in several places in Macedonia.

Macedonians were among the leaders of the anti-fascist resistance. Macedonians are one of the first, not the last, Yugoslav peoples to start the fight against the fascist occupiers. It is, indeed, an expression of the unyielding thirst for freedom.
Our past is our history. Historians have an obligation to clear up all the moments of our epopee, and to learn all the aspects of the Macedonian Struggle.

Respected Attendees,

With sadness we remember the victims of the fascist occupation regime, thousands of sons and daughters, thousands of children of Macedonia. The memory of them shall remind us even today of their executioners. But it is not always like that. Nowadays, very easily strong words are used. There are so many things that people speak of as fascism and Nazism, without understanding the meaning of this evil.

Fascism and Nazism are totalitarian ideologies that gravitate around the concepts of organic nationalism, racism and anti-semitism. As extremely etatist ideologies, they completely deprive the individual of individualism and impose total loyalty to the state. The relation towards the individual, the different, is reflected on the environment as an area to be conquered, cleaned from the diversity and then exploited.

"The greatest ally of any totalitarian ideology is the feeling of guilt, which is so highly developed in modern man that it diminishes his belief in the value of his own perceptions and judgments", Czeslaw Milosz said. Exactly that feeling of guilt makes fascism and Nazism followers destroy the witnesses of that guilt. Hence, the witnesses of that guild are always the different.

Fascism and Nazism brought more death than any other human idea. 55 million people lost their lives in the World War II. A war that launched fatal ideologies.

Nobody knows better what fascism and Nazism mean than the members of those groups and communities that suffered, who were persecuted and destroyed. Nobody knows better what fascism and Nazism mean than those who fought against that evil, than the fighters in the National Liberation and anti-fascist struggle. Fighters who actively contributed to the victory over the evil of the 20th century.

But it turned out that these fatal ideologies are not yet deceased, they still flourish among individuals and groups with closed and blurred minds. Fascism and Nazism, unfortunately, have not yet been fully eradicated in Europe. They change their form, but, in the essence, they remain unchanged. Radical individuals and groups still need enemies to survive in their extremist views. They need illusionary images of clean nations.

We follow the emergence of radicalism and extremism in Europe and in our immediate neighborhood with concern. We encourage efforts for their suppression. However, it is necessary to tackle the causes, not only the consequences of these negative phenomena that have harmful effects on the friendly relations between peoples and states.

Fascism and Nazism have emerged from the ruins of Europe after the World War I. The provisional Versailles peace and global economic collapse led to a great European crisis. A crisis that gave power, in some of the defeated states, to regimes focused on exclusion, intolerance and hatred towards the different. Fascism and Nazism have arisen as a result of the European crisis, but have evolved because there was a fertile soil in the indecisiveness of the world and European leaders.

It is said that all that is needed for evil to prevail, is good people to stand aside and do nothing. If we open the door to evil, evil will come. If there is room enough, it will spread. If tolerated, it will be strengthened, until it is too late.

In February 1938, Hitler annexed Austria. The free world was silent. In March 1939, Hitler invaded Czechoslovakia. The free world was silent again. In September 1939 Poland was occupied, too. It was exactly then when the free world decided to respond and stop the evil.

In this sense were the words of Winston Churchill, who said: "If you will not fight for right when you can easily win without blood shed; if you will not fight when your victory is sure and not too costly; you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a precarious chance of survival. There may even be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than to live as slaves."


Ladies and Gentlemen,

Without memory, there is no future. The European Union should learn from the past of disintegrated Europe.

The lesson of the World War II is that in a time of crisis, we should be proactive, instead of passive. In a time of crisis, we should seek for solutions instead of excuses. It is precisely in time of crisis that the common values of liberty, democracy, human rights and human dignity should be defended. A compromise with the basic values always undermines the foundations of liberty and democracy.

The end of the World War II and the victory of the anti-fascist coalition meant a new age in world, European, but also Macedonian history. The dysfunctional League of Nations was replaced by the United Nations. The international order was additionally strengthened with the international law. This time, from the European ruins an idea was born for a united Europe as a peace project; Idea that motivates and inspires and willingly moves societies towards reforms.

Today, however, that idea is facing crisis. Today, Europe faces the consequences of the last global economic and financial crisis. Crisis that cannot be overcome without respect for the basic principles on which the European Union is founded: peace, democracy, rule of law, human rights, the right of self-identification and human dignity; Principles in which we see the reason and very meaning of our euro-integration. The Republic of Macedonia and the Macedonian citizens are a benefit for the Union only if they enter as equal in the European Union's mosaic of diversity, with their identity and their dignity.

Dear Citizens,

Many things have changed. But, there is one thing that remains. Now, just as then, Macedonia and the Macedonians are on the side of justice, the right, the good. In 1941, Macedonian fighters lined up on the right side, unlike others who sided with the evil of the 20th century.

If once Macedonians fought against the evil of fascism and Nazism, today, the Republic of Macedonia fights for the achievements stemming from the victory over fascism and Nazism. Today, the Republic of Macedonia fights for the respect of International Law as one of the basis of the international order. Law that is an achievement of the World War II victors.

72 years ago, Macedonian people actively joined the great anti-fascist coalition of freedom-loving peoples and nations; Coalition that succeeded in defeating the Axis of Evil. Today, Macedonian peacekeepers, as part of the great anti-terrorist coalition, are defending liberty, democracy and human rights in the world.

Fascism and Nazism denied, persecuted and annihilated the very thing that Macedonia and Macedonians safeguarded and promoted for centuries – coexistence among people, irrespective of their ethnic, religious, linguistic or other background. While fascism and Nazism destroyed coexistence, Macedonia safeguarded and promoted coexistence as its greatest value.

Faithful to these values that are carved in the Krushevo Manifesto, Kuzman once said:

"All honest Macedonians, regardless of their previous orientation, ethnicity, religion and gender should join the Macedonian national front".

A lasting value of our struggle against fascism is that it brought together all ethnic and religious communities in Macedonia. Macedonians, Albanians, Serbs, Turks, Vlachs, Roma... they all joined the struggle. Christians, Muslims, Jews, all freedom-loving children of our mutual homeland Macedonia joined the struggle. Out tradition of coexistence, pressed by dark times and even darker ideologies, persevered and did not break. Today we can live together due to the firmness of our ancestors who did not cross the line and did not allow this land to be poisoned by hatred.

We witness that some in our neighborhood lack tolerance. Some have tolerance. Others accept differences. However, Macedonia always looked far beyond these concepts and nurtured something that is more than tolerance and acceptance, and that is respect for diversity. You tolerate only what you have to, but you respect only what you like strongly.

We are firmly committed to endure in our righteous path; Path that was devotedly breached by the greats in our history – the Ilinden fighters and the participants in the great National Liberation and anti-fascist struggle of Macedonia.

Let us celebrate forever the Day of the national uprising against fascism!
Long last our freedom!
Long live the Republic of Macedonia!

Distinguished guests,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,

Welcome to Macedonia, the land of hospitality, competitiveness and opportunity. It is a pleasure and honor to greet you at the Macedonia Global Investment Summit, here, in Ohrid where knowledge and experience have over a course of millennia crossed paths, been transmitted between the East and the West.

These are great days for my country, to see you all gathered here. We have worked very hard in order to present you with the competitive possibilities of the Macedonian economy.


Dear friends,

Traditional Macedonian hospitality has always focused on benevolent foreign travelers. Our modern economy is welcoming each businessman, entrepreneur and company wishing to invest in the Republic of Macedonia.

A good host knows the needs and wants of his guests. Hence, we are continuously improving the business climate, investment opportunities and global competitiveness of the Macedonian economy.

This is especially true of the organizers of this Second Global Investment Summit, the Macedonia 2025 group. The Macedonian citizens and I personally are grateful for their support and vision for a prosperous economic climate in the country. Their restless enthusiasm inspires and motivates us to work even harder in making Macedonia an investor's paradise.

Distinguished guests,

Tonight we are having this Gala dinner on the shores of Lake Ohrid, which is replenished by many springs which flow in from the surrounding mountains. This reminds us that capital is like water. It never moves uphill, and it prefers the path of least resistance. This is especially true in our age of great challenges, a time of acceleration of the global race for competitiveness. Several years ago, Macedonia took up the challenge and joined this global race. Since then, we have been advancing in several economic, business and investment aspects.

In a time of global financial and economic crisis, governments learned the importance of economy, of cooperation and partnership with the business communities. Countries learned the importance of regional infrastructural and energy projects. With their measures, the Governments of several countries in the region of South-East Europe are working on one such project: the connecting of the Adriatic-Ionian Transport Corridor with Corridors 8 and 10; A project that will make the entire region more competitive than other regions.

Through persistent reforms, we have made straight the paths for the flow of capital. We have lowered and flattened taxes, balanced the public finances with low budget deficit, stable currency and low public debt. We have a long-lasting macroeconomic stability. Through the regulatory guillotine, we have made sure to remove every legal and administrative barrier that could stand in the way of potential investors. You already know the high scores of the Macedonian economy.

Human capital is in the core of the reforms. Before I became President, I was a University Professor and I know that the greatest value is the human mind, intellect, diligence and creativity.

Human capital is our greatest potential, strength and resource; a potential that needs to be used in order to bring fruits.

Aware of this, we are creating environment for growth and further development of human capital, as an essential asset for your, the foreign investors. However, we do not wish just to have springs of capital pouring in the bed of the Macedonian economy. We want that capital to flow through the turbines of human capital power-plant that would transform, utilize and maximize the true potential of your capital invested.

In Macedonia you will find the right conditions for starting a great and promising collaboration in the fields of innovation, science, research and development, which are high on our agenda. In Macedonia you will find reliable business partners and loyal employees. We have relatively young, highly-educated work force that is talented and hard working.

We devote a lot of time and energy in selecting the very best individuals that will one day take the leadership positions in every sphere of society. Through the School for Young Leaders, we invest in the leaders of tomorrow, providing them not only with knowledge, but practical skills and experiences, so they can ignite the country's economic and social welfare. By awarding their talents, we encourage young scientists and open-minded innovators, whose discoveries and ideas can change lives and bring profit. The newly adopted Law on Innovative Activities allows for a greater cooperation between key stakeholders – private enterprise, academia and the government.

However, our investment power-plant can produce energy only with capital streaming through its turbines. We had the channels, the dam, the generator and wires, but we did not have enough capital. It is you, the foreign investors, who stimulate the transfer of know-how and foster innovation.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Aware of this great opportunity that lies ahead of us, I encourage the companies to strengthen their cooperation with the universities and academic centers in the field of innovation, science and research and development.

I encourage our Universities to use the legal framework, and to continue building technological parks, start-up accelerators and other innovational projects, thus fostering the entrepreneurial spirit of the youth.

Last, but not least, I encourage the Government of the Republic of Macedonia to continue creating the right conditions for practical synergy among the key stakeholders.

This is how we will create a successful knowledge-based economy, economy that will lead the global competitiveness race for decades to come.

Thank you.

Distinguished Attendees,
Esteemed Excellencies,
Dear Friends,

Great is the honor and pleasure for me to greet you here, in the Republic of Macedonia. I wish those of you who are today for the first time in the country you represent so devotedly, warm and cordial welcome.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is not by coincidence that this evening we are gathered here at the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle for Statehood and Independence. This Museum not only celebrates Macedonian patriots and freedom fighters, but also numerous friends that Macedonia have had during its struggle for independence and statehood. Friends who have never been afraid to stand in support of Macedonia's aspiration for freedom. Friends who have helped us in moments of greatest temptations.

There are politicians and fighters, missionaries and philanthropists, writers and public figures among them. In the most difficult moments for us, they have been the voice of the voiceless, representatives of the unrecognized, advocates of the disadvantaged. They have been de facto honorary consuls of the idea of an independent Macedonia.

Since then, many things have changed for Macedonia. 22 years after the independence, the Republic of Macedonia has more friends than ever before. We have so far established diplomatic relations with 167 countries worldwide. Some of these relations have been established owing to the commitment of the dedicated and sincere friends of Macedonia. We have 69 honorary consuls in 37 countries in the world who consistently promote development of trade, economic, cultural and scientific relations. That development is, however, subject to changes that are profound and global in nature.

Drafted five decades ago, the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations is not fully compliant to the challenges and opportunities borne by the 21st century. Century marked with fundamental transformation of international relations. Century in which globalization and information revolution create new non-territorial, virtual communities. In the 21st century, public opinion has even greater influence on decision makers. Thus, the traditional, elitist and closed concept of diplomacy is being transformed.

We are witnessing that geo-politics is increasingly leaving room to geo-profit and geo-culture. Economic and cultural diplomacy are turning into more important links between states and peoples.

It is exactly in such conditions that modern diplomacy should function, which is dynamic, demanding and active, being present in the public, in the media and in the social life.

You, our valued, honorary consuls have a role in this regard. Your role today is more important than ever before, particularly in three areas.

First, the Republic of Macedonia's full integration into the European and Euro-Atlantic family of nations is still hindered due to an absurd and imposed dispute. We are grateful that you represent in your countries the truth about the Republic of Macedonia consistently.

Second, political cooperation without adequate economic cooperation is as unsowed seed - it exists without the opportunity to bring forth fruit. Therefore, we are grateful that you work on promotion of economic cooperation between the Republic of Macedonia and your respective countries.

Third, but not least, the Republic of Macedonia is competitive in the world because of the Macedonian culture, Macedonian art, sports. Hence, we are thankful that you promote so vigorously the Macedonian tradition and the Macedonian lifestyle, which are also our best export product.

I am confident that in the future you will continue to further build the friendship between the Republic of Macedonia and your countries.

Dear Friends,

The world is changing. But one thing is clear: No matter what, countries shall always promote trade, culture, shall afford help to its citizens abroad. The country shall always need honorary consuls. The Republic of Macedonia shall always need you as partners and supporters of our official diplomacy.

Thank you.

Distinguished Mr. President Nishani,
Distinguished Mr. President Vujanovic,
Distinguished Madam President Jahjaga,

I would like to thank our esteemed host, President Nishani for the extended hospitality. For five years we have been investing in this Forum. We have met in Vlora, Prizren, Ohrid and Budva. Organizing this, fifth in a row, regional presidential summit in Durres, we are opening a new cycle of such meetings. Meetings aimed at enhanced bilateral and regional cooperation and European future for our citizens.

The topic offered by our hosts is a contemporary and very important one. Approaches to practically use opportunities for the purpose of a more effective regional cooperation.

The opportunities for a more effective cooperation depend on the ambience, which is complicated and rapidly changing. Many of our beliefs will quickly become outdated because reality is more complex than all the theories that try to explain it.

Our region is not immune to the changes that happen in the world. We are exposed to the European economic and financial crisis impact. We feel the consequences of the volatile Middle East. At regional level, there is slowdown in investment. Although armed conflicts are over, consequences are still visible. Citizens of our countries had greater expectations from the freedom, democracy and free market. In other words, situation in the region is not as we wish. This is mostly due to our disunity as a region and intolerance created in the 20th century.

We have long expected the countries from the region which have earlier joined the Union to be the main drivers and advocates for the welfare of the region. We have expected the member-states of the region to contribute to the Europeanization of the Balkans. Instead, we are witnessing Balkanization of the European policies towards the region. This is reflected in the good neighborly relations, economy and European integration of the region.

Esteemed Excellencies,

Good neighborly relations, which are, indeed, a two-way street, most depend on us. Although we have managed to overcome many prejudices of the past, however, our region is not yet immune to old challenges.

Four months ago, Balkan prejudices came to the surface again. There was a real danger the region to be blocked internally, the cooperation to stop and the dialogue to cease. Therefore, I decided to cancel the Summit of SEECP and the Regional Forum on the Dialogue among Civilizations. The alarm was activated and the result was immediate. We commend the dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina, but we are waiting for its implementation. We are waiting for final stabilization of the situation in the region.

As presidents, we must create environment for successful cooperation. We must be over the prejudices. We can achieve all this only through cooperation on concrete projects, such as for a more active utilization of pre-accession and accession funds of the Union, as well as cooperation in the field of environmental protection. There is no time for declarativeness. Those who want to look at the past can read a book or visit a museum. We must not allow, however, the future of our children to be stolen by the past.

Dear Friends,

The desire for good neighborliness was and remains our most powerful tool for creating economically developed region as part of the European family.

We are creating conditions to commit ourselves to what is most important for our citizens: progress and prosperity. The road to our goal leads through economic and cross-border cooperation, infrastructure and energy connectivity, prevention and assistance in natural disasters, tourism and joint application for European funds.

Yet, there are challenges. While we are successfully running the marathon of building, developing and maintaining good political relations, we are lagging behind in the race for economic cooperation. Let us not forget that these two spheres are complementary, as two sides of the same coin.

Currently, economic cooperation does not correspond to the level of political cooperation. It is similar as to the usage of outdated dial-up technology for Internet connection when there are already installed fiber cables. We know how short the patience of younger generations is when it comes to Internet. The patience of citizens, industries, companies, passengers is getting shorter. It is necessary to put political cooperation into function of economic cooperation.

It is said that the one who has something will be aided to have more, and the one who has nothing will lose what he has. If we use the positive political environment for greater economic cooperation, we will then ensure welfare for our citizens. If, however, we do not use the achieved level of political relations, then, even our regional cooperation will lose its legitimacy.

For five years we have been investing in this Forum. We have been building trust, deepening the established friendship and encouraging our governments to follow our example. Time has come to use this investment for the sake of our citizens, our state, our region.

Esteemed Excellencies,

The region needs new infrastructure, since the existing one is holding us hostage to the old hegemonies.

The one who changes the geography changes the future, too. Connecting the Adriatic-Ionian Highway with Corridor 8 means essential change of the geography and the future of our region. Connecting these two important roads creates conditions for connecting the divided, opening the closed, accelerating the slow and developing the underdeveloped.

Recently, I have had talks with President Josipovic. He plans to continue the Brdo Process in April 2014 in Zagreb, in the presence of the highest representative of a founding member of the Union. Time is so short. Therefore, I appeal to have a harmonized approach and to insist this topic to be high on the agenda of the Brdo Process. To insist assistance to be sought from the Union and to make it a European corridor, a corridor financially supported by the Union.

The importance of this corridor is not only economic, but also geo-political, since it becomes alternative to Corridor 10. This question should be in the focus of our quadrilateral cooperation.

The whole Balkan infrastructure should be connected with the European. Not in vain, the road that leads to nowhere is called dead end. There are so many dead ends in the Balkans. Only by infrastructural connecting with European corridors, dead ends will disappear in the Balkans.

Respected Colleagues,

Everything we do aims at bringing our societies, administrations, economies in line with the European standards, criteria and principles. The corridors we want to connect lead to Europe. The views of our citizens are towards Europe.

We are facing challenges on that road, too. Many things have changed in the Balkans, but Balkan mentality is most slowly changing. There are still blockades to the regional future and non-recognition of regional reality. The policy of blockades erodes stability, development and prosperity of our region as acid damages metal. Someone persistently pours acid on the European and Euro-Atlantic future of the region. This should stop.

We expect our southern neighbor to apply a policy of cooperation and approximation, which will contribute to the implementation of the Agenda 2014. We expect our neighbor to finally start behaving in a European manner towards the neighbors and the region. We expect it starts to apply a policy of cooperation. We can not believe in the obsolete declarativeness. Enough of words. I am not sure if anybody trusts their words. Without work, their words are just empty words, at least for us.

Today, I want to send a message to the European Union. European integration is what is moving and bringing closer our countries. Integration inspires and motivates us to work together. The Union must find a way to maintain the credibility of the enlargement policy. As I said in Brdo, what we least want to see is bankruptcy of the European idea.

Dear Friends,

Geography has made us neighbors; economy can make us partners, and cooperation - members of the same European and Euro-Atlantic family.

May we start this new cycle of our regional cooperation by collecting the fruits of our previous meetings. Let us not stop here. May we expand it with other colleagues from the region. I wish to see, in the second cycle, as the same table with us Presidents Nikolic and Papoulias. It is high time we learn to drive a car in the Balkans, looking forward, through the windscreen, to the future, not only looking back, through the rear-view mirror, to the past. Only then we will justify the expectations of our citizens.

Thank you.

Distinguished Attendees,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Friends,

It is my honor and pleasure to greet you in the Macedonian film capital. In Bitola. To greet you at the opening of the 34th International Cinematographers Film Festival "Manaki Brothers". The oldest festival in the world that values the author's contribution of the directors of photography.

Esteemed Excellencies,

The motto of the festival encourages us to ask ourselves what light is. It is said that light gives meaning to everything. That without light even dark is meaningless. Light shows the path, discloses the hidden and reveals the truth.

Human paths to truth often lead through religion, philosophy or science. Probably the most intriguing, most unpredictable and most creative, indeed, is the path that leads to truth through art.

In this great quest, the seventh, the unifying art has proved to be the most successful. Art that sheds light on what it means to live, create and produce. Art that sheds light on human prejudices, fears and illusions, but also dreams, ideas and aspirations. It sheds light on the past, helps in understanding the present and gives projections for the future. Even when it makes use of the visual effect illusions for this purpose.

The people who are most deserving for this festival, speak of this too, the first Macedonian and Balkan Cinematographers, the brothers Janaki and Milton Manaki. Casting light on their presence, they have shed light on one part of our past and enabled us to have a clearer vision of the future. Through the lens of the legendary "Camera 300", they did not allow the darkness to swallow our cultural past. Instead, they have preserved, promoted and affirmed our culture, history and everyday life.

What Milton and Janaki have initiated, has been successfully continued with the festival for more than three decades. Over the years, the festival has become a promoter of the Republic of Macedonia, of the Macedonian cinematography and culture in Europe and worldwide. More importantly, the Festival has become a link between the top films and the true film admirers.

Lovers of the magic of the motion pictures,
Dear Friends,

The shadows on the movie screen imply that there is light somewhere near. Therefore, let the light prevail in our lives. With this thought, at the very end, I declare the 34th International Film Festival "Manaki Brothers" open!

Thank you.