Address by the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov at the 4th Global Forum of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations held in Doha, the State of Qatar:

Your Highness, Sheikh Hamad bin Kalifa At-Thani,
Distinguished Excellencies,
Dear Guests,

Let me first of all extend my gratitude to our generous host, His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Kalifa Al-Thani. Your Highness, we highly appreciate your courage and vision to embark on promoting and advancing the world we live in and yet we live in times of great changes. I would like to congratulate you wholeheartedly for this initiative, to sit together at the same table, people from various countries, different religions. We all speak different languages but we are all committed to ensure better future for our children, for our countries, and thus, to the humanity in general. At the same time, I welcome the initiative and congratulate President Fisher who will be hosting the next Summit of the Alliance of Civilizations in 2013.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today, more than ever, it is necessary such meetings at the highest level to be organized, which will enable us to acknowledge the values of our cultures, not excluding the challenges they face. The Alliance of Civilizations, the Dialogue among Civilizations is what we missed for a long time. Therefore, my country, the Republic of Macedonia, aware of its unique reality, stands ready to share its valuable experience in these areas and is very actively and devotedly involved in such initiatives.

Better mutual understanding will help us realize that the principles every human being is led by are the same, regardless of people’s origin. Those principles are: desire for freedom, equality, respect, dignity. I believe that unity among nations will prevail.

Not a single great culture or civilization has been developed in isolation, however, it has emerged through constant cooperation, competition and, unfortunately, very often, through confrontation with other cultures and civilizations. History also testifies that there are two primary reasons for the decline and devastation of cultures and civilizations. The first one is cutting off the cultural links with other civilizations. The second one is the exhaustive conflicts which always lead to destruction, casualties and spiritual wounds which take too long to be healed. The reason for such a collision is certainly the lack of dialogue, understanding and mutual respect. On the contrary, collaboration and endorsement of the world of diversity has always resulted in long-lasting values and essential knowledge.

Our civilizations have always been, for centuries and millennia, intertwined and they enrich each other, thanks to the spiritual energy present in the multi-directional civilization and cultural corridors. Our goal, here and today, is to reaffirm the need of building new close relations with other religions and civilizations.

Dear Guests,

The new time ahead of us requires a new paradigm. As geo-politics leaves room for geo-culture and geo-profit, we need cooperation among civilizations instead of conflicts. Prerequisites for cooperation among civilizations do exist; however, they only need to be utilized. That is the missing chain. That is the chain that will put culture in function of development. That is the chain that will bring multiplied benefit to all of us. Indeed, this will not be possible without action, involvement and commitment. On the contrary, what has been neglected in the past, when various regions throughout the world were striving for their own consolidation, nowadays, needs to be compensated with a stronger intensity.

I am confident that this Forum will enable us to find solutions to some of these essential challenges.

Thank you.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov and the Minister of Education, Panche Kralev, at an official ceremony, awarded the “Boris Trajkovski” scholarships for post-graduate studies within the Business Administration Programme – MBA for the academic 2011/2012. This scholarship program, initiated by late President Boris Trajkovski, will enable 20 talented students from Macedonia to continue their high education at the City College, University of Sheffield, and obtain a certificate from this prestigious institution.

Distinguished Minister Kralev,
Representatives of the City College,
Dear Students,

The good cooperation that we in Macedonia have established with the City College of the Sheffield University in Thessaloniki continues to deliver results. I am glad that today we can send a new group of young people, who, after their studies in Greece will return with new knowledge and skills applicable for their own good and for the good of Macedonia, will upgrade the cooperation between our two countries. Macedonia is aware that a lot of hard work is needed to make up for what is missing in building knowledge-based economy. Quality young people who have acquired a good education in reputable educational institutions are necessary for the economic development and progress of a country. We believe that the most precious resource we have as a country are our quality people, ready to face the challenges of establishing and running businesses, considering the market needs, proper and cost-efficient distribution of labor and resources. These are skills you can gain thanks to the scholarships for post-graduate studies at the City College. Take this opportunity of today that is offered to you as a great responsibility and obligation. You should utilize the given opportunity in full in order to be successful citizens, for your own good and for the good of the society as a whole.

Dear students,

Do not forget that for you additional responsibility is that these scholarships are awarded in honor of President Boris Trajkovski. As President, Trajkovski worked and recognized the need for building a quality education system that will enable us to rise above the need of a bare survival, and will steer our country to prosperity, welfare and progress. President Trajkovski, at the same time, fully

understood that through the exchange of students in educational institutions between Macedonia and the neighboring countries, we can permanently dissolve stereotypes and prejudices which unfortunately still tend to dominate in mutual relations. Generations of politicians, businessmen, employed professionals who know well their counterparts from neighboring countries, who freely cooperate with the neighborhood, are the foundation for building the new Balkans. The Thessaloniki program includes participants from all countries from the region. This is an excellent opportunity to build the future elite of our region, to build bridges of cooperation based on knowledge, labor and experience, and in particular, based on friendship and cooperation with neighbors. We desire this; our region to be released from the artificial restraints and imposed problems. To open a space where successful people will be able to prosper and progress, moving their societies forward.

Therefore, dear students, once again, I congratulate you and wish you much success in your studies, and, even further, in the application of what you have learned.

Thank you.

At the official opening of the Entrepreneurship Week, the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, addressed the audience via video message, stressing the need for the state to create necessary conditions for development of entrepreneurship, quality and applicable education that will foster entrepreneurial spirit and will strengthen entrepreneurial skills among young people:

Dear Friends,

As President of the Republic of Macedonia, I am really proud to represent a state that respects principles which provide for economic development and exploitation of individuals’ potential. Namely, I refer to the right of everyone to enjoy the fruits of his labor, the right to private property, maintenance of a security frame in which everyone is free to work and thrive. These values which are the foundation of prosperity of every nation are deeply rooted in the Macedonian citizens as well. But to respect these principles is not always easy. Independent and democratic Macedonia had to pass through a long and difficult reform process to build a modern legal framework in the field of economy. But we are aware that private economic initiative is the main driving force of growth. It has the power to elevate individuals and families, cities and entire states from poverty.

Entrepreneurship cannot endure without democracy. The only political system that allows rapid and stable economic development is the system which respects individual human rights and freedoms, both in terms of politics and economy. Therefore, the support for entrepreneurship has its humane mission. Society whose citizens live of their labor, whose citizens invest, employ people, work to improve their position - such a society is stable, democratic and progressive. Such a society offers future to its citizens, and the society itself will have a future and prosperity.

Nowadays we are faced with a serious crisis, with severe challenges for the economic order. If something good comes out of the state in which the majority of best developed countries in the world is, it will be a reminder of the values and principles that are in the heart of the progress. We must remember that economic freedom, free and open market, respect for labor and hard work are not given once and for all, but these are values that must be kept. With independent control mechanisms, common sense economic policies, as well as with initiatives like this that contribute to promoting entrepreneurship culture among young people.

On our behalf, as a state, we must create the necessary conditions for development of entrepreneurship: solid infrastructure, quality and applicable education, sound legal framework and predictability in the actions of regulatory institutions. We must be open to calls for reforms in state institutions, in order to be committed to the needs of citizens and to promote their business projects and plans. Macedonia spent much time and faced important reforms in modernizing and improving the work of the judiciary, in reducing procedures in public administration and in legalization of illegally constructed buildings. We take pride of the modern tax system that has proven to be successful in providing funds for the legitimate needs of the state institutions, without causing damage to the economy. We have modernized the public education to ensure that the youngest are armed with skills and knowledge that will be of benefit in their lives. Our reforms are not unnoticed; Macedonia has seen significant economic growth and manages to resist the economic crisis challenges. But the challenges ahead are significant, and lost time must be compensated. Therefore, I welcome the initiative to celebrate the Entrepreneurship Week, hoping that each day will be dedicated to the liberation of human energy and initiative.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, today, addressed the expert meeting “Education, Prevention and Ethics in Traffic”, held under his auspices, organized by the National Council for Road Traffic Safety. Public campaign began with this event for implementation of the National Strategy for Zero Children Victims in Traffic Accidents.

Dear Participants of this Gathering,
Dear Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

Traffic safety is an issue of utmost importance for everybody and a necessity that needs to be constantly promoted and improved. The reason for our presence here today is to determine the manner how to provide traffic security and safety for those exposed at greatest risk - children. In other words - how to protect them more efficiently from everyday threats in urban traffic congestion.

Every human life is precious. Every young life lost is a tragedy not only for the families but for the society at large. To avoid unwanted tragedies, we must exert all our efforts in teaching and educating children on proper safe behavior in traffic from an early age. Such education should start, primarily in the family and include parents, but does not stop there.

Today’s gathering, organized by the National Council for Road Traffic Safety, is an attempt to emphasize the importance of the individual - as a traffic participant, being driver of motor vehicles, pedestrian, motorcyclist, cyclist. Every active traffic participant bears responsibility for himself personally and also for the safety of others. Raising general public awareness of the responsibilities of each individual in traffic is a supreme task we are being faced with, that requires involvement of all relevant stakeholders – governmental institutions, expert and non-governmental organizations, private sector, parents, kindergartens, schools...

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Following the adoption of the 2009 – 2014 National Strategy of the Republic of Macedonia on promoting traffic safety, the first coordinated multi-agency approach on reducing number of traffic accidents and consequences began. This document is a solid basis for the activities to be taken by the state authorities and other institutions, but also a great challenge and a serious task. The main objective outlined in this strategy is halving the number of traffic casualties, and, most importantly, full elimination of the number of children victims in traffic accidents. Set goals are high, but the price we as a society are to pay is even higher, unless we engage all our strengths and capacities to attain that goal.

In 2010, 162 people, including 6 children, lost their lives in traffic accidents. Since the implementation of this strategy, the number of casualties in traffic shows a tendency of decline. This information should be an incentive for all of us to continue to work intensively to achieve the outlined goals - improved infrastructure and traffic signs, increased public awareness, improved education of children and youth, coordinated and focused action to reduce traffic accidents and loss of human lives.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Children are our greatest asset, our investment in future. However, our most important obligation today is to prepare the youth to behave correctly and safely in traffic as pedestrians, cyclists, during children’s games outside and near the streets.

The purpose of today’s meeting is to design and establish a system for children’s education – starting from kindergarten, and during primary and secondary education - to raise their awareness to a higher level regarding the consequences of irresponsible attitude and disrespect for the traffic rules, as well as the need for greater attention and caution. Macedonia should enable generations of children to grow who will be completely aware of the ethics in traffic, but also of the dangers. Their future behavior as drivers and traffic participants will depend on the strong habits that will be enabled to them at an early age.

Parallel with our efforts to educate young people on road safety, we, as drivers, have to fulfill our task. I urge all drivers to be careful and patient, because the youngest are in fact less aware of the potential hazards on the road. Responsible driving is the first prerequisite for reducing traffic accidents and lost human lives.
As we know, children are great imitators of adult behavior. Let’s give them something valuable to imitate.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The 2011 – 2020 traffic safety decade is ahead, proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly. During this period, worldwide, nationally and globally, the efforts to reduce the growing trend of victims and injuries in traffic accidents will be intensified.

It is time for action also in the Republic of Macedonia! It is time to address these challenges seriously and with perseverance, to take all necessary steps to raise a broader public campaign to increase public awareness, to give our individual contribution both in educating children, and in our everyday behavior behind the wheel. I urge all stakeholders - parents, teachers, professors, policemen, journalists, institutions and associations, to join this initiative for zero children victims in traffic accidents.

It is time to strengthen the institutional framework by drafting a new strategy for traffic safety, for the period till 2020, as all EU member states, which will include even stronger measures and actions to achieve the outlined goals.

At the end, I would like to extend my gratitude and unreserved support for the efforts of the National Council for Road Traffic Safety, in achieving the goals. I hope that with today’s meeting we will be a step closer to establishing a functional system for education of children in the Republic of Macedonia on informed, responsible and safe operation in traffic.

Thank you.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, addressed the Conference: Entrepreneurship in the Educational Process in the Republic of Macedonia, held today under his auspices, aimed at strengthening the entrepreneurial education and contributing to the development of entrepreneurial capacities and entrepreneurship awareness.

Esteemed Professors,
Excellencies,
Ministers,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

At the outset, I would like to extend my gratitude and express my satisfaction with the honor you have given me, to be the patron of this event, which will discuss the importance of entrepreneurship in the educational process. I believe that this gathering and all other activities undertaken during this traditional Week of Entrepreneurship, slowly but surely, contribute to building a new generation of Macedonian entrepreneurs, foundation on which the Macedonian economy will be based.

Distinguished Guests,

We are especially pleased and proud that this year, as a country, we have started to feel the results of the continuous economic policy, of the measures taken by the Government to improve the business climate and the working conditions. As a country, we already have established a long-term macroeconomic stability with low inflation rate which in averaged is 2% in the last 10 years. We have balanced public finances with low budget deficit, stable exchange rate and low public debt, which is less than 26% of gross domestic product.

Our efforts were acknowledged in the latest World Bank Report “Doing Business 2012”, ranking Macedonia on the 22nd position, being one of the three economies with rapid growth rate for this year. Also we have reached this year high annual growth of the gross domestic product of 5.3%.

The engine of the economic growth is the private sector, while pillar and driving force of the private sector are the entrepreneurs. But still, to have a sustainable economic growth, it is necessary to create innovative and entrepreneurial society. Entrepreneurial society is a society based on creativity, innovation and risk taking, leading to implementation of new and bold ideas. Implementation of such ideas will open up avenues for new industries, increase the technological productivity, and thus generate sustainable and long-term economic growth.

If we really want to have successful investment and encourage innovation in the economy, we should introduce entrepreneurship education into the mainstream of teaching and learning. To do that, we should first promote new approaches to the education in the twenty-first century.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is time to create future for the youth and youth for the future. I believe that knowledge, innovation and entrepreneurship are the three pillars on which we need to build both the future and the youth. It is time to educate young people, who have plenty of innovative energy, capable to create new ideas out of that energy and apply them in practice. It is time to prepare the youth to be able to face the three challenges of entrepreneurship: to confront risks, stress and their own ego. It is time to prepare self-confident leaders with a clear vision for the future, able to face competition, and thus be successful in business entrepreneurship.

Only with such an educated youth we can preserve the societal dynamics, having the entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship as source.

The answers to our problems and aspirations are in our immediate vicinity. They exist in our laboratories and our universities, in our fields and our factories, in the imagination of our entrepreneurs and the pride of the diligent workers.

Out of these reasons, the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit should be encouraged at the earliest age, built during the secondary education and advanced in the higher education. Our educational institutions should be at the heart of our society and economy. They, in addition to the educational and scientific component, should be a source of entrepreneurship, compatible with the trends in the labor market and help the economy of the state.

Distinguished Guests,

The primary principle to be a successful entrepreneur lies not in “knowing everything” but in the will “to apply the acquired knowledge”. What makes entrepreneurs successful is their ability to overcome difficulties with ease, their ceaseless curiosity, constant desire for research, persistence in pursuit of innovation, and their self-confidence. As Goethe said, the entrepreneur knows that: “If he believes in himself, others will believe in him as well”.

Entrepreneurs embody the promise of the future, the knowledge that if you have a good idea if you are willing to work hard to see that idea realized, you can succeed in this country. In the fulfillment of this promise, entrepreneurs play a key role in expanding our economy and creating new jobs.

At the end, I will quote the first article of the “Constitution of Entrepreneurship”. This is a saying of the adamant entrepreneur, the great Michelangelo, at the age of 87: “Ancora Imparo” or “I am still learning”. This saying should guide us in our lives. Our formal education system should rely exactly on this. Life-long learning. It is this philosophy that will pave the path for entrepreneurial learning in Macedonia.

Thank you.

Distinguished Dean of the Faculty of Law,
Prof. Dr. Borche Davitkovski,
Esteemed Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Six decades after the establishment of the Faculty of Law “Iustinianus Primus”, there are many reasons for us to be proud of.

Today, this anniversary represents a sublimate of sixty years incessant existence of the legal studies, thousands of students involved in extensive research and pursuit of new knowledge, united intellectual effort of many graduates, masters and doctors of science, much labor invested, many awards and recognitions received, many individual and joint achievements.

Throughout the course of all these years, through the corridors of this institution, significant part of the Macedonian intellectual force was created, the history was testified, the challenges facing us all were discussed with energy and enthusiasm.

The Faculty of Law is the central place where each new generation channeled its youth and energy, shaped its dreams and aspirations, paved the path of their own future and the future of our country. It is this Faculty that brings together legal, political studies and journalism, has created professionals who are active in building and upgrading the Macedonian academic scene, but also individuals who, in a given moment and in certain conditions, have taken upon themselves responsibility to be front men and leaders of major social and political movements.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

By awarding this Order of Merit for Macedonia, we pay tribute and respect for the great role that the Faculty of Law had and still has in the Macedonian society - articulation of extremely valuable scientific research activity, its contribution in strengthening the country’s legal system and the rule of law, faithful representation of Macedonia as a country where quality education is among the highest values and ideals.

However, we must not forget – the merits for Macedonia, which undoubtedly are recognized and valued, are not an accomplished process for anyone, but an incentive and motivation for tireless continuation of the efforts for new achievements and even greater successes. In today’s world of global connectivity, every institution that educates and enlightens should base its actions on the principle of openness. The Faculty of Law has demonstrated and proved to have the capacity to follow the global trends, to be modernized, when necessary to be corrected, and to create lasting relations of cooperation and exchange with numerous high education institutions from Europe and the world, with equal focus to the West and to the East.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I was also a student and a professor at this institution – those were the times I spent the most beautiful years of my life, years of creation and discovery, but also years with plenty of challenges and the need for struggle and perseverance. From that perspective I can say that development, advancement and success of a high educational institution is a never ending process. To ensure a prosperous future, we must not limit our views and interests only in one direction or within one dogma. We need a vision to study other regions, including the emerging world powers that are beyond our traditional range, and to absorb knowledge, positive practices and experiences of those who are able to offer such.

Even stronger connection with the practical problems of today which must be solved is needed. It is necessary to seek inspiration in reality, present and to identify specific problems that require innovative approaches, to draw ideas from the best practice, to review established norms and principles, to see clearly into the future.

And, what is most important: to be relieved of absolute authorities and to have eyes and ears wide open towards those who come for the first into the lecture rooms and amphitheaters – the students. The students must be provided, firmly and unflinchingly, with conditions and freedom to act, to explore, and to express themselves. We should work to maintain interactive and dynamic relationship between teachers and students, to encourage their thought and creativity, to support student and academic mobility and exchange. Because exactly the students are the backbone of fresh critical thought in the society and our promise for the future. The more we invest in students today, the more Macedonia will get in return.

The Faculty of Law "Iustinianus Primus" consciously, responsibly and in continuity has been working in these fields and is on a good track to achieve these postulates. I am pleased that, despite many challenges over the decades, the Faculty of Law continues to be the pillar of cognitive and progressive part of the social apparatus.

I am proud that today, quite deservingly, the Faculty of Law "Iustinianus Primus" receives this high recognition - the Order of Merit for Macedonia.

Thank you.