Respected citizens of the Republic of Macedonia,
Respected media representatives,

I typically deliver the annual address in the Parliament, but it has not yet been constituted. To fulfill my constitutional duty, I will take this opportunity to inform you about the issues of my competence. I will, however, notify the Parliament about the contents of this speech in writing.

We are counting down the last days of 2016. This was a year of bright anniversaries that were dimmed by huge challenges, both globally and domestically.

In this address I will not speak about the threat of illegal migration that is successfully being dealt with. I will just say that many countries in Europe were grateful for the responsible behavior of Macedonia in dealing with illegal migration. The more courageous even publicly praised us. Austria, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Serbia, Hungary, Croatia and the Czech Republic even deployed their police forces at our southern border. I hereby publicly express my appreciation for that.

I will not refer either to the threat of violent extremism and the activities of the returned foreign terrorist fighters because everything that was to be said has already been said.

There is no need to remind you that the foreign policy in 2016 was the most difficult area not only for Macedonia but also for the region, for Europe and the world. I will not inform you of the numerous regional and global forums where I represented the interests of the Republic of Macedonia either.

What I want to talk about is very important for all of us today. And that is the political crisis that has created an ambience of fear and uncertainty.

As 2016 is almost over, many citizens are asking themselves what Macedonia will look like when they wake up in 2017.

I will remind you that a quarter century ago, as a country, we came out of the single-party monism and entered the multi-party pluralism. But, it turned out that, unfortunately, it came down to pluralism in the singular. Instead to overcome it, it seems that we have multiplied the single-mindedness. Instead of adjusting the party to the national interests, some parties reduced the state to their narrow party interests. Because of this irresponsible attitude of individuals, politicians, and thus politics, have lost their reputation.

We have forgotten the truth that by definition, being a politician means being polite. Politeness involves patience to hear the rest, to lead a dialogue and through a dialogue to come to a decision for all the challenges in democracy.

Today, unfortunately, we cannot talk about patience, and even less about politeness on the Macedonian political scene. We cannot talk about polite dialogue.

By rejecting patience, we have allowed intolerance to conquer politics. The excessive politicization has led to an unprecedented polarization of Macedonia.

The personal animosity between the political leaders and elites has spilled over the entire Macedonian society.

Instead through the broad prism of coexistence and respect, the citizens have started to see the things through the narrow and limiting prism of parties and ideologies. We are experiencing an excess of criticism and lack of self-criticism. Journalists, businessmen, artists, athletes ... have become hostages of the political crisis in which each side sees the mistakes of the opponent, but is blind to see its own mistakes and errors.

Moreover, last year we witnessed a prodigious dynamics. Instead of competing with ideas and programs, some political actors started competing first with verbal accusations, then with insults and criminal charges, and eventually with misconduct. They competed in burning pictures and people's offices. These days we see that some have started bidding with state interests.

How all this happened? What this results from? I am deeply convinced that there are two reasons. The first is external and the second is internal.

In 2008, we were on the threshold of NATO membership. In 2009 we received the first positive report and recommendation to start negotiations with the European Union. In such circumstances, the institutions, responsibly and rapidly, were implementing reforms, the politicians voluntarily and decently communicated, and the citizens lived with the expectation that the European future is at hand.

And then, at the height of our efforts, expectations and optimism, we were bitterly disappointed.
Instead of a date for negotiations, we were blocked.
Instead of membership in NATO, we were ignored.
Instead of being rewarded, we were punished.

Since then, Macedonia has become a collector of positive European reports and recommendations and of NATO membership action plans.

Initially, the reason for the blockade was the name of the country and the citizens' identity. This reason is absurd pro se because the individual's identity should not be proven. Identity is an axiom which proves everything else. And yet, we were forced to prove the thing that cannot be proven - our right to human dignity. To prove that we exist and that we are not a nameless nation.

But, this was not enough. Each year they comforted us, saying that soon we would become a member. But we saw that, in the case of Macedonia, their "soon" is not measured by the calendar.

Instead of admitting us immediately and without delay under the temporary reference, they irresponsibly block us indefinitely.

Is the humiliation with that necrophiliac temporary reference not enough? If they are obliged to address us with the temporary reference, then, they are also obliged to respect the Interim Accord and the ruling of the International Court of Justice that regulate the manner of membership of the Republic of Macedonia in international organizations under the same reference.
We are not looking for excuses and we are aware of our shortcomings. But we are also aware of the shortcomings and unfulfilled commitments of NATO and the European Union towards the Republic of Macedonia.

Our partners in Brussels talk about the rule of law in Macedonia. I absolutely agree that we should do a lot in this area.
But, at the same time I ask them - if you have remarks about the situation in the judiciary, then why we are not allowed to open chapters 23 and 24 on judiciary, fundamental rights, justice, freedom and security?

The irresponsible behavior of the European Union and NATO towards Macedonia is inevitably reflected in our internal policies. The reform momentum is lost, the relations between the political parties are tensed and the transforming power of the Union is reduced. The consequences of the blockade became a reason for new blockades of the Republic of Macedonia.

Every problem ignored long enough will turn into a painful symptom. Hence, we come to the second reason, the internal reason for the political crisis.

Many times I have repeated that the solution to the crisis lies in the state institutions. There are no extra-institutional solutions to issues that can be addressed only institutionally.

Blocked on the road to our strategic objectives, we have entered the labyrinth of crises. Seeking to solve the crisis out of the state institutions, certain irresponsible leaders began to circumvent the Parliament and neglected its control mechanisms. Instead of systemic, they decided to act extra-systemic. By circumventing the institutions, we entered into the trap of the Przhino Agreement.

We had a dissolved Parliament, a technical Government to conduct the elections and a declared state of emergency. The security institutions were blocked and paralyzed, with a compromised command system emanating from the Przhino Agreement. There was a high risk of not being able to respond to the threats faced as a country.

These conditions were further complicated in early April 2016.

There was an organized campaign to postpone the elections scheduled in June.

On our southern border, thousands of migrants attempted to violently overthrow the protective fence and reopen the Balkan migrant corridor to Europe.

At the same time, 40 violent extremists and terrorists appeared at our northern border with an intention to carry out vindictive terrorist acts.

There was and there is still a high risk from the threat of the returned foreign terrorist fighters from the battlefields of the Middle East.

In meantime, the Special Public Prosecutor's Office is selective and politicized prosecution which, instead of being an instrument of justice, acts as an instrument of blackmailing political opponents. Signing the Law for the formation of the Special Public Prosecutor's Office, I did not expect selectivity and politicization in its work.
All this that happened to us inevitably led to a civil conflict.

In such complex conditions, as the President of the Republic of Macedonia, I was the only institution with legitimacy and authority to make decisions. And, instead of being a passive observer of the open conflict, I offered a solution to the crisis. I offered reconciliation by pardoning all those who, in one way or another, are involved in the political crisis.

One day, when all the documents will be declassified, the citizens will have full insight into the situation that led to assuming such a measure. But I will say only that in a situation in which the future of the state was concerned, the pardon was the only peaceful way to freeze the hostile intentions between the opposing sides and thus to avoid anarchy.

For that decision, I faced much criticism and accusations.

I was accused that I have violated the Constitution and the laws with the pardoning decision. But the decision did not violate the Constitution and the laws, only the dark scenarios against Macedonia.

They accused me that I have pardoned the crime in Macedonia. But, the pardoning did not include suspension of the procedure for confiscation of illegally acquired property. If someone committed a crime and stole, he will have to return the stolen and pay for what he did. The rule of law means that all people, including me, regardless of their ethnic, religious, political and social background, whether in power or in opposition, are equal before the letter of the law. Such a rule of law I advocate for. And that was the reason why I signed the law on the Special Public Prosecutor's Office. Because, without combating crime and corruption, we cannot build a future for the Republic of Macedonia.

I was accused of protecting irresponsible politicians. But, with the pardoning decision I intended to achieve reconciliation.

However, such a way of resolving the political crisis was not accepted by a part of the public and once the legal conditions were created, I withdrew the given pardons.

Once the risk was reduced and the immediate threats passed us by, the party leaders sat down again and agreed to early parliamentary elections.

Finally, on December 11, we had free, fair and democratic elections.

At the election, the citizens expressed their opinion. By having exercised their democratic right and showing the highest level of responsibility, the citizens have contributed to putting an end to the crisis.

The citizens understood that to get out of the crisis it is not necessary to be outnumbered, but it requires compliance, blackmailing is not needed, but reconciliation.

With the distribution of their votes, the citizens actually forced the parties to a dialogue in the institutions, but not at the expense of the national interests.
The citizens, most responsibly, fulfilled their part of the agreement called democracy, and therefore I congratulate them.

Dear fellow citizens,

The election is over. The re-run and counting are finished too. In the post-election period, let me announce my position on several issues.

I still hear individual party leaders publicly bid with the unitary character of the state, with some kind of a cantonization and federalization, with the name of the country and the citizens' identity. They bid with state interests.

I will remind them that in 1991 Macedonia was constituted as a national state of the Macedonian people, providing for full equality of the citizens and permanent coexistence of the Macedonian people with the Albanians, Turks, Vlachs, Roma and other nationalities living in the Republic of Macedonia.

It is true that 15 years ago, the Ohrid Framework Agreement supplemented our inclusive democratic model. We opened the door for equitable representation of the citizens of all, not just one, community. I repeat - all, not just one.

My position is more than clear.
I will never agree the Republic of Macedonia to be a bi-national state.
I will never agree the Republic of Macedonia to be a federal state.

The Republic of Macedonia is a unitary state of all its citizens with equal rights, Macedonians, Albanians, Turks, Serbs, Vlachs, Roma, Bosniaks, Christians, Muslims, Jews and atheists. That is what makes it different from others.

I hear requests for bilingualism on the whole territory of Macedonia. This issue has been closed with Amendment 5 of the Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia, which came out of the Ohrid Agreement, which regulates the issue of the official language in the Republic of Macedonia.

The official use of any language in the Republic of Macedonia depends on the statistics, and the only way to get real statistics is the census. The last census in Macedonia was 14 years ago. It is too long period for any state. Without new census, no one can ask for rights that depend on the statistics. I expect the new Government as soon as possible to conduct a census to see how many we are, to see if the reality on the ground corresponds to the claims of some politicians.

I suggest that it is irresponsible to claim rights without undertaking obligations, exactly as stated in Amendment 4 of the Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia.

Yet, it is duty and responsibility of every citizen of Macedonia, regardless of ethnic, religious, linguistic and ideological affiliation, to take care of the welfare of our only common homeland – the Republic of Macedonia.

It is unacceptable that some leaders of parliamentary parties put to the negotiating table the state interests of the Republic of Macedonia, contrary to the Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia.

On behalf of the Macedonian citizens, I warn them to be careful in what they do.
On behalf of the Macedonian citizens, I suggest them not even to think in their post-electoral considerations to discuss or negotiate the national interests of Macedonia and the national interests of the Macedonian people. Since national interests are neither discussed nor negotiated.

Nobody has a mandate to reshape the state, nor to change its identity.
Nobody has a mandate to sell what the generations before us dreamed and died for, and that is the freedom and independence of the Republic of Macedonia.
The Republic of Macedonia is not, nor will I agree it to be a bi-national state.
The Republic of Macedonia is not, nor will I agree it to be a federal state.
The Republic of Macedonia is a unitary state with multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-lingual society.

Dear fellow citizens,

Today, when we leave behind the year of the quarter century anniversary of independence, rather than in a stronger and more united, we live in a weaker and estranged Macedonia. Estranged at every possible basis.

It all started with the blockades that have created divisions and the divisions which led to retaliation.

There is nothing more tragic and dangerous than inter-Macedonian conflict. Whenever we were divided, we were occupied by others, dispersed, renamed and left without nationality.

Therefore, I urge the leadership of both major parties VMRO-DPMNE and SDSM to find strength to forgive, reconcile and ultimately unite around the national interests of the Macedonian people and the state interests of the Republic of Macedonia.

If they really love this country and if they really care for the Macedonian people, I call them to respect the will of the people, because there is no future, no hope in hatred.

I call for national reconciliation. Only concerted and with mutual trust we will be everywhere and always stronger and ready for all possible challenges of our time.

Therefore, I expect the new Government in its program to include two key priorities:

First, protection of the state interests of the Republic of Macedonia, which implies preserving and strengthening the unitary character of the state.

Second, systemic reform after the crisis, which will cover the subjects of national security system of the Republic of Macedonia.

These priorities are necessary primarily due to the numerous threats and internal weaknesses we face. The consequences of the conflicts in the region of North Africa and the Middle East, the illegal migration, the activities of the foreign terrorist fighters and their supporters, the transnational criminal networks, violent extremism, radicalism and the interests of various centers of power affect the polarization of the Macedonian society. They can cause future inner-ethnic, inter-ethnic and inter-religious tensions in Macedonia. There is a really high risk for the internal security coming from the external threats we face. Not only we, but the whole region, whole Europe.

Because of this ratio between the external threats and the internal weaknesses, such systemic reforms are necessary.

The Intelligence, the Army of the Republic of Macedonia, the border police, the law enforcement services and the prosecution must be transformed in order to protect national security of the state, according to the changes of the challenges and threats we face.

For already 15 months we are in a state of declared crisis because of the threat of illegal migration. The crisis will indeed continue. Therefore, we may not allow the political crisis to grow into an institutional crisis following the elections.

Dear fellow citizens,

The biggest challenge for us is not to know what our goal is and where we want to go. We know that since independence - that is European and Euro-Atlantic Republic of Macedonia. The biggest challenge is to know what we are ready to leave behind us to get where we want to be.

I strongly believe that two things are pulling us back. The first thing is the divisions resulting of the blockades. The second thing is the revenge resulting of the divisions. I urge to leave behind us divisions and revenge. I know that after everything said and done by now, this is a very difficult decision, because we need to forgive each other for some very harsh words, insults, slanders and deeds. We need to acknowledge our own mistakes. This is a difficult decision, because it requires humility, which is characteristic only of great, virtuous and responsible people. Without such a decision by which we will ultimately deny divisions and revenge, we cannot hope for prosperity and success.

Therefore, I urge you to stop using the rhetoric of patriots and traitors. To stop because every word and insult further deepen the divisions in our society. With each word and insult we leave our children in legacy only quarrels and divisions. To stop the attacks to the diplomatic representatives. Let us not always look for the blame elsewhere. Certain political leaders should stop calling and abusing the names of the ambassadors in the Republic of Macedonia to realize their goals. At the same time, I repeat the call to the diplomatic representatives, in the exercise of their powers, to be cautious in their actions and rhetoric and to adhere to the Vienna Conventions.

Yet, to be able to make that step to reconciliation, responsibility is necessary.

"Responsibility establishes identity, but we are not responsible because of our identity; instead, we have identity because we are responsible", Vaclav Havel said. Responsibility is foundation of trust between people and institutions, thus everyone who takes decisions must take personal responsibility for his own steps.

Where there is personal responsibility there is predictability, structure, potential for growth. Only responsibility creates conditions for security, stability and progress.

Responsibility, however, does not float in the air. It must be part of the political culture. Every nation, every country, every institution has its own culture of functioning. Culture can be reduced to what, by accident and without deep thinking, is spontaneously created, or to what is carefully designed and established. While the former is spontaneous and subject to various sorts of influences, the latter is meaningful and resistant to harmful influences. The political crisis has shown that, unfortunately, Macedonia is dominated by culture of irresponsibility.

It is true that the difference between big and small countries is that big countries solve the problems themselves. But the size of a state consists in the strong institutions that responsibly perform their tasks. Responsible institutions are impossible without responsible individuals because only responsible individuals create responsible institutions.

When institutions are allowed to do their job, they do it professionally and provide solutions to the challenges faced. Remember the professionalism of the security institutions in managing the migrant crisis. Think of our Army, police, security forces that professionally and responsibly protect not only our borders, but the borders of Europe. Think of our Army which is always and everywhere helping the citizens in dealing with natural disasters and catastrophes.

For everything done, the Macedonian Army deserves respect, gratitude and recognition.

But also the opposite is true. When institutions are avoided, blocked or paralyzed, rather than being part of the solution, they become part of the problem. I hope that the leaders have finally learned the lesson - we should not seek solutions outside the state institutions. Therefore, I urge once again to restore the power of the institutions.

Today we must be responsible so that tomorrow we can be accountable.

Dear fellow citizens,

It is not accidentally that I constantly refer in my speech to responsibility versus irresponsibility. It is because I strongly believe that, more than ever before, the future of Macedonia depends on only one word - responsibility. And it is not general and impersonal, but concrete and personal responsibility.

Leaving behind the 25th anniversary of independence of the Republic of Macedonia, I urge the 6 leaders of the parliamentary parties to show responsibility and renew their commitment to the European and Euro-Atlantic Macedonia.
I call them to sign as soon as possible a binding declaration of commitment to the European and Euro-Atlantic agenda, as long as the trust of the citizens in the EU and NATO is so high.
I call them to pledge that all laws and decisions from the European agenda will be a priority.

But, at the same time, I urge the European Union to stop blocking our future. The blockade is nothing but a punishment for the Macedonian citizens. By blocking negotiations, the possibility of building responsible European institutions in the Republic of Macedonia is blocked. The blockades deprive our right to prosperity. I repeat, the blockades deprive our right to prosperity. Therefore, it is time for greater responsibility of the Union towards Macedonia.
Dear fellow citizens,

The brightest moments in the history of mankind are the moments when people, courageously and responsibly, step towards addressing the challenges.

Macedonia's future depends not only on our wishes, projections, plans and programs, but on our concrete steps. What we will do now will affect not only our tomorrow, but the thousands tomorrows of the future generations.

You, the citizens of Macedonia, have directly felt the inter-party bickering. You have seen scenes that do not befit a country with 25 years of democratic experience. You have heard poisonous rhetoric. You have witnessed attempts of de-legitimization of the state institutions by solving the problems in the embassies of foreign countries. You, the citizens of Macedonia, have experienced the threat of divisions and the ravine of revenge, which brings into question even the state interests.

Therefore, while it is not too late, I call to forgiveness, reconciliation and unity around the national interests.
Finally, I call for the decisions about Macedonia to be taken in the institutions we have created, by the officials we have elected.
I call for responsible behavior. Responsibility is built with publicity and transparency. The citizens should be the supreme controllers of the responsibility of the leaders, politicians, institutions. Because they all exist for the citizens.

It is the only way to develop the Republic of Macedonia as a state in which instead of individuals, the laws will rule, guaranteeing human rights, civil liberties and equality. A state that will ensure peace and coexistence among its citizens, regardless of ethnic, religious and linguistic background. A state that will provide social justice, economic prosperity and progress of individual and community life.

As President of the Republic of Macedonia and Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces I call on my responsibility to do what I am sworn for. I will defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of the Republic of Macedonia from internal and external challenges, threats and risks. I will defend the Constitution and the constitutional order of the Republic of Macedonia. I do not even think of making any concessions in this regard.

Thank you.

Почитувани членови на Сојузот на здруженија за техничка култура на Република Македонија ‒ Народна техника на Република Македонија,
Драги гости,
Дами и господа,

2016-та е година на јубилеји. Годинава се потсетуваме на сите институциите и организации кои со својата многудецениска работа ги градеа и развиваа капацитетите што ни овозможија пред 25 години да станеме независна и суверена држава.

Меѓу бројните славенички организации и институции една има уникатно место. Тоа е Народната техника на Република Македонија. Некој ќе праша во што се состои уникатната природа на оваа организација? Зошто Народна техника е поразлична од другите? Зарем ова не е само едно здружение на аматери?

Ќе почнам од последното прашање. Зборот аматер денес нема толку позитивно значење. Но, оригиналниот, латински зборот amator значи вљубеник. Во таа, оригинална и вистинска смисла на зборот, Народна техника е здружение на вљубеници во техничките и применетите науки.

Како таква, Народна техника е центар за сестрани луѓе кои се подготвени да ги развиваат своите многубројни технички таленти и дарови. Ова е место за луѓе кои излегуваат од шаблоните на тесната струка и професија, и се подготвени да зачекорат во фасцинантната авантура на техниката.

Затоа, како Претседател на Република Македонија, но и како технофил, чест ми е да бидам покровител на прославата на седум деценискиот јубилеј од основањето на Сојузот на здруженија за техничка култура на Република Македонија ‒ Народна техника на Република.

Дами и господа,

Техничката култура е неизоставен дел од севкупната култура и е клучен елемент за развојот на секој поединец.

Уште од антиката, образованието подразбирало три стадиуми. Во првиот стадиум човек треба да на научи две нешта - гимнастика како вештина на телото и музика, како храна на душата. Штом ќе ги совлада овие две дисциплини, човек се стекнува со мнение – doxa. Вториот стадиум низ кој минувале младите е tehna, односно учење техничките вештини. Дури откако ќе ги совлада овие вештини, младиот човек продолжува кон третиот стадиум на образованието – paideia. Тогаш станува свој човек.

Народна техника е дел од вториот, клучен стадиум на човековото образование. Како најорганизирана форма за техничко воспитување и образование, Народна техника придонесува за зголемување на интересот на младите за креативноста и иновативноста на техничкото творештво. Оттука сите активности кои на ова поле ги спроведува Народна техника имаат огромно значење за образованието, културата, но и воопшто за развојот на нашето општество и како такви придонесуваат за доближување на Република Македонија кон најновите текови и достигнувања во европски и светски рамки.

Доволно е да ја погледнеме импресивната листата на активности, натпревари, конкурси, инцијативи, програмски содржини, иницирани и реализирани од Сојузот. Особено е импресивен бројот на учесници кои во изминатите седум децении биле дел од наведените активности. Како гостин на дел од овие манифестации имав можност лично да се уверам во ентузијазмот и посветеноста на младите излагачи чија креативност и вештина заслужуваат највисоки оценки.

Драги пријатели,

Живееме во време кога техничко-технолошките иновации го движат и обликуваат светот, кога научната фантастика станува фантастична наука. Не само што треба да бидеме во чекор со новото време туку преку сопствената креативност, интелигенција и љубопитност, но и пожртвувана работа и огромен труд да бидеме креатори на развојот и иновациите.

Верувам дека Повелбата на Република Македонија е соодветно признание и чин на благодарност за илјадниците ученици, наставници, ентузијасти, волонтери и аматери кои се вградија во седумте децении постоење на Сојузот на здруженија за техничка култура на Република Македонија ‒ Народна техника на Република Македонија. Тие беа, се и понатаму ќе бидат ударна сила на Народна техника.

Повелбата е и дополнителен поттик за поголема ревност што секако ќе донесе уште поголеми постигнувања. Не се сомневам дека и понатаму вашите членови ќе се закитуваат со медали и признанија на најпрестижните меѓународни натпревари и достојно ќе ја претставуваат Република Македонија.

Исто така сум убеден дека и понатаму од вашите членови ќе произлегуваат истакнати академици, професори, инженери кои со својата креативност и умешност ќе бидат подвижници на развојот и напредокот на нашата татковина.

Во оваа пригода би сакал и да ја потврдам мојата лична, но и поддршката на македонските институции на вашата дејност и работа. Како и досега така и во иднина со задоволство ќе ги следиме, помагаме и промовираме вашите достигнувања и постигнувања.

На крајот од моево обраќање би сакал од сè срце да ви посакам уште многу и многу години плодна и успешна работа. Ја користам можноста да ви посакам и многу здравје, среќа и успех во новата 2017 година.

Ви благодарам.

Respected citizens of the Republic of Macedonia,

Esteemed attendees,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Dear friends,

Among the numerous lessons, sermons and hagiographies left to us by Clement of Ohrid, the first one is the general lesson for an apostle, martyr or saint. Teaching us how to celebrate the feasts of the saints, Clement teaches us that we primarily need to take and follow the example of their purity, their good life and their pleasing to God.

As a modest, self-sacrificing and humble man, he certainly did not write this lesson for himself. Writing it, he had in the sight of his heart all the great people of faith that he himself admired. Clement has not dreamed that one day the grateful people will apply his lesson to celebrate him personally.

But, what has made Clement of Ohrid worthy that his words are applied today?

What are his works that he obliged us with so much?

Each deed can be compareed with a grain of wheat. The grain can be eaten and we will feel satiated for a short while or it can be planted and we will be provided with food through its fruit for a long while. But, the seed will produce fruit only if it falls on a fertile soil, irrigated from the pure spring of life-giving water.

As for the seed, the deeds need two things to continue to give rich fruit.

First, it is necessary to leave a written trail or a legacy that will contain the basic principles and values​​ of the work. This written trail is a kind of map to help the followers remain on track.

Second, it is necessary to invest in the next generation of followers along the way.

Why is this important? If we have a letter or a legacy and we do not have a new generation, that letter will end up on the crumbling shelves in some dusty library. But if we have pupils and no written trail, no map in their hands, they can easily deviate from the path traced and get lost in some dark labyrinth of hopelessness, and the original message will be distorted to its opposite. Only when these two principles are merged into one can we expect the deeds to be further expanded with exponential growth. From one grain, ten, from ten, a hundred...

Consciously or not, Sts, Cyril and Methodius applied this very principle in spreading their work. They compiled the alphabet and translated the Bible into the Old Church Slavic language. That is the written trail, the covenant, the map. But, at the same time, they raised a generation of dedicated followers, including Clement of Ohrid, to persistently continue on their path.

This second generation of students through the Ohrid Literary School educated a third generation of 3,500 students. And those 3,500 students were scattered all around Slavdom and educated and baptized millions. Thus, they contributed to the educational, spiritual and moral elevation of the Slavic peoples.

During this 2016 we have had a unique opportunity to remind ourselves of this great spiritual, educational and cultural journey of Slavism through the life and work of our great national teacher - St. Clement of Ohrid.

Ladies and gentlemen,

As President of the Republic of Macedonia I have had the honor to be the patron of the celebrations honoring St. Clement. The year was enriched with numerous gala academies, conferences, competitions, concerts and exhibitions which fittingly marked the memory of the great popular saint and educator.

These ceremonies reminded us that Macedonia is a biblical country, through which Christianity came to Europe. A country where the apostles walked, a country which bore numerous church fathers, thinkers and officials of the early Church, whose voice was heard far and whose work was an example to many.

We talked about our churches and monasteries, which are full of frescoes of the Macedonian saints and martyrs, whose life stories were encouraging for many.

We reminded ourselves of our spiritual centers, which have been a safe haven for centuries for the persecuted, a home for the homeless, a spring for the thirsty and food for the hungry.

We were present in our spiritual and cultural capital - Ohrid, where once there were 365 churches, one for every day of the year. It was the center of the Ohrid Literary School, whose students became the teachers of the Slavic world!

Therefore we are called the first Christian nation in Europe!

Therefore we are thought to be the teachers of the Slavdom and educators of the uneducated!

We have an incredibly rich spiritual and cultural heritage hardly any other people can take pride in.

Yet, the greater our heritage is, the greater our responsibility is.

The more we have inherited from our ancestors, the more we have to leave to our descendants.

The more we have, the more is expected of us.

And we have a lot, thanks to St. Clement as well.

As a preacher and teacher, he instilled the thirst for truth in people; he established faith and developed the habits of the heart. He encouraged rejection of all malevolence, wrath, anger, slander, greed and shameful deeds, and promoted love of peace, humbleness, sobriety, love for the poor, hospitality, fasting, cleanliness. He encouraged help for each other ... to manifest zeal for good deeds, brotherly love, restraint.

Once he said: "To be reborn with goodness and purity, and our life to be worth in our holiness, not only by name to call ourselves Christians! Once we try a spiritual feat, we will compete in goodness..."

These are just few of the many teachings of St. Clement that we have metaphorically received by breastfeeding, through the habits instilled on us by our parents. These are the teachings that have been passed from older to younger, from teachers to pupils. Patience, endurance, kindness, hospitality and other habits of the heart survived in us for more than a millennium. The habits of the heart are exactly what make peoples who they are. Rare are the individuals like Clement who continued to live through the character they have instilled in people.

St. Clement of Ohrid is founder of our language, which, along with the faith, gave us the creative freedom at the times when we were politically enslaved. It gave us spiritual power at the times when we, as a nation, were physically weak and unprotected.

When we were divided, enslaved and persecuted, the one thing that protected us was Macedonian language. It is therefore said that Macedonian language is our only complete homeland we bear with us and within us, wherever we might be - in slavery or in freedom, in our homeland or abroad. As an instrument of truth, language helped us protect ourselves from the lies of propaganda that aimed to disunite, assimilate and denationalize us.

And how do we, the proud heirs of Clement, treat what is left to us?

I must notice that it seems that the words, which from the time of Clement served for mutual encouragement and edification, have lost their meaning. The language, as our only complete homeland, is in a serious crisis.

The tree planted that our teachers planted more than a millennium ago whose fruit provided for many generations, is today untrenched, unwatered and unpruned... And that tree is our treasure from the past. Despite this  wealth in our hand, by communicating wrong words and values, it appears that today we are nevertheless sinking in the misery of seriously fractured interpersonal relationships.

We celebrate the day of our great teacher, but we do not respect his teachings. We celebrate his work with our words but we deny it through our deeds.

We call ourselves the teachers of Slavdom and yet we have brought ourselves to the miserable position to be taught lessons by others.

As a nation and society, we turned away and headed outside of the path traced and we spiraled into the labyrinth of hopelessness.

As if the foretold the first shall be the last and the last shall be the first has become truth in our case.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Every year, the word that best reflects the situation in the world is chosen. 2016 is marked by the word "post-truth". That does not mean that truth no longer exists, but that it is no longer so relevant. We are witnessing the blurring of the space between information and manipulation, because now information is manipulative. In such conditions, many people doubt the existence of objective truth. Without truth that will guide people in life, they are condemned to live false lives.

This alarming global situation inevitably is reflected here in Macedonia. Some of our printed and electronic media and social networks very often abound with lies, spins and sensationalism, especially during the political crisis and pre-election campaign. In our debate programs there is more shouting than conviction, more monologues than dialogues. To fight with such constructed perceptions and imposed prejudices is like trying to forge mercury. At a time when the poisonous suspicion hovers over the Macedonian society, citizens feel dizzy from the numerous interpretations and manipulations.

It is true that during the elections, every vote counts. But, as St. Clement of Ohrid would say, "Is there any good if a man gains the whole world but loses his soul?" Because every lie, slander and offence is nothing but a seed of personal and collective hatred and intolerance. And exactly the intolerance contributed to the deepening of this deep political crisis.

Therefore I call the early parliamentary elections to be implemented with dignity, as befits a country with 25 years of democratic experience. So far we have repeatedly shown that we have institutional and democratic capacity to organize and conduct free and fair elections.

Therefore, in these last days, in these last hours of pre-election, I call on all political parties, both ruling and opposition, for a responsible behavior.

Only the responsible behavior will create an atmosphere in which the citizens will certainly know that the vote of every one of us is really worth.

Only the responsible behavior will encourage the citizens to go out and cast their ballots for the program and party they truly believe in.

Only the responsible behavior will create conditions for unanimous recognition of the will of the people.

Only the responsible behavior on December 11 will mark the end of the political crisis and the beginning of national reconciliation in the Republic of Macedonia. Indeed, we need reconciliation more than ever before.

There is no other way to attain national interests except through national reconciliation.

There is no other path to the future of young people in Macedonia except through national reconciliation.

There is no other path except the path of reconciliation.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The celebration of St. Clement on the 25th anniversary of Macedonia's independence is an opportunity for catharsis and purification of the Macedonian society from all intolerance piled up in the past quarter century.

Therefore, let us take this opportunity to re-acknowledge the beauty and joy of life. Let us leave behind the intolerance and hatred of the past and focus on the present and future of our children.

But we should know that when we step on the path of reconciliation, we will inevitably face two obstacles set by ourselves.

The first obstacle for moving forward to a better life is the excess of criticism.

The second obstacle is the lack of self-criticism.

To overcome these obstacles, we need to remember the forgotten lessons of St. Clement. In them we will find that the cure for criticism is encouragement, and for lack of criticism and self-righteousness is humility.

St. Clement would probably have been thrilled by the capacities and capabilities of our education, but not by the level of our upbringing.

He would have been fascinated by the confidence, courage and social activism of young people, but would advise them to channel the enormous potential of their generation to achieving lasting values ​​rather than ephemeral virtual illusions. Illusions that deprive them of the irreversible time.

He would have reminded us that tradition is the living faith of the dead while traditionalism is the dead faith of the living. He would have indicated that the role of the church is to help people reject the deceptive traditionalism and embrace the true, life-giving tradition.

He would have asked us to stop separation and alienation. Because it is a luxury that many larger, more numerous and more powerful nations cannot afford.

Although the same sun shines above us, although we breathe the same air, even though we live on the same Macedonian soil, we perceive the political opponents as enemies. We do not accept an opinion different from ours. Exclusion governs our relations.

It is time we leave behind the divisions and unite to finally begin to live in peace, progress and prosperity.

However, there is a paradox. The best way to move forward towards the goal is to return on the path we turned away from. It is the path shown to us exactly by St. Clement of Ohrid more than a millennium ago. Yet, the road sign that can help us is hidden precisely in his name - Clement or Clementia, which in Latin stands for mercy or clemecy.

St. Clement of Ohrid got his spiritual name in the year 868 by the Roman Pope Adrian II, in honor of St. Clement of Rome, whose relics were brought by his teachers, St. Constantine - Cyril and Methodius in Rome.

St. Clement of Ohrid insists on mercy in almost each of his messages, including the lesson I began my address with. There, he reminds us that mercy is the only sacrifice acceptable to God.

Why is mercy important? Mercy will help us reconcile, unite together and heal the wounds inflicted in the past two and half decades. Mercy for our closest, our neighbors but also to our opponents will help us build a just Macedonian society, which relies on two values ​​- peace as care for the welfare and dignity of the citizens, and the truth, as a prerequisite for justice.

Dear friends,

In the written records and teachings of St. Clement, we have the map that can lead us to the goal. But, to continue the work, we need to invest in youth.

Vaclav Havel once said that the only policy that is worthy to be called policy focuses on serving the community and those who will come after us. The responsibility of our generation is to invest in the next generation that will continue on the path traced, and will reap the fruits of the work that was planted more than a millennium ago. Only if they follow this truth, they would live their life in fullness.

St. Clement, we are immensely grateful to you.
 

Почитуван ректор на Универзитетот „Св. Климент Охридски“ во Битола,

Ценети професори и студенти,

Дами и господа,

На денешен ден, 2 декември 1986 година, пред точно триесет години, за првпат започна да се одбележува Меѓународниот ден на укинување на ропството. Но, ропството може да биде физичко и духовно. Човековото тело може да биде во окови, а неговиот дух да биде слободен. Иако, низ вековите ние во Македонија сме биле физички и политички поробени, сепак, сме ја зачувале духовната слобода. Таа слобода ја зачнаа нашите просветители и ја утврдија нашите преродбеници. Денеска се сеќаваме на најголемиот од нив – св. Климент Охридски.

Речиси нема град во Македонија во кој нема институција, улица, црква или барем паметник со неговото име. Вториот најстар универзитет во Република Македонија – „Универзитетот Св. Климент Охридски“ во Битола го носи името на основоположникот на првиот словенски универзитет.

Но, за да го разбереме делото на св. Климент Охридски, мора да го разбереме неговото време, а тоа е првиот милиениум.

Првиот милениум започна со зенитот на Римската Империја во времето на Октавијан Август, а заврши со зенитот на Византиската Империја во времето на Василиј II. За помалку од три века, паганската се преобрази во христијанска империја. Христијанството, од прогонувана, стана официјална религија. Истовремено, обединетата Европа почна да се дели. Исламот, од Истокот се прошири и кон Западот. Големата преселба на народите ја сруши Римската и ја трансформирше Византиската Империја. Од првиот, моќта со сите нејзини атрибути се пресели во вториот Рим – во Константинопол.

Од тој царски град – Цариград, во 862-та година, императорот Михаил ги прати двајцата браќа Кирил и Методиј на нивната трета мисија – описменувањето и покрстувањето на Словените. Подготвувајќи се за мисијата, тие направија две нешта. Ја составија првата словенска азбука – глаголицата и на старословенски јазик ја препеаја Библијата. Второ, ја образуваа следната генерација посветени ученици за да го продолжат нивното дело. Меѓу тие ученици беше и идниот Климент Охридски, кој името ќе го добие од римскиот папа во чест на св. Климент Римски, чии мошти браќата ги донеле во Рим.

По смртта на неговиот учител Методиј, Климент, заедно со Наум, Горазд, Ангелариј и Сава, беше протеран од Панонија. Беше назначен за прв словенски епископ. Во Охрид ја создаде Охридската книжевна школа преку која ја образуваше третата генерација од 3 500 ученици. А тие 3 500 ученици описменија и покрстија милиони луѓе низ словенскиот свет. Учениците на Кирил и Методиј ги создадоа учителите на словенството. Со тоа суштински го променија изгледот на европската цивилизација.

Дами и господа,

Кирил, Методиј, Климент, Наум и другите словенски учители и светители на историската сцена се јавија во периодот кога светот полека започна да се стабилизира по големата промена на поредокот. Овие големи мисионери се луѓе од првиот милениум, кои ги подготвуваа словенските народи за предизвиците на вториот милениум.

Вториот милениум започна со големата шизма и крстоносните војни. Со падот на вториот Рим, моќта се пресели во третиот Рим – во Киевска Русија. Тоа е период на новите европски држави во Европа. Милениумот го одбележаа големите географски и научни откритија. Со ширењето на христијанството низ познатиот свет, започнаа и борбите за човекови права и слободи. Им беше објавена војна на неписменоста и незнаењето. Од крвавите верски војни изникна Вестфалскиот поредок на суверени држави. Француската револуција го означи почетокот на ерата на идеологиите кои се судрија во двете светски војни и Студената војна. Расцепканата и поделена Европа започна да се обединува. Преку европските универзитети се обликуваше европскиот образовен систем што создаваше профили во согласност со потребите на времето.

И Република Македонија е дел од тој процес. 

Денес, ние во Македонија имаме над 1 100 основни и средни училишта во кои предаваат над 25 000 наставници и во кои учат над 275 000 ученици. Имаме над 20 универзитети со над 120 факултети. Околу 2 700 универзитетски професори образуваат над 59 000 студенти.

Честопати истакнувам дека во изминатите години, државата имаше три приоритети.

Првиот приоритет беше образование. Вториот приоритет беше образование. И третиот приоритет беше образование.

Овие приоритети дадоа плод. Преку интернетот и новите технологии, знаењето од целиот свет ни е на дофат на нашите прсти. Македонските студенти се дел од единствениот европски образовен простор. Се стипендираат студентите кои со своите врвни резултати ќе успеат да се запишат на најпрестижните универзитети во светот. Нашите млади научници се натпреваруваат на светски натпревари и освојуваат награди на меѓународни научни олимпијади.

Сè на сè, имаме образование кое е задолжително, но и достпано за секој. Целта на ваквото образование беше во насока на исполнување на трите нови приоритети, а тоа се економија, економија и економија. Со други зборови, целта на образованието беше да се образуваат кадри кои ќе бидат конкурентни на пазарот на трудот. Да им се овозможи да бидат свои луѓе, кои со својот индивидуален успех ќе придонесуваат кон колективниот успех на Македонија. Вложувајќи во нивната сегашност, ние вложуваме во нивната иднина, а со тоа и во иднината на Македонија.

Во изминативе 25 години од независноста ние располагаме со ресурси за кои св. Климент Охридски не можел ниту да сонува.

А, сепак не можеме, а да не забележиме дека две нешта недостасуваат во целата слика за современото македонско образование.

Првото нешто е поврзано со духот на нашето време. Освен политичките, вториот милениум го одбележаа и трите индустриски револуции. Првата индустриска револуција со парната машина го механизираше производството. Втората индустриска револуција со електричната енергија и производната лента создаде масовно производство. Третата информатичка револуција го автоматизираше производството.

Денес, ние живееме во третиот милениум. Тоа е милениум на четвртата дигитална револуција што го поврзува физичкото, дигиталното и биолошкото. Благодарение на креативноста и на иновативноста, израснаа нови гранки на интердисциплинарни науки, како биотехнологија, нанотехнологија, биоинформатика, молекуларна биологија и многу други.

Сите овие нешта, нам во Македонија, ни изгледаат далеку. И не е ни чудно, бидејќи нашето образование сè уште подготвува кадри за вториот милениум. Ние сè уште обучуваме млади за професии и струки кои застаруваат. Најразвиените економии во светот речиси и да не образуваат такви кадри бидејќи ги увезуваат, најчесто од земјите како Република Македонија.

Има исклучоци за почит, кои живеат во Македонија, а работат во светот со најсовремените технологии. Но, потребно е исклучокот да стане правило.

Затоа, потребни ни се нови профили, прилагодени на новите потреби. Но, за да го постигнеме тоа, потребно е македонското образование да го прилагодиме кон современата наука. Да инвестираме во истражувањето и во развојот, во технолошките паркови, во современите софистицирани технологии. Потребно ни е образование што ќе создава луѓе за третиот милениум.

Второто нешто што недостасува во нашето образование е поврзано со св. Климент Охридски. Иако св. Климент е човек на првиот милениум, сепак, пораките што тој ни ги пренесува се трајни и непроменливи. Од век до век, од милениум до милениум.

Дами и господа,

Знаеме дека целта на образованието е да ги подготви младите да учествуваат во јавниот живот, каде го пренесуваат сето она што го научиле во училиштата и на универзитетите. Оттука, јавниот простор е лакмусова хартија што може да ни помогне да ја утврдиме состојбата во нашето образование.

Сепак, ако внимателно го погледнеме нашиот јавен простор, нашите пишани и електронски медиуми, нашите расправи и дебати, ќе видиме дека јавниот простор е исполнет со монолози, наместо дијалози, со омраза, наместо со почитување. Дебатите сè почесто се добиваат со надвикување, наместо со убедување.

Корените на ваквиот однос можат да се бараат и во училишните клупи и училници, но и во универзитетските аули и амфитеатри во изминатите 25 години.

Сево ова нè потсетува дека образованието, само по себе, не е доволно. Потребно е и воспитание. Дипломата е можеби потврда за нашето вредно учење и надградување, но не и за нашите морални и етички вредности. 

Одвојувајќи го образованието од воспитанието, како да го нарушивме балансот неопходен за градење целосни и морални личности. Имаме меморизирање наместо размислување, оцени наместо знаење, но и знаење, наместо мудрост.

Затоа, потребно е одново да го пронајдеме златниот баланс меѓу образованието и воспитанието што ќе ни помогне да градиме успешни професионалци кои истовремено се и доблесни и одговорни личности.

Точно е дека секоја човечка епоха има свои уникатни потреби и методи за задоволување на тие потреби. Но, исто така, секоја епоха има едно нешто заедничко, а тоа е основната цел на образованието. 

Почитувани присутни,

Пред неколку години, обидувајќи се да го декодира и објасни македонскиот збор „образование“,  Венко Андоновски нè потсети дека „ние сме она што е нашето образование... тоа сме ние, тоа е нашиот образ“. И затоа, образ-ова-ни-е. Но образот, иако е на лицето, сепак е орган на душата. Од образованието зависи какви сме како луѓе.

Тоа нè носи до прашањето: Какво образование ни оставил во завет нашиот голем учител, св. Климент Охридски? Какви луѓе образувал? Какви генерации оставил зад себе?

Читајќи ги неговите поуки, ќе забележиме дека св. Климент постојано инсистира на следниот наратив. А тоа е дека тој не само што ги описменувал, туку и ги образувал луѓето да бидат морални личности свесни за својот вроден и неотуѓив човечки интегритет и достоинство. Ги потсетувал дека се образ Божји, и дека токму преку образот, кој е орган на душата, тие се слични на Бога. Тоа значи дека секој од нас, мора да го чува образот. Но, како? И за тоа одговорот го наоѓаме кај големиот народен учител.

Во сите свои слова, св. Климент одново и одново зборува за две нешта – за доброто и за убавото. Зборува за етичкото и естетското кои се две страни на истиот медалјон. Добрината е убава, а убавината на душата е добра. И ден-денес, во Охридско-струшкиот регион кога се вели „убо“ или „убаво“ се мисли „добро“. Бидејќи добрината и убавината се нераздвојно поврзани.

За жал, токму доброто и убавото, етичкото и естетското, јавната пристојност и одговорност стануваат исклучок наместо правило во нашето образование. Го изгубивме компасот и скршнавме од патот. А компасот е учењето што ни го пренесува св. Климент Охридски. И тој компас многу јасно и ден-денес покажува кон што треба да се стремиме. Кон тоа, какви поединци треба да градиме. Доволно е да погледнеме каков е човекот кон кој се стреми св. Климент.

Тоа е човек кој ја отфрлил злобата и нема лоши намери кон другите луѓе. Одговорниот човек е гостопримлив и дарежлив, но не само со пари, туку и со време, внимание и охрабрувачки збор за другите луѓе. Одговорниот човек е понизен наместо возгордеан, работлив наместо мрзлив, трудољубив наместо сластољубив, смирен наместо гневен. Одговорниот човек се грижи за својот дом, за своите најблиски, но и за соседите. Се грижи за сопствената држава. Секогаш и секаде го дава најдоброто од себе. 

Сево ова нè упатува на следниот заклучок. Смислата на образованието не е само стекнување со знаење и со вештина, туку и воспитување на морални и одговорни личности. Личности кои со своите таленти, знаења и вештини ќе придонесуваат кон личната благосостојба, но и благосостојбата на целото општество. Но, за да го постигнеме тоа, потребни ни се нови приоритети.

Ако во срцевината на првата тријада на приоритети е образованието, а во втората тријада е економијата, потребна ни е трета, сеопфатна, холистичка тријада, со три приоритети: воспитание, образование и економија.

Во годината кога одбележуваме 11 века од физичкото упокојување на св. Климент Охридски, има само еден начин како вистински ќе ја искажеме нашата благодарност кон него. Не е доволно само да го спомнуваме. Потребно е да го почитуваме. А ќе го почитуваме само ако му останеме верни на неговото дело, на неговиот завет. Ако одново го земеме компасот в рака и се вратиме на патот од кој скршнавме. Да градиме образование кое со воспитание ќе гради одговорни поединци во одговорно општество. И само така ќе успееме, тука во Македонија, вистински да заживееме во третиот милениум.

Ви благодарам.
 

Почитувани стопанственици,
Драги гости,

Минатата 2015 година, Сојузот на стопански комори на Македонија предложи да бидам покровител на една нова манифестација, а тоа е доделување на Признанието за македонски квалитет. Тогаш со задоволство се согласив бидејќи цврсто верувам во две нешта. Прво, дека наспроти сите негативни кампањи во Македонија има квалитет. И, второ, дека за тој квалитет да продолжи да се развива мора да се охрабри и да се награди.

Годинава, престижното признание го добиja 10 македонски компании кои со своето работење станаа амбасадори на македонскиот квалитет. Изборот се прави со прецизно воспоставени и строги критериуми. И во такви строги услови, изборот на десетте носители на Признанието за македонски квалитет воопшто не беше лесен. Не затоа што има малку, туку затоа што има многу компании со извонредни постигнувања и во земјата и надвор од неа. Тоа е показател дека сè повеќе наши стопански субјекти посветено и ревносно работат на унапредување на својот квалитет.

Дами и господа,

Му честитам на Сојузот на стопански комори на Македонија. Доделувајќи го признанието, вие придонесувате кон унапредувањето на бизнис-климата во Македонија. Се радувам што ова признание е резултат на соработката и со мојот кабинет, кој е секогаш тука на располагање за промоција на македонската економија. Како претседател, ја користам речиси секоја моја посета во странство за со себе да понесам и претставници на владиниот економски тим и на македонски компании. Досега, ова партнерство меѓу државата и бизнисот даваше добри резултати. Затоа, заедно ќе продолжиме да освојуваме нови пазари и да градиме силни економски партнерства за Македонија.

Само со постојан развој и напредок на домашните компании можеме да очекуваме економски напредок на Република Македонија. Затоа, посакувам наградените, но и сите други компании да се развиваат и да го подобруваат квалитетот на своите производи, за истовремено со нивниот раст да расте и нашата економија.

Притоа, тие не треба да ја заборават општествената одговорност која е одлика на успешните и големите, и затоа е неизоставен дел од секоја успешна економија и од секое развиено општество.

На крајот би сакал на сите добитници на признанието, но и на сите други членки на Сојузот на стопански комори да им посакам натамошна успешна и плодна работа.

Ви благодарам.