Respected,

At the outset, I would like to use this opportunity to wish you and your families health, happiness and future personal and professional successes in the New Year, 2010.

Dear Guests,

We have just left behind a very tough year, year of global challenges and somber implications. Yet, before us is a year of hope and expectations, a year in which, once again, the answers to the global problems must be found in strengthening of multilateralism and dialogue, while the answers to the internal challenges must be negotiated by togetherness and unity.

2009 left some memories that we all wish to forget as soon as possible. Even though we want to forget them, we must learn from them. The fear and ambiguity of the scope of the global financial and economic crisis were demonstrated as justifiable.

The consequences of this huge crisis will preoccupy us this year as well. Yet, it is good that the first signs of rehabilitation are already evident, even on a global scale. Even if the side effects of this problem are far-reaching, they certainly may not defocus our perception and slow down our action when identifying our priorities.

I will only mention a few of them: planet preservation, nature and climate changes, spreading of democracy and maintenance of peace and security, fight against terrorism and organized crime, implementation of Millennium Development Goals, respect of human freedoms and rights, international law and principles, and the threats of new forms of illnesses and viruses. All of these things are inter-dependant, closely intertwined and, more or less, affect us all. However, they are of utmost importance, an imperative, for our generation.

Excellencies,

For me, and for my fellow citizens, 2009 will be remembered as well for several great and significant accomplishments. Please allow me to revisit some of those grand moments worth noting in 2009, a number of which will also enter our history.

We shall remember Macedonia in the previous year for its successful elections, which revealed the maturity of Macedonian democracy, and demonstrated the level, the capacity, and capabilities of its institutions, of all participants in the election process.

While Europe celebrated the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, Macedonia managed to tear down another wall, the Schengen wall, which extendedly kept our citizens from experiencing the real feeling of belonging to the huge European family. This was a very important step forward towards the EU, and also an important development in our recent history.

The commitment and the overall engagement of the society directed towards the EU agenda were validated adequately with the recommendation of the European Commission for opening of negotiations with EU. With the fulfillment of the set goals, the Republic of Macedonia showed very clearly that it steps along the right path, that it accomplishes its tasks diligently, has the capacities, will and ability to share the common values and standards.

United Europe is the largest project on the old continent, and here I should add, a civilization-scale project. That is a project that generates peace, stability and prosperity, a project that is founded on the values and contributions of the democracy and freedom. With the Lisbon Treaty, the EU reached a consensus for the strategic priorities, for the new internal organizational structure, for its ever-stronger effect on the international arena, and even more importantly for us, it created the basis for finalization of the enlargement process.

In this context, the main goal of my country for 2009 was unfulfilled, thus our job is not done yet. The reasons are well known. The reality is what it is. I regret to say that due to irrational reasons and imposed dispute, the path to prosperity and well-being for generations and generations of Macedonian citizens is burdened. Notwithstanding, it is our responsibility to change this reality. Macedonia in 2010 will remain on this path. Macedonia knows where it is and where it belongs, and will not give up on its goal.

Macedonia will do everything in its capacity in order to demonstrate to the world its capacity and relevance, to show that it deserves to be respected. Macedonia and its citizens are the ones who feel the consequences of remaining outside of the Euro-Atlantic structures, and there is nothing more normal than being most-interested in conquering such obstacles. Yet, all must understand that we will not allow our dignity to be trampled on. The identity issues are issues that we simply don’t want to, or even more accurately, don’t have the right to negotiate.

I believe that even our neighbor is aware that no one else in this world can negotiate over our identity. Identity is a feeling a person is born with, and that individual feeling of the citizens, cannot simply be deprived, during a table discussion, with an act, on a piece of paper.

I assume and believe that as long as our neighbor actually, and not declaratively shows readiness for a solution, as long as it shows good will, understanding and respect to what is elementary, something on which the today’s order rests upon, the right of self-identification, self-determination, and as long as it abides the Resolutions of the World Organization and the international law and principles, a compromise may be reached. I acknowledge that we are ready.

Excellencies

You are direct witnesses of the progress and achievements of the Republic of Macedonia. You are witnesses of the continuous substantial reforms in all spheres of the society. The Republic of Macedonia is constantly upgrading its society which rests upon the rule of law and respect of human rights, upon the unique model of multiethnic co-existence.

Macedonia in continuity has been demonstrating its compatibility with NATO standards and acts as a de facto member of the Alliance. This is understood by all, no one can deny it, and thus many words need not be wasted on this. Macedonia, aware of its international obligations and responsibility, will persist in giving its unreserved support to the peacekeeping missions in Afghanistan.

My country is an active and strong supporter of the regional cooperation and remains strongly committed to the good-neighborly relations, to the dialogue that serves as a key tool for resolving all open issues in the region.

In 2010, Macedonia will once again be able to show what it can do and provide contribution to the international arena by taking over the presidency of the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers.

We will continue working on deepening of the international relations and the cooperation with your countries. Last year I was dedicated exactly on developing policy of openness and well-neighborly relations. I will do this with even greater enthusiasm this year.

Availing myself of this opportunity, I would like to extend my gratitude to you and your countries’ overall support towards the Republic of Macedonia. I expect that the year 2010 will be a year when we will work closely together again. With our dedication and your support, the results will eventually come.

Dear Guests,

at the very end. The destiny of the politicians, of the state’s leaderships, is to be optimistic by definition. I am an optimist. I am aware that the reality is sometimes bleak, disappointing, but it must not discourage us. The progress and the successes will not come on their own. Our commitment and our efforts in the realization of the strategic goals, in raising the standard of living for our citizens, for further improvement of the collective ambience in the society, shall continue with increased dynamics.

Thank you for your attention.