Excellencies, Eminencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a great privilege for me to have this opportunity to speak at this Conference and address this eminent audience that represents the overall global inter-religious diversity, inter-cultural wealth. Here, in Ohrid, this European and even world spiritual and cultural cradle, we want to affirm the practical value of dialogue among people, which is, has been and will remain the only non-violent way out from the falls of human existence.

 Respected friends. Two decades following the fall of the Berlin Wall we have the unique opportunity to assess the true gains of dialogue as an instrument to overcome and resolve the misunderstandings and differences. I started with the fall of the Berlin Wall as a significant step in the construction of what I call Pax Europana. It is a concept of open space dominated by dialogue and respect among people, communities and religions. An open space in which all people are respected for what they are, regardless of where they live and work. An open space where the worlds of differences and the power of geo-culture shall be properly understood.

The idea of an open space is the source of the European strength and the foundation of the European success.

Peace is the foundation of wellbeing of human existence. Therefore, conferences like this one are the answer to the bitter issue about the true modalities of living the dialogue, in times when intolerance and xenophobia threaten to destroy its existence. In times when the outdated and backward policies appear again on the horizon, policies which trouble human identity and dignity and which abuse faith. In this light, it is especially important to determine the modalities of dialogue among religions, as every policy is unsustainable without spirituality. Religion is more or less one of the key traits of identity of the individuals and the communities. Sustainable peace is possible if pluralism in society also incorporates religious pluralism.   

Distinguished attendees,

Today the world, at least in theory, supports dialogue. To what degree reality goes hand in hand with theory, even wellbeing which stems from all our visions for the present and the future, is conditioned by the implementation of the conclusions of conferences such as this one, which, regretfully, are still insufficient in number. This depends on our efforts to encourage the use of dialogue as an instrument for most successful modelling of the future. We should acknowledge the efforts of UNESCO and other international organizations to encourage and support the inter-civilization dialogue, efforts especially directed to the sensitive geo-strategic parts of the world, where it is especially indispensable to understand the marginalized groups, the minorities and, of course, the youth, as future shapers of the order of the civilization. If we look back on the remote history of human civilization, there is incontestable, practical and well-grounded evidence of the power of dialogue.

The state can live in prosperity only if the principles of pluralism and democracy are observed, if human rights and freedoms, as well as civil rights of all are fulfilled, if there are equal opportunities for both men and women and if appropriate and good relations are established among the religious communities. If this balance be disturbed in any respect, problems are created and in a democratic society, these problems can only be resolved through dialogue.

Respected participants,

The Republic of Macedonia is proud of its unique and inclusive model of democracy, a model of integration without assimilation. In Macedonia there are approximately twenty ethnic, religious, linguistic and national communities which enjoy all universal rights and freedoms which are known today. The multi-ethnic and multi-confessional co-existence which is part of  the everyday life in Macedonia has been built for centuries. The Macedonian model is the model of the future, a model which essentially contains the universal values, and has the respect of different cultural matrixes as a starting point. This model is the strongest acknowledgement granted to the Republic of Macedonia by the international community. This is one of the reasons for the organization of this conference, right here in Ohrid in Macedonia.

You will all agree that peace is a precondition for economic development everywhere, and particularly here in the Balkans. And inversely, the economic development is the most solid foundation that peace dwells upon everywhere and particularly here in the Balkans. We need support for our societal and social model so that we could prosper to the sphere of free and sustainable development. Just as the western model of economic development needs the Western Balkans and the open economic space, we also need support to build our economic prosperity which is the most sustainable peace concept worldwide.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

By organizing this conference which grows into a positive tradition, Macedonia reaffirms its dedication to the construction of a global platform for peace and dialogue among the religions. The example of Macedonia encourages the spiritual and religious actors worldwide to join this shared venture.

We are prepared to share our experience and gains of the Macedonian model which, if properly applied, can contribute to the strengthening of the inter-cultural and inter-religious cooperation and understanding and preventing the occurrence of conflicts.

Nature and the Almighty Creator create the differences. All trees and plants are different in the forest. All birds in the sky are different. All fish in the water are different. All people on the Earth are different. Some like to fly and flock together. Only the self-sufficient ones do not live in a flock or a school. Therefore God created the Word so we could all communicate. The dialogue is possible only when there is communication. Those who do not communicate are the ones who choose the path to isolation and ghettoisation. Macedonia lives in the world of diversity. Life has taught us to coexistence and tolerance. The different worlds are rightly understood and we respect them. We do not only respect this century-long tradition and reality, but we also reflect it in the overall social and political life in Macedonia.

Thus we respect the creation of the Almighty Creator, the Nature. In this region, the coexistence is founded on this respect that we have, on this crossroads of civilizations, in this stunning Macedonia.

Thank you for your attention.