Distinguished professors, participants, friends and supporters of the School for Young Leaders,

It is a real honor and pleasure for me to greet you today in Ohrid, the place where, as mentioned, for millennia knowledge has been transmitted from one to other generation. Ohrid, which is our spiritual capital and a symbol of what connects and binds us. Symbolically, it is what the School has become today.

This fourth generation, indeed, confirms what we had in the past and what we plan for the future. At the beginning it was only an idea, an idea to create youth for the future and future for the youth, because Macedonia needs people who know how to lead now and in the future. We need leaders not only in politics but we need leaders in economy, culture, business, sports, in all fields. Therefore, the structure of the participants varies each year and involves different segments of our society. Asked about the idea for the creation of such a School, I frankly say: What can you expect from a professor getting involved into politics but establishing a school. Hence, the School is a result of the desire to continue with education and transfer of knowledge. This School is, in a way, recognition of the entire individual success of the participants achieved so far, because, through the School, you will upgrade and improve all the knowledge you have gained. This School is not just for obtaining knowledge; this is a School for many skills, experiences from our friends of the School. I call them friends because they are constantly in contact with us and they tell us what to expect from this generation, from those who are in these positions, in these state responsible posts. For we live in a world that is rapidly changing, world in which knowledge quickly becomes obsolete, world that is facing major challenges and requires new solutions. Solutions that sometimes go beyond the patterns we know, solutions that must be offered by people who are not burdened by many traumas of the past.

This is a generation that is growing; generation we are trying to focus in a direction to be able to offer solutions, to offer visions, to offer views for this fast revolving world. This would be helpful not only for Macedonia, but for the region, for the entire planet, because we live in a world in which global has become local. What happens globally is felt in our everyday life. The fact that we have mobile phones that give us the possibility to access the entire human knowledge indicates that we have really huge potential and great opportunities to influence not only the situation in our countries, but the situation in the wider surroundings.

I take this opportunity to express a public gratitude to the business community of Macedonia that has recognized the idea and generously and wholeheartedly supports it. This year we have international supporters too. I am really thankful that they have realized that this is for their benefit, that Macedonia really needs people who will be able to establish contacts and friendships with other people in the world. The School not only lives these days while we are in Ohrid, but it continues to live through the Alumni Association throughout the year, waiting the next generation. As you were welcomed by previous School participants, you will have the opportunity to welcome the participants of the next generations. It is, in a way, a solid friendship that will follow you in your life and allow you to interact with other successful people who have achieved much in their life and need to progress and advance. That is Macedonia's capital. You are the ones who will be in these positions one day, you are the ones who will create one day, Macedonia will be really proud of you. Investing in you is investing in those who come after you.

I really feel immense joy and happiness when I see all former participants on the lists of awards, recognitions, scholarships. I am filled with happiness when I meet our successful people at foreign universities, foreign companies. Although they are out of Macedonia, wherever they go, they have Macedonia with them, and they work for Macedonia. Many of them come as lecturers and participants at the School, which only shows that the School is really a big ship that is sailing. This was said to the first generation. I urged last generation to understand the School metaphorically as a journey by car, because when you are in a car you must look ahead. Therefore, the windscreen is always a big window, whereas the rear-view mirror is a small one, enough for you to see who is about to pass you by and jeopardize your safety. We, unfortunately, in the past, in our region, the rear-view mirror was so big that there were so many car crashes and accidents we still try to overcome. Thus, I wish that you see more ahead, that you hold the steering wheel firmly and have as many fellow travelers as possible and transfer them in a different world, a world filled with joy and happiness.

Principles of knowledge and experience are today as they were in ancient times. Principles remain the same. Therefore, we expect you to be diligent, hardworking and always ethical. To see the consequence of each decision you make, and the knowledge that you gain at this School to allow you to be several steps ahead of others, to think from the future point of view and to see all the consequences of the decisions you must make, to be aware of everything that has been transferred to you that you need to persevere and transfer to the next generation. That is why we insist so much on ethics in our School, we insist on consistency in the adoption and execution of the tasks, because during the School you will have to cope with real problems that need a solution. You will be trained to work in teams and the team that will face crisis you will be able to see who is the leader, to see who can lead and who can bring solutions. You will be educated to upgrade the experience of our distinguished guests and friends. You will simply be faced with something that cannot be found in your books, because many of the books you studied of are already outdated. The experience and knowledge of our guests and friends, the decisions they have made in the past, which allowed them to be here today with us, should be inspiration for you. I wish you success, many ideas, many visions, lots of desires to contribute to your environment after the School. I repeat, big thanks to our friends, to the supporters, and great gratitude to the media that enables our work here to be accessible to the public, to make known that in Macedonia world-class people come, people from world renown institutions, international institutions, distinguished leaders of countries who never leave you indifferent and always have something to say and learn from them. Once again, I wish you success and I will listen to you at the closure of the School.

Thank you.