Distinguished Representatives of the Diplomatic Corps Accredited for the Republic of Macedonia,
Esteemed Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Friends,

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you in Gevgelija, the city that has its spirit of hospitality embedded in its name. At the very beginning of the new 2014, I would like to wish you and your families' good health, happiness and welfare. I wish great progress and prosperity of the people and countries the Republic of Macedonia has established and promotes close and friendly relations with.

"No man is an island, entire of itself!" was written by the poet John Donne 390 years ago. Today, in circumstances of profound global interdependence, we could say that no nation stands for itself. We are not resistant to what is happening in the world, in the global economic and political processes, in the global challenges. Indeed, as the relations with other people makes a person what he or she is, so our nations benefit from the relations with other nations; relations that you, the diplomats, are most deserving for their establishment, improvement and advancement.

You contribute to the advancement and development of the relations between the Republic of Macedonia and your countries. Not only the political, trade and economic relations, but also the cultural, scientific and educational relations. But above all, human relations based on shared values and principles. Your contribution is, indeed, very important and I, personally, thank you very much for that. I encourage you to continue with your efforts and, therefore, you shall enjoy, as before, our full support.

Respected Guests,

In the past five years, the Macedonian foreign policy has been consistently led by the principle of openness to all as a leading principle.

We have invested a lot of energy in creating an environment for a more successful bilateral, regional and multilateral cooperation with the countries in the immediate and extended neighborhood. In this, we have been guided by the principle that the good neighborly relations are a two-way street and that they, to the greatest extent, depend on the countries in the region.

Aware that only in unity we can build the success of Southeast Europe, we have been advocating for infrastructure, energy, economic connectivity of our countries. I am glad that at the top of the regional agenda is connectivity of the Adriatic-Ionian highway with corridors 8 and 10. It implies essential change in geography, reality and in the future of our region.

We have been promoting old and building new relations with European and non-European capitals.

We have won a great legal and moral victory in the International Court of Justice in The Hague.

In recognition of the efforts of the Republic of Macedonia to the protection and promotion of human rights and the right to human dignity, we were elected as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council. Therefore, I would like to use this opportunity to extend my gratitude to the countries that have supported our candidacy.

We have confronted the paradigm of clash among civilizations with the paradigm of dialogue among religions and civilizations. The centuries-old Macedonian tradition of coexistence, acceptance and respect of diversity, as our greatest and most precious value, has been embedded in the world conferences on Dialogue among Religions and Civilizations and the Alliance of Civilizations.

Not long ago, in my Annual Address, I have informed the public about all the successes and achievements of the Republic of Macedonia in domestic and foreign policy terms during my tenure. Nevertheless, I would like to share today with you my vision of the Republic of Macedonia and the region in the future.

Leaving behind the turbulent times of isolation, divisions and conflicts, the region is entering a period of changes for the better. The ill feelings and prejudices will completely give way to cooperation, trust and looking to the future. Yet, some old fashioned politicians are still challenging. But one thing is clear. The process of Europeanization of the Balkans has been launched and it can not be stopped. This process has, in its core, the desire of the citizens for a better life; desire that can come true earlier through integration, cooperation and mutual support, something unseen in the Balkans before. In such a reality, there is no room for close-minded politicians, whose policies are only current states of mind and do not reflect the interests of the citizens nor the wider interests.

Esteemed Excellencies,

At the outset of my speech, I said that Gevgelija is the city of hospitality that opens its doors to all visitors with good intentions. At the very beginning of 2014, the year declared as the Year of Peace, we are marking a century since the beginning of the World War I. Not far from Gevgelija, the Macedonian Front was stretched, where some of the fiercest battles that have affected the outcome of the Great War were fought. The lesson, however, was not learned, and the history repeated, but even more tragic. Finally, from the ruins and ashes of the World War II, Europe started to be built as a peace project.

Therefore, from Gevgelija, from this town near by the border, I would like to extend an invitation to our southern neighbor for cooperation and mutual support, as it is practiced, on a daily basis, by our citizens and societies.

The Republic of Macedonia fully fits into the vision of the region. As a country with great European past, we remain focused on achieving our European future. We have implemented continuous reforms which resulted in the visa liberalization; we have received positive reports of the European Commission and recommendations to start negotiations for membership of the Republic of Macedonia into the European Union.

I would like to state clearly that the status quo in terms of our European integration is not discouraging us. We are strongly determined to implement European values, standards and criteria in the Republic of Macedonia for the benefit of our citizens. We are not alone on the path we have chosen. We have, as partners, the European Parliament, the European Commission, as well as the increasing number of member-states that support the European future of Macedonia. We are particularly grateful to them.

At the very end, I would like to express appreciation for the overall support that you and the countries you represent have provided so far for the Republic of Macedonia.

Thank you.