Distinguished Attendees,
Esteemed Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Dear Friends,

We are living in a time of great global transformation, a period of fundamental change, accompanied by uncertainty and insecurity. Time when we need people with a vision for the future, people who will inspire and motivate, with their work and their lives, young people to strive to be better, more successful, and above all, more human.

In the year when we mark a century since the beginning of World War I, every one of us in Macedonia, in the Balkans and in Europe, needs brilliant innovators who change, with their mind, the reality and the world.
We need diplomats who are able, with their moral and professional authority, to conquer the public space.
We need open-minded people, who unite, rather than divide.
The world today needs sincerely human people, champions of small nations, fighters for human rights and human dignity. People who are fully aware of the past, but clearly focused at changing the present and creating a better future.

160 years ago, a man was born who united all these values, capabilities and features in his personality. Originating from a Vlach family, that from Moskopole through Vevchani in Macedonia, settled in Idvor, Serbia, Mihajlo Pupin became successful in America, where he started to change the world.

We should not be surprised thereof. The Balkans has always provided great people who transcend, with their ideas, visions and actions, the ethnic, political and state boundaries and oblige all mankind. Macedonia is happy to be part of that Balkan spiritual, cultural and creative space.

Therefore, as President of the Republic of Macedonia, it is my honor to join the celebration of this important anniversary - 160 years since the birth of Mihajlo Idvorski Pupin. We are grateful to Mr. Zeljko Shajn, who sheds light in the book "Bell Tower" on les known, yet important aspects of the life of this great man.

Esteemed Excellencies,

As a top scientist and inventor, Pupin invested his brilliant mind in connecting the world. For already a century, people from different continents use the phone to communicate, among other things, thanks to Pupin's coil, one of his numerous inventions.

As a professor and educator, Pupin made the dream of every teacher come true – the students to be better than the teacher, as two of them have received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

As atypical diplomat and peacemaker, respected by the US President, Woodrow Wilson, he influenced the drawing of the Balkan borders at the Paris Peace Conference in 1919. Even today, many Balkan countries are grateful for his efforts.

As a person, aware of his past, Pupin was nostalgic for the homeland of his ancestors and provided his generous assistance. We will never forget it.

As a sincere believer, he proved that it is possible and necessary science to be moral, ethical and humane.

As a benefactor, he impresses even today with his openness, accessibility and concern for others. Pupin managed to defeat success and remained modest, down to earth and always willing to help all those who needed his support.

He achieved it all owing to his life philosophy of reconciliation and connection among people, nations and states. A philosophy we badly need today, more than ever before.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

A common feature of all great people with open minds is that they cannot be appropriated, restrained and limited. Their deeds do not know and recognize ethnic, national or other boundaries. Their works are humane and belong to all people on this planet.

Mihajlo Pupin is an example that we need to be harmonized, connected and united in achieving the shared and noble goals. Through his life and his work, he symbolically links the Balkans, Europe and the world even nowadays with a new hope. Hope that with vision, innovation, creativity and dedicated work we can leave a better future to our children.

Thank you.