Respected Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my special honor to greet you here in the temple of science and art, as a patron and as a participant at the Fourth International Congress "Islamic Civilization in the Balkans.

The cultural heritage of the Balkans, in every historical period, has testified to the complexity of life built by different people, different religious, ethnic and linguistic communities. They oftentimes were mutually confronted, clashed; however, they knew how to find a model of coexistence, mutual respect and mutual interest.

Given the fact that the Balkans is the space where East and West meet, between the Hellenistic and Roman sphere of influence, the Balkans is simply a meeting place of great civilizations and cultures that brought along the richness of diversity to these areas. Indeed, the Balkans was also a challenge that requested appropriate response.

In the Balkans, the division of Christianity in Orthodoxy and Catholicism caused much trauma and painful memories, especially to the Bogomils. Various Christian churches have lived side by side, fostering a common cultural framework that contained opposed Orthodox and Catholic influences, the Greek alfavit, the Roman abeceda, Glagolitic and Cyrillic alphabet.

Two centuries prior to the collapse of Byzantium, the Balkans suffered from political instability and internal fights between the Greek, Slavic, Venetian rulers and owners. In such an atmosphere did the Ottomans and the Islamic civilization come in the Balkans.

In many national histories in the Balkans, the advent of Islam and the Ottoman rule is interpreted as the beginning of a new dark period of the Balkans the Christians will never fully recover from.

However, the historical facts indicate something totally different. For example, as Mark Mazover states, an expert very well familiar with the Balkan situation: the old rulers were replaced with new one. The Ottoman soldiers (both Muslims and Christians) were rewarded with property and some of the old Byzantine duties were still being practiced. Reputable Greek and Slavic families converted to Islam and became part of the Ottoman elite, some succeeded, for a short time, to retain their property without having to change their faith.

The endless wars that raged in the XIV century on the Balkans were replaced with stability brought by the organized Ottoman state. That period in history, particularly the XVI and XVII century is known as "Pax Ottomana".

In the XVIII and XIX century the situation was changed. The Empire faced with new difficulties arising from the constant warfare. At that time, the Balkans ensured about two thirds of the taxes of the entire Empire. The greatest burden fell on the peasantry. Thus, the hajduks occurred. The ideas from the French Revolution came to the Balkans. Uprisings began, new states were established. Again, there were new divisions and the Balkans became a space hard to define.

After acknowledging the Islam, the Balkan nations started to think more tolerant of people of other religions and different political affiliation. And there was a reaction with a desire for self-preservation. The feeling of belonging to a community and the heroic deed incentive were strengthened. Influence on literature, especially love poetry, folklore, epics was felt. Impact on music was also present.

Ottoman gardening and particularly floriculture changed the appearance of Balkan cities and villages. Everywhere flowers were planted, especially roses, tulips, and jasmine. Fruit orchards were planted that did not exist previously in the Balkans: figs, almonds, apricots, melons, watermelons and various spices. People started to grow corn. Huge was the influence on creating new trades and services: copper pots, leather, cotton and silk products. There was a huge impact on all Balkan cuisines. Food was becoming more diverse, with specialties that are being served even today.

Islamic civilization in the Balkans, the meaning of which is equivalent to the meaning of Christian civilization, essentially affected the physiognomy and the richness of our cultures and societies.
The moral lesson of this is that the Balkans is peaceful and stable, and produces peace, stability and security only when there is open space. Then, the Balkans has the ability to reconcile differences, to bring together cultures and civilizations, to create lasting value.

Dear participants,

In Macedonia, coexistence between Christianity and Islam can be seen almost everywhere, in the common sacred places, where both Christians and Muslims pray to God together, in the tradition of joint celebration of the most important religious holidays.

In our Assembly, in the Government, in certain municipalities, senior officials and ordinary employees of different religions work together. Macedonia had a President who did not belong to the religious community of the majority. It was Macedonia that gave to the world Mother Teresa, respected by everyone in our region today, regardless of the religion. It is togetherness that is expressed in almost all spheres. We are experiencing renewal of the religious feelings of our citizens, Christians, Muslims, Jews. This natural reaction means return to some forgotten values, and an attempt to find new answers to modern times. It is understandable that there are reactions, sometimes concern deriving from the restoration and the new forms of religious life in Macedonia. Therefore, we must know each other better, insist on the notion that respect for one's own religion is not an act directed against someone else. As is freedom of citizens who do not belong to a particular religion, who certainly have the right to act contrary to religious rules, cannot and may not be understood as an attack on religion. Macedonian multiethnic and multi-confessional character does not mean that the construction of religious temples should be limited, or studying the religions should be restricted, so as not to offend the others. On the contrary, this means freedom to celebrate religion, as well as freedom not to celebrate any religion.

Certainly, religion may not be imposed, and may not intimidate. To be vital, the system of belief must be open and provide an opportunity to the believers to answer adequately to the question of doubt. A strong religion does not force its believers; a strong religion attracts believers like a light in the night.

Our outstanding contribution as a country in which religions, traditions and various ethnic groups cooperate in building a common home and are in quest of answers to certain eternal questions, is a proof that a better future for the region, Europe and the world is possible.

Confident that this significant, fourth International Congress will throw a new light on the values of Islamic civilization in the Balkans, I wish you successful and fruitful work.

Thank you.