Distinguished participants,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

As President of the Republic of Macedonia, it is my honor to address this diplomatic forum within the Macedonian chairmanship of the Central European Initiative – CEI. The honor is even greater since we see one of the oldest European initiatives attaching attention to one of the most important topics - regional cooperation in favor of youth.

We live in an era that is not even similar to any other before. In our fast – changing, hyper-connected world, today's date, November 11th is most famous by the discounts provided by the global stores named AliBaba and AliExpress.

Rare are those who will remember that the armistice that ended the First World War was signed on November 11th, 1918 at 11 am. The system undermined by World War I was later completely destroyed by World War II. Europe witnessed the rise of the Iron Curtain that served as a physical barrier between peoples for half a century. As a result of physical barriers, mental barriers appeared.

However, Europe was bothered by this unnatural wall. The Central European Initiative, chaired currently by the Republic of Macedonia, was one of the few autochthonous European reactions to this artificial division. Ever since its beginnings in 1989, the aim of CEI as well as of the European Union was to destroy the geopolitical and ideological barriers dividing the European continent.

Regional initiatives such as CEI played a key role in spreading democracy and reunification of Europe.

Benelux, the Vishegrad Group, the Nordic Council, the Baltic Council, which are still active today, have become an inspiration and motivation that drove the countries in our region to start the Southeast Europe Cooperation Process back in 1997.

But the Balkan itself was a forerunner of positive processes. In 2003, when our part of Europe was still a synonym for conflicts, divisions and isolation, we initiated the Forum of the Dialogue among Civilizations that was first held in Ohrid under the patronage of former President Trajkovski. Dialogue among civilizations became the predecessor of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations.

And still, we cannot but notice that the situation is far from ideal. As for many other things, we can say that regional cooperation is in crisis.

There is a multitude of reasons for this.

The first serious challenges in the form of the global economic crisis and the current migrant and refugee crisis, were a test for regional initiatives. The European Union itself was not spared from taking this test, having in mind that as a peace project, it functions excellent in times of peace, but not as good in times of crisis. Although the Iron Curtain that used to divide Europe did not even stand for half a century, Europe on the other hand did not stand for 30 years without building new walls. The physical walls that we see now rising in Europe are based on mental barriers and walls, and these are the prejudice and fear of diversity.

Compared to its beginnings, the Southeast Europe Cooperation process has already started showing its weaknesses, except for its parliamentary dimension.

Regretfully, the Forum of the Dialogue among Civilizations disappeared when most needed – when Europe is again relapsing into one of its old diseases – xenophobia.

Even CEI, as the oldest regional initiative, seems to have begun losing its vitality and attractiveness.

What is all of this due to? It is difficult to give a unique answer.

Some regional initiatives failed to resist the temptation that almost all organizations face at some point, and that is, to become an aim in itself.

Other initiatives preserved their form, but lost the essence of regional cooperation, reducing it to declarations without actions and many good wishes without any serious intentions for their implementation.

Other initiatives that overestimated their capacities fell into the trap of hyperactivity and tried to cover all current topics. This unfortunately led to overlapping of competences, doubling costs and activities, without delivering the promised results.

As a result of all this, a serious vacuum space was created in the area of regional cooperation.

Dear participants,

In such complex circumstances, it is quite natural for states to focus on what is actually bringing results. Authorities increasingly shift their time, attention and dedication to the regional initiatives that, so to say, offer the best and highest quality services on the market.

While some of the older mechanisms faded out, new mechanisms are filling in the vacuum in terms of cooperation. Let me give you just two examples.

The first example is the result of an initiative from the region itself.

Unlike some older Member States of the Union who seem to have forgotten the region they belong to, Slovenia and Croatia demonstrated responsibility towards the region they naturally affiliate with. The initiated the Brdo – Brijuni Process which enabled us to substitute declarations with specific projects that provide visible results. It has enabled us to substitute formality with an informal, but sincere dialogue regarding all issues of importance to the countries from the region.

For the candidate countries for membership in the Union, Brdo - Brijuni became a voice for the voiceless since it managed to reinstall our region in the Brussels agenda. In the past two years, we have had three highly productive Summits with the participation of President Hollande, Chancellor Merkel and President Fischer.

Just recently, on behalf of all countries participating in the Brdo Brijuni Process, Slovenia and Croatia sent a letter to the President of the European Council, conveying the conclusions of the last Summit of the Process.
One of the conclusions was that the postponement of enlargement, combined with the economic crisis and global security challenges has made our region even more vulnerable to external destabilization factors. It stated that the enlargement process is not purely technical, but above all a political and strategic matter. They urged Mr. Tusk for a joint Summit of the Leaders of the Union and the Brdo Brijuni Process - one that would be fully dedicated to restarting the enlargement process.

The Process delivered a specific result in the form of a Summit of the European Union and the Western Balkans countries. Both Summits held in Berlin and Vienna, with participation of Prime Ministers and Ministers of Foreign Affairs, produced specific projects regarding the Adriatic – Ionic road and Munich – Istanbul railroad.

This was the first example of regional cooperation whereby initiatives come from within the region itself.

But, there is also a second example of regional cooperation whereby initiatives come from outside the region.

Today, 13 out of the 18 CEI Member States are part of the 16+1 initiative of the People's Republic of China for cooperation with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. As a result of this cooperation, two major highways are being constructed in Macedonia only.

I call upon the CEI to show the same enthusiasm when it comes to completing European integration. It is time for this continent to wave a single flag - the flag of the European Union.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It appears that as countries we are too small for the great challenges imposed by globalization, but at the same time we are too big for the everyday challenges of our citizens. This being the need for a carefree childhood for our children, career prospective for you as young people, and a calm old age for our senior citizens.

The answer to both types of challenges is to be sought for in regional cooperation that should help in finding common solutions.

Older regional initiatives justified their existence. CEI contributed to the unification and democratization of Central, Eastern and Southeast Europe. The Cooperation Process and the Dialogue among Civilizations relaxed tensions among the countries in the region that went through the turbulent Nineties.

It was proven that the best initiatives are those created and built by the region itself, instead of being imposed by remote centers of influence. However, it is 2015. The world has changed dramatically. It is time to adapt initiatives to the specific and real needs of the citizens of our regions.

Distinguished young diplomats,

I am aware that my speech today is not as diplomatic, but it is very sincere. My appeal to you today is to be the wake-up call for regional initiatives.

Do not fit in the form of organizations and initiatives, because you do not exist for them, but they exist for you, even though in the course of time some of them forgot their raison d'être.

Help them rediscover their reason of existence.
Help them in recognizing your real needs and the needs of young generations. This can only be achieved by fewer declarations and more specific initiatives and proposals based on reality.

You are the generation of new technologies, a generation enjoying the advantages of global connections. You are already living in a world that provides you access to an enormous volume of findings and information.

Introduce your idealism and perceptions in regional initiatives and organizations. Introduce that fresh view of the new reality we live in, free of the prejudice from the past.


Perhaps one of the solutions might be to have greater focus on the strengths of these initiatives. We have seen that everyone cannot achieve everything. But every organization can achieve something and thus contribute to regional cooperation and creating a positive climate for you, young people.

And in order to achieve that, these organizations and initiatives must be reformed, and opened even more towards the youth, making your voice heard.

As President, but also as a university professor, I hear the voice of the youth and I know that the entire region is facing brain drain. I fully understand the motive of young people to seek for a better life abroad. But it is far more important and braver for young people to reject the paradigms of old leadership and create such a better life in their own countries, instead of looking for it elsewhere.

In order to achieve this, you need to be in the organizations without becoming prisoners to organizational logic.

With this as my final thought, I wish you a successful conference.

Thank you.