Macedonia cannot be a traffic light and take responsibility to allow or stop migrants and refugees from entering – stated the President of the Republic of Macedonia, H. E. Dr. Gjorge Ivanov at the panel discussion entitled "Towards a further Euro-Atlantic integration of Southeast Europe" within the 52nd Munich Security Conference.

- Macedonia has been deprived of its right to prosperity and this is why we have been facing a political crisis every two years, and a security crisis every ten years. However, it was a good thing that refugees came, in order for others to see that Macedonia is a functioning country, tackling the challenges brought about by refugees in the best way as compared to the other countries on the refugee transit corridor. We were the first country to declare a state of crisis and to deploy army troops in order to protect the border; the first country with a 99% regulation of the migrant flow, a country having all information regarding the security risks that come with the arrival of refugees, stated President Ivanov.

It was the refugees - as the President stated – who showed to the EU that the fastest, cheapest and safest corridor connecting the Middle East and Asia with Europe leads through Macedonia and the Balkans.

According to the Macedonian President, Macedonia took up the role to help Europe as a continent when it came to dealing with the refugee crisis, because, as he added, these challenges will last for a long time.

- Nobody seems to mention that there are 5 million refugees in Egypt. Turkey and Greece need to be helped. Solidarity is necessary and this is why we need European solutions to European challenges, and Macedonia is part of that - President Ivanov underlined.

In this context, President Ivanov pointed out the necessity of a European response to all challenges.

- Macedonia is part of Europe, though not a part of the EU. This should be a moment for a reality check and sobering up, stated President Ivanov.