Address by the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov at the ceremony of awarding H.E. Dr. Otto von Habsburg with the Order of Merits for Macedonia for his exceptional contribution in strengthening of the international position and reputation of the Republic of Macedonia, and for promotion of the European perspective of the country through his personal engagement, as well as in the capacity of President of the Paneuropean Union and as Member of the European Parliament. On behalf of H.E. Dr. Otto von Habsburg, the Order of Merits for Macedonia will be handed over to his son, H.E. Georg von Habsburg, Ambassador for European Affairs in the Government of the Republic of Hungary.


Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today we have gathered together to pay tribute to a great European, a great friend of Macedonia, to Dr. Otto von Habsburg.

At the International Pan-European Union Conference held in Ohrid in 2007, von Habsburg said: "In five-year time I will be a hundred years old, and by then I wish Macedonia to join the European Union. Today, he is ninety-nine years old, and his desire, regrettably, has not yet been fulfilled. Macedonia is not yet a member of the European Union and has not yet launched accession negotiations, although it stands ready for that. Let me use this solemn occasion and wish him good health and may he live for many years more. I wish his desire to visit Macedonia as a full-fledged member of the European Union be fulfilled as soon as possible.


In the spirit of his famous ancestors, who entrusted the European civilization immeasurably, Otto von Habsburg put himself in service to the idea of free, democratic and prosperous Europe. Europe united in its diversity.


After the Second World War, Otto von Habsburg remained consistent opponent of the totalitarianism. During the Cold War, as a member of the European Parliament and as President of the International Pan-European Union, Otto von Habsburg carried the torch that lit the path to freedom to all those peoples who found themselves captured behind the Iron Curtain. Macedonia and its citizens are grateful for Otto von Habsburg’s, his family’s and close associates’ commitment dedicated to overcoming the ideological division of Europe. After the fall of the Berlin Wall, his leitmotif was they to become part of the European family of free and democratic nations.
Dr. Otto von Habsburg is one of the visionaries and architects of the enlargement of the European Union. Guided by the fundamental idea of Pan-European Union, unity of all European nations in a strong Europe, he never forgot Macedonia, always and everywhere advocating for Macedonia, as he often used to say, "a small, but very meritorious country with a strategic importance for Europe." "Europe will not be complete without Macedonia", were the words of Otto von Habsburg.


Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

Whenever Macedonia was at a crossroad, it was Otto von Habsburg with his authority to remind the decision makers in the European capitals that "European interest is to do everything so that there is peace for this nation and that they can find their place in the family of democratic nations”.

Since the dawn of our independence, we have been faced with international isolation, because the right to our own name was denied to us. The doors of many international organizations for years were closed for us. But this was not the case with the Pan-European Union. Owing to Dr. Otto von Habsburg, the Pan-European Union of Macedonia was admitted to the International Pan-European Union in less than four months, although the necessary period for full membership is two years. He has opened the doors and represented us where we could not enter. This order is a kind of gratitude for Macedonian activists and supporters of the Pan-European movement who immediately recognized the natural affiliation of the Republic of Macedonia to this movement.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Macedonia considers Dr. Otto von Habsburg a great friend, proven and sincere lobbyist.
I feel sorry that he was not able to join us today personally, at this rewarding celebration of his merits for the Republic of Macedonia. Today we are honoured to have among us his younger son Georg Habsburg-Lotringen from Hungary, who is our great friend. In Austria, we are supported by his elder son Karl, as President of the Pan-European Union of Austria. In the Swedish Parliament, as a proven friend of our country, the interests of the Republic of Macedonia are defended by his daughter Valburga.

Therefore, Macedonia is immensely grateful for the tireless engagement and efforts of Dr. Otto von Habsburg, and is proud at the same time that has him as a sincere friend and supporter. As a token of our deep appreciation to him personally and to his family, it gives me great honour to hand over the "Order of Merits for Macedonia”, to his son Georg.

Thank you.