President of Republic of Macedonia Dr. Gjorge Ivanov has addressed today the international presidential conference “Facing Tomorrow 2011” taking place in in Jerusalem under the auspices of Israeli President Shimon Peres:

Distinguished President Peres,
Esteemed Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is a real pleasure to be in the capital of the State of Israel, Jerusalem. The fact that this Conference is becoming a tradition is a confirmation of its importance, relevance and need for such a forum. The contact with Jerusalem is a deep inner experience which is always turning ourselves to us. Therefore, I believe that this ancient Jerusalem shall be an inspiration for us all to find new ideas for the future that is awaiting us.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The global challenges that we have been faced with in the past decade allow us to recognize the contours of the future. And, the future is full of contrasts and numerous risks and opportunities. The contrast sharpens our focus and guides us to properly see the challenges and seize the opportunities.

The key challenge arising from the 21st century paradox is the merging and connecting of the world which goes along with its division and stratification in economic, political and cultural sense.

We live in a time when fundamental changes in the international relations are going on. When globalization and information revolution are creating new virtual communities, when young people, who are more and more audio-visual generation, change the world through the Internet, and the States have less and less impact on the virtual world which is occupying the real world.

We are witnesses of the Twitter and Facebook generation. The 21st century is a time when public opinion has a greater influence on decision makers. What recently happened with Wikileaks best speaks of the new challenges and opportunities of the new age in which the relation between democracy and multiculturalism becomes more evident.

Esteemed Excellencies,

Recently, in Warsaw, I attended the 17th Meeting of the Heads of Central European States. It was an opportunity to hear sincere and open discussions on the present challenges and the opportunities offered by the future. On this occasion, I will quote the President of the Italian Republic, Napolitano, who said that the future of Europe, and not of the European Union, is his key interest.

President Napolitano was completely right when he said that we cannot move forward if one half of the European Union is interested in the Eastern Partnership and the other half in the Mediterranean. Europe must simply achieve the necessary unity to be able to continue.


Ladies and Gentlemen,

I can tell you, during the Summit in Warsaw, the US President demonstrated a real vision and leadership. In that sense, I agree with his views on democracy. It is true that democracy is best when it comes from inside, from within the society. If it is difficult to export democracy, then, the least we can do is help democracy through democratization.

The Middle East and North Africa countries today need aid for the ongoing democratic processes. Today they need support identical to that which the Central and Eastern Europe countries received two decades ago.

We were also faced with lack of democracy and totalitarianism, something that part of your neighbors are experiencing now. We are ready to share our experiences from the totalitarianism towards the democratic transition and consolidation of democracy.

We are all different on this planet, but we are one world. Not a single religion teaches believers of bad things, only the bad thought leads to interpretation of God’s message in a manner contrary to the spirit of the religions. At the recent opening of the Holocaust Memorial Center of the Jews from Macedonia, I stated that:
”We all consider the Holocaust a tragedy of the humankind. Each and every one, who in itself cherishes the humane given by God, experiences the Holocaust as a tragedy. Since the Holocaust is not an act of man and people. The Holocaust is an act of those who have given up on God and the humane".

Esteemed Excellencies,

I believe that the development, preservation and promotion of democracy is a process that has no end. Therefore, the Balkans today needs support to continue the Euro-Atlantic integration processes. Today we need what I call European peace or Pax Europeana. Today we need the genuine idea of unification that meant provision of peace. Only accelerated integration will ensure prosperity of the entire region.

Hence, what I pledge for is open mind, open space and open market. I am glad that I am surrounded by prominent intellectuals and scientists who study both the mind and the brain. Both metaphysics and biology. What should connect those who study the brain and those who study the mind is the pursuit of peace and development.

Furthermore, I would like to draw your attention to the role of the EU on the international scene. Europe should consider the great shift of power, both in spatial and paradigmatic regard. Spatially, from west to east, paradigmatically, from geopolitics to geo-culture and geo-profit. The European leaders have an obligation to focus on long-term strategic interests of the continent.


In these crucial moments, Europe should not deal with itself. Europe must not become introvert and closed, because the greatest power of Europe is its openness, while the main weakness is in its closeness and dividedness. Introvert Europe may lose the soft power of persuasion.

I am optimistic about Europe. In the most difficult times, Europe has produced leaders with vision who had the courage to leave the past in history books and, with a fixed gaze on the future, to build the present. Today, the EU enlargement is the most successful peace, security and stability project that has led to reconciliation of many internal European conflicts and historical animosities between the European nations. However, I think a new impetus is needed, especially in the Balkans.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

As it is impossible to write history of Europe without the history of the Jews, but also without the history of the Balkans and Macedonia, it is also difficult to imagine the European future without Israel, without the Balkans and without Macedonia. Let me explain why.

United in diversity, Europe draws its power from its ethnic, cultural, linguistic and religious diversity, interweaving and richness. It is certainly a benefit that should be maintained and promoted.

Macedonian investment to the future of Europe is our model of functional multiethnic democracy; we can enrich the European values with our model of integration without assimilation.

Macedonia managed to build an inclusive democracy based on the centuries-old tradition of coexistence and tolerance. Tradition which is the essence of the Macedonian model of integration without assimilation, respecting the existing cultural, ethnic, linguistic, religious and other diversities.

Respect for ethnic and cultural coexistence is a tradition that we are proud of, and, indeed, we should be. In Macedonia, ethnic, national and religious communities enjoy all rights and freedoms known today. Our model, in its essence, contains universal values and stems from the respect for different cultural matrices.

With the Ohrid Framework Agreement, which has regulated the relations between the ethnic communities in multicultural Macedonia and is the most successful agreement in the wider region of South-East Europe, the centuries-old tradition of correct understanding of the world of diversities, has received its legitimacy and value.

Certainly, multi-ethnic democracy is never a closed issue and is constantly faced with new challenges, but I firmly believe that our model is a model of the future.


Therefore, we stand ready to share the experiences and benefits with our neighbors from the region and beyond. This is our investment and best export product, which can help the European neighbors build democratic systems.

Esteemed Excellencies,

I consider that the real complexity and value of multiculturalism is most evident in multiethnic cities.

We live in a century which is as urban as it is multicultural. More than half of the population already lives in urban centers, and it is expected that by 2050, up to 70% of the world’s population will live in the cities. On a daily basis, over 200,000 people are joining the global urban population, which means that the population of the cities worldwide is growing by more than 2 people every second.

With the influx of new residents from the countries of origin and from foreign countries, many of these growing urban areas are transformed into multiethnic, multi-religious and multilingual centers and thus become hubs of multicultural life.

Hence, particularly interesting is the phenomenon of megalopolises, which are based exactly on harmonization of differences, thus simultaneously establishing a framework and a platform for multiculturalism, which is a wealth for our planet.

Multiethnic cities unite thousands or millions of individuals, needs, requirements and interests. Dozens, even hundreds of ethnic, religious, linguistic, social and economic groups and communities. The multi-ethnic city is a conglomerate of people and groups that is a challenge in itself for those who manage the city.

There is a dilemma, how to establish this unity, which means citizens’ loyalty to the city and to the community.

I believe that the fundamentals of this challenge can be recognized in the wise Solon’s statement that dysnomia, or absence of laws, brings to the city countless evils. Apart from that, eunomia, understood as a good policy or the rule of good laws, introduces order and sets the things in the right place. In other words, eunomia is a prerequisite for a balanced, lawful and orderly life among people.

I think the answer to the dilemma – how is it possible to achieve eunomia in 21st century multiethnic societies - is in the multiethnic cities.

Therefore, the experiences of those who manage the multiethnic cities are crucial for the management of the multiethnic and multicultural societies in this urban and multicultural century. Their experiences become more important for the future of the management with the globalized diversity, rather than the 19th and 20th century nation-state experiences.
Therefore, those who manage the multi-ethnic cities are leaders of the future, because they have understood their fundamental task properly - to create harmony, to ensure harmonious development of the multi-ethnic community, which is a picture of the world.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

At the beginning of my speech I mentioned Jerusalem. Now I would like to finish with Jerusalem, too.

Melting the three monotheistic religions, Jerusalem makes one of the most important summaries of the contemporary civilization. Jerusalem is a paradigm for hope, unity of people, commitment to the common good, love, faith. Jerusalem is paradigm for the glory of God and faith in people today, tomorrow, forever!

Thank you.