Monday, 27 September 2010, Istanbul
MEETING OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA, MR. TRAJKO VELJANOSKI WITH THE ECUMENICAL PATRIARCH BARTHOLOMEW AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF TURKEY ABDULLAH GÜL
The President of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Trajko Veljanoski, in the framework of the two days official visit of the Republic of Turkey had a meeting, in Istanbul, with the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and the President of the Republic of Turkey, Mr. Abdullah Gül.
On the meeting in the Ecumenical Patriarchate the President Veljanoski expressed his pleasure that he is meeting the Patriarch Bartholomew on this particular day, the Holy Cross Day. The President expressed appreciation and gratitude for the pastoral and spiritual contribution of the Patriarch Bartholomew to the whole Orthodox Ecumene, which too belongs to the Macedonian National and the Macedonian Orthodox Church- Ohrid Archiepiscopacy.
The President Veljanoski underlined that the Christianity and the Orthodoxy for the Macedonian nation are one of the pillars of the national, cultural and linguistic identity. Mr. Veljanoski expressed conviction that only through dialogue, will and respect for the other and different, every issue can be resolved and a solution for a problem can be found.
The President Veljanoski, conveyed the greetings from the Head of the Macedonian Orthodox Church HH Stefan and invited the Patriarch to visit the Republic of Macedonia, above all, said the President, because this will be a great joy for the Macedonian Citizens.
The Ecumenical Patriarch underlined that these meetings are joyful and that with pleasure the Patriarch after meeting the President Ivanov and the Prime Minister Gruevski is meeting the Delegation from the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia.
Reminding of the church issue, he expressed hope that it will be solved in near future and expressed sincere hope for prompt solution of the name issue. He considers the official visit to a sign of the good relations between the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Turkey and expressed his pleasure from the fact that the relation with our Southern neighbour is improving.
On behalf of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia, the President Veljanoski presented the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew an icon, made by a Macedonian painter, in Byzantine style from the Ohrid School- icons made in 13th century.
On the meeting with the President of the Republic of Turkey, Mr. Abdullah Gül, the President Veljanoski expressed appreciation for the principle stand of the Republic of Turkey regarding the Membership of the Republic of Macedonia in EU and NATO and the support provided by the Turkish nation for the Macedonian nation. He expressed conviction that following the good political relations on every level, the cooperation between both states will be deepened on the level of economy in the near future.
The President of the Republic of Turkey, Mr. Abdullah Gül underlined that the Republic of Turkey remains a friend of the Republic of Macedonia and that regardless of the events, the Republic of Macedonia should remain on the path for achieving the reforms, which will put the Republic of Macedonia in position to have all arguments on its side during the endeavours to be a Member State of EU and NATO.