Wednesday, 10 July 2013
THE PRESIDENT VELJANOSKI WELCOMED THE NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE WORLD BANK, MR. FRANK HEEMSKERK
At the meeting, the interlocutors exchanged opinions on many issues of interest for the cooperation between the Republic of Macedonia and the World Bank. The President of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Trajko Veljanoski informed the guest on the great interest and the justification for the cooperation with the World Bank, especially from the aspect that it is an assistance that the Republic of Macedonia receives under very good conditions and that, inter alia, the assistance of the World Bank prevented the economic crisis to influence he Republic of Macedonia on larger scale.
The President Veljanoski underlined that the Assembly is at disposal for cooperation, especially when enabling the citizens to realistically feel the benefit from the cooperation with the World Bank.
He also informed the guest that the Republic of Macedonia is dedicated on enforcement of the reforms in order to improve the lives of its citizens, and not simply because it is a condition that needs to be fulfilled on the path of the European Integration of the state.
The President Veljanoski underlined that it is extremely important for the Republic of Macedonia to be a decent and worthy member of the European Family, a member which is capable to face the competitiveness on the area of politics and economy, once it becomes a member of the family.
The guest expressed his pleasure from the meeting with the President of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia, underlining his experience as a Member of the Parliament of Netherlands. 
He underlined that the World Bank is a bank of the world, aiming to constantly be engaged in the elimination of the poverty and providing prosperity, stability, economic, environmental and social sustainability, and in this context the World Bank works in Asia, South Africa and the Balkans.
Mr. Heemskerk stated that the World Bank is too focused on the Governments and the NGOs, and that it should be significantly focused on the society, Parliaments and the business sector. He also stated that the 40% of the citizens that is categorised as poor should feel the benefits of the work of the World Bank.
Mr. Heemskerk expressed conviction that the World Bank made and makes efforts to assist the Republic of Macedonia in the fulfilment of the necessary measures and steps in the process of becoming a Member of the European Union.