Tuesday, 5 March 2013, India
PRESIDENT VELJANOSKI MET WITH MR. MOHAMMAD HAMID ANSARI AND MS. PRENEET KAUR
The President of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia Mr. Trajko Veljanoski, who is in an official three-day visit to India, today met with the Vice President of India Mr. Mohammad Hamid Ansari, who is also Chairman of India Parliament's Upper House (Rajya Sabha). Twelve senators from the Indian Parliament also attended the meeting.
At the beginning of the meeting Mr. Veljanoski expressed satisfaction from the opportunity to head the first visit of an official Macedonian delegation at highest level to India and expressed appreciation for the exceptional hospitality. He also expressed satisfaction with the development of Macedonia-India relations, based on friendship, understanding and mutual respect.
President Veljanoski said that Macedonia fully supports India's membership in international institutions, in particular its bid for a UN Security Council seat.
He welcomed India's position in principle to use Macedonia's constitutional name in the bilateral communication, hoping that soon New Delhi will officially recognize Macedonia under its constitutional name.
Mr. Veljanoski stressed the need for intensification of the parliamentary cooperation between the two countries.
Expressing satisfaction form the meeting, India’s Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari emphasized the importance of this first visit at highest level.
Both sides expressed hope that the economic relations between the two countries will be further developed and intensified.
The hosting delegation, including 12 Rajya Sabha members, expressed readiness for promotion of the bilateral economic, cultural and cooperation in other spheres of mutual interest. The talks also underlined the missionary work of Mother Teresa, which is a bridge that connects the two friendly countries.
In the afternoon the Macedonian delegation, that includes the MPs Silvana Boneva and Ermira Mehmeti-Devaja, met with the Indian Minister of State for External Affairs, Ms. Preneet Kaur, who expressed satisfaction from the high-level visit of a 
Macedonian delegation to India after her recent visit to Macedonia.
The Macedonian delegation and the Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur addressed the bilateral cooperation and support at international level, especially in the United Nations.
President Veljanoski informed about the developments regarding the European integration processes of the country and stressed the importance of parliamentary diplomacy in the relations between the countries, as well as the need for strengthening of the bilateral economic cooperation.
The Macedonian delegation headed by President Veljanoski later laid flowers at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Center.