I feel like I’m home in Gevgelija. Thank you for giving me your support, 5 years ago at this place. This support was not given because my mother is from Gevgelija, and because my relatives are from Gevgelija, but because you know how to succeed in life here, with much effort and hard work. I got your support because you know that I am sincere, honest and hard working, and I remained like that. You gave me your support then for my program. Now I gave you the report, everything that was in the program is fulfilled. Now I’m back among you, with a new program for a new trust, Ivanov noted before the people from Gevgelija, who gathered in large numbers to provide him support for a second term.
He noted that he often came to visit Gevgelija, seeing the success and prosperity of this municipality.
- I remember 10 years ago when I was visiting the south. The situation was desperate, dried grapes, closed factories, destroyed mills. Now when we come here, we see the new face of Macedonia. New vineyards, new factories, we see the highway Demir Kapija – Smokvica, we see greenhouses that use hot water, we see industrial zone and the wind park in Bogdanci. It is the new face of Macedonia. But to get to that a lot of work is needed, a lot of effort, persistence and knowledge of the young people headed by the Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski. These young people are changing Macedonia. This is why 5 years ago I stood behind them and supported them. Therefore each of my visit or meeting was devoted to attracting foreign investments, attracting friends and supporters in Macedonia. I recently called the entire diplomatic corps here in Gevgelija. Ambassadors were able to see the potential of the municipality, to hear presentations by the mayors of Gevgelija, Bogdanci, Dojran and Valandovo, to see what we have to offer. This is how Macedonia is built, Ivanov said from the rostrum in Gevgelija.
- The economy is growing, and when the economy is growing the wages, pensions and subsidies are also rising. Positive changes from what has been done are felt in each segment, for which the team has worked worthwhile. This is why when we work as a team we always win. Therefore I congratulate our athletes who win as a team and make us proud, I also congratulate singers that spread our heritage, tradition and culture wherever they go. We have our scientists in world renowned universities. Macedonia prospers when each of us is successful, Ivanov pointed out.
Ivanov said that he had been in many world capitals on international events, but he never forgot where he comes from and who gave his first term. He added that he always met with citizens who had the desire and need to see him, to convey their views, ideas, pointing out that over 5000 people visited his Cabinet.
- I opened People offices in Skopje, Bitola and Tetovo for citizens to be able to submit their petitions, complaints and suggestions. This is why the citizens’ confidence in the President is growing, this is why the people trust the President. I’m always with citizens, when we are celebrating, on the holiday Epiphany, and when we prune the vineyards, when a foreign investor was needed in plants through Gevgelija and surrounding areas. It is a commitment to my own state, nation and citizens, Ivanov said.
In particular, as he pointed out, he paid attention to the young people and made a School for Young Leaders as a professor.
- We have managed to keep more than 150 young people in Macedonia, to continue what we are creating today as successful people. I have established an award “Best Young Scientist”. Much work is needed to create a scientific paper and publish it in worldwide magazines. Gives them motivation and passion to succeed in life. Together with the Minister of Education we award scholarships at the University “Sheffield” in Thessaloniki, thus proving that we have no hostile feelings towards our neighbors. So when talking to foreign statesmen who asked me about our relations with our southern neighbor, I told them to come in Gevgelija and see how things are. We have no hostile feelings towards our neighbors. We can see them every day in our cities as investors, but also our citizens go on a vacation and study in Greece. It is this new reality that the political elites in Greece must accept, Ivanov said before Gevgelija.
- But we do not wait, we are creating Europe in Macedonia. We make European standards, European criteria in all institutions and all residential areas, to feel the European spirit in Macedonia. We will not give up on NATO and the EU. We will do everything to fulfill all our assigned tasks. We continue with the same intensity. Many of your challenges and problems were shared with me, the MPs or the ministers. We have built many roads, schools, hospitals. We worked as a team for Macedonia, we worked jointly unique, because the state is above all! Because Macedonia comes before us! We have showed this when we were making the road to Kozuf and railroad tracks were refurbished. Whenever the local and central government are working together, the results are visible, Ivanov said.
He said that they continue with the same pace and the same intensity.
Because we know what we want and we know where we are going. Our choice is Macedonia, the country comes before us! – Ivanov said.