SOCIETY 375

SOCIETY
Through the change of our name, we won a new friend and this
friendship creates huge opportunities for us.
past – I do respect our past but we
have to build on our future. I am very
proud because at present, our citizens
are very supportive, which is evidence
that the government and the parliament
made the right decision on this
matter. We signed the agreement
on June 17, 2018, and the year ended
with a new record for our economy
and with new friendships with the
countries around us. We also started
an integration process with the NATO
and the European Union and we focused
on improving the general quality
of life in our state. I am very proud
because all of this confirms that even
difficult issues are worth dealing with,
especially if they have the potential to
secure a good future for the citizens of
our country, particularly for the young
generation. The name-change was
very challenging but now I feel that it
was a very positive thing to do.
The Vienna Economic Talk about
new perspectives for the Republic of
North Macedonia was taking place
here in Vienna in May. How important
is it to foster and strengthen international
relations and how can the
country profit from this?
The Vienna Economic Forum always
had a very positive stance towards the
whole Balkan region, not only towards
North Macedonia. Today, they see our
country as a good example and they
want to further support us. Europe
needs such positive examples in order
to motivate others to continue building
friendships and finding solutions
through negotiations. The Vienna
Economic Forum is great in supporting
North Macedonia in an economic
way. Many distinguished members of
the economic society from Austria
and from the whole region participated
in the forum and talked about
opportunities for our country and for
possible investors. Investments are
important for us in order to preserve
our GDP, but also to create new jobs
for our nation, to keep young people in
the country and to generally improve
the quality of life for our citizens.
How would you define the current
relationship between North Macedonia
and Greece? Did the change of
the name bring new opportunities in
this regard?
Through the change of our name, we
won a new friend and this friendship
creates huge opportunities for
us. There are agreements involving
almost one billion-Euro investments
from Greek businesses in our country.
Few weeks ago, we had the very first
official visit from the Greek Prime
Minister and we signed many agreements
that should have been signed
30 years ago. They give us huge opportunities
in the business field but also
in the cultural, social or agricultural
sector. This illustrates that, through
agreements, dialogue and diplomacy,
politicians can help their citizens, and
this is what is happening in North
Macedonia now.
Nationally and internationally, you
are considered a political star. How
do you feel about this?
I might have more courage than the
previous Prime Ministers ,but in general,
I am a very regular person. I come
from the business sector and I am a
social democrat, I love my citizens
and my country and I dream about the
integration of our nation into the European
Union. Of course, it feels good
to be supported by the citizens and
it motivates me to work even harder,
especially on the country’s economy
and on the general improvement of
the quality of life.
H.E. Zoran Zaev (Prime Minister of North Macedonia), Dr. Heinz Fischer (former President of Austria), Dr.
Elena Kirtcheva (Vienna Economic Forum) and Aki Nuredini (Padrone of Ristorante Sole in Annagasse)
WIRTSCHAFT
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