After six months of research in collaboration with the Civica Mobilitas and NATO Public Diplomacy Division on the project entitled: "The Impact of Euro - Atlantic integration on the inter - ethnic relations”, the Euro - Atlantic Council of Macedonia organized the second and the third of the series of public forums/workshops which were planned to be held in several cities / plan regions in the country aimed at promoting the results of the research and to stimulate discussion on these important topics.



The topics such as the interethnic relations require careful, detailed and explicit research and analysis, in order to establish medium- and long-term goals for the state and the society, as demonstrated by the results of this survey that the Euro - Atlantic integration can positively contribute towards greater cooperation between the ethnic communities.

To this end, on 18.10.2016 (Tuesday) in the Ceremonial Hall of the Faculty of Law at the State University “Goce Delchev” in Stip was held the second public forum/workshop in a row.

The second debate was opened by the President of the Euro - Atlantic Council, Mr. Ismet Ramadani, who noted that the interethnic relations will be much more relaxed if we follow the Euro-Atlantic values.

Ramadani in his brief speech stressed the need for this research to be a message for policy-makers to work towards further improvement of interethnic relations in the country.

At the end, Mr. Ramadani announcing future projects, pointed out that EACM will continue to actively contribute towards the promotion of NATO values and full membership of Macedonia in NATO.

Prof. dr. Ananiev, Dean of the Faculty of Law at the State University "Goce Delchev" in Stip, welcomed the project of the Euro - Atlantic Council of Macedonia and reminded that there is a clear correlation of security environment and interethnic relations in each country.

The Executive Director of the Business Club of the Euro-Atlantic Council of Macedonia, Mr. Trifun Kostovski addressed the business opportunities and benefits arising from the membership of Macedonia in NATO. He also stressed that NATO membership is crucial for economic development of Macedonia, attracting foreign investment and creating new opportunities for businesses.

He also emphasized that the interethnic problems come to the fore when economic growth is low and in that direction he stressed the necessity of dialogue with our neighbors.

Mr. Albert Musliu in his speech said that Macedonia should work to preserve the tradition of coexistence.

He also assessed that the core of equitable representation rests upon every aspect of the population to feel the State as its own and that the promotion of inter-ethnic relations is directly linked with reducing the sense of deprivation and exclusion.

Finally the Project Director, Mr. Ilija Djugumanov presented the results of the research and expressed his satisfaction with the results that indicate positive growth in the awareness of the citizens of Macedonia for the need of integrating our country in the higher European and security structures.

The next public forum was scheduled for 19.10.2016 (Wednesday) at the State University "Goce Delchev" in Strumica.

The third public forum was opened by the Project Director, Mr. Ilija Djugumanov who made a brief overview of the research findings and indicated the importance of the project for our country and the topic that it analysis. Later, Ms. Marija Jankuloska, Research Coordinator, presented in detail the results of the research.

The events which were followed by more than 80 students, teachers and citizens from Eastern Macedonia interested in these topics, the Euro - Atlantic Council of Macedonia once again increased and made visible the public debate about the benefits that Republic of Macedonia should expect from becoming a NATO member.

Agenda of the event - Stip

Agenda of the event - Strumica