- In his inauguration speech, new Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov said he was confident some of the issues straining the relations between Macedonia and Greece, particularly culture and tradition, have the capacity to be the bridge of cooperation and promoter of a new cycle of prosperity in the region. He said he would do all in his power to make sure the relations between the two countries grew in the spirit of good neighborly cooperation and mutual trust. "Undoubtedly we share common European values, we dream the same European dream, and we understand the Balkans as the cradle of European culture," President Ivanov said.