The United Macedonian Diaspora (UMD) successfully organized its first Global Conference June 11th -13th in Washington, D.C.  The conference attracted Macedonians from the U.S., Canada, Australia, Austria, Romania, Russia, Croatia, Bulgaria, and Greece. “Having Macedonians from all over the world attend this conference shows that our love for our homeland, Macedonia, unites us all.  This conference will further strengthen the unity among the Macedonian communities worldwide.  United, We Can!” said Aleksandar Mitreski, UMD Vice President.  UMD extends its sincere and heartfelt thanks to the hundreds of conference participants and volunteers who contributed to this successful outcome.

This past weekend, Macedonians from the Diaspora launched a new tradition.  For the first time in the history of the Diaspora, a select gathering of the most talented and successful Macedonians gathered to discuss questions of profound political and economic significance to them and to Macedonia.  These Macedonians traveled to Washington largely to question, debate, and advocate.   “This conference was unique in spirit and organization.  The social and convivial aspect, although important, was not pivotal in our planning.  We wanted to create a forum for exchanging ideas, as well as a place to celebrate our common heritage,” stated Aleksandra Trpkovska, Conference Planning Committee Chair.

UMD acclaimed several individuals and organizations for their extraordinary courage and merit in the support of Macedonia.  On June 11, 2009, U.S. Senator Richard Lugar was given the UMD International Freedom Award.  Earlier that day at a luncheon in the Cannon House Office Building, U.S. Representatives Bill Pascrell, Candice Miller, Earl Pomeroy, Mark Souder, and Harry Mitchell were honored for their unwavering support of Macedonia in the U.S. House of Representatives with the UMD U.S.-Macedonia Friendship Award.  Dr. Srgjan Kerim was recognized with the UMD Macedonian Heritage Public Service Award for his distinguished career in diplomacy at a luncheon on U.S.-Macedonian Relations.  The UMD Human Rights Awards were conferred on the Vinozito Party of Greece and OMO Ilinden PIRIN of Bulgaria for their struggle and sacrifice in protecting the dignity and basic rights of Macedonians in their respective countries.

The conference featured sessions on Macedonia’s Euro-Atlantic integration, the Macedonian language, successful Macedonian women, Macedonian history and identity, and human rights for Macedonians in Bulgaria, Greece, and Albania.  Notable speakers addressed these and other subjects in the panel discussions, at the luncheons, and the gala banquet.  They included: Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Macedonia, H.E. Ivica Bocevski, former president of the 62nd Session of the UN General Assembly Dr. Srgjan Kerim, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Macedonia, Philip T. Reeker, Macedonian Ambassador to the U.S., Dr. Zoran Jolevski, and Darko Angelov, Chief of Staff to the President of Macedonia.  Eminent statesmen, economists, professors, human rights activists, as well as representatives from other Macedonian organizations in the Diaspora participated in the proceedings.

In addition to policy discussions and congressional advocacy, the conference attendees enjoyed a rich cultural and entertainment program.  The Macedonian Folk Dance Ensembles Aleksandrija and Goce Delchev, the world-renown women’s choir St. Zlata Meglenska, and the Syracuse, New York-based Merak delighted the guests with performances of traditional Macedonian songs and dances.  “This conference is the culmination of five years of work for UMD.  I am overjoyed with the turnout, the quality of the discussions, and the spirit of goodwill that it generated.  We can look forward to bigger and better conferences in the future,” said Metodija A. Koloski, UMD President.

Photo and Video Coverage by Za Makedonskite Raboti for UMD.