The United Macedonian Diaspora (UMD) is proud to announce that the Co-Chairs of the Australia-Macedonia Parliamentary Friendship Group (AMPFG)* – Stephen Jones, MP for Throsby and Luke Simpkins, MP for Cowan – will be presented with the UMD Macedonia Friendship Award at the UMD Gala in Sydney on 5 July 2013.

Mr. Jones and Mr. Simpkins have worked tirelessly to strengthen the bonds of friendship between Australia and Macedonia, and UMD strongly believes that the Australian-Macedonian community could not ask for better friends and advocates for equal human rights for Macedonians. Mr. Jones and Mr. Simpkins have both repeatedly called on the Government to take the right decision of recognising Macedonia by its constitutional name. UMD hopes that soon Australia will end this unjust policy of referring to Macedonia under any other name but Macedonia.

UMD hopes that all Australian-Macedonians will join us as we honor these two remarkable friends of Macedonia and our community. Foreign Minister Bob Carr will deliver the keynote address. The Gala will be held at Le Montage Reception in Sydney. To purchase tickets or for more information, please visit: http://www.trybooking.com/CNOA

The UMD Macedonia Friendship Award is given to individuals who have been long-standing friends of Macedonia and the global Macedonian community. Past recipients have included Canadian Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Jason Kenney, Vermont National Guard Major General Michael D. Dubie, U.S. Congresswoman Candice Miller (R-MI), U.S. Congressman Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), Professor Victor Friedman, Jason Miko, among others.

*The role of the Australia Macedonia Parliamentary Friendship Group (AMPFG), which has over 20 members, is to promote closer, better quality and more meaningful relations with the Republic of Macedonia and its diaspora in Australia through innovative and high impact policies, programs, projects and events that deliver better social, economic and environmental outcomes for all key stakeholders.