The United Macedonian Diaspora (UMD) is excited to announce that the President of our homeland, the Republic of Macedonia, Dr. Gjorge Ivanov will receive the UMD Global Statesman Award – the highest honor bestowed by UMD – during the Macedonian Tribute Ball on Saturday, September 22, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. First Lady Maja Ivanova will join President Ivanov on his official visit to Detroit, Michigan.
President Ivanov has been President of Macedonia for nearly a decade, and is serving his final year before he departs the Presidency in spring 2019. This will be his last official visit to the United States and we are honored he has chosen Detroit – home to the largest Macedonian-American community in the U.S. UMD has had an excellent working relationship with President Ivanov and his cabinet since he took office in 2009. He was featured for one of the early editions of UMD Voice magazine. In 2012, UMD hosted President Ivanov for our NATO Summit Ball in Chicago. In 2013, President Ivanov recognized UMD in Skopje with one of the first-ever Diaspora Awards for UMD’s service as Ambassador for Macedonia. Several UMD Generation M members have interned for President Ivanov since 2009. Since 2014, President Ivanov has been a strong supporter of UMD’s Birthright Macedonia program, which brings students of Macedonian heritage to the homeland – hosting interns at his office, as well as inviting program participants to his Ohrid residence to meet and discuss Macedonian topics with the President.
President Ivanov’s accomplishments are numerous to count, but his legacy will be his staunch defending of the Macedonian Constitution, Macedonia’s name, Macedonian values, as well as the Ivanov School of Leaders, which has hosted hundreds of future leaders from Macedonia and abroad giving them the necessary skills to lead by example and impact change in the world. President Ivanov is an exemplary statesman and we look forward to honoring him on September 22nd in Detroit.
To purchase tickets for the Ball, please click HERE.
For sponsorship opportunities, please e-mail Deana Janceski at djanceski@umdiaspora.org or call (202) 350-9798.
Proceeds will benefit UMD’s many educational and charitable programs serving the community, including the Bitove Scholarship, Washington, D.C. Internship, Generation M, and Birthright Macedonia.
The United Macedonian Diaspora is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All contributions to the United Macedonian Diaspora are tax-deductible, with the exception of the value of the benefits provided and the meal per person.
Biography of President of the Republic of Macedonia Dr. Gjorge Ivanov
President Dr. Gjorge Ivanov, was sworn in as Macedonia’s fourth democratically-elected president on 12 May 2009, and re-elected in April 2014.
He had a distinguished academic career before entering government service, serving as a professor and Head of the Political Studies Department and Vice Dean of the Iustinianus Primus Faculty of Law in Skopje, visiting professor to the South-East Europe Programme at the University in Athens, Greece and other institutions, and as the president of Macedonia’s Council for Accreditation in Higher Education.
He is the founder of the Macedonian Political Science Association and one of the founding members of the Institute for Democracy Societas Civilis, a leading analytical centre in the Republic of Macedonia served as guide to many young talents in the politics.
A supporter of free-market principles and political pluralism since the Yugoslavia era, and as leading expert in the field of civil society, he is also known for his commitment to bringing Macedonia into the EU and NATO and to promoting peace in Europe.
As President of the Republic of Macedonia, Professor Ivanov founded the School for Young Leaders which has provided new knowledge, experience and skills to more than 370 young people. With his commitment thereof, he has attracted over 180 renowned university professors, statesmen and experts as lecturers at the School.
During his presidency, he never forgot to meet and discuss with students. He founded the President’s School for Young Leaders, which has provided new knowledge, experience and skills to more than 370 young people up to date. With his commitment thereof, he has attracted over 180 renowned university professors, statesmen and experts as speakers at the School and its Alumni Association, including then UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. He founded the “Best Young Scientist” award. In addition, under his auspices twenty young people each year receive scholarships. He initiated the Foundation of the Alliance of Civilizations in Macedonia.
Global and regional issues have been high on his international agenda, including respect of diversity, climate change, the migrant and refugee crisis. At the peak of the European migrant crisis, President Ivanov played an important role in the managing and the closing of the Balkan migrant route.
Prof. Dr. Gjorge Ivanov has lectured at prestigious Universities around the world: Yale University, Harvard University, Georgetown University, Arizona State University, McMaster University, Moscow State University “Lomonosov”, Charles University in Prague, Federico II University in Naples, the Council for Higher Education in Turkey (YOK) and many more. President Ivanov has given talks at important think tanks such as: Chatham House, the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Egmont Royal Institute for International Relations, the Atlantic Council, the Sedona Forum, the Italian Institute for International Affairs in Rome, the Trilateral Commission, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and many more.
Аt the presidential elections held in April 2014, President Ivanov was re-elected for a new five-year term of office.
President Ivanov is married to Maja Ivanova and they have one child.
President Gjorge Ivanov has received numerous honorary doctorates, decorations and awards.