21 June 2008
Speech of the President of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Trajko Veljanoski, on the occasion of his election to the position
Distinguished representatives of the leadership of the country, Distinguished representatives of the mass media, Your Excellencies, Dear fellow Parliamentarians, Ladies and Gentlemen, In the history of peoples and states there have always been moments of glory and progress - they have on the long run determined the destiny of a community that has strongly believed in the ideas of collective progress, reforms and revival towards the better.
During the past two decades in the Republic of Macedonia there have been moments that have filled the citizens' hearts, but moments that have been less joyful, as well. In both cases, the beginning and the end of everything has been the future of our homeland. It is in joy that we have found strength to walk even more bravely towards success, and in sorrow we have drown the energy that should have shaped our Macedonian pride. We have built the history and the future together, we have believed in our people and ourselves. We have believed in Macedonia. Through all the temptations and challenges that our state has faced over the past decades, we have come to this stage of democracy, the sixth Parliamentary mandate established through early elections. We have reached a moment when a lot is expected.
I thank you all for the trust you have placed in me today, showing me great honour, but entrusting me with a very difficult task as well. I take my seat here today as the first among equals, hopeful that we will successfully make the Assembly an institution it deserves to be - a respected, efficient and effective institution that works in favour of the citizens; an esteemed institution that all citizens feel close and their own, an institution that will invest all its energy in finding the best legal solutions for our citizens' concerns and problems, rather that in pointless, sometimes absurd discussions, bringing no real benefit to the citizens of our country.
I know that together we will all make the Macedonian Assembly a real shrine of the Macedonian democracy. It will be a source of good-quality discussions, it will pass a great number of laws that are to improve the lives of the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia.
This Assembly shall not follow as a shadow the work of the Government and correct, amend or redefine its projects in a qualitative sense - on the contrary, it will formulate and create. This Assembly will be our pride, and with all my authority and together with you, I will strive in order to succeed in this goal. We are here for the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia, in their service and we will work for them.
This institution will demonstrate that being an MP is not a privilege, but a responsibility. And four years from now, when we stand and look back, we will see years filled with work, effort, will and dedication; years during which we have built the future of the Republic of Macedonia, years dedicated to our citizens’ priorities; years dedicated to reforms, to the EU and NATO integration; years dedicated to a better life, years dedicated to Macedonia.
In my work, I will try to establish a balance between the political forces. I will stand on the side of the right and justice, on the side of the Rules of Procedure and the Constitution, on the side of the interests of the Republic of Macedonia. Quality in the work of the Assembly will be my obligation. The equal treatment of the MPs will be my main concern, the interests of the Republic of Macedonia will be my goal.
What I can promise to you is hard and dedicated work, aimed at responding the historic challenge and the period in which the country is. I am convinced that you will all pursue that effort.
At the end allow me to thank the outgoing President Ljubisha Georgievski for the energy and dedication with which he performed the function President of the Assembly.
Allow me to express my confidence that the personal mark he has left here, regardless all of the discrediting attempts, will be well remembered and respected.
Thank you.