The new President of the Republic of Macedonia, Boris Trajkovski, made a solemn declaration in the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia, after which he took over the presidential function. The President Trajkovski addressed to the representatives in the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia, the members of the Government, the diplomatic corps and the other foreign representatives and invited guests, as well as the entire Macedonian public.

At the beginning of this century, Macedonia gained its first Republic - the Krusevo Republic. We awaited the end of this century and the beginning of the third millennium since the Christ’s birth in an independent and sovereign Macedonia. Let us face the challenges that the new century and millennium are bringing along. What we are to do in the next period will define and strengthen the course of the democratic and economic processes in the Republic of Macedonia, as well as its integration in the European and global processes".

Taking over the presidential function is great honor, responsibility, but at the same time a great challenge. As President of all citizens, regardless to their ethnicity, religion and political orientation, I promise to work together with you, in order Macedonia to become stabile and prosperous European country, with developed democracy, high degree of observing of the human rights, market economy, and with higher living standard of its citizens.

There is time for everything. Time for birth and time for dying. Time for planting and time for pulling out. Time for tears and time for laughter. Time for sorrow and time for playing, when you embrace and when you run away from embracing. Time when you win and time when you lose. Time when you keep and time when you break apart, time for love and time for hate".

But, my friends, now is time for healing and for building peace.

Allow me to use this opportunity, to address the President Gligorov, because I, as great number of Macedonian citizens, respect him.

Dear President Gligorov, you led us on the road, on which the Republic of Macedonia had avoided the terrible conflicts, human suffering, and devastations in former Yugoslavia. You helped us in keeping the peace and tranquility of our homes. I would like to thank you on behalf of all citizens of the Republic of Macedonia.

Macedonia became a sovereign, independent and respected country under your leadership. I wish you a long life and health and I hope that we will cooperate in the coming years.

Dear citizens of the Republic of Macedonia, I promise that i will lead Macedonia as a peaceful, democratic and prosperous country in the next millennium. I give my hand to everybody who wants to join me in the noble cause.

I am doing this because I believe in Macedonia. I am doing this for the welfare of my family and all families throughout Macedonia. I am doing this because my father participated in the second world war, and my grandfather fought for Macedonia’s interests. I am doing this because I am a Macedonian and i will fight for Macedonia’s interests.

The President, the Assembly and the Government must cooperate. We have a coalition Government and a loyal opposition. There can be misunderstandings, but one thing is for sure: we work together, in unity, in the interest of all citizens of the Republic of Macedonia.

However, I would like to stress that we must not ask and expect all the decisions only from the state. You, the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia, are the ones who contribute for the country’s prosperity. The state can give us means for the solution of the open issues, but you are the ones that bring the decisions. The individual and the individual responsibility should be directed towards the future. We need a new feeling of responsibility in the new millennium. We must take personal responsibility, not just before ourselves and our families, but before our neighbors, friends and our country.

Fellow citizens, I gave my solemn oath to defend the Republic of Macedonia. The stability and the defense will be my main priority. I will show and prove that nobody from the state leadership, did not have, or does not have an intention to separate, sell or federalize our country.

As the Supreme Commander, I will try to mobilize and technologically equip our armed forces for an efficient defense of the borders and the keeping of our territorial integrity. Our soldiers will proudly wear the uniforms of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia.

However, the stability of the country, depends from the internal situation, which is determined by the degree of harmonization of interethnic relations. The Republic of Macedonia was an example of interethnic tolerance in the past decade. I will not allow ethnic hatred, chauvinism and intolerance to disturb the stability of the country. The ethnic diversity is a fortune, and they have to be nurtured and developed. I would also like to mention that the protection of the state’s integrity should be our main priority.

Respected citizens of the Republic of Macedonia, the economic development in our country has a primary meaning. We all have to work together for the improvement of the efficiency in usage of the capacities, as well as attraction of the foreign investments and export enlargement. It is necessary to continue with large steps towards the integration with the European Union, the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other international organizations that will help in the development of our economy.

We should work intensively in creating new and better-paid jobs for all our citizens in the following period. Also we must keep our highly educated personnel, and we can only provide that by providing economic prosperity. At the same time we must ask ourselves "How big is the price of the prosperity?" Just to remind ourselves that it takes hard work, personal efforts, honesty, integrity and creativity. This is the right way for Macedonia to success. This should provide enlargement and strengthening of the middle class, which is the criterion of the economic prosperity of every country and is the most important part of the society in the development of the democracy.

Dear Macedonian citizens, I have already mentioned the association and accession in the EU, which is a strategic aim for the Republic of Macedonia and there is no withdrawal from it. I will not say anything new, if I repeat that the way is long and very hard and that it depends on ourselves. We must engage all mechanisms and potentials to fulfill all severe criteria and standards for entrance in the European home.

The Republic of Macedonia must be active on international plan, on bilateral and multilateral relations. It is necessary to lead active and good neighboring policy. This vulnerable region must live to see its full and constant stabilization. Macedonia is the center of the stability and will equally support our friends Greece, Bulgaria, Albania and Yugoslavia. And we are going to work together, because the cooperation and the good neighboring relations together with the development of the democracy and the respect of the human rights will contribute for the stability in the region, which is the basis for the prosperity. The bilateral relations with USA and the Russian Federation are especially important and necessary for further improvement of the relations and bilateral cooperation as well the political and economic relations.

Dear citizens, the family is the most important cornerstone of every society. The strong family is the basis of free society. Strengthening and cherishing of the family values is most significant for us. The parents, the teachers, the religious temples, the courts, the Parliament and the President - they must all be included in promotion of the family.

At the same time, the education of our children is the future of Macedonia. The period of information technology, Internet, in which our children and youth must integrate in. That is why, dear citizens let us build Macedonia as a state where its citizens can realize their own potential.

The laughter and joy of our children should be found in schools, streets and playgrounds. The drug and organized crime must disappear. It is the obligation for all of us. We must cherish the moral values.

In the century that is passing we have accomplished progress and we have a prosperity in front of us which can be realized by people with heart and spirit. We should build bridges that would connect people from different ethnic groups. Bridges that would help poor and old people and those who can not take care for themselves.

My friends, it is not important what kind of treasures we are going to have at the end of our lives. The things that we can buy with that treasure do not fulfill the man in whole. We must turn to love the love for our children and to our neighbors. That is the most important thing in life.

The people in Macedonia have a long history of suffering. But they also have long history of love and cooperation. It is written: "The hatred initiates misunderstanding, but love covers all mistakes...love is tranquil, full of decency, love does not envy, does not praise and pride itself. Love does not mean evil, love does not rejoice on injustice, and rejoices on truth, love excuses, believes in everything, hopes and suffers".

The love for our dearest will give huge contribution towards fulfilling our wishes for better life, international acceptance and respect. I want to arouse the best in you and in your hearts today, to enter the new century and the new millennium together.

I will end my inauguration address with the words of one great man, who had the responsibility to unite the USA again, Abraham Lincoln: "We are not angry to anyone. Instead of that, we offer mercy for all. As the God who is giving the possibility to see what is wrong and what is right".

Let’s try and finish the work in which we are doing now. Let’s cure the wounds of the country and let’s take care for everyone today present and not present. If we do that, we would accomplish the justice and eternal peace, among ourselves and all countries. God Bless You and God Bless Macedonia.