Activities of Secretary-General in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, 24-25 July

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, accompanied by Madam Ban Soon-taek, arrived in Ohrid, in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, in the evening of Tuesday, 24 July, on a flight from Pristina.

That evening, he attended a dinner hosted by President Gjorge Ivanov at the presidential summer residence, Villa Biljana.  He also met there with a group of young leaders.

The next morning, Wednesday, 25 July, the Secretary-General held talks with the President at Villa Biljana, which overlooks Lake Ohrid.  They then took part in a joint press stakeout.  In his remarks, the Secretary-General said in his talks with the President he had emphasized his commitment to facilitating a prompt resolution of the name issue.  He said his Personal Envoy, Matthew Nimetz, who accompanied the Secretary-General in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, would travel onward to brief the Greek Government.

The Secretary-General and the President next toured a series of historical sites before flying from Ohrid to Skopje.

In Skopje, the Secretary-General met the President of the Assembly, Trajko Beljanoski, before addressing the chamber.  (See Press ReleaseSG/SM/14430.)

The Secretary-General also had talks with Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and a working lunch with Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki before leaving Skopje mid-afternoon on a flight to Sarajevo.