Gjorge Ivanov

Gjorge Ivanov (Macedonian: Ѓорге Иванов; born May 2, 1960) is a Macedonian politician, who served as the 4th President of North Macedonia from 2009 to 2019.

Quotes

Today in Europe, violence instigated by individuals and groups who fear diversity is spreading

• We as a non-EU country now have to protect Europe from an EU country - that is, Greece. We already had to spend €25 million in tax money. We already declared a state of emergency. And what have we received from Europe? Nothing! Not a single cent.
  • Mr Ivanov said Macedonia was simply “paying for the mistakes of the EU”, quoted on Independent, Refugee crisis: Macedonia tells Germany they've 'completely failed', March 12, 2016.

• What is Europe doing? It takes more than six months to organize a summit alone. By that time, one million new migrants have arrived. This is why, for instance, some countries along the Balkans route like us had to act on their own. If we had trusted Brussels and had not reacted on our own initiative, we would already have been flooded with jihadists. The EU has no right to accuse Macedonia. We are merely looking after ourselves.
  • Mr Ivanov said Brussels had exacerbated the refugee crisis by taking "far too much time to make decisions", quoted on Independent, Refugee crisis: Macedonia tells Germany they've 'completely failed', March 12, 2016.

• A potential EU membership for Macedonia has been discussed seven times already, but there was always an obstruction, caused by Greece. What would you do if someone blocked any paths for your country for over 25 years?
  • Mr Ivanov also spoke of his anger at Greece’s “obstruction” of Macedonia’s accession to the EU, quoted on Independent, Refugee crisis: Macedonia tells Germany they've 'completely failed', March 12, 2016.

• In the refugee crisis there is the humanitarian aspect and the security aspect. In terms of humanity, Germany acted very well. But in terms of security, your country has completely failed. But no one has the courage to say what still lies ahead. Between Sudan and Egypt alone, 20 million migrants are waiting to come to Europe. The refugee flow won't end, because everyone knows everything via Twitter and Facebook.
  • On the refugee crisis, quoted on Ekathimerini, FYROM ‘paying for EU mistakes' in refugee crisis, says Ivanov, March 11, 2016.

• In times of crisis, every country must find its own solutions
  • On the refugee crisis, quoted on Express.co.uk, 'Don't come to Europe' Austria takes out ADVERTS begging Afghan migrants to stay at home, March 14, 2016.

• Interviewer: Why is it important to be here in Serbia at EHF EURO 2012?
• Gjorge Ivanov: We are here first of all to support our players because they show that sports unite us and make us more motivated to be more successful.
  • Interview with the Macedonian President Dr. Gjorge Ivanov

• Don’t criticise my country for dealing with the reality of the migrant crisis that Brussels refuses to face
• The migrant and refugee crisis is deepening and reaching a critical level. It used to take refugees and migrants six to eight months to reach their destination countries. Now they can do it in just a few days. Today united Europe has more walls than divided Europe had during the Cold War. Greece is facing a possible humanitarian crisis, and there are armies in a state of alert deployed on the borders of Balkan countries
• My country, Macedonia, is on Greece’s northern border and feeling the full force of the migrant crisis. We are facing innumerable illegal entries, the destruction of state and private property, the use of counterfeit passports and violence against security forces on the border — all of this by migrants intending to avoid registration and the verification of who actually has a right to asylum.
• Socially, the crisis is putting the European model of integration to the test. Instead of being united in diversity, will Europe now be united against diversity? Instead of integration without assimilation, will Europe now prefer integration through assimilation? The Arab philosopher Averroes wrote that “ignorance leads to fear, fear leads to hate and hate leads to violence.” Today in Europe, violence instigated by individuals and groups who fear diversity is spreading
• We cannot ignore the new threats to our security. According to Europol, today on EU territory there are between 3,000 and 5,000 radicals, extremists and terrorists. They took advantage of the lack of co-operation between security services in Europe and misused the migrant corridor. Close co-operation among security services is necessary, and so is the implementation of de-radicalization and counter-radicalization programs. The times when European security could be defended at its external frontiers with the Middle East and north Africa are long gone. Now, European security has to be defended within Europe itself.
  • Quotes pulled out from a statement by Ivanov on the European migrant crisis, quotes pulled from National Post, "Gjorge Ivanov: Europe’s deepening migrant crisis", March 8, 2016.