Michael Thielen, the Secretary General of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS), was the guest of honor at the 15th anniversary of the foundation of the Macedonian branch of the German Demo-Christian political foundation. Thielen and Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski spoke at the reception and expressed his gratitude to the Konrad Adenauer Foundation for helping Macedonia educate over a thousand young leaders and political officials.

"The answer to all challenges we face is based on policies, and good policies are always tied to good politicians. This is why we need people who will invest their entire capacity to make sure the Republic of Macedonia continues walking steadily on the path of reforms, integrations and improving our society", Prime Minister Gruevski said, noting the work by KAS to set up a Political Accademy that works with elected officials.

"The Konrad Adenauer Foundation has been a worthy promoter of freedom, democracy, justice and solidarity, and has significantly improved the values and the goals of Demo-Christian politics. For the past 15 years, KAS has been an strong factor in creating the civic society in our country, through the numerous activities to support dialogue and promote political education. I'm pleased that over the years, the Konrad Adenauer Foundation has walked in partnership with VMRO-DPMNE, in our shared goal to improve the political education and elevate standards of political activity in Macedonia, Gruevski added.

Secretary General Thielen said that the Konrad Adenauer Foundation works on promoting European integration and inter-ethnic dialogue in Macedonia. "Our partnerships in Macedonia are the key to the successful work of the foundation. We opened our office on July 1st 2000, and since then, with our partners, we've been able to organize more than 500 events with 20.000 participants and to publish over 100 publications. For the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, partnership is not just a word, it is the principle of our work and we practice it where-ever we are active", Thielen said.

KAS director for Macedonia Johannes Ray and German Ambassador to Macedonia Christine Althauser also spoke at the reception.