Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski calls Macedonian diaspora in Canada to remain united, to continue to support the Republic of Macedonia and to invest in the homeland.

“Similar with when you went into action for Canada to recognise the Republic of Macedonia under its constitutional name, united you will succeed in many other goals that you set. Unity brings success. Your support for our efforts in keeping the Macedonian identity and resistance we give to many pressures and threats from the past means a lot to us. We are thankful for this and it gives us strength to continue and to endure the pressures. A European philosopher says ‘What doesn't destroy you makes you stronger,’” PM Gruevski said at the meeting with the Macedonian diaspora in the Canadian city of Windsor.

“When I met in 2009 with the Canadian PM Harper he emphasised that the key role in Canada’s recognition of the Republic of Macedonia under its constitutional name played the energy and power of the Macedonian diaspora,” Mr. Gruevski said.

PM Gruevski urged the immigrants not to forget Macedonia and to visit the country more often. He called Macedonian immigrants to invest in Macedonia because now it is much easier to do business. “Anyone who opens business in Canada can do the same here in Macedonia to earn and make profit as well as to open new jobs. We want you to keep the unity, because only united and with common language we can be stronger and you as a community and all Macedonians in the world we can do much more,” Mr. Gruevski said.

The Mayor of Windsor Ken Antaya attended the meeting with the diaspora in the Macedonian centre “St. Nikola” who emphasised that the Macedonian community represents a significant component of the city for 30 years.

Jeff Watson, Canadian MEP said that Canada and Macedonia enjoy friendly bilateral relations.

In 2007 Prime Minister Stephen Harper passed a decision to recognise the Republic of Macedonia under its constitutional name. In 2008 Canada supported Macedonia to receive an invitation for NATO membership. “The Republic of Macedonia is a very active participant in NATO - Partnership for Peace and mission in Afghanistan from which it has a very important role in maintaining the international peace and security,” Mr. Watson said.