May 8, 2018

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today, on World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day, we recognize the contribution and achievements of millions of volunteers and employees around the world, who retain our commitment to humanity every day.

Today, Across Europe and all around the world, crises keep on growing more and more complex, while the humanitarian needs remain huge. The dynamics during natural disasters, the population movement and the unstable political situations, make the effort of our volunteers and Red Cross and Red Crescent employees more important than ever.

From Syria to Somalia from Nepal to Nigeria, we see how bold and fierce our fellow colleagues are, because they are often putting their lives in danger for helping people in need, and sometimes even sacrificing their lives in the lines of their humanitarian duties.

Throughout the world, our volunteers are everywhere for everyone and provide basic humanitarian needs for the most vulnerable. We are grateful and thankful for their unstoppable work, for sacrificing their lives for our cause, even under the most dangerous and difficult circumstances, and for the positive changes that they make around the world.

Following the steps of our founder Henry Dunant, the history of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement has been established on the principle of partnership. The difficult humanitarian situations and issues that our world faces cannot be solved solely by Organizations. They need and will be solved by people who join forces, and are passionately inspired to alleviate human suffering. In places where there are poverty, conflicts and disasters, we are always ready to help, adapt, find creative and innovative ways, reach people in need and help them overcome all these obstacles.

Our volunteers and employees use solutions that meet the needs of vulnerable groups in the society, whoever and wherever they are, with everything they need. Our volunteers are really grounded in the local communities – they live there, work there, understand the culture, the language and the needs, and are the best in developing progressive solutions, of course with massive support from the Red Cross.

On this special day, let me congratulate you the 8th of May – the World Red Cross and Red Crescent Day and May 8-15, the Red Cross Week of the Republic of Macedonia, and I would also like to deeply thank all the employees and volunteers for their contribution to the development of this humanitarian organization.

Thank you.

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