The 7. anniversary from the death of President Boris Trajkovski, who was killed along with his associates and crew members in a plane crash near Mostar, is observed on Saturday.

"Macedonia was not the only country to lose from Trajkovski's death. The region lost an atypical statesman and leader. A President respected by all counterparts and statesmen not only in the region, but also beyond", stressed Ivanov in his address.

He added that Trajkovski led the country through a turbulent period in a region marked by divisions and conflicts.

"Boris Trajkovski has left us a pledge to resume his path of building a democratic and European Macedonia. We owe this to him, the people and Macedonia", said President Ivanov.

President Ivanov was accompanied by Vice Premier Abdilaqim Ademi and Macedonian ambassador to B&H Rami Rexhepi, whereas high B&H officials also paid their respects.

President Ivanov said investigation of the plane crash that claimed the life of President Boris Trajkovski has not been closed by Macedonian authorities.

"There is a commission that collects all documents and cooperates with Bosnian authorities", said Ivanov after the end of the ceremony at the crash site.

Family members, delegation from the President's Cabinet, Government delegation led by Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, Parliament delegation led by Speaker Trajko Veljanoski, as well as representatives of the Macedonian Army (ARM) General Staff, City of Skopje and diplomatic corps laid flowers at his grave, but also at the graves of Trajkovski's associates Dimka Ilkova-Boskovic, Risto Blazevski and Mile Krstevski in Skopje.

President Boris Trajkovski was killed on 26 February 2004, along with Dimka Ilkova-Boskovic, Risto Blazevski and Anita Krisan-Lozanovska from the President's Cabinet, Mile Krstevski from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, bodyguards Boris Velinov and Ace Bozinovski, as well as pilots Marko Markovski and Branko Ivanovski.

The Government-owned "King Air", destined for an international investment conference in Bosnia&Herzegovina, crashed near Mostar. The remains were found 24 hours later due to inaccessible terrain and bad weather.

Following an investigation of competent Macedonian and Bosnian authorities, it was concluded that the reason for the crash were shortcomings of the crew in the airport approach procedure in complex meteorological conditions, thick fog and cloudy weather.

Boris Trajkovski was born in Strumica on 25 June 1956. He was the second President of the Republic of Macedonia, assuming the post on December 15, 1999.

Trajkovski graduated at the Skopje-based Law Faculty in 1980 and specialized in business law and law on labor relations.

He was appointed Deputy-Foreign Minister in 1998, presidency member of NGO "Pan-European Movement for the Republic of Macedonia" and international conference "Conflict Resolution" with head offices in Atlanta, USA. Earlier, Trajkovski was youth president of the United Methodist Church in former Yugoslavia for more than 12 years.