UNESCO is a great supporter of many Macedonian initiatives and projects. Therefore, my visit to Paris aimed at extending gratitude for the support we've had and for projects that hopefully will be backed by UNESCO, President Gjorge Ivanov said on Monday after visiting the headquarters of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.

He stated that Macedonia bore responsibility to play a role in finding solutions while UNESCO was facing great challenges and especially since the country was elected in the organisation's highest body - the executive board.

UNESCO has supported the "Dialogue Amongst Civilisations" project, which was initiated by late president Boris Trajkovski in 2003 in Ohrid.

"The so called 'Ohrid Process' resulted in Eastern Europe leaders to meet and organise debates on issues of common interest related to culture, art and tradition," the President said.

According to him, future leaders in the region should be educated to take advantage of the positive climate in order the process to enter "an improved, elevated phase."

In Paris, President Ivanov takes part at a scientific project dedicated to Ottoman traveler Evliya Celebi.

The international symposium, organized by the Turkish Oriental Language Institute (INALCO), Turkish National UNESCO Commission and the Civilization Research Center within the Istanbul-based Bahcesehir University, the is one of the three large scientific symposiums held in Paris, Skopje and Istanbul.