Ohrid, 21 January 2026 (MIA) - President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova hosted late Tuesday in Ohrid the annual reception for the diplomatic corps, highlighting the importance of cultural, economic, sports and academic diplomacy in addition to the traditional one.

President Siljanovska Davkova said diplomacy is not only a collection of protocol-related activities but a proven civilizational mechanism that tears down walls and builds bridges.

"You, the diplomats, are a personification of knowledge, skill, moderation and commitment in the search of solutions for serious problems, preferring discussions, agreements and signatures instead of conflicts, blackmail and weapons," said Siljanovska Davkova and added that she personally believes more in the strength of the argument than the argument of strength.

The President said the present is confusing, contradictory and uncertain, with international order not based on international law, justice, ethics and moral, but openly calling upon power and weapons, while silencing the debate with nature and Euro-Atlanticism.

"I prefer roundtables to maps of fronts and targets for destruction. To me, peace is not only absence of war or its continuation but a natural state, immanent to the human generic essence," said Siljanovska Davkova.

She added that small states have gotten to know international politics as one of force, being the first to feel the difference between principles, words and reality.

"However, in the absence of checks and balances, unlimited and unsanctioned power has the tendency to grow, making the relatively strong rather weak before the super-strong. Therefore, small and mid-sized states must be the most vocal supporters of multilateralism in an era of uncontrollable multipolarism," said Siljanovska Davkova.

Regarding the past year, the President said the country was a credible EU partner, a responsible, active and reliable NATO member, a proven factor of stability in the region.

"We cannot continually change the Constitution at the request of someone from the outside, forgetting its status of lex superior. Isn't it hypocritical and cynical to call for national constitutional patriotism and consensus as the dam preventing the change of EU's constitutional acts, while asking a state to meet 'only one more requirement', make 'only one more concession and constitutional revision' because the neighbor wanted this, the rapporteur or the European Council recommended it," said Siljanovska Davkova.

According to her, it is strange to call on the Copenhagen criteria but insist on Balkan-like demands, to expect reforms and rule of law while tolerating bilateralization, vetoes and double standards.

"For us, as for all of you, identity is not an argument against the EU but for it, because Europe is rich because of its diversity. We have shown on many occasions that we can be a partner that personifies values not problems, although you constantly treat us as the problematic ones," noted Siljanovska Davkova.

On EU enlargement, she said it is not only a test for the candidates but also for the European democratic capacity and credibility, adding that if rules are applied differently, then they become an instrument of political arbitrariness.

"Finally, the Western Balkans is not a problem for the Union's absorption capacity. On the contrary, the region's integration is an issue of security, stability and geopolitical rationality amid times of rising geopolitical rivalries. We do not have an issue with talking, because we believe that neighborhood is not a choice but destiny. We are sharing not only a common reality but a common future as well. Therefore, the responsibility is both ours and European," said Siljanovska Davkova.

She said that if enlargement turns into a mechanism of new members getting the right to 'redefine' the path of the next one, then the Union will lose its core meaning - the principle of legal predictability and equality.

President Siljanovska Davkova underlined that 2025 would be tattooed into her personal and the collective memory by the Kochani tragedy, using the occasion to thank the diplomatic corps for the solidarity and assistance provided by the countries they represent.

Dragan Jacimovic, Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina, addressed the event on behalf of the diplomatic corps, thanking President Siljanovska Davkova for her open-door policy and friendship with the diplomatic community.

Ambassador Jacimovic said the international community values the country's commitment to regional cooperation, goodneighborly relations and international engagement, noting that the diplomatic corps would continue to fulfill its tasks in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, building bilateral and multilateral bridges of friendship.

Photo: President's Office