PROGRAM OF GOVERNMENT 2017-2020 The Government will recruit all state potential to reinstate the positive climate and trust in our relations with the EU and US, as well as with our neighbors and make the Republic of Macedonia regional leader again. Internationally, the Government of the Republic of Macedonia will guarantee every citizen of the Republic of Macedonia the right to enjoy his or her own ethnic, cultural, linguistic, religious, gender or any other identity. It is a vision conformed to all civilization attainments. We will dedicate all our efforts to mirroring these principles in our relations with our neighbors - for the sake of the entire region and Europe as a whole. Stemming from the Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia, the Government will actively engage in building consensual positions on all matters of state and national interest with all relevant stakeholders in the country. We will actively engage in overcoming the imposed name issue by Greece and will not accept discussion on identity grounds. We will consult the citizens for possible solutions. The Government will oppose all attempts for changes to the national, linguistic and cultural identity of the Macedonian people or any other ethnic community in the Republic of Macedonia. The Government will focus on regional and good-neighborly cooperation. In view of improving regional progress and stability, we will intensify exchange and cooperation with all our neighbors in all currently-pursued areas through: strengthened participation and influence in regional initiatives; serious and active involvement in infrastructure, energy and telecommunications projects; cross-border development zones in support of the development of Republic of Macedonia’s rural, i.e. border areas (by using EU funds); reinvigoration of initiatives for new border crossings to neighboring countries; and promotion of new international and local border-crossings for citizens residing in proximity of borders. The Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will attend to the well-being of the Macedonian national minority living in the neighboring countries. We will restore the support in education, culture and language by providing books, textbooks, teachers, lectors and plays, without interference and full respect for the internal affairs of our neighbors. We will strengthen the ties with our Diaspora by financially supporting Macedonian language classes in Macedonian diplomatic missions in cities that will declare interest. We will reopen the Macedonian language, literature and culture lectorates across the world, ignored and forgotten over the years. We will improve ties with our Diaspora by setting up “virtual consulates” providing all the necessary services and information. Every embassy or consulate will have to be equipped with an easily accessible and efficient Q&A system. In addition, we will reinvigorate the long ignored system of legal counseling for members of the Diaspora, focused on international standards and judgments made by international bodies, especially the European Court of Human Rights. Following Macedonia’s strategic goals and the analysis of current state of affairs, the Government will set up new, politically and financially optimal, and especially efficient diplomatic network. We will strengthen the embassies in countries of strategic importance for the Republic of Macedonia. Selection of diplomatic personnel will be based on full respect of professional and human qualities. Macedonia’s foreign policy will be based on clear objectives, well-defined coordination and professional diplomatic network. In the next four years, the Government will devise a plan for acquisition 13