Skopje, 15 May 2023 (МИА) - Only a united, solidary and open world can adequately answer global challenges that are becoming more complex and dangerous. Our obligation to present and future generations is to set appropriate conditions for progress and development, and though our own examples establish moral values for betterment of the world, said President Stevo Pendarovski during the promotion of publication "Solidarity- From Overcoming Crisis to Sustainable Development" on Monday.

The publication is prepared by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Skopje though the Institute for Democracy- Societas Civilis (IDSCS).

It contains essays from thirteen authors on the topic of solidarity, and was created for the 60th anniversary of the catastrophic earthquake in Skopje, aiming to encourage public discussions on the importance of solidarity in developmental goals and building resilient societies.

President Pendarovski emphasized the importance of solidarity in his address, pointing out that only though solidarity can issues on climate change, and many other complex challenges concerning society be solved.

"Six decades ago, when the then ideologically divided world came together in support of a city destroyed by a catastrophic earthquake, that the importance of international solidarity, the expediency of the United Nations and the support system justified their cause. Another recent example is the devastating earthquake in Syria and Turkey and the importance of solidarity shown by the international community and the states individually, as well as by numerous individuals. Without solidarity, we would hardly have survived the Covid-19 pandemic; it is exactly on the basis of solidarity that the issue of climate change and many other pressing issues that burden humanity can be solved," Pendarovski said.

Marina Walter, Deputy Director of UNDP, said what defines us as a civilization in crucial moments, where we give our best, is solidarity.

"I am glad that the UNDP is leading the process for the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the earthquake in Skopje with a series of events like the one today, along with the President. Skopje, the city of solidarity, knows this best. In the publication that we presented today, made by activists, experts, students, and young people, we emphasize the importance of solidarity from multiple aspects, and open another vision for the future of how to move forward," stated Walter during the event. ssh/ik/