[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 31 (Tuesday, February 25, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E234]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       HONORING BORIS TRAJKOVSKI

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CANDICE S. MILLER

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 25, 2014

  Mrs. MILLER of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Boris 
Trajkovski.
  As the founder and chair of the Congressional Caucus of Macedonia and 
Macedonian-Americans, and having one of the largest Macedonian 
communities in my district, I would like to commemorate the 10th 
anniversary of the tragic and untimely passing of Macedonia's president 
Boris Trajkovski, who was a great friend to the United States and the 
American people.
  President Trajkovski and his entourage were en route to an 
international investment conference when his plane crashed near Mostar, 
Bosnia-Herzegovina on February 26, 2004. President Trajkovski, aged 47, 
left behind a wife, Vilma, and two children, Sara and Stefan. His 
gravestone in Macedonia reads a Biblical verse: ``Blessed are the 
peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God.''
  As a member and pastor of the Methodist Church of Macedonia, 
President Trajkovski was a tireless advocate for religious tolerance, 
religious freedom, and conflict resolution. He was a man of great 
faith. His great faith drove him to be a man who led reconciliation 
throughout his region of the world. In 2002, he was awarded the World 
Methodist Peace Award by the World Methodist Council for his role in 
promoting peace and political stability.
  At his inauguration ceremony in 1999, President Trajkovski promised: 
``I intend to be the president of all citizens of Macedonia, regardless 
of their ethnic or religious background, regardless of their political 
standing. I shall not allow ethnic hatred and intolerance to undermine 
Macedonia's stability.'' While deputy foreign minister, he supported 
U.S. and NATO-led efforts against Serbia, and allowed for NATO troops 
to be stationed in Macedonia, during which time Macedonia took in 
400,000 Kosovar refugees.
  President Trajkovski demonstrated his willingness to work with all of 
Macedonia's ethnic groups, which helped to prevent a civil war. He 
worked to foster peace and integrate Macedonia into the international 
community.
  Under President Trajkovski's leadership, Macedonia was one of the 
first nations to publicly support NATO-efforts in Afghanistan and 
Operation Iraqi Freedom and send troops to both, and under his 
leadership, Macedonia negotiated an agreement with the United States 
under Article 98 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal 
Court, signed the agreement on June 30, 2003, and ratified the 
agreement on October 16, 2003, thereby helping to ensure United States 
citizens will not be subject to politically motivated prosecutions.
  On March 11, 2004, the House of Representatives passed H. Res. 540 
expressing the deepest sympathies and solidarity of the American people 
to the Macedonian people.
  As a tribute to President Trajkovski, then-President Bush and then-
Secretary Powell recognized Macedonia under its constitutional name 
Republic of Macedonia, on November 4, 2004.
  President Trajkovski's legacy remains today. His wife Vilma has 
dedicated her life to working to continue his work in bridging youth of 
all ethnic groups, promoting peace and dialogue, and religious freedom 
among all, and she is a tireless advocate for breast cancer research. 
His daughter, Sara, currently works at the Macedonian Ministry of 
Foreign Affairs.
  The American people will forever remember President Trajkovski's 
friendship, and I hope that one day his dream of Macedonia joining NATO 
and the EU will become reality.

                          ____________________