The training was opened by Daniel Braun, Official representative of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, who emphasized that the cooperation between KAS and VMRO-DPMNE continues on several different levels. "It gives me great pleasure that the Konrad Adenauer Foundation has the opportunity to organize a training to strengthen the capacities of the VMRO-DPMNE parliamentary group. Although a large number of MPs have many years of experience in their work, the continuous upgrading, both in terms of personal competences and in relation to several thematic areas, is of course of great benefit not only for every single MP in the direction of improving his communication skills and presentation skills, but also contributes in general to the advancement of the work of the parliament and democracy in the country." Braun underlined the support that KAS provides for strengthening the capacities of several structures from VMRO-DPMNE, as well as the direct support to the highest leadership of the party.
The Member of the European Parliament from the European Peoples Party Marion Walsmann supported the initiative and had a online address. In her message to the participants she encouraged the party leadership of VMRO-DPMNE to work on their party programme, political strategies as well as on their personal skills and capacities, and to go optimistically in the next parliamentary elections. The party has friends and supports in Europe and the EU will support the country’s integration process beside all the obstacles, according Marion Walsmann.
The President of VMRO-DPMNE, Hristijan Mickoski, who, thanking for the cooperation with KAS, emphasized the enormous importance of building coherence and improving the capacities of MPs. "The parliamentary group of VMRO-DPMNE and the Coalition shows integrity and does everything to protect the interests of the citizens in the Assembly. We have to deal with the foreign political, domestic, economic and structural challenges we are facing" said Mickoski. Such events, according to Mickoski, allow everyone in one place, at a round table, to discuss the current situation and the active role of the deputies and politicians to be a real service to the citizens.
Stefan Andonovski, International Secretary of VMRO-DPMNE and head of PRAC, also addressed the opening, who emphasized that this training seminar is a continuation of the cooperation between KAS and PRAC for the benefit of all structures within the party. Andonovski pointed out that the structural and systemic support from KAS is felt in the progress and building of new skills for the politically active citizens in the country.
In the second part of the opening, Nikola Micevski, Coordinator of the MP group of VMRO-DPMNE and the Coalition, as well as Zaklina Peshevska, MP and President of the Women's Union of VMRO-DPMNE, took part in the panel discussion. In a fruitful discussion, the attendees underlined the role of the Parliament in the time of contemporary challenges for democracy, the possibilities and ways to improve the positioning of the MPs, as well as improving communication.
Communication and media experts who conducted the training during the second day, through practical work and discussions, focused on the need for strategic communication with the public, strengthening the skills for persuasive speaking and effective communication on social networks. It was discussed the challenges faced by MPs in communicating with the public and in presenting issues and priorities of public interest.
The final day of the training seminar was opened by the former MP Ilija Dimovski and Marija Miteva, Spokesperson of VMRO-DPMNE. Dimovski concentrated on creating strategic communication within the Assembly, as well as proper communication with the citizens, through the tools that are present. Marija Miteva moderated a discussion on the issue of communication with citizens, referring to the importance of digitization and social media.
In the further discussion, Aleksandar Spasenovski, Professor at the Faculty of Law and former MP, discussed the strategic positioning of the MPs in the opposition, analyzing data and information available in different analyses.
In the part of concluding observations of the training, fruitful discussions were concluded by Davor Pasoski from Konrad Adenauer Foundation and Stefan Andonovski, Head of PRAC "Ljubisha Georgievski". This part included a discussion with the MPs regarding needs and priorities of the MPs in the following period.
In that sense, KAS and VMRO-DPMNE continue with the extremely fruitful joint cooperation.
