Prime Minister of Republic of Macedonia Nikola Gruevski, on the sidelines of the ceremony for marking the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War, which took place yesterday at the Memorial Monument in Liège, Kingdom of Belgium, had informal conversations with great number of statesmen.

According to information, Prime Minister Gruevski had informal discussion with the President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso, with Bulgarian President Rosen Plevneliev, President of Serbia, Tomislav Nikolikj, Albanian President Bujar Aim and Montenegrin President Filip Vujanovikj.

Besides informal talks with heads of state from the region, Gruevski had informal discussions with German President Joachim Gauk, Belgian Minister of Defense Pieter de Creme, Minister of Health of New Zealand, Tony Rajal and others.

President of the Macedonian government met French President Francois Hollande. Almost all disscussions were completed after lunch for VIP guests which was organized by the King and Queen of Belgium, Philip and Matilda.

In Liege were gathered over 50 heads of states and governments, and at the ceremony despite the presidents and prime ministers were present representatives of the royal families of Europe.

At the ceremony in Liege addressed the presidents of France and Germany, Francois Hollande and Joachim Gauk, William Duke of Cambridge, Belgian King Philip and Prime Minister of Belgium, Elio du Rupo.

Speakers paid tribute to the more than 8 million soldiers and civilians who died in the First World War. Memorial Center Koine was built on the site of the first battle between German and Allied forces after the army of the Kingdom of Germany on 4 August 1914, crossed the Belgian border, involving France and the United Kingdom in open conflict. Liege was the first city that showed 12 days resistance and thus help other parts of Belgium, and France and Britain to organize themselves for combat and defense.

In the First World War with its armies participated 30 countries and were killed 8.5 million people and 21.2 million were injured.

(Kurir News Agency)