Skopje Jazz Festival decorated with "Charter of the Republic of Macedonia"

President Gjorge Ivanov decorated Monday the Skopje Jazz Festival with a "Charter of the Republic of Macedonia" for its exceptional results during the 3-decade existence and for presenting the Macedonian and global music.

Presenting the recognition, President Ivanov said that jazz with its improvisation, creativity and instrumental uniqueness was one of the international, universal languages connecting people and striving for freedom.

"Over the years, the Skopje Jazz Festival has become a second home for numerous famous jazz legends, such as Ray Charles, Tito Puente, Ornette Coleman, Pat Metheny, Wayne Shorter, BB King, Chick Corea, McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, Joe Zawinul, John McLaughlin, Cecil Taylor, etc and an open stage for emerging Macedonian jazz performers," Ivanov said.

Thanking for the recognition, the Skopje Jazz Festival director Oliver Belopeta stated that for the organisers it represented an encouragement to keep on going.

"The Skopje Jazz Festival is being awarded with such recognition for the first time coming at the right moment in the right place. The 'Charter of the Republic of Macedonia' is a motivation for us to keep up the good work for another decade in presenting foreign musicians and in promoting local jazz performers," Belopeta stressed.

Founded in 1982, the Skopje Jazz Festival every year in the autumn hosts the biggest names of the global jazz scene.