Ohrid Lake’s Gorica beach was proudly marked with a White Flag, by the Global Underwater Awareness Association (GUAWAA) to point out that this is an area of extraordinary ecological purity and protection.
President Gjorge Ivanov, speaking at the flag raising ceremony, said that this is yet another acknowledgement for Ohrid, which puts the lake on the world map of pure, clean resorts. President Ivanov added that this generation must work to preserve Ohrid for posterity.
“This ceremony is an appeal of sorts, to take care of the waters not only of Macedonia, but of the world, knowing what clean water means for humanity. This should entice us to keep not only parts of Lake Ohrid clean from pollution, but to preserve the entire lake for the future generations”, President Ivanov said.
The Global Underwater Awareness Association, a Norway based non-profit organization, works to protect seas, rivers and lakes from pollution and to inform the public of their vitality. GUWAA President Kristijan Curevic said that the organization is awarding its first White Flag to Macedonia, as an international sign of water purity.
“We take the White Flag to four new countries, and Macedonia is one of the first among them. The White Flag can’t be bought, it must be earned”, Curevic said, pointing out the work of diver Kiro Angeleski from the cave diving club Vrelo, for his work to clean numerous bodies of water around the world.
“It is activities like the ones undertaken by Angeleski that helped Macedonia earn this mark. In two to three years, the White Flag will be raised in 60 countries around the world, and in Macedonia, it will help promote tourism and draw people to this beautiful lake”, Curevic said.
The White Flag was first raised in Monaco, and in the Balkans, it was promoted in Slovenia, Croatia and Bosnia. GUWAA has famous actor Armand Assante as its global ambassador, while in Macedonia, it is represented by legendary musician Vlatko Stefanovski.
