Under motto "We Are Planting Today - Writing and Sending a Letter of Peace", 5,7 million seedlings were planted within autumn campaign "Tree Day - Plant Your Future!", held throughout Macedonia on Wednesday.

The eighth such campaign included planting near populated places, natural and artificial lakes, national parks, regional and local roads. For the purpose of mass participation in the campaign, the Government declared Wednesday a non-working day, which will be compensated on Saturday.

The main event of the campaign is "Letter of Love, Respect and Friendship - Plant Peace, Friendship and Love". Citizens were able to sign in support of the letter, whereas the signatures are to be forwarded to the United Nations and the European Commission following the campaign.

The letter contains a clear message that by planting the future with our own hands, we say that not only trees are planted, but also friendship, good neighborly relations, tolerance and mutual respect.

"The letter is a call for mass unity, planting the future for ourselves and the world. The letter is a strong message that we will not allow for our name to be taken away and would not allow such injustice to be brought upon anyone", say the campaign organizers.

Campaign chief Kristina Nikolovska said today's planting aimed at sending a universal message of peace, friendship, good neighborly relations, humanity.

"We are sending a human cosmopolitan message that we have nothing to be ashamed of, we are great, we are strong. Today we are together, sending a universal message", said Nikolovska.

Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and Agriculture Minister Ljupco Dimovski marked the start of the campaign by planting trees in Skopje downtown on Sunday, followed by the diplomatic corps and heads of religious communities in Macedonia on Monday, as well as President Gjorge Ivanov on Tuesday.

Vice Premier and Finance Minister Zoran Stavreski and Minister of Interior Gordana Jankuloska, accompanied by campaign organizers, mayors and entertainers, planted trees near Skopje today.

Minister Jankuloska said the campaign has proved to be a success, which is a reason more to repeat it annually.

The 8. "Tree Day" campaign is held in the spirit of global event "International Year of Forests 2011", declared by the United Nations.

Today's campaign brings the total number of planted seedlings to 44 million since 2008.