Ohrid, 1 September 2023 (MIA) - The decade long International Scholarly Conference of Ss. Cyril and Methodius University’s International Seminar on Macedonian Language, Literature and Culture has enabled scientific truths and conclusions on Macedonian studies find their place in the world of Slavic language studies, philology and cultural science. Slavic language studies scholars are unimaginable without the Macedonian language study scholars. The Macedonian language, literature and culture are a fact and challenge for word science, thanks to the scientific works that emerged from this conference. These issues were highlighted at the opening of the 50th International Scholarly Conference of the International Seminar on Macedonian Language, Literature and Culture in Ohrid on Friday.

President Stevo Pendarovski addressed the conference and emphasized in the past five decades, prominent scientists, Slavic and Macedonian language scholars from different sides of the world, together with our participants, left behind works as a testament to the richness of the Macedonian language.

"Most of them, of you, are devoted to the Macedonian language and have been promoting the Macedonian literature and culture for years, therefore I sincerely thank you and wish you to continue with your contributions," Pendarovski said.

He highlighted two important anniversaries - 120 years since the publishing of Misirkov's "On Macedonian Matters" book as one of the most important works in the Macedonian linguistic, cultural, and overall national history, and 100 since the birth of Aco Shopov.

"In fact, the aforementioned anniversaries will be discussed at the conference, whose programme awakens participants' interest, for which I am especially happy as a patron of the event marking 100 years since the birth of the Macedonian giant, Aco Shopov, which will be duly commemorated thanks to the country, and the efforts made by his family through the "Aco Shopov- poetry" foundation," President Pendarovski noted.

He added that Macedonian literature is one of the pillars of the Macedonian language studies.

"The International Scholarly Conference and International Seminar affirms the specific and peculiarities of the Macedonian language, literature and culture every year. The impressive number of scholars and works, left as a legacy from previous conferences, are an invaluable treasure for our linguistics and culture, and especially for our people and country," Pendarovski stressed.

University Ss.Cyril and Methodius (UKIM) Rector Nikola Jankulovski pointed out that the conference, University and country stand out in the international academic environment, thanks to the effort made by researchers as the backbone of the Macedonian national identity.

"This Conference will help new discoveries from the works of Misirkov and Shopov find their place among Slavic and Balkan language scholars, even philology as a whole, and bring new discoveries about the Macedonian language, literature and culture," Jankulovski said.

According to him, the number of participants at the Conference will lead to new important insights into the Macedonian language and culture, as compared to other literatures and cultures.

Last year's edition of the Anthology containing over 500 pages of works on Macedonian language studies will also be promoted at the Conference.

Important topics of discussion will be the works of Krste Misirkov and Aco Shopov, on the anniversary of 120 years since the publishing of Misirkov's "On Macedonian Matters" and 100 since the birth of Shopov.

The Conference is part of the national "2023. Year in Honor of Aco Shopov" programme, held under the auspices of President Pendarovski.

The Conference will also publish an Anthology, which is expected to be one of the most important scholarly publications in North Macedonia as of recently, taking into account the number of participants and works, but also the fact that this conference edition is the only in the field of Macedonian studies and the number of participants from different countries. ssh/nn/

Photo: MIA