Skopje, 7 September 2026 (MIA) - The truth is that 35 years are not a lot in the lifetime of a country, but they are enough for us to understand that statehood is not achieved with just one political act, with a referendum, or just by declaring independence. The state is something that is built every day, with institutions, legislation, responsibility, economy, education, justice, fulfilled citizens, happy families living in the country, trust in the country, and, above all, the state is built with people who believe that their personal future is tied to the shared future of the state, said the Speaker of Parliament, Afrim Gashi, at Parliament’s reception held Monday on occasion of September 8 – Independence Day.

Gashi stressed that Independence Day provides an opportunity to assess everything the Republic has gone through, but also to consider what kind of country is being left to future generations.

“Whenever September 8 comes and we look back to 1991, we always take note of the fact that our independence came at an exceptionally difficult and delicate time. Apart from being the time of Yugoslavia’s collapse, of political and economic uncertainties, as well as great changes in Europe, it was also a time when those who created independent Macedonia were faced with the challenge whether the independence can be achieved and whether it can be achieved without war. That is why, regardless of our political affiliation or whether we agree with all political decisions of that generation, we have to recognize and value the fact that Macedonia became independent and sovereign in a peaceful way, something that did not happen with the other republics who split off from former Yugoslavia,” Gashi said. 

In that context, Gashi referred to September 8 and the 1991 referendum as the “peaceful birthday” of a state dreamt by many generations and the crown of a decades-long commitment. 

“While we are celebrating, we should not forget that the path over the past 35 years was not easy. There were periods of success, but also periods of crises. There were moments of stability, but also moments of political and economic turmoil. We experienced constitutional and institutional changes. We went through a difficul economic transition and transformation of society, while many of our citizens left the country in search for a better life,” Gashi said. 

However, Gashi said, those who stayed believe it is worth trying to build efficient and reliable institutions. That is why, he said, the 35th anniversary of the country’s independence should be seen through the prism of what was built, and not the failures. 

“This is the optimistic vision for the country and for all our citizens. In that context, anyone who loves this country knows that at the foundation of the country lies the balance of equality and that the more we preserve this balance, the more successful the country itself will be. North Macedonia is home to citizens with different ethnic, linguistic, religious, and cultural belonging. And this is not an obstacle on the path of building our country. It is the reality of our country, and it is our duty to turn this reality into a source of success,” the Speaker said. 

Gashi said the challenge of this generation is to ask, “what kind of country do we want to see in the next 35 years”.  

“And the state of the future should be a state of functional institutions, where the administration does not see the citizen as a burden but as the reason for its existence, where the law is applied equally regardless of affiliation, where corruption is seen as a vice and where everyone sees the shared European perspective. In fact, we can have different languages, different cultures, different traditions, different political beliefs, but we have only one shared country. This should be the basis of our approach,” Gashi said. 

The Speaker said Parliament holds particular responsibility in this process since it is where society is reflected and represented through its institutions. 

“We know that debate is necessary in every pluralist Parliament, disagreement is normal and, of course, criticism is necessary, but beyond all political differences there should be one greater responsibility – the one toward the state and the citizens. Perhaps we will not agree on the way we need to achieve a certain goal, but we must be able to agree on what our basic national aims are,” Gash said. 

Gashi also said the conditions must be established to ensure young people do not see leaving the country as the sole opportunity for a better life. 

“We cannot build a strong state if we lose a part of our young generation every year. But demographic policy should not be seen only through the birth rate. It should be related to quality of life, to employment, to quality education and healthcare, justice, but also with the environment and housing opportunities. Young people need to believe they can create a good life here as well. If we want young people to remain here, we need to constantly create reasons and opportunities for them. This is the patriotism expected of us,” the Speaker of Parliament stressed. 

The Speaker urged courage to openly talk about ways to advance and develop the Republic. 

“Regardless of what we call this process, the task of our generation remains keeping debate alive on how we can make this country more functional, how we can strengthen the symmetry of the country in terms of social diversity, how we can ensure all citizens feel the same way about the country and are equally engaged in its success,” Gashi said in his address at Parliament’s Independence Day reception. 

Photo: MIA