Skopje, 11 October 2023 (MIA) - All the progress that has been achieved to date is a reflection of our unyieldingness and freedom of choice. We have an obligation to remain on the European path and focused on European values in the name of everything that has been achieved with Macedonian unyieldingness until today, Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski said Wednesday addressing central celebration in front of the Memorial Ossuary in Kumanovo on National Uprising Day October 11.

“The direction is again that we need to remain steadfast and united, to face the current challenges, moving forward in the realization of the strategic national goals. Going back was never an option, neither for the partisans nor for the people of Ilinden, nor when the important political decisions were made during the building of the country and in its international establishment after independence,” Kovachevski said.

Today, when we have our own Macedonian state, as he said, recognized in Europe and the world, our contemporary battle is not to allow someone's personal, party or other agendas, someone else's goals to hinder our European path.
According to him, thanks to the success in National Liberation War, today's, modern and independent, democratic, Euro-Atlantic Republic of North Macedonia exists.

“In 2023, in the 21st century, a modern, democratic, multi-ethnic, Republic of North Macedonia, a full member of the United Nations, a member of NATO, a country that has started EU accession negotiations and a future EU member - someone, with the anti-European agenda, trying to return it to the dark and painful past, which has been overcome."

“This is not a battle with weapons and on battlefields, like the partisan and revolutionary struggles. But it is another serous and important battle that we have to win. And by doing so, we will ensure that no one can ever use the Macedonian identity issues, for their own or someone else's purposes. Membership in the European Union confirms, strengthens and promotes identity. This is the case with all the European nations. In this way, it will be confirmed, strengthened, advanced - thus the Macedonian identity will be permanently protected in European and globally. We, today's generations, have an obligation to deal with the anti-European and anti-Macedonian agenda. And we will do that with new wise decisions, as before, which open perspectives and enable progress for the citizens and the state,” Kovachevski stressed.

He pointed out that the country is on the right path and is developing according to the needs of the citizens, according to modern trends and in close partnership with its strategic partners, the USA, the EU and NATO member states, from which it has strong support for further development, as never before.

Our country, PM Kovachevski noted, has always been on the right side of history, even during the Second World War, when it stood together with the progressive anti-fascist forces.

“Even today, we stand side by side in NATO and with the EU member states, in defence of peace. And we have an obligation to stay on the European path and focused on European values in the name of everything that has been achieved with the Macedonian unyieldingness until today. I am confident, we will also secure our European prospects, reforming our centuries-old Macedonian state capacity, into a top European capacity that will show that the day we enter the EU, our country will be the fastest growing economy in the Union,” he noted.

“Both I as the Prime Minister and we as the Government will continue, together with all of you, to unyieldingly walk the path of progress. And I know that this time too, together again, we will succeed,” Prime Minister Kovachevski said.

Kumanovo mayor Maksim Dimitrievski underscored that the decisions of the first meeting of ASNOM in 1944 brought about the realization of the wishes for the establishment of a Macedonian state, and that this is an incentive to honour today the heroes who gave their young lives for freedom.

“Today, after 82 years, we face new challenges. October 11 is an inspiration and an incentive to overcome all divisions through mutual respect and selfless friendship that will ensure progress and success,” Dimitrievski added.

The celebrations began by laying flowers by delegations of the government, citizens’ organizations, the army, and diplomatic corps on Wednesday in front of Memorial Ossuary in Kumanovo.

Photo: Government