Distinguished citizens of the Republic of Macedonia,
Honorable sons of our known and unknown heroes, who have sacrificed their lives for their homeland Macedonia,

This time again we are at Mechkin Kamen, in memory of our Ilinden fighters who fought for justice and freedom, fighters for a better future - a light that still shines on us today. Our heroes who bravely and sacrificially grabbed the torch of freedom. Freedom that brought light to the long darkness.

With their heroic death, they became immortal. Indeed, man does not die when buried, but when forgotten. Thus, Ilinden fighters are immortal. Their memory is lasting, not only on this day and not just in this place. Not just here, not only now but always and on every place we are. Everywhere where their light shines.

At the 40th anniversary of the Ilinden uprising, on August 2, 1943, Kuzman Josifovski-Pitu, known as Goce Delchev of the National Liberation Struggle, in his report submitted at the Consultations in Prespa noted:

“Today, when the Macedonian people is facing a decisive struggle for its national freedom, the memory of Ilinden needs more than ever to shine in the eyes of all Macedonian people, in the face of all decent and freedom-loving Macedonians, all those who love their country...”

Today, almost seven decades after those words, we remember those great Macedonian sons. With immense gratitude we remember the glorious Ilinden fighters, Delchev, Gruev and Karev. Shatev, Petrov and Sandanski. With endless respect we remember the participants in the national liberation and antifascist struggle for liberation of Macedonia. Brashnarov, Pitu and Chento. Chuchkov, Agoli, and many others. We remember the ASNOM participants who in 1944 laid the foundation of the Macedonian state. We remember the Third Ilinden, the one on September 8, 1991, when, finally, the centuries-old dream of the Macedonian people for a free, sovereign and independent Republic of Macedonia came true.

Ilinden is light that we feel, eternal struggle for freedom, justice and dignity.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

This year marks a century since the First Balkan War. War in which the Balkan nations defeated the Ottoman Empire. Yet, the Second Balkan War in 1913 ended with the Treaty of Bucharest, and the liberation of Macedonia from the Ottomans meant a beginning of a new slavery. With the Treaty of Bucharest, Macedonia and the Macedonians were divided, whereas the Macedonian name and Macedonian language were den  ied and suppressed. However, they failed to close the Macedonian Question.

The Balkan Wars were an introduction to a wider European and world conflict. The victorious triumphalism of the First World War was a prelude to the Second World War in which Europe emerged destroyed and divided.

None of these wars bypassed Macedonia. None of these wars spared the Macedonian people. And, in each of these wars, Macedonian patriots and heroes fought to attain their centuries-old dream. A dream of freedom, justice and a new dawn without chains.

Although enslaved for centuries, our mother Macedonia has always born sons with a free spirit. Sons who knew they had to take arms to fight for our freedom. Therefore, we must never forget that we are children of freedom - their children of freedom!

Distinguished citizens of the Republic of Macedonia,

To be free means to respect, nurture and promote the deeds of our ancestors, of our Ilinden fighters.
To be free means to be responsible for our own stances, decisions and steps undertaken.
To be free means to build our own future, not to let someone else create, determine and impose it.
To be free means to walk the path of sovereignty lit by our ideals: freedom, justice and dignity.

We live and strongly experience freedom.

However, we are still fighting for justice.

Some, even today, want to overshadow our dignity. Some, even today, want to deprive us of our name, language, identity.

Indeed, we have not yet attained our ideal. We are still struggling for the ideal. However, we must not be discouraged.

We are MACEDONIANS and we speak the Macedonian language!

May we recollect the words of the great Blaze Koneski, who in 1986 said:

„Hear ye Macedonians! Beware of such 'legal' sabotage coming from elsewhere, that throws shadow on our bright dates and our existence. For us, more than for many others in the world, the language is, with everything created on it, as spoken and written text, the greatest bridge binding us with the ideal homeland. The language is indeed the only complete homeland we have”.

And today, on Ilinden, I will add: “Although we are divided, although we are displaced, the language has remained the most important and strongest living link that binds and unites us. Here, in the Republic of Macedonia and elsewhere in the world where Macedonians live. Here, in the heroic Krushevo and everywhere where people speak, create and sing in Macedonian. Therefore, no one has the right to talk or negotiate our Macedonian language to be renamed.”

Dear fellow citizens,

I still have in my memory the words of the United Nations Secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, uttered during his recent visit to the Republic of Macedonia. In Ohrid, in our spiritual and cultural capital, he said:

“Never compromise when it comes to your principles. Universally accepted principles… I never compromise when it comes to human rights, basic human rights and human dignity. When it is about universally accepted principles, we should never compromise.”

Identity and language are inseparable part of the human personality, of the freedom of expression, of the human rights.

The time has long passed when decisions were made for us, without us!

No one can talk on our behalf, but us!

No one can report on us, without mentioning us!

No one can write reports about us, without us!

Macedonia is not indifferent nation, as some define us!

Therefore, in this sacred place, once again, I will reiterate the message I have clearly sent on several occasions. On behalf of the Macedonian citizens, I will not accept reports on the Republic of Macedonia which do not include our identity determinants. As President of the Republic of Macedonia, I insist that everyone addresses us with respect, in accordance with the international law and universally accepted principles. Principles which are never compromised.

This generation, like all previous, Ilinden and anti-fascist, will not compromise our ideals and our identity. Will not compromise our freedom, justice and dignity. On the contrary, we continue to strive to fulfill the covenant left by our ancestors. Ilinden is in our hearts, Ilinden is in our minds.

Esteemed guests,

Strategic determination of “the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia, of the Macedonian people, as well as of the citizens living within its boundaries who are part of the Albanian people, of the Turkish people, of the Vlach people, of the Serbian people, of the Roma people, of the Bosniak people and of others” is to fully experience and live in freedom, justice and with dignity.

Strategic determination of our multiethnic, multi-linguistic and multi-religious society was, is and will be full-fledged membership in NATO as a guarantee of peace, security and stability in the Republic of Macedonia.

Strategic goal of our contemporary Macedonian democracy was, is and will be membership of the Republic of Macedonia in the European Union as a precondition for peace, development and progress.

We have never wavered and we will never by any blockage, blackmail and unprincipled bargaining.

We will achieve our goal. The question is not whether, but when. And, until then, we need to remain committed to the reforms. To love our common homeland, the Republic of Macedonia. As spiritual children of Ilinden fighters, we must be responsible citizens. To work for the good of the state. To continue to be a factor of stability in the region, as we have shown that we can be, since the dawn of our independence, with the peaceful policy of openness and good neighborliness. To build good relations with all our neighbors. To give contribution to the regional and global peace and security.

Bowing to all our great historical persons and combatants who with arms fought for the Macedonian state, today, we pay public tribute to their heirs. We pay tribute to the members of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia, the pillar of Macedonian statehood. The pillar which in the past 20 years was one of the guarantors of Macedonian independence. We pay tribute to our brave peacekeepers. Peacekeepers, who together with our allies and partners, defend the shared values, interests and priorities for a free, peaceful and democratic world. As President of the Republic of Macedonia and as Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, I am really proud when world statesmen are talking with great appreciation and decorate members of our Army and our peacekeepers.

Respected fellow citizens,

We are aware of the obstacle and the challenge on the way to formal membership of the Republic of Macedonia in the European Union and NATO. Indeed, we are also aware that this formal obstacle cannot stop us, individually, with our own strength and commitment, to meet membership criteria and standards. Membership in the clubs we want to belong to. With our own strength we will achieve what we are formally denied of.

I am deeply convinced that the great Macedonian son Goce Delchev would agree on this, who 140 years ago came to this world and dedicated all his short human life, but eternal for us, to the liberation of Macedonia. We must not forget that on one occasion Delchev said: “The liberation effort of one nation is, above all, personal effort of that nation, achieved with its own hands”.

In the past, Delchev talked about liberation of Macedonia from the Ottoman yoke.

Today, our generation is faced with a new historical task. Macedonia to become a European and Euro-Atlantic country, not only as a member, but through values, criteria and standards.

I urge you all, with our own hands, to build a European Macedonia, by implementing European values in our everyday life. I urge you all, with our own hands, to attain European criteria and standards. With our own hands, to build a dignified, European life for this and for the future generations.

No one and nothing can and may discourage us. No one and nothing can do instead of us the historical task to create the future for our children.

“The kind of Macedonia we will manage to build will be the kind of Macedonia we will have” is engraved in the Manifesto of the First Session of ASNOM to the Macedonian people.

It depends on all of us, Macedonians, Albanians, Turks, Vlachs, Serbs, Roma, Bosniaks, on all citizens of this country, what kind of Macedonia we will have.

It depends on all of us, Christians, Muslims and Jews whether in the society we will nurture the best values and principles of love for God and our closest ones.

It depends on our generation what future we will leave to the generations after us.

Until these goals are fully met, we remain committed because we are guided by one great truth. This place where we are gathered today best speaks of that truth. 109 years ago, here at Mechkin Kamen, faced with 12-thousand soldiers of the Turkish army, 370 rebels led by Pitu Guli could wave the white flag and surrender. But, at the outset of that epic battle, Pitu said:

“Freedom or death is written on our uprising flag. We have fought and won freedom underneath that flag and we will fight to keep the freedom gained! [...] The enemy is numerous, but we are not afraid. We, though few, are stronger than the enemy, because we have a strong spirit and iron will to fight till the end, because we fight for freedom and justice ...”

Pitu and his fellow combatants were aware that if they did not fight they would lose the battle in advance. Although that battle was lost, we have won the war today. Last year we celebrated two decades of the Republic of Macedonia’s independence.

Distinguished citizens of the Republic of Macedonia,

And yet there is a plenty of work to be done. I believe the key to the success lies in the real values. Values that bring progress and growth. Our present and future depend on our values.

It is enough to recall that the values have always had an important role in the Macedonian liberation efforts. Those liberation efforts will succeed only if based on truth, justice, morality, legality and honesty.

Through values we want to be part of the European and Euro-Atlantic family. We want to be a member which, with its values, attitudes and actions will contribute to the European and Euro-Atlantic family of nations.

We know well what real values are. What belongs to us will be in our possession one day.
I am strongly convinced in this.

Dear fellow citizens,

We need to attain our ideals with our own strengths! But only if we are united and together. We are not big enough and rich to be engaged in mutual struggles and accusations. We need agreement on essential state issues, essential societal issues. We need badly constructive ideas, constructive thoughts that mobilize all those who love the Republic of Macedonia.

Democracy means competition of different opinions, different views and truths that should constructively work in unity for the sake of Macedonia. Democracy implies pluralism. But not with ideas that sow discord may we gain trust of citizens. Therefore, we need democracy without uniformity, but with unity.

History is full of ruins left by destructive people. We need creators and constructors, innovators and creative people. We need visionaries whose gaze is fixed on the future, whose feet are firmly on the ground. We do not need destructive people, villains and pessimistic. We need honest, dedicated patriots and modern heroes. People who will contribute to the common good with their work. We need people with open minds. People focused on the future. People who live in open space.

I urge daily political divisions to stop! Only if truly focused on the strategic goals, we will persist on our path. A path that leads to the goal that unites the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia, regardless of their religious, ethnic or political affiliation. Only together we can fulfill our historic mission. Prosperous, happier, richer and bonded European Macedonia.

Dear Macedonians, Albanians, Turks, Serbs, Vlachs, Bosniaks, Roma...,
Respected citizens of the Republic of Macedonia,

Ilinden fighters have shown us how to build Macedonia. United among each other, fighting for freedom, justice and dignity.

To be Macedonian means to respect the fellow citizen and to include the best of the system of values of the other in the joint life. That is the power of our country and our national cause. To be Macedonian and to be a citizen of the Republic of Macedonia means to be tolerant and to respect the culture and customs of the other.

We are proud of our model of integration without assimilation. Model based on coexistence left to us by our ancestors as legacy. Coexistence engraved in the Krushevo Manifesto. Coexistence based on the benefits of Ilinden and the National Liberation Struggle.

Last year, laying the 1991 Declaration of Independence of Macedonia in the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle for Statehood and Independence, as if I was looking into the ASNOM Declaration on the fundamental rights of the citizens of democratic Macedonia. Declaration stating that all citizens “are equal before the law, irrespective of their nationality, gender, race and religion. National minorities in Macedonia enjoy all rights of a free national life”.

Huge and shared is our common responsibility, through mutual loyalty to our common and only homeland Macedonia, to fulfill the covenant of the Ilinden fighters. To build Macedonia as a developed, prosperous, and democratic state. To defend the interests of the Macedonian citizens, independence, peace and stability for the benefit of all.

Therefore, from this sacred place where the first democratic republic in the Balkans was born, I urge us all to be united under the flag of independent Macedonia!

Many happy returns on Ilinden!
May we always live in freedom and independence!
Long live the Republic of Macedonia!