Respected members of the family of the deceased members of the Ministry of Interior,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In the year when we celebrate the Day of the Macedonian Police, I have enacted a decree to posthumously award the Medal of Bravery to all members of the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Macedonia, who courageously and sacrificially gave their lives for the homeland. With this act, I fulfill the promise I gave last year.

These are moments when we remember our heroes with deep sorrow. I know that we are not able to fully pay our tribute to the people who gave their lives for Macedonia. But we can and we must pay tribute to their great sacrifice.

Their lives were violently and prematurely terminated. Many desires remained unfulfilled, many important moments and many years unlived. Great pain remained that we all feel even today.

However, the completeness of a human life is not measured only in years spent in this world. It is measured by the deeds done, obligations met, the covenant left as an inheritance. The deeds of our heroes live in our memories and in the memories of their relatives and neighbors. All heroes who are decorated today met their highest commitment to their homeland. I believe they gave their lives thinking of their families, of the future generations, thinking of Macedonia. We are eternally grateful to them.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

A decade ago, fathers and mothers lost their children. Sons and daughters lost their fathers, who bravely gave their lives for Macedonia.

Lost child hurts the most. It hurts the most when a parent loses a child, a wife her husband and children their parents. It is very painful when we lose a close one, as we lose a part of ourselves. Our closest ones are part of us. Without them, there is a great emptiness in us and in our lives. Bodily wounds heal, but soul wounds never heal. These are open wounds that hurt us livelong.

As much as we want and no matter how hard we try, whatever we do, none of us can fully remove the pain from your hearts. None of us can make your sadness disappear completely. But we are here to help you, to comfort you and assure you that their sacrifice was not in vain.

Each deceased member of the security forces is a person with a name and surname. Man with his own view of the world and life. Each of them had his own story, his own dreams, his own plan for the future. They sacrificed all that for the homeland, defending the freedom, independence and sovereignty of Macedonia. They died defending the territorial integrity of our country - the Republic of Macedonia.

Therefore, today the homeland commemorates them all. Therefore, today we pay our tribute and recognition. Recognition for their courage and sacrifice. We award them the Medal of Bravery.

Dear family members,

In these moments of silence, when memories stem in the thoughts as tears stem in the eyes, I assure you that your pain is my pain. Your sorrow is my sorrow. I am aware that no words will change that. But I hope that today's act will give you comfort and make you proud.

Your loved ones did not give their lives in vain. Their sacrifice obliges us all to preserve and respect the constitutional order of the Republic of Macedonia. To stand for the values our ancestors fought for. To maintain the freedom, independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of our homeland - the Republic of Macedonia.

Dear friends,

As President of the Republic of Macedonia, with these Medals of Bravery, I want to send a clear message: Macedonia will never allow her heroes to be neglected and forgotten! They will always live in our memories as brave sons who did what the homeland required of them in a turbulent period.

Today, when the Macedonian Police celebrates with dignity its day, with this act we are reminded of a traumatic chapter of the recent Macedonian history. I have said and will say it again: I urge this act to be understood as a symbol of a new and different chapter we have opened and we are fully committed to - to build Macedonia as a European country with European values, criteria and standards. Macedonia as a common, peaceful and prosperous home for all, regardless of ethnic, religious or any other affiliation or sense of belonging. Their sacrifice is the biggest investment to this future.

To the eternal glory of our fallen heroes!

Long live the Republic of Macedonia!