Dear citizens of the Republic of Macedonia,
Distinguished guests,
Distinguished descendants of all our known and unknown heroes who gave their lives for their homeland Macedonia,


Today, on the day of Ilinden, we remember the Ilinden Uprising of 1903 and the first session of ASNOM of 1944. On this day of Ilinden, not far away from here, in Prohor Pcinjski Monastery, the cornerstones of the Macedonian state were laid. This was the first fruit of the national liberation struggle of the Macedonian people.


Distinguished citizens of the Republic of Macedonia,

Freedom has its roots, and a soil to grow upon. The root of our freedom is here, in Macedonia. A root that grows from the seed, which is at the same time a fruit.

It is said that unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and sprouts, it remains alone; but if it sprouts, it bears much fruit. The fruit of Ilinden became the seed of ASNOM. They have sown the seed whose fruits and harvests feed us even today.

A strive for freedom and light is the seed they have sown in the occupied Macedonian soil – a soil they irrigated with their own blood. Out of this seed sprouted freedom and light. It is not by coincidence that our anthem begins with the words: "Today, over Macedonia, a new sun of freedom is born!" Today, on Ilinden, we celebrate freedom and light.


Dear fellow citizens,

The sun and Ilinden are a Macedonian symbol for freedom. The sun on our flag, on our coat of arms, in our national anthem – this sun is our pledge for freedom – a pledge we remind ourselves of at every Ilinden.

Just as the light is most appreciated by those who have spent a long time in darkness, so is freedom most sincerely beloved by those who have been occupied for centuries. After the long Macedonian night which began with the fall of Samoil, we finally saw the sun of freedom.

Today we remember the Ilinden fighters who, 110 ago, shed their blood on occupied Macedonian land. We remember those who fought in the national liberation and antifascist struggle and who lit the flame, confirming the justness of the Macedonian cause.

In those historic moments, they only had two options: either will Macedonia be a slaves' prison cell, or it will become a free homeland to a free people. Our heroes decisively used the only means their occupiers could not take away from them, and that is to fight. An armed struggle for freedom, justice and human dignity – for, what God has given, no one can take away.

The ideals they once fought for are today our reality. This is featured in the Krushevo Manifesto and the founding documents of ASNOM. It only takes to see the ASNOM Declaration on the fundamental rights of the citizens of democratic Macedonia from August 2, 1944. Among other things, it states that:

„All citizens...are equal before the law, regardless of their nationality, gender, race and faith.
National minorities in Macedonia shall have all rights to a free exercise of their nationality. The safety and security of every citizen's person and property shall be guaranteed, along with the right to property and honest initiatives in trade. "

This Declaration laid the cornerstone of the modern Macedonian state, of the rights and freedoms we enjoy today. It is a Declaration written by top intellectuals, spreading a European spirit.

After the long Macedonian night, ASNOM gave us light. However, some of those who brought us the light got lost in the flames. Some in physical, some in the spiritual sense of the word. That is why today we remember and celebrate all of them. We remember Chento and Brashnarov, Chuchkov and Agoli, Piruze and Shatev, but also many other known and unknown heroes, ancestors of some of you present today.

Is there a greater love than sacrificing one's own life for the sake of one's beloved, for the people, for the homeland, for Macedonia? The memories in which these people are eternalized and the respect we pay to them prove that their sacrifice was not in vain.

This is why we must never forget how many sacrifices were made so that our sons and daughters, our children and grandchildren can stand under the flag of freedom.


Dear fellow citizens,

Exactly three years ago, at this very place, I said that our cause is having a progressive, economically and democratically developed state, fully integrated in NATO and the European Union. I also said that we are sincere and dedicated to becoming part of these families in which we naturally belong.

We are aware that an absurd demand stands on this way. We are asked to renounce who we were, who we are and who we must continue to be. We are asked to renounce our own name, our own identity.

A man can only renounce his own possessions. Do we own the air that we breathe or the water that we drink; are we the owners of the sun that shines and the time that passes? It is the same with the name and identity. The name and the identity are part of us just as we are part of them.

The name and the identity are like a river that has flown for centuries and will continue to do so, with or without us. Renouncing our identity is the same as drying the river whose water we drink, whose fruits we feed upon – a river that provides for us, just as it did for our ancestors and will do for our children.


Distinguished citizens of the Republic of Macedonia,

We are asked to renounce our history; as if it were a book we only lend and then return to the library of collective memory. But history is not the private property of a single people or a single state. History is not only what is written in the books. It is the life that has been lived by the generations before us. History is shared; it is part of us, of who we have been, who we are, and who we will become. Same as light, history is the sum of the entire spectrum of what has happened to all peoples. We are part of that spectrum, regardless of whether someone recognizes it or not.

History, too, is like an ever-flowing river. Some of its waters of it are clear, others are turbid. Some of them are shallow, others deep. Some of them are tranquil, some troubled. History is part of all the individuals and peoples, communities and states which once shared a common past. The European Union itself has been built upon the understanding of the great truth that independently of all perceptions, history is one and unique – it is common and belongs to all European peoples. This is why I wish to appeal for a European approach towards history.

We are aware that these absurd requests have been delivered to us by some EU member states. But we must not forget that the European Union is not quite Europe yet, nor is Europe the European Union only. With the membership of Macedonia in the European Union, the Union will approach Europe.

Although it disappointed us by not respecting the recommendation of the Badintaire Committee; although it hurt us at the 1992 Lisbon Summit; although the failure to respect the judgment of the International Court of Justice offended us, still, the European Union remains the safest, most democratic and most humane place in the world, offering peace and tranquility, progress and prosperity. Therefore, the European Union remains our strategic goal. This is why the Republic of Macedonia will continue to approach closer to the European Union. However, we expect the Union to move closer to us, to Macedonia, as well.

Just as borders are disappearing from the European map, prejudice should disappear from the hearts and minds of European peoples.

This is why today, from this place, I make an appeal to the European Union: come to Macedonia to come closer to united Europe. Come to Macedonia for the sake of self-realization. We are part of Europe even without the Union. We are building Europe for the benefit of our citizens, above all.

Economic crisis should not be used to prevent the realization of the dream of many generations of Macedonians. The crisis should not serve as an excuse not to realize the dream of the great European visionaries.


Distinguished guests,

„A day will come when your arms will fall even from your hands! A day will come when war will seem as absurd and impossible... A day will come when... you all, nations of the continent, without losing your distinct qualities and your glorious individuality, will be merged closely within a superior unit and you will form the European brotherhood... A day will come when the only fields of battle will be markets opening up to trade and minds opening up to ideas."

These are the words of the great French writer and European visionary Victor Hugo. Words he spoke at the International Peace Congress in Paris, in 1849! Imagine, in the year 1849!

That day Hugo spoke about is very close. However, in order for this great historical day to come, stereotypes in the Balkans have to leave first. The appetites for conquering, assimilating, subordinating, negating and non-recognizing must finally be lost. 100 years after the tragedies of the Balkan wars, the ghosts of Balkan prejudice must finally disappear – ghosts that are still wandering and hindering the European future of the Republic of Macedonia and the region.


Distinguished guests,

History has proven that Macedonia has had the strongest temptations when it was closest to success. In 1903, in 1944 and back in 1991. The three Ilindens were an endurance test for Macedonia. We were subject to provocation, temptation, trials. They wanted to see if we could make it as a state, or whether we could resist to the pressure. God says we should be glad when going through temptations, for where there is temptation, there is also a blessing and prosperity.

We survived and we did not kneel. This is witnessed by all of us gathered today at Pelince, in Mechkin Kamen, and by all our fellow compatriots from the Diaspora who celebrate this holiday of freedom and light – Ilinden, throughout the world.

As Petre M. Andreevski said: "Our race is knotgrass and not a single army can destroy it. You may kick it, plucked it as much as you want, it will not disappear. Only if it touches the ground, it will start growing again, it will be revived. Nothing can destroy that grass".

The Ilinden fighters from 1903 gave the torch of victory to the fighters in the national liberation and antifascist struggle in 1944. We carry the torch of the 1991 victory. It is now time to give it to the next generations born in freedom; generations born in an independent and sovereign Republic of Macedonia.

They have something we did not have. They have the right and privilege to be born in a free and independent Republic of Macedonia. This is a right that implies a responsibility to appreciate, cherish, safeguard and respect our homeland.


Dear fellow citizens,

The 1944 ASNOM Manifesto states: „The most glorious years of your history are born, an epopee of the sacred national liberation struggle, in which you were reborn as people and felt free to take your destiny in your own hands".

Today, we are living those glorious years. Just as we were the future for the ASNOM participants, our children are the future to us. This is why we have the responsibility to safeguard and develop the Republic of Macedonia for the sake of future generations. In this way, future generations will understand what it means to have one's own country. To be yourself in your own country.

We have the duty to teach young people how to face the world in which nothing is easy and success in only achieved through hard work.

Only in that way shall we fulfill the pledge of those who fought and won what we have today.

Distinguished citizens of the Republic of Macedonia,

Those who do not fight have already lost. The feeling of defeat and unjustness must be replaced with the spirit of survival and victory. Some of the examples and direction towards victory is provided by our successful individuals.

If our artists can rule world stages; if our sports players can conquer world terrains; if our students, inventors and programmers win global competitions; if our successful entrepreneurs can be part of the global economy, then each and every one of us can give his or her best for Macedonia. He can win and become part of the mosaic that is personal and collective success.

I urge you: create, both spiritually and materially. Let us build Macedonia in heights, with the highest values, standards and criteria.

I invite you: Let us conquer new peaks – in business, science, culture, sports; to be at the top in all areas and professions.


Dear fellow citizens,

The great revolutionary and ideologist of Macedonian independence, Goce Delchev once said that a real man should not be afraid of anything.

The Republic of Macedonia today is the one protecting us from foreign interests, assimilation and destruction.
The Republic of Macedonia today is the one protecting our identity, language and culture.
The Republic of Macedonia today is the one protecting our safety and the lives of our children.
Today, we are who we are in the Republic of Macedonia.

This is why we need to raise our awareness regarding our duty towards our country; duty towards Macedonia. We may have different positions on many issues. But when it comes to state interests, when it comes to the future of the Republic of Macedonia, we must stand united. For this reason, today, on Ilinden, I call upon you to be united.


Dear Macedonians, Albanians, Turks, Serbs, Vlachs, Bosniacs, Roma...,
Dear Christians, Muslims, Jews,
Fellow citizens,

To be Macedonian and citizen of the Republic of Macedonia means to respect and accept the culture, faith and customs of the others; to cherish the diversity which makes us richer, united and unique.

The Republic of Macedonia belongs to all of us, independent of the ethnic, religious or any other difference. We, on the other hand, belong to each other, just as we belong to our common and only homeland Macedonia.

Today, it appeals to us, to compete in terms of success, creation and goodness, since this is the only way we will fulfill the legacy of our Ilinden ancestors. An oath enshrined in the Krushevo manifesto and in the ASNOM documents; a pledge to build Macedonia as a progressive, democratic and prosperous state and defend the interests of Macedonian citizens, liberty, independence, peace and stability for the good of all.


Long live Ilinden!
Long live our freedom and independence!
Long live the Republic of Macedonia!