Esteemed Attendees,
Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear Friends,

It is a real honor for me to greet you as patron of this important anniversary - 60 years since the establishment of the Institute for Macedonian Language "Krste Misirkov" within the "Ss. Cyril and Methodius" University in Skopje.

The Institute marks six decades filled with studying, fostering and promoting Macedonian language, being our greatest spiritual cultural heritage. Decades of capital deeds and extensive research work on the roots, growth and fruits of the Macedonian language. Research on the mosaic of Macedonian dialects, of Macedonian toponymy and Macedonian onomastics.

It is said that if you want to learn something more about people, then study the history, if you want, however, to understand people, learn the language. Over the decades, the Institute has helped many Macedonian language students, many Macedonian friends worldwide to understand Macedonia, thereby promoting the Macedonian language and Macedonian literature and culture.

Therefore, as President of the Republic of Macedonia I have decided to award the recognition "Charter of the Republic of Macedonia" to the Institute for Macedonian Language "Krste Misirkov" - Skopje. Recognition that expresses our sincere gratitude to the Institute for these 60 years of scientific-research activity in the field of studying and preservation of the Macedonian language. Recognition that expresses our respect to the employees, the members of the scientific-research staff that consistently and with dedication, for 60 years, has been implementing the mission and vision of Krste Petkov - Misirkov.

Distinguished Guests,

Humans have essential need to communicate and be informed. Crucial in this is our quest for truth. Truth about life, meaning of life, about the past, about the world around us and our own place in it. The quest for truth passes through a maze of different worldviews, professions and identities. But regularly, the quest is through the meaningful, spoken and written word.

We live in a time of information and fast communication. A time when annually about 2,200,000 new books are published in the world. That is about 6,000 new publications daily, or 250 books in an hour. As soon as I finish my short address, global human opus will be richer for about 20 new titles. We do not know exactly how many of these books are published in the author's native languages. But it is clear that the language is indispensable in the quest for truth and the closest to the human self is exactly the native language.

All this leads to the question "What is our native Macedonian language to us?" Why the Macedonian language is inherent in whom we are? What are the benefits and challenges of the Macedonian language?

By coincidence, today is the International Children's Day. Parents and children, ancestors and offspring are strongly linked through the language. Macedonian language is the strongest and most important inter-generational communication code. Thanks to the language, we learn about the visions and aspirations of our ancestors. Using the language, we transfer our ideas, plans and projections to our children who, in turn, share their needs, desires and dreams with us. Language binds past, present and future stronger than any cultural tie.

"The few words on Macedonian literary language", written 110 years ago by the patron of this important Institute, are a vision of that kind. In the book "On the Macedonian Matters", Krste Misirkov said:

"Loyalty to the popular language is our duty and our right. We are obliged to foster our language because it is ours, just as our homeland. The first voices we have heard are the voices of our fathers and mothers, sounds and words in their native language. Through them we receive our first spiritual food, because they give meaning to everything we see with our eyes. Popular language conquers psychology of our fathers and forefathers and we become their spiritual heirs, as we are their bodily strength, with our vigor."

Ladies and Gentlemen,

For Macedonia and for the Macedonian language, lots of things have changed since the turbulent time in which Misirkov lived. We live in a sovereign, independent state, the Republic of Macedonia. Our children learn and use the native language freely. Many books and publications written in Macedonian literary language are issued without the fear of being banned, confiscated or destroyed. For already 60 years we enjoy the fruits of our Institute for Macedonian language.

Nevertheless, Macedonian language faces challenges. Some are old and local, and othera contemporary and global.

"Non-recognition or misrecognition can inflict harm, can be a form of oppression, imprisoning someone in a false, distorted, and reduced mode of being", the Canadian Philosopher Charles Taylor said. Denying our Macedonian language, they follow the fatal logic of non-recognition and exclusion.

Therefore, as a society, we react strongly to all attempts to delete the term "Macedonian language" from the international registers and reports. As a country, we are determined to protect and promote Macedonian language and Macedonian folklore, as part of world's spiritual cultural heritage. The Institute for Macedonian Language plays an important role in this regard.

The second challenge is contemporary and global. I am honored that I know a brilliant young polyglot from Bosnia and Herzegovina is a member of my Council of Foreign Relations, Muhamed Meshic. Among the 77 languages that Meshic speaks are 15 acutely endangered languages. It reminds us of the reality we live in, and that every 14 days a language dies in the world.

Given that today Macedonian language is spoken by several millions of people in the Republic of Macedonia and abroad, its future is secured and safe.

However, in the digital era, we should focus on additional promotion and modernization of Macedonian language. To adapt to the modern terminology of the new audio-visual generation, without forgetting the richness of the old genuine Macedonian words.

The Institute for Macedonian Language has, indeed, great merits in this. At the end, I wish the Institute for Macedonian language in the decades to come to continue to take care of, as Blaze Koneski says "the single complete homeland we have".

Thank you.