| Gala Academy on the occasion of October 11, the National Uprising Day | |
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Distinguished attendees, Our homeland, Macedonia, celebrates two decades of its independence. Macedonia also celebrates seven decades of the national uprising that led to ASNOM - the foundation of the Macedonian statehood. Allow me, on behalf of the citizens of the Republic of Macedonia, to express our eternal gratitude to all those who in the National Liberation Struggle participated in achieving the dream for a free Macedonia. Allow me to express our deepest honor to all those who gave their lives for our freedom in the National Liberation Struggle. I would like to ask you, all together, to pay our tribute to the victims of this, in our history, immemorial war, to all combatants and compatriots who gave their lives, with a minute of silence. Here’s to their eternal glory! After the attacks of the Axis powers, the freedom-loving peoples around the world strongly supported the fight against fascism. That fight against fascism happened in Macedonia, too. The Macedonian Partisan Detachments and the Communist Party of Macedonia were one of the first organizers of the struggle against the occupation. However, the success of the National Liberation Struggle, its massive support, its universality, belongs to Macedonia in its entirety. The fighters were also guided by the ideal of national self-determination and establishment of a free Macedonian state. Therefore, today we bow before their sacrifice. We bow honoring the deeds of those who honestly and sincerely in the years after the war contributed to the creation and advancement of the new Macedonian republic. In the article “What the Macedonians fought for and what are they fighting for now”, published on September 15, 1941, inter alia, It is stated: “... Now, in this greatest struggle, when the entire Europe is on fire and excited of what will happen tomorrow ... We, the Macedonians, cannot stay out of those events and be without a position. Our grandfathers, our fathers fought for a free Macedonia, and we are fighting for Macedonia, too! But we must be aware that a fearless fight will unite us all against the enemies of freedom of our people and the freedom of self-determination of all peoples. Everyone has the right to life, and every nation has the right to life. One should fight for it. Macedonian nation will be free, if in their country they are the masters of their own fate, if they are the masters of the fruits of their work!” We celebrate October 11 as the day when the national uprising began in 1941. However, the desire and the fight for freedom began before this date. The Macedonian people, not last, but among the first in then Yugoslavia, began its armed actions against the occupying military and police forces of the Third Reich and its allies. For that, indeed, the historical facts speak. On July 20, 1941, the Skopje detachment was established. In early September, in Slavej Planina, the detachments “Slavej” and “Drimkol” were established. On September 17, the Prilep detachment “Goce Delchev” was established, and, on October 12, the Kumanovo detachment. It is known that the party organizations in Skopje, Veles, Prilep, Bitola formed special sabotage groups which caused great troubles to the occupier. One of the first sabotage actions was the destruction of the German aircrafts at the airport in Skopje on June 4, 1941. Then followed the August diversion in the mine Radusha for explosive, the event near the tunnel Bogomila. Following the brave armed actions which preceded, the night on 10, before October 11, 1941, the fighters of the First Prilep Partisan Detachment “Goce Delchev” attacked the Bulgarian station in the town, the prison in Prilep and the telephone-telegraph network. October 11 later became the symbol of the uprising of the Macedonian people against the fascist occupier. Through the National Liberation Struggle, Macedonia and the Macedonian partisans became part of the great and just coalition of allies that fought against the evil of fascism and Nazism. From this struggle, the Anti-Fascist Assembly of the National Liberation of Macedonia - ASNOM was born, which laid the foundations of the Macedonian statehood. This was also confirmed by Panko Brashnarov, who said at the opening of the session: “When all enslaved peoples of Yugoslavia rose against today’s enemy of entire humankind - fascism, Macedonian people also took part in that struggle. They saw in it a possibility to help the general struggle of all enslaved peoples and of the entire freedom-loving humankind and thus to realize the century-old national ideal”. Respected fellow citizens, Marking the 70th anniversary of the commencement of the National Liberation Struggle comes at a time when, as a society, we have entered deep in a discussion about the history and different views and interpretations of it. This discussion, certainly, stems from the persistent questions arising from the history on the path of our Euro-Atlantic integrations by our neighbor Greece. Greece is still incapable of putting this useless discussion to an end and thus to confirm its sincere intentions with the Agenda 2014, the entire Balkans to be integrated in the European Union. This pressure, as some say, has led us to review the past. I believe that this is a better acquaintance with the past, having in mind that we have been deprived of many persons, events and even whole eras, that lived and live in our collective consciousness, or they were made up or modeled in accordance with the actual needs over the years. Therefore, I think it is good that we have open discussion and a new approach - equal and full observance and celebration of all personalities and events that deserve it objectively.
The thesis is that celebration of certain personalities and certain eras somehow reduces the contribution of others. This is really not a serious approach. As today, with full respect and pride, we are gathered to pay due respect to the fighters of the National Liberation Struggle, of the people, men and women, Macedonians, Albanians, Turks, Vlachs, Roma, Serbs, Christians, Muslims, Jews, who took weapons in their hands to fight against fascism, we will celebrate tomorrow other holidays, religious, national, supranational. Every country, every society is extremely complex organism and there is enough room for everyone. We celebrate people depending on their contribution to the advancement of the country and its people, as role-models of their time, as people who became known for their knowledge, courage, vision. The deeds of the heroes from the ancient past, from medieval times, from the years of the national struggles in the 19th century, the fighters of 2001, can be celebrated freely and thus, however, the celebration of the heroes of the national Liberation Struggle is not diminished or undermined. On the contrary, the celebration of the wide context of Macedonian history, adds glory to the second Ilinden. That puts the fight against fascism, the fight for an independent Republic of Macedonia, in a broader context, as worthy and equal part of a centuries-old struggle for freedom of the Macedonians, of all people living in these areas. Ladies and Gentlemen, The Great War was a time when, in the fights to win and keep the Balkans, the occupying forces made premeditated and cold-blooded calculations as to foster hatred among the local residents. To provoke them and stress the differences on ethnic, religious ground, the differences between the classes, between cities and villages, believing that it will result in achieving permanent and stable control. The consequences of this policy live with us in the region of the Balkans even today, and we witnessed that in some neighboring countries they broke out again with the same ferocity. In Macedonia, the enduring value of our struggle against fascism is that all ethnic communities in the country took part in it. Our tradition of coexistence, really pressed under the sway of dark times and even darker ideologies, survived the challenge and was never broken. That today we can live together is a result of the strength of our ancestors who never crossed the line and did not allow this land to be forever poisoned with hatred. Macedonia in the Second World War, from the occupation, suffered yet another unspeakable tragedy. Mass arrests, persecution and slaughter of the Jews of Macedonia, over 7,000 men, women, children and elderly people, is the biggest crime committed in these areas which have seen various conquerors and crimes but not such evil. This incomprehensible loss of our neighbors, acquaintances, friends from childhood, classmates, colleagues, our doctors and teachers, of so many ordinary people for us is simply irreparable. The mass participation of Macedonian citizens in the fight against fascism, the persistence to defeat the armed forces of this evil, shows that our ancestors understood the essence of this inhuman ideology and understood that if this fight is lost, it will not be just another occupation but it will certainly be the end of all that means humanity in these areas. Respected fellow citizens, Today our generation also has its own just mission, together and united to build the Republic of Macedonia as a democratic and economically advanced country, where the values of all those who live in this area will be nurtured. Our mission is the Republic of Macedonia to accede to the great European and Euro-Atlantic family of nations, with all the dignity we deserve. On that path we are facing an obstacle. We are asked: "What will you do, Greece is blocking you, it is unfair, but they have the right to a veto?" We reply: "The state will continue with the reforms. The state will continue with the improvement of the economy. The state will continue with the overall development! We will reach the standards and criteria of the European Union with our own strengths, and when the formal membership comes, it will be clear to all that we fully deserve it". Some even say to us: "What about the inter-ethnic relations?" We respond: "They are strong, solid, based on respect and tolerance. Our countrymen, our citizens of all ethnicities and religions, know best what the interests of Macedonia are". Others tell us: "Yes, but it will be difficult for you, choose the path of indulgence to the power rather than an uncertain struggle". We reply: "If we have done that in 1903, the question would be whether we would celebrate October 11, 1941. If these brave people did not initiate an uprising for freedom on this great day, we would not ask ourselves whether the state would have been established whether ASNOM would have happened. The answer would have been negative. We believe in the power of justice and law, not in the law of the power". I am being asked what we would do if in due time we do not resolve this issue. My answer is that the question of the Republic of Macedonia's membership in the European Union and NATO is not whether it will happen, but when will it be. Of course, it is better sooner than later. But until then, we will work round the clock to become a member according to the standards, values and criteria, and we do not accept any blackmailing or ultimatums. As soon as we achieve this, then the formal accession will be easy. Huge is the number of those who denied us for years, made an issue out of our name, identity and language. I do not understand how it is possible today, in the 21st century, someone to have such ideas. I do not understand how some people cannot still see the things that are so clear and obvious: we are here, we exist, we know who we are and what we are, and the world has no problem with that. Noone ever with anything will be able to harm our constitutional name, our identity, who we are. We do not need recognition or confirmation of who we are. We are and we will be Macedonia. We have been and we will be Macedonians. All contests and denials cannot change this. We will attain the goals. We will become a member-state of the European Union and NATO. And yet, there, we will be what we are. There is no alternative. Ladies and Gentlemen, Tomorrow, we will be given the report. The European Commission is our friend, and the friends must be in touch with reality. I reacted fiercely last year, and now I will do the same again, if there is repeated negation of reality, of the usage of the adjective Macedonian for the language and of other determinants of the Macedonian society. The dignity of all citizens of Macedonia is at stake. In order to be able to endure in defending our values, we must leave aside the daily political divisions and disagreements. We must be united around the common noble values, interests and goals. We must be united, as our ancestors were united in the fight for a free Macedonia. Thus, we will be able to best fulfill the covenant left by our heroes of the National Liberation Struggle. Thus, this bright holiday honoring the struggle and invincibility will achieve its real goal - be the messenger conveying the message of those who fought for the freedom we live today. May we celebrate the National Uprising Day against fascism forever! |
One of the discussions that is imposed, one of the theses which according to my opinion is unjustified, is that there is certain conflict of personalities and events in our history, which did not exist even in approximately the same period.
