English
Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski addressed the ceremonial gathering at the Memorial Ossuary in Kumanovo—held under the slogan “Ideals That Build the Future”—marking the central event commemorating the 85th anniversary of the Day of the National Uprising, October 11th. In his remarks, the Prime Minister addressed the dispute with Bulgaria, that is blocking Macedonia’s EU integration.
Our homeland is greater than any party or government. Political differences must not outweigh our shared responsibility. We need national unity regarding major strategic goals. A decade of great change lies ahead of us. We must not squander the future on excuses. We need reforms, investments, infrastructure, modern education, a robust healthcare system, and institutions that serve the citizens. Our ancestors did not leave us a free state so that we might fear its future; they left it to us so we would have the courage to build it. The freedom we inherited is not of our own making, but the state we leave behind will be our responsibility. October 11th was not just about deciding how we would live tomorrow; it was about deciding whether future generations would have the right to determine their own destiny. We are linked to our eastern neighbor by geography, history, and the shared future of this region. We may hold differing interpretations of the past, but regarding the future, we must share a common responsibility: to build a relationship where no one needs to deny the other in order to affirm themselves. Our language is not an obstacle to a European future; it is part of Europe’s cultural wealth. Our identity is not a problem to be solved, but a matter of dignity to be respected. We are not asking Europe to choose between us and them. We demand that European principles apply equally to everyone. I do not want future generations to inherit our mistrust; I want them to inherit our courage to solve problems.
Prime Minister Mickoski also called out the opposition SDSM party, which agreed to have the dispute with Bulgaria condition Macedonia’s EU integration, and is still pushing for Macedonia to make unilateral concessions to Bulgaria.
One day, our children will not ask us how loudly we spoke about the state; they will ask what kind of homeland we left them. Our ancestors had the courage to fight for a state. We must possess the wisdom to preserve it, the strength to develop it, and the responsibility to pass it on to future generations stronger than we inherited it. And everyone must realize that the alternative to this struggle of ours is the collapse of the final dam holding back the unprincipled policies we are fighting against. It is either principles or their wheeling and dealing; either a strong homeland or a state up for sale. That is the choice. The homeland was not created to be held captive by their weaknesses! You will hear them talk about everything—except the people; that is why they do not speak of elections.