The native language is the most important designation of the identity of a nation and of its culture. It is the identity of the people, as Blaze Koneski would say, it is our only undivided home country, said VMRO-DPMNE President Hristijan Mickoski during an event in Gostivar on the International Mother Day language.

The issue is an important one in Macedonia, where the country faces pressure from Bulgaria to redefine its national identity and to declare the Macedonian language as a dialect of the Bulgarian language. Mickoski was joined by Gostivar Mayor Arben Taravari and scholars from various language cultures in Macedonia, including Albanian, Turkish and Serbian.

Patriotism means that we all unite, Christians, Muslims, Atheists.. around the idea of a shared future, of Macedonia for all its people, Mickoski said.