The first real liberation of Skopje with its own forces is under the sign of the general political situation in the country and the world, said Trajko Stamatoski, President of the City Board of the Union of Fighters of the People’s Liberation and Anti-Fascist Struggle in his speech before the Monument to the Liberators of Skopje at Friday’s ceremony marking 13 November, Skopje’s Liberation Day.

We are witnessing the denial of our national identity, the pressure to do something we can never do. We as fighters are especially sensitive when the Macedonian identity and the Macedonian language are put into question. We are especially affected when our national liberation struggle is diminished and denied and the bright dates in it, such as the beginning of the 11 October uprising and the crown of the national struggle ASNOM. We know very well how those battles were fought and against whom that fight was fought and with what sacrifices the victory was won, said Stamatoski.