Macedonia celebrates Ilinden in Krusevo

Krusevo, August 2 (MIA) – Macedonia has celebrated Saturday the two historic Ilinden days – 105th anniversary of Ilinden Uprising and 64th anniversary of first ASNOM Assembly in Krusevo by fresh flower laying ceremony in front of the monument of Krusevo Republic.

President Branko Crvenkovski, parliamentary delegation led by Parliament Speakers Trajko Veljanovski, Deputy PM for European Issues Ivica Bocevski and Minister of Culture and Transport and Communications Elizabeta Kancevska- Milevska and Mile Janakieski respectively paid respect to the fallen fighters.

- We have gathered here today to pay respect to the famous Ilinden generation that laid here the foundations of Macedonia as independent state 105 years ago. Here on Meckin Kamen the fighters of Pitu self-sacrificed to defend the freedom - heroic act which becomes a synonym for triumph of the Macedonian people and its fight for freedom, Veljanovski said in his address.

Members of Ilinden Uprising left the Manifest to the Macedonian people, embedding all principles, which are called today human rights, freedom, tolerance and respect.

- These determinations and values set 105 years ago create the very essence, constituting the spirit and sensing the existence of the Macedonian state thought. Forty year after Ilinden Uprising the principles were famously confirmed. It is a historical event that these determinations, as moral principles and political values, were set in the second Ilinden ASNOM 1994 held in St. Prohor Pcinski monastery, Parliament Speaker said.

Veljanovski said that century-long struggle for independence and preservation of its national identity, Macedonian people has always fought both for freedom and independence of the other and universality of human rights and freedoms.

- PM Nikola Gruevski proceeded from these universal human rights and freedoms has recently sent letter to his Greek colleague requesting consistent respect of basic human rights of the children refugees from Aegean Macedonia, whose golgotha lasts for 60 years. Whereat not in any case he endangered the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our southern neighbour, Veljanovski said.

According to him at the beginning of the 21st century Macedonian people faces with different challenges – preservation of the national identity and at the same time building modern democratic and economically developed state which will be integrated in the EU and the NATO.

- Sometimes the reforms for fulfilment of EU membership criteria are painful. We met the NATO membership criteria but we did not receive an invitation at the Bucharest Summit only because we are Macedonians. We do not want to give up our national identity, Veljanovski said.

Not single political elite has right to bargain and to make compromises with the Macedonian national identity, Veljanovski said.

- It is a red line that we cannot cross it and which is based on two Ilinden days embedded in the historical remembrance of today’s generations and it is a future for other generations, Veljanovski said.

- I believe that all together we will continue in realisation of the Framework Agreement not only as constitutional category but also as one of the pillars of the Macedonian multiethnic society and of democracy, principles and determinations which were set at the first Ilinden, Veljanovski said.

Referring to the Government’s priorities, Veljanovski said that the judiciary reforms, fight against corruption and crime and realisation of the strategic criteria for EU and NATO membership will continue with undiminished intensity.

Macedonia also celebrates Ilinden in Pelince where governmental delegation led by PM Nikola Gruevski attends.