Macedonia celebrated Tuesday the two Ilindens, founders of the Macedonian statehood. 108 years from the Krusevo Republic and the first Republic on the Balkans and 67 years from the first assembly of ASNOM and Macedonia as an equal, then-federal country within the frames of Yugoslavia, established 2 August as a double reason to celebrate the foundation of the Macedonian statehood. The date was on Tuesday marked with the central gathering at Meckin Kamen in Krusevo and in the ASNOM Memorial Center in Kumanovo’s village of Pelince. This year, a Macedonian delegation did not visit the authentic place of ASNOM – monastery St. Prhor Pcinski, which is under the jurisdiction of the Serbian Orthodox Church.
Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov in Tuesday’s address before the monument of the first president of the ASNOM Presidium, Metodija Andonov-Cento at Skopje square, said that “we have managed to preserve the hard-fought freedom and we are moving forward in the struggle for the rights of all citizens, primarily for the right of our name, identity and dignified life in the Republic of Macedonia as part of united Europe”.
Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, who visited Tuesday the Pelince Memorial Center, said that “Ilinden is a date when Macedonia celebrates success, bravery and heroism, but also homage to those who gave their lives for free Macedonia".
“The Macedonian people are not a tree without roots, our struggle for freedom and progress is founded on the historic continuity of interweaving the authentic values of the two Ilindens, the breakthrough of national creative potential, defiance of the freedom-loving spirit, bravery sealed by victory. The second Ilinden included, upgraded and achieved the civilizational benefits of the first one,” said Gruevski.
Parliament Speaker Trajko Veljanoski in Tuesday's address at the Krusevo event observing 2 August- Day of the Republic said that “Meckin Kamen has a special place in our history and our hearts. This is the spot where the foundation of Macedonia's statehood was laid 108 years ago”.
"Expressing its will for independence, we have demonstrated there is nothing more valuable than the aspiration for freedom. Today we live in modern European country that is rapidly moving towards its future! With good reason, I expect our homeland to soon become a member of NATO and the European Union. On this historic and sacred day Ilinden, we proudly remember our ancestors and their eternal struggle for an independent state of the Macedonian people, its national and cultural authenticity, but also a country for all citizens, regardless of religion or nationality,” said Veljanovski.
