Macedonians worldwide celebrate Ilinden

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Krusevo fell, but was never defeated. A great idea was born on this day which continued to live in every one of us by which Macedonian nation scores great victories. The idea for which Ilinden fighters and fighters of the national liberation war strived for is alive and lives in us and it will always live. We should always multiply this idea in new victories, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski said in his address on the occasion of Ilinden holiday at Meckin Kamen in Krusevo.

Entire Macedonia knows about the accomplishment that these brave people made 110 years ago. Men and women, children and old men, tradesman, farmers boldly to the last breath had defended Macedonia. And now after 110 years we are paying respect, celebrating and thanking them for their deed and honour, Gruevski said.

On this day, the great idea was born which continued to live in every one of us and did not eveb perish in the Balkan Wars and WWI. This idea contributed Macedonia to start the fight on Oct. 11, 1941 against Hitler’s occupation. The Ilinden resistance continued to live when on Aug. 2, 1944 Macedonian nation held ASNOM’s first session sealing the deserved victory, Gruevski said.

The remembrance of the first and second Ilinden helped Macedonian nation and nationalities to decide on independence and sovereignty of the Republic of Macedonia on Sep. 8, 1991, he said.

Many our ancestors had scarified for us to be free today, to have own rights, culture, language, name, right to religious affiliation, identity, to freely live and die, Gruevski said asking what we can do for Macedonia for our country, our fatherland for which they had fought courageously.

The Republic of Macedonia is independent and sovereign state and everyone should know that today we have basic right as well as basic obligations and duties to work for its development in every sphere, he said.

It depends from us living here Macedonians, Albanians, Turks, Romas, Vlachs, Serbs, Bosniaks whether we will be successful, whether we will meet more standards and whether we will make life better, he underlined.

Reminding on the slogan of today’s celebration “One Idea, Many Victories!” and that the idea for which fighters of Ilinden and of the national liberation war strive for is alive and lives in us we are embodying in all spheres without exception.

Because Macedonia is without natural resources, without oil or gas deposits, without sea beaches that can bring billions of tourists as is it a case in some countries. Our success can only be based on knowledge and skill, investment in minds and knowledge of the citizens. Our chance is here for long-term success. That’s why successful countries and societies are those that are based on knowledge, innovation, entrepreneurship, scientific achievements and education, he emphasized.

The victory is, as he said, to reduce the price of medicaments, to invest in modern equipment for clinics and hospitals, to build and to renovate, to provide free of charge study visit to our doctors abroad, to provide system for better communication between doctors and patients for everyone’s interest.

The victory is Macedonia’s joining in South Stream gas pipeline, new airport in Skopje, modernization of Ohrid airport, new buses for city transportation, apartments for socially vulnerable groups, construction and reconstruction of local, regional roads and highways, legalization of illegally built buildings, purchase of yards for the families, legalization of farms, agricultural mechanization, buying of solid cars and buses as well as high annual agricultural subsidies for farmers, PM Gruevski said.

10 Days Krusevo Republic event begins

The arrival of the Ilinden March horsemen in Krusevo marks Thursday the start of event "Ten Days Krusevo Republic".

The event, held in light of the 110. anniversary from the Ilinden Uprising and 69. years since the Anti-fascist Assembly for the People's Liberation of Macedonia (ASNOM), will open with reading of the Krusevo Republic Manifesto and flag hoisting ceremony.

The main event will be held at Meckin Kamen on Friday, which Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski is set to address.

Ten Days Krusevo Republic includes events dedicated to the day of the Republic's establishment and its Manifesto, but also commemorating the Holocaust victims and honoring Aegean heroes.

The event will end on August 10 with a gun salute for the Ilinden and Krusevo Republic heroes.

Horsemen to start Ilinden March to Krusevo

Twenty-five horsemen will start Saturday in Skopje the traditional Ilinden March, in light of the 110th anniversary of the Ilinden Uprising.

The horsemen are scheduled to arrive in Krusevo on August 2 -the Ilinden Uprising Day.

The 35. Ilinden March is organized by the association "Ilinden March 1978", under the auspices of Aerodrom municipality.

Photos: Macedonia celebrates Ilinden

Macedonia marks 108. Ilinden Uprising, 67. ASNOM anniversaries

The two historic Ilinden days - 108 years of the Ilinden Uprising and 67 years of the first Anti-Fascist Assembly for the People's Liberation of Macedonia (ASNOM) - will be marked Tuesday at Meckin Kamen in Krusevo and memorial complex in Kumanovo village Pelince.
Parliament Speaker Trajko Veljanoski will attend the main event in Krusevo, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski will address the gathering at the ASNOM Memorial Center in Pelince, whereas President Gjorge Ivanov will lay flowers at the monument of ASNOM President Metodija Andonov-Cento in Skopje.
Macedonia will not send a delegation to the authentic place of the second Ilinden - monastery "St.Prohor Pcinski", which is under jurisdiction of the Serbian Orthodox Church.Bitola village Trnovo will host the 40. World Macedonian Emigrant Meeting, organized by the Macedonian Emigrant Association and the World Macedonian Congress.
Horsemen, who traditionally depart for the annual Ilinden March from Skopje, are also set to arrive in Krusevo.
Church bells marked the beginning of the Krusevo uprising on the eve of Ilinden in 1903. About 800 rebels liberated the town, whereas the Krusevo Republic was declared two days later by Nikola Karev, who was elected president.The free republic lasted for ten days. Under the command of Bahtijar Pasha, a 18,000-strong Ottoman army attacked Krusevo in order to restore authority. The last gunshots at Meckin Kamen and the killing of voivode Pitu Guli signalled the end of the Krusevo Republic.
Forty-one years later, 115 delegates held the first Anti-Fascist Assembly for the People's Liberation of Macedonia (ASNOM) in monastery St.Prohor Pcinski near Kumanovo, confirming Macedonia's social-legal position as an equal federal unit within Yugoslavia. The oldest delegate and witness of both Ilindens Panko Brasnarov opened the assembly, whereas Metodija Andonov-Cento was elected ASNOM President.
The assembly adopted several statehood documents, including the decision on introducing the Macedonian language as the official language in the country, along with the Declaration on the fundamental rights of the man and citizen of democratic Macedonia.

Macedonia Celebrates Ilinden

If Ilinden 1903 was one of Macedonian disobedience, Ilinden 1944 one of Macedonian perseverance and unity, then Ilinden 2010 is one of Macedonian struggle for success, economic development, better and dignified life of all citizens, said Monday Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski in the address at site Meckin Kamen near Krusevo on occasion of August 2-Day of Republic.

According to him, this struggle can be won only through unity and overcoming differences, high moral, patriotism and healthy values.

"Our goal is for the Republic of Macedonia to turn into a country with high quality of life, higher standards and happier people. There is no barrier that can't be overcome. We are determined to achieve the high European ideals and civilization achievements", stressed Gruevski.

He said significant results have been achieved in the past period, such as meeting criteria for NATO accession and the European Commission recommendation for start of EU accession negotiations.

"We must enter with pride and dignity on this path towards our deserved place in the European family of nations, so that we can give the EU additional value. This means it is not good for us, our neighbors and Europe if we accede with low moral, devalued status and damaged feelings. It is rational, humane and culturally the right thing to sit at the table with our friends as Macedonians", stated PM Gruevski.

Unfortunately, he added, when we obtained independence we believed the struggle of generations to come would be progress, education, upgrading of ethnic and religious coexistence, NATO and EU accession, but we are faced with a cruel reality that even in the 21st century, we are still forced to fight for our identity, language, name, nationality and self-determination.

"However, this imposed issue by our neighbor to deal with challenges we believed have long been overcome, will not deter us from our strategic priorities for EU and NATO accession, or the modernization of our society, so that our citizens enjoy a better, safer, richer and quality life", said Gruevski.

"We respect all our neighbors and we want to cooperate with all of them, as we are already doing. We do not want to take away anything from anyone, be it territory, culture, history etc. However, we do not want anything taken away from us too. We are a tolerant and peaceful nation and I believe we will find solutions to the problems in this spirit", he emphasized.

PM Gruevski urged for unity and opening a new modern page in political life.

"Let us try to work together, united behind the platform of a stable, independent and democratic Republic of Macedonia with developed market economy, state ruled by law, a good and respected neighbor and ally. Political differences and difficulties will always exist, like in all other democracies. However, when essential national and civil interests take the stage, we should find the strength to overcome political differences", added Gruevski.

According to him, time has come when the eternal struggle for a better tomorrow should be valued, where everyone would feel happier, more dignified and fulfilled.

"We have an obligation before the remains of the Ilinden fighters to create conditions for general prosperity. We must stage an uprising of intellectual and moral progress. Changes are natural and necessary. We should invest every atom of our strength into the interest of the common good, development of each individual. This is the struggle of today, the struggle of this generation, a struggle that must be won", underlined Gruevski.

The Government delegation attending the central event on occasion of the 107th anniversary from the Ilinden Uprising and 66 years of the first Anti-Fascist Assembly for the People's Liberation of Macedonia (ASNOM) also included Justice Minister Mihajlo Manevski, Minister of Environment and Physical Planning Nexhati Jakupi and Minister of Information Society Ivo Ivanovski.

The delegation laid flowers at the grave of Nikola Karev, site Sliva and Krusevo Republic monument at Meckin Kamen.