Bitola, 10 November 2023 (MIA) – The German and French Ambassadors to North Macedonia, Petra Drexler and Cyrille Baumgartner, alongside Bitola Mayor Toni Konjanovski and representatives of the consulates in Bitola, marked November 11 – Armistice Day on Friday in Bitola.

“We believe in the power of reconciliation, and today this is needed more than ever before. War has once again returned to Europe, and we are seeing violence all over the world. That’s why we need reconciliation more than ever before. Reconciliation is very important and can begin by means of extending a hand, by cooperating together, with youth cooperation in various countries. This applies both to France and Germany, and to all of Europe, but also to the Western Balkans because there are a lot of places where people are victims of war and violence,” said Ambassador Drexler.

The significance of Armistice Day was also noted by French Ambassador Cyrille Baumgartner.

“The eastern front passed through Bitola and numerous armies fought here, including the French army. This commemoration, Armistice Day, holds a special importance for our time, a time of war in Europe,” said the Ambassador.

The Mayor of Bitola, Toni Konjanovski, laid flowers at the French military cemetery in Bitola. In a statement to the media, he said that on Armistice Day, they are also paying their respects to the Macedonians who lost their lives in World War 1.

“As a city which has suffered large destruction during the First World War, we are here to pay respects and to remember all those who gave their lives. But also to pay our respects to the fallen Macedonians, the citizens of Bitola at that time,” said Mayor Konjanovski.

Photo: MIA