Skopje, 22 November 2022 (MIA) - The alphabet not only characterizes the language of a nation, but also represents a window or a door from which the education and development of that nation begins. Education in one’s mother tongue, it has been proven by eminent experts, always gives much better results. It is unfortunate that in the 21st century, a member state of the EU is denying the language and identity of one people - the Macedonian people, said Abdurauf Pruthi, chair of the board tasked with awarding the November 22 state award. At a ceremony Tuesday, he presented the recognition to this year's recipient Zeqirja Neziri, PhD, for his contribution in the field of Albanian studies. "Today is a big day for all Albanians, wherever they are. Albanians in Macedonia have a special reason to be proud of this date due to the fact that the Congress was held on this day in 1908 in Bitola and has been celebrated for many years," stressed Pruthi. At the ceremony with Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi, Neziri's his family, friends and colleagues in attendance, he also referred to the contestation of the Macedonian language and identity by Bulgaria. "As co-inhabitants of this country, the Albanians, and the intellectuals and political parties, either from a position or from the opposition, have always been and are the support of the Macedonian people and I believe that they will oppose all those who want to deny their identity," Pruthi said in the address. Professor Neziri expressed his gratitude for the award, which, as he said, values his 40 years of educational and scientific activity. "This high state award motivates me and obliges me to continue my work as long as my health serves me. I hope that this award will be received by many other actors in Macedonia and outside of it who really deserve it," said Neziri, who was the first to be congratulated on the award by the Parliament Speaker. Born in 1952 in the village of Buchane, Bujanovac, Neziri completed his university studies in Albanian language and literature at the Blazhe Koneski Faculty of Philology at the Skopje University, and his master's and doctoral studies at the University of Zagreb. From October 1977 until the end of September 2019, when he retired, he was a professor of Albanian literature at the Department of Albanian Language and Literature at the Faculty of Philology in Skopje. He has published over 160 papers on the history of Albanian literature, as well as several monographs on Albanian literature, and he is also the author of several university textbooks. The "November 22" state award is handed over to people from the political, cultural and social life of the country, who have contributed to the promotion of interpersonal coexistence and mutual understanding between members of different communities, cultures and religions in North Macedonia. dk/ba/