Skopje, 2 August 2022 (MIA) – Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski said Tuesday in his address in area Mechkin Kamen on occasion of Republic Day that Ilinden is the force for a contemporary, modern, prosperous and European North Macedonia. PM Kovachevski pledged that today’s generations have the Ilinden and ASNOM idea of a bright and prosperous Macedonian future in their sight, and there is no going back, only forward. “As the fighters of Ilinden in 1903 and of ASNOM in 1944, we are again here together in 2022 with the same goal – a bright future, security and perspectives,” said Kovachevski. The PM said today’s observances honor the country’s past and the people who had established the Krushevo Republic, based on the core principles of democracy and unity. “Guided by the forward-looking Ilinden and ASNOM fighters, we have created a free, sovereign, independent Macedonia with its own unquestionable identity. The words of late President Kiro Gligorov are still ringing from that September 8 evening: I congratulate you on a free, sovereign and independent Macedonia,” said Kovachevski. He added that led by the joint struggle that had claimed the lives of people from all communities, citizens have unified in one society for all. “The vision of the revolutionaries who rose above their time – Goce Delchev, Pitu Guli, Dame Gruev, Jane Sandanski, Nikola Karev – over unity, equality, justice and perspective, is a legacy for all those who mean the Republic of North Macedonia well. To respect the great Delchev is to act according to his understanding of the world as a field of cultural contest among nations,” said Kovachevski. He added that the ASNOM fighters also clearly said “the Macedonia we build is the Macedonia we have”. “Inspired by the visionaries of Ilinden and ASNOM, we are building a contemporary, progressive, economically developed Republic of North Macedonia. We are building a country of friendship and coexistence. This is the thing that the world is recognizing us. Having this thought and spirit in mind, we are proudly standing today, shoulder to shoulder with our friends, allies and partners in NATO and EU. We are sharing the same values and we will share a European future through unconditional respect of the dignity and specificity of the Macedonian people and its linguistic, identity, historical and cultural traits,” said Kovachevski. The PM noted that current generations will have the opportunity to witness the day when the Macedonian language would be one of EU’s official languages through the country’s Union membership, alongside the other 24 official languages. “The dream of countries and cultures worldwide acquainting with the Macedonian language will become a reality. There is no greater patriotism than making statehood decisions. The Ilinden fighters used their weapons so that we can lead other battles today, ones of development and prosperity of all citizens,” said Kovachevski. He urged for unity on ethnic, religious and political grounds, the priority being state interests and integration in the European family. “Now is the time for unity, faith in a better tomorrow, but primarily hard work. As we managed to unite regardless of ethnic and religious background, it is our duty to unite regardless of the political affiliation, just as the Ilinden and ASNOM visionaries did, putting our state interests first,” said Kovachevski. It is time, added for the new sun of freedom to rise and light our path to the future. “We will never forget who we are, where we come from and what we are made of, and this will be our force to move forward and open a new chapter in Macedonian history. Glory to Ilinden, glory to freedom and the Republic,” underlined PM Kovachevski. Numerous delegations laid flowers at the Mechkin Kamen memorial, the site of the biggest battle of the 1903 Ilinden Uprising.