Skopje, 8 September 2023 (MIA) - Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski congratulated Independence Day in a video greeting, saying North Macedonia is a prosperous state, a NATO member and a country with real prospects to join the European Union by 2030.

"On this day 32 years ago, an overwhelming majority of citizens voted for an independent, sovereign and progressive country. Those generations were guided by the voice of freedom, statehood and integration, echoing from Ilinden 1903 and ASNOM 1944. And they responded through civil and political responsibility to this legacy," says PM Kovachevski.

Thirty-two years after the declaration of the Republic's independence, he says, the herald of freedom - September 8 - requires understanding from all, for the purpose of continued development.

"This September 8 calls for free decision-making as a democratic duty, for a better life of current and future generations. Through reasonable and bold decisions, our country became independent by peaceful means while preserving its unity. We introduced our own currency, flag, anthem. We joined the United Nations, we overcame an armed conflict, we joined NATO, we have started the EU accession negotiations," says Kovachevski.

Today, he adds, we are living in a country with guaranteed territorial borders, recognized Macedonian language and identity, a country-model regarding the respect of human rights, a successful multiethnic and multicultural functional democracy, Europe in a nutshell.

"If there ever was a time to secure the living standard we aspire to, the quality of life that our young people deserve, a country with a functional rule of law, clean and green environment, energy-independent country with competitive agriculture, with the chance to join a European market of 500 million people - it is today. EU integration means higher wages, new jobs and more options, kindergartens, schools and hospitals, larger state support for domestic companies and even more foreign investments. Citizens want to live in such a contemporary state that is part of the European Union. Happy Independence Day!," underlines PM Kovachevski.

Photo: MIA screenshot