Skopje, 11 October 2024 (MIA) - The National Uprising Day – October 11 is celebrated Friday with a formal academy, laying of flowers, and the presentation of awards.

President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova is set to deliver an address at the formal academy, which will be held under her official patronage, at the Museum of the Macedonian Struggle for Independence.

In celebration of the national holiday October 11, delegations from the government and Parliament will lay flowers in Skopje, Prilep, and Kumanovo. A government delegation, including the Minister of Interior Panche Toshkovski, the Minister of Education and Science Vesna Janevska, and the Deputy Prime Minister for the Political System Ljupcho Dimovski, are to lay wreaths at the Partisan Cemetery Memorial in Butel and at the Monument to the Liberators of Skopje in front of the Government.

In Prilep, a government delegation, including Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Water Economy Cvetan Tripunovski, Deputy Minister of Environment and Spatial Planning Ana Lashkoska, and Deputy Minister of Economy and Labor Marjan Risteski, are to lay flowers at the monuments of Metodija Andonov - Chento, Kuzman Josifovski - Pitu, and the Mound of the Unbeaten memorial.

A government delegation, including Minister of Public Administration Goran Minchev, Minister of Sports Borko Ristovski, and Deputy Minister for Digital Transformation Radoslav Nastastijevikj Vardziski, will lay flowers at the Memorial Ossuary in Kumanovo.

Members of Parliament Dragana Bojkovska and Sanja Lukarevska are to lay flowers at the Partisan Cemetery Memorial in Butel and at the Monument to the Liberators of Skopje in front of the Government.

Prilep - Members of Parliament Biljana Kuzmanoska, Petar Risteski, and Daniela Nikolova are to place flowers at the monuments of Metodija Andonov - Chento, Kuzman Josifovski - Pitu, and the Mound of the Unbeaten memorial. Members of Parliament Brane Petrushevski, Oliver Spasovski and Pavle Arsoski to lay flowers at the Memorial Ossuary in Kumanovo.

The annual state award “11 October” National Award for 2024 for outstanding achievements in science, art, economy and other areas of public interest to be given at a ceremony in Parliament.

The award in the field of science has been granted to Prof. Dr. Marko Kitevski, a researcher of Macedonian folklore, while the award for lifetime achievement in culture and the arts is presented to multimedia artist Ljupcho Karov, academic painter Vladimir Temkov, and actor and producer Jovica Mihajlovski.

On October 11, 1941, the first Prilep partisan unit attacked the police station and the telephone network in Prilep, and the next day, October 12, the partisans of the Kumanovo unit also organized an attack.

October 11 is considered a continuation of the progressive traditions of the Macedonian freedom-loving people, evident in similar revolts in the 19th and 20th century, but also in efforts made for social and national liberation during the Balkan Wars and the First World War.

By deciding to join the anti-fascist coalition, Macedonia stood on the side of progressive humanity fighting against fascism.

The people won their own freedom. Starting with the first partisan units, the National Liberation Army of Macedonia by the end of the 4-year war was turned into a well-organized, 110,000-strong army with high-ranking military formations.

The years of struggle were crowned by decisions reached at the First Session of ASNOM in 1944 under which the centuries-long ideals for a Macedonian state had become a reality.

The country in 2024 is marking the National Uprising Day as a member of the United Nations and NATO and is expecting to hold its first intergovernmental conference, marking the start of negotiations for European Union membership.

Photo: MIA archive