Skopje, 21 December 2023 (MIA) - President Stevo Pendarovski congratulated on Thursday the members of the Turkish community in North Macedonia on Turkish Language Day - December 21.

“Allow me to extend my congratulations on December 21 - Turkish Language Day. One of the first decisions of ASNOM Macedonia was to enable education in the mother tongue for multiple communities, including the Turkish community. On this day in 1944, the Turkish language teaching commenced at the Skopje school 'Tefeyuz,' unlocking the potential of the community to preserve its identity and contribute to the common good by developing its culture,” Pendarovski said.

This year marks the centenary of the founding of the Republic of Turkey and the 95th anniversary of the language reforms and the introduction of the new Turkish alphabet, which rapidly led to widespread literacy.

“The Turkish community makes a unique contribution to the construction and development of our shared Macedonian homeland and enriches the coexistence in the Macedonian multiethnic, multilingual, and multireligious society. Despite challenges in education and other areas, members of the Turkish community in North Macedonia contribute significantly to every sphere - education, healthcare, arts, and sports. Hence, the state must eliminate the remaining hurdles to ensure that our Turkish fellow citizens can effortlessly exercise this fundamental human right to education,” Pendarovski noted.

Pendarovski noted that, in addition to contributing to our homeland with loyalty, the Turkish community is also a strong link to the fraternal and friendly Turkey. Pendarovski underscored that the excellent bilateral relations, mutual support, numerous investments, joint projects, and contributions to education, science, healthcare, and culture are the results of this friendship.

Photo: MIA archive