Skopje, 11 March 2026 (MIA) - Remembrance is our moral duty, and the fight against hatred is our historical responsibility, said Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski in his address at Wednesday’s observance of the 83rd anniversary of the deportation of 7.144 Macedonian Jews to the Treblinka death camp.

“In March 1943, more than seven thousand of our fellow citizens – Jews from Skopje, Bitola, and Shtip – were forcibly gathered, torn from their homes, from their families, from their lives. They were deported to the Treblinka death camp where their lives were brutally cut short. Behind that number there are names, families, dreams, talents, destinies. There are people who were a part of the tissue of our cities, of trade, of culture, of Macedonia’s spirit. With their disappearance, our country lost a piece of its soul,” Mickoski said. 

Prime Minister Mickoski stressed the anniversary reminds not only of the tragedy, but also of the duty to prevent hatred, antisemitism, racism, and intolerance in society.

“Today we are not reminded only of the tragedy, we are also reminded of our duty. The duty never to allow hatred, antisemitism, racism, and intolerance to find a place in our societies again. History teaches us that evil begins with a word, with prejudice, with indifference, and ends with tragedies that shake humanity. That’s why today, as a country and as a society, we renew our pledge: we will safeguard the truth, we will foster remembrance, and we will defend human dignity. Macedonia is a home of diversity. Our strength has always been in the fact that different cultures, religions, and traditions have lived together, creating a shared future,” Mickoski stressed.

The Prime Minister said the Jewish community has left an indelible mark on the history of the country, adding that its contribution to culture, education, business, and social life remains a part of the country’s shared heritage. 

“Today, remembering the victims of the Holocaust, we send a clear message: remembrance is our moral duty, and the fight against hatred is our historical responsibility. May the memory of the deported Macedonian Jews be eternal. May their tragedy serve as a warning to all generations to come,” Mickoski said.

The event was also addressed by the President of the Jewish Community in Macedonia, Pepo Levi, and German Ambassador Petra Drexler.

As part of the event, the Prime Minister, government representatives, and other attendees laid wreaths at the memorial site in the former Monopol building in Skopje.