North Macedonia marks 35 years of independence, a jubilee that recalls the peaceful path to statehood, but also raises the big question of what kind of state will be left to future generations. From the referendum of September 8, 1991 and the vision of Kiro Gligorov, to the unfinished European integration, the functionality of institutions and the emigration of young people…
By Xhenur ISENI
“I wish you a free, sovereign and independent Macedonia”, this sentence of the first president, Kiro Gligorov, uttered on the evening of September 8, 1991, remained engraved in the history of the state. More than 95 percent of the citizens who voted in the then referendum declared for an independent Macedonia, opening the country’s path to independent statehood. Independence was achieved peacefully, without war and without victims, at a time when the dissolution of Yugoslavia was accompanied by bloody conflicts in other parts of the Region. This dimension of the country’s history continues to be seen as one of the greatest successes of the state-forming generation, writes the newspaper KOHA.
THE STATE WE BUILD, THAT IS WHAT WE WILL HAVE
On the 35th anniversary of independence, President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova recalled the responsibility of today’s generations for the way the state is built. “What kind of state will we create, such a state will we have,” she said, emphasizing that statehood is not built only through elections and formal institutions, but through functional democracy, the protection of human rights and respect for the law. According to her, in the turbulent years of the nineties, the political maturity of figures such as Kiro Gligorov, Stojan Andov, Nikola Klusev, Petar Goshev and Abdurahman Aliti was crucial for the peaceful transition to independence.
INDEPENDENCE IS NOT BUILT BY REFERENDUM ALONE
The Speaker of the Assembly, Afrim Gashi, was also in the same line, emphasizing that independence is not just a historical act, but a process that must be built every day. According to him, a functional state requires strong institutions, laws that are applied equally, justice, quality education, economy and trust of citizens. Gashi placed special emphasis on emigration and demographic challenges, warning that a state cannot build a sustainable future if it loses a part of the new generation every year. Today’s “patriotism”, according to him, must mean creating conditions for young people to build a good life in their own country.
ALBANIANS AND THE ROAD TO INDEPENDENCE
The discussions on September 8 also brought back the role of Albanian political representatives in the process of creating an independent state. Former MP Naser Ziberi recalled that Albanian political representatives were among the first to stand up for an independent and sovereign Macedonia, while demanding a clear constitutional and legal framework that would enable Albanians to be an active part of state building. This part of history, together with the developments that followed, remains part of the debate on the multiethnic character of the state and on how equality should be translated into institutions and everyday life.
TOGETHER WE BUILD A EUROPEAN AND EQUAL STATE
VLEN emphasizes that the 35th anniversary should serve not only as a moment of pride for the past, but also as a responsibility for the future. According to them, Albanians are an inseparable part of the country’s history, statehood and development, while the path towards the European Union has no alternative. European integration, VLEN emphasizes, should bring stronger institutions, more rule of law, greater opportunities for citizens and a more secure future for the new generations.
“Albanians are an inseparable part of the history, statehood and development of this country. Their contribution to building institutions and strengthening our society is an inseparable part of the identity of the Republic of North Macedonia. In the 35 years of independence, the country has gone through numerous challenges and has made important steps forward. Today, our responsibility is to build a functional, democratic and economically developed state, where equality, justice and the rule of law are everyday values and not just principles on paper”, they say, among other things, from VLEN.
LET’S BUILD A STATE WHERE YOUNG PEOPLE CHOOSE TO STAY
On the occasion of the 35th anniversary of independence, the leader of the SDSM, Venko Filipçe, emphasized that the Macedonian statehood is the result of a historical continuity and the struggle of several generations, but also that today’s generation has an obligation to create a state in which young people will want to stay. Filipçe assessed that the Macedonian statehood did not begin in 1991, but was built across generations – from Ilinden, through ASNOM, to the referendum of September 8, 1991. “Today we mark 35 years since the historic decision of the Macedonian citizens for an independent, sovereign and democratic state. Our statehood did not begin in 1991, it was created across generations, through a historical, political and revolutionary continuity,” emphasized the leader of the SDSM.
According to him, each generation has had its historical role. The Ilinden generation laid the foundations of the freedom struggle, ASNOM established Macedonian statehood, while the 1991 generation was committed to an independent state and chose the peaceful path in a period of armed conflicts in the Region. “The 1991 generation strived for an independent state, choosing peace in times of war, and began the difficult battle for international recognition,” Filipçe said.
He also recalled the achievements of the post-independence generations, among which he mentioned Macedonia’s membership in NATO, opening the path to the European Union, as well as the preservation of the Macedonian language and identity. Filipçe emphasized that SDSM considers itself part of this state-building continuity, mentioning the party’s participation in the processes related to independence, international recognition, NATO membership and European integration. But, according to him, marking the 35th anniversary of independence should not only be a look towards the past, but also a moment to think about the future. “Our ancestors fought for us to have our own state. This generation of ours has an obligation to fight so that our children want to live in it, to fight for a European Macedonia,” Filipçe ordered. He added that the state is not measured only through historical dates and political decisions, but also through the daily lives of citizens. “The state is also the daily life of the people, our children and grandchildren. The state is about creating opportunities for parents to support their families with dignity, for young people to create a home, and for the elderly to have a peaceful and dignified old age,” emphasized the SDSM leader.
Filipçe urged that workers should live with dignity from their work and not be afraid whether their salary will be enough until the first of the month, emphasizing that precisely creating better living conditions should be one of the main goals in the coming years. (koha.mk)