At Butel Partisan Cemetery marked Victory Day over Fascism and Europe Day

With a one -minute silence in honor of the Macedonian partisans and laying flowers in front of the memorial of the Partisan Cemetery in Butel today in Skopje marked May 9, Day of Victory over Fascism and Europe Day.

A wreath of flowers laid a government delegation with Vlado Misajlovski Defense Minister Izet Mexhiti, Minister of Environment and Physical Planning and Igor Filkov, Minister of Justice, as well as delegations from the President’s Office, the Assembly, the Army, the Union of Fighters of the People’s Liberation.

Deputy Prime Minister for Political System Ljupco Dimovski noted in his address that May 9 is the crown of the Macedonian idea of ​​its own state and is the day in which all hopes have come to be our own, free and independent.

-At this place where history in its silence speaks loudly with great dignity, deep and sincere gratitude we worship the Macedonian partisans who have laid their lives to conquer the freedom that the Macedonian people and all the nations in these areas have wished for centuries. They are the basis of our state and our dignity and existence as a people aware of their greatness, because the Macedonians with their honor, justice and liberty in the darkest period of their existence stood on the right side along with allies and all the advanced peoples opposing the fascist occupation – said Dimovski.

The 9th of May, he said, is a rounding up of suffering and victims of the Ilinden epic and all the struggles that the Macedonian people have led in their history.

« This day is the realization of our idea of ​​an independent Macedonia, the idea that was the main motive for all Macedonian participants in the military and the idea that passed through all the temptations, challenges and battles, » Dimovski said, adding that those fighters are not obliged to keep our peace and fight for justice and equality.

Minister of European Affairs Orhan Murtezani pointed out that May 9 is a day of deep symbolism – the victory of fascism, but also the day of birth of the idea of ​​a united and peaceful Europe. He promised to continue working for Europe that is united, just and solidarity.

-May May are the day when mankind decided not to reconcile with the darkness and the day when the victim of millions of people illuminated the track to a new beginning, and we as a state were part of that struggle. Our country gave its lives, its own stories and its own heroes. That is why we stand right here today, not in front of ordinary monuments, but before the testimony of the history that shaped the essence of what we call freedom today. Here we are reminded not only of the past, but also of the values ​​that do not unite today – said Murthesani.

He said that our European future is not a declaration, but a decision and choice for an alliance that unites us around peace, freedom and justice.

-Europe is not only geographical, but also a moral space created precisely because of the victims such as the heroes we lay flowers today. The world is not without challenges today there are contemporary forms of intolerance, hate speech and populism threaten the values ​​we celebrate on this day, but our position remains clear – we stand firm and stand on the bumper before any attempts to undermine peace, progress and freedom at home.

The Minister of Defense Vlado Misajlovski noted that the Macedonian partisans gave their lives to our future.

-This are heroes who, following the ideals of our Ilinden for free Macedonia, for dignity, future without tyranny have laid their lives for this most exalted goal. Their sacrifice is not only written in historical books, it is part of our identity. This place for us is nothing less than a sacred place because here we respect those who helped put an end to World War II horrors – said Misajlovski.

With their sacrifice, they added, they also had an undoubted contribution to laying the foundations and vision of Europe strong and united in peace and unity.

-For eight decades the whole European continent was battlefield, states and peoples were devastated, divided and millions of citizens suffered. But the courage of the allies, including our partisans, restored hope and was a beam for light in time of darkness. From the ashes of the war, the idea of ​​united Europe was born not as an empire, but as a union of equal where democracy, law and solidarity would lead us forward. That’s the ideal we celebrate today – emphasized Misajlovski.

As a country that has been waiting for more than three decades to become a member of the European family, this is a day of reminder and promise.

-It says that freedom is not understood that justice, truth and human rights are not a gift, they are a choice and struggle and promises us that the dream of Europe, complete, free and united is not the privilege of history, but the responsibility of the present. We do not require shortened roads, we require fair approach and opportunities, what is inscribed in the essence of the European Union being the only measure of our willingness to be part of this family – said Misajlovski.