Wednesday, 23 October 2013
ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT VELJANOSKI ON THE OCCASION OF 23 OCTOBER- MACEDONIAN NATIONAL REVOLUTIONARY STRUGGLE
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Dear friends,
The ideal of VMRO is the strongest Macedonian ideal!
It motivates!
Encourages!
Warns!
Witnesses!
This ideal embodies the whole essence of our existence and acting as persons, but also as nation with Biblical tradition.
VMRO is the beginning and the end of everything connected to Macedonia and Macedonians.
This ideal, rising above times, above years and above centuries became a universal constant which equally defines our past.
Both, our presence and our future.
VMRO defines the value of everything national.
Everything primeval!
Everything Macedonian!
Everything that was and that will be!
Mentioning VMRO, we equally think of the 19th, 20th and 21st century.
We think of Ilinden!
Of ASNOM!
Of 8th September 1991.
With the similar emotion, we celebrate the deeds of the Comitas! Of the partisans. Of the Communists. Of the anticommunists.
When VMRO is mentioned, we think of all patriot Macedonians, as well as of their heroic acts which are embodied in the hall of the giants of our motherland.
Distinguished,
Today we are celebrating 120 years of VMRO and we proudly say that VMRO surpassed the time; it became an inevitable part of all our national ordeals.
VMRO surpassed generations, becoming a component of the battles of thousands fighters for independent and autonomous Macedonia from the years that were to the years that will be.
VMRO shall surpass us, giving ideological and valuable meaning to all Macedonian fights in the time to come.
VMRO shall surpass everything except Macedonia.
VMRO shall win everyone but us, Macedonians!
VMRO shall forgive everything, but national treason of the Motherland!
A proof for this is the everlasting meaning of the motto in the fight of the many generations of Macedonians.
The words “FREEDOM OR DEATH” mean uncompromising fight for INDEPENDENT STATE.
This motto means wish for better tomorrow, rising after the VICTORY.
Finally, these words are a message to all enemies that MACEDONIAN IDEALS WERE NOT, NOR WILL EVER BE SUBJECT OF TRADE OR COMPROMISE.
The idea behind the four holy letters does not leave space for calculations,
The idea carried by VMRO shows us the only right way.
It is a path of THORNS.
It is a NARROW path.
We will face numerous DIFFICULT CROSSINGS.
But, SIMPLY, there is no alternative path for us Macedonians.
We have to walk this path, but walk every inch of this path.
This is the only path of success equivalent to eternity.
VMRO was the HOPE for the enslaved Macedonian nation during the powerful Ottoman Empire.
VMRO was the SUN at the end of the dark tunnel of terror and threats between the two world wars.
VMRO was the IDEA of strength for the generations of Macedonian patriots during the communist power following the Second World War.
VMRO was the COMPASS which guided us when we proclaimed the independence of the Macedonian state after the desolation of Socialist Yugoslavia.
Finally, today, when we are being ourselves on our ground, VMRO IS HERE TO REMIND US THAT OUT NEXT GREAT BATTLE IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR STATE!
Dear friends,
The ideas of VMRO are inclusive!
They do not divide! On the contrary! They most strongly unite!
They do not recognize exclusive nation or religion.
The unity of Macedonia and the unity among all is the core of VMRO.
I am joyful that today the Macedonian Nation with all its heart stands behind the celebration of the 23rd.
Since 23rd October is a call to extent our hands and to PRAY for Macedonia.
23rd October means a call for surpassing the political stereotypes among part of the citizens.
23rd October means a call for all of us together to stand under the flag of Macedonia.
As we look at the deeds of the famous persons from the history, beside their different ideology, in the Museum of VMRO, today, we are obliged to jointly win the great battles of our Motherland.
23rd October is a holiday for the Albanians, Turks, Romas, Serbs, Vlachs, Bosnians and others, NOT ONLY FOR MACEDONIANS.
It is a holiday for SDSM and other political parties, not for VMRO-DPMNE alone.
23rd October is the day which is a symbol of all democratic benefits.
And the wish for coexistence!
And the motive for unity.
Dear friends,
The whole fight of the Ilinden fighters was reflected in the motto “HURRAY FOR AUTONOMOUS MACEDONIA”!
This slogan can be felt today, the determination and the grand self sacrifice of the Komitas and Vojvodas who lost their lives before the altar of the Motherland.
They, our national heroes, including the partisans, fought for nothing less than MACEDONIA.
These people gave up from the comfort of the everyday lives, for nothing less, then freeing land named Macedonia.
The generations of heirs, faced new occupations, for nothing less than CREATING A MACEDONIAN STATE.
Our fight today starts and ends with nothing less but the word MACEDONIA.
VMRO is MACEDONIA!
MACEDONIA is VMRO!
If this is the case, and it is, then I loudly ask: WHO HAS THE RIGHT TO GIVE UP FROM THE BLOOD OF THE ILINDEN FIGHTERS OR THE PARTISANS’ BLOOD WHO DIED FOR MACEDONIA.
Can an elected official even think that for this nation and this state there is another name except MACEDONIA!
Won’t somebody have guilt of consciousness for the tears of the Macedonian mothers who equally suffered with their sons- the fighters, IF ONE EVEN THINKS THAT THERE IS AN ALTERNATIVE FOR THE NAME MACEDONIA?
Who is this man or woman, even a leader of a party, bearer of a function, or a regular member who will say that we should bend our spine or change the name, without being punished by this nation?
Who are those people, distinguished?
We should say their names so that they can be an echo of a sad memory in the centuries.
To warn how the holy land should not be treated.
Dear friends,
MACEDONIA is the word which guided the fighters for independent Macedonia.
This word guides us in the battles brought by this era.
Macedonia was and will be Macedonia alone.
The Macedonian nation was and will be MACEDONIAN, similar to our language, culture and identity!
THERE IS NO OTHER SOLUTION!
THERE IS NO OTHER OPTION!
The people did not give the mandate to anyone to promise change of the name in the world capitals.
The people gave us mandates to work for the Macedonian interests.
We will be successful in this path only if we are united.
We can win this battle if, instead of blaming the state on the media in other states, the opposition to support the government in the defense of the name dispute before the domestic media.
We will surpass this obstacle, if instead of snitching the state; we defend it together with the people doing this at the moment.
WE HAVE TO MAKE THIS HISTORIC STEP AHEAD.
THE OPPOSITION HAS TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE BATTLES WHICH HAVE TO BE JOINTLY LED.
The defense of our constitutional name and identity is this battle in particular.
I REACH OUT MY HAND FROM THIS STAND!
I CALL YOU TO TURN A NEW LEAF.
I call upon you, instead of searching for support in the world capitals promising change of the name, request support from the people standing with us in the defense of the name.
LET US LEAVE POSITIVE EXAMPLE FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS.
Let us show how, with unity and cooperation, we face all the challenges.
Let us demonstrate that it is nor strange nor unusual the government and the opposition to work together, jointly, with all their forces for the benefit of Macedonia. Similar to the work of the communists and anticommunists during the Second World War fighting for independent Macedonia.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The prices we are paying because of the non principle and non European policy of Greece are great, by we, as state and as nation, have came through worse.
We have the strength.
We shall fight and succeed.
To the end!
We shall win!
But until then we should patiently and firmly face the temptations.
Surpass them!
This year, similar to the previous years, the European Union submitted the Progress Report for Macedonia.
This year, similar to the previous years, the European Union clearly said that this state has the strength and the capacity to face the problems and that it should start the negotiations for membership.
BUT, TODAY, JUST LIKE YESTERDAY, GREECE WILL IMPOSE VETO AGAIN!
Today, just like yesterday, our Southern neighbor will use its position and will block us once again to go forward to the European family of the nations.
But neither Athens, nor Brussels, can prevent us to WORK FOR BETTER TOMORROW.
No one can prevent us from reforming the state.
No one can prevent us from improving the economy.
Nobody, the least Greece, can prevent us to improve the quality of the lives of our citizens following the models of the developed Member States of the European Union.
Greece can do this for ever, but this generation of political leaders shall increase the dynamics of opening new working positions, bring foreign investments, build roads and railroads, develop tourism, improve healthcare and education system and provide even more subventions for the agriculture workers.
Dear friends,
The heritage from the famous Ilinden and partisan squads today is strongly guarded by the Army of the Republic of Macedonia.
Our soldiers, shoulder to shoulder with the allied armies headed by the USA actively contribute in the promotion of the world peace and security.
TODAY, MACEDONIA IS AN EXPORTER OF PEACE.
Today, our army participates in the establishment of the democracy around the world.
Our soldiers as part of NATO actively fight for preservation and promotion of the values of the western European civilization.
Even though, in this area, in the Membership of NATO we are also blocked by Greece, we actively participate in these world processes.
The ideas of NATO are complementary with the ideas of VMRO.
The freedom is mutual value, similar to democracy, peace and solidarity.
We shall continue our work in the direction of preservation of these values.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Our national leaders left us legacy that the path to the national goal has to be continued through the bridges of cooperation.
We have to forgive each other and joint for the benefit of Macedonia.
As President of the Macedonian Assembly I remain prepared, to more strongly, jointly with the fellow MPs work on the project for building European Macedonia.
The Assembly was and will be an arena for exchange of ideas in the spirit of the constructiveness and democracy.
The Assembly remains to be the institution dominated by which the joint values.
Under one roof, we should continue to fight for the holy goal arising from the four holy letters of VMRO.
Both, the governance and the opposition.
All, Macedonians, Albanian, Turks, Romas, Bosnians, Serbs, Vlachs and all others.
THE ONLY ENEMIES IN THE ACHIEVEMENT OF THIS GOAL ARE THOSE HO DO NOT MEAN WELL TO THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA.
But, irrespective of our political differences, I believe we are all united with the love for Macedonia.
That pivotal and sincere love, carried in its purest form by day dedicated to VMRO.
LET’S JOINTLY CELEBRATE THE DAY OF VMRO, JOINTLY MARK THE 120TH ANNIVERSARY OF VMRO.
This is a day for all of us. Of the governance and of the opposition.
This is the day for reconciliation and of unity.
This is the day of everyone meaning good for the Republic of Macedonia.
Jointly take example from these four letters and constantly remind us to the greatness of the deed of the fighters of Macedonia.
If we do this, on this path, God will assist us and give us strength.
May you be safe and sound.
Long live the memory of VMRO.
Happy 23 October!
Long live Macedonia!
Thank you.