Debate Held at Government Dedicated to 30 Years of Independence

Macedonia has gone through many hardships and obstacles to its independence and the path to international recognition, external negative influences and domestic disagreements. At a panel discussion entitled “The Road to Independence”, participants with emotions and memories witnessed the introduction of independence 30 years ago, which was preceded by the bloody break-up of the former Yugoslavia, from which Macedonia emerged without a single bullet fired. Former Deputy Prime Minister and last Macedonian member of the Collective Presidency of Yugoslavia, Vasil Tupurkovski, who was the first to advocate a new historic agreement with Albanians in Macedonia in 1994, recalled his commitment to civil society in creating an independent state. “It is our duty to preserve the memories, records and historical facts just as we preserve and develop Macedonia, with a clear view of the future and lessons learned from the past,” said Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, who hosted the forum.