PM Hristijan Mickoski urged citizens to believe in their country and called the 35th anniversary of independence a turning point. He stressed at a celebration at the government on Tuesday that unity, stronger institutions, economic opportunities and keeping young people at home.
He said he wants this to be the generation that brings North Macedonia into the EU, but insisted there can be no compromise on identity, language or culture. He also called for trust and dialogue, including respect for European Court of Human Rights rulings concerning the Macedonian community in Bulgaria and recognition of the Macedonian language and history.
President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova said the country must create conditions for young people to stay and build their futures at home. She called for eliminating crime and corruption, strengthening the rule of law and building a peaceful, equal society.
Parliament Speaker Afrim Gashi said statehood is built every day through functioning institutions, equal rights, accountability, education and economic development, with the EU perspective as a shared goal.
SDSM leader Venko Filipche called building a prosperous European state, where families can live with dignity and young people can build their futures at home, a generational responsibility.
DUI leader Ali Ahmeti warned against the exclusion of Albanians and urged preserving the principles of the Ohrid Framework Agreement, saying the country should pursue policies that unite rather than divide.