During the commemorative ceremony, Mickoski stated that the monument represents “a testimony to the history, sacrifice, and courage” of those who, according to him, defended Macedonian freedom and identity during World War II. He emphasized that the fallen heroes “did not waver and did not abandon their people” in the most difficult days of the war.

“We are not gathered merely before a monument, but before a memory that cannot be erased, because it is written with sacrifice, courage, and love for North Macedonia,” the Macedonian prime minister said in his speech.

Mickoski also praised the Macedonian community in Albania, describing it as an inseparable part of the Macedonian national body and at the same time loyal citizens of the Albanian state.

In his speech delivered in Kallamas, he also focused on the importance of preserving Macedonian national identity, language, and culture, stressing that the Macedonian people have managed to preserve their continuity despite historical challenges. He added that political divisions should not obstruct national interests and the future of younger generations.

“Only united can we be strong and ensure the country’s progress,” Mickoski stated.

The ceremony concluded with tributes to the fallen and messages emphasizing the preservation of historical memory, national values, and unity.

Full Speech

“Honorable representatives of associations and institutions, dear friends, ladies and gentlemen,

Today we are not gathered only before a monument. Today we are gathered before a testimony of history, before a memory that cannot be erased, because it is written with sacrifice, courage, and love for Macedonia.

This monument in Kallamas (Tumenec) is dedicated to Macedonian heroes, participants in the National Liberation War against the Bulgarian fascist occupier.

These were people who, in the darkest days of World War II, did not waver, did not hide, and did not abandon their people and their identity.

The war was difficult, the mountains and forests were harsh, but they had only one question before them: how to preserve honor and freedom. And for this very reason, today their names stand proudly, just as the Macedonian idea has stood upright throughout the years.

This place is proof that the Macedonian people, regardless of borders, times, or pressures, have never ceased living with their own truth, language, songs, and national belonging.

Tumenec is not just a village. Tumenec is a symbol of resistance, dignity, and roots that cannot be uprooted.

When we look at this monument, we do not look back in order to remain in the past. We look back so that we know who we are and where we are going. A people without memory is a people without a future, while a people that honors its heroes never disappears.

Therefore, this is not only an act of remembrance, but also an act of national dignity.

Dear attendees, Macedonians in Albania are an inseparable part of the Macedonian national body and at the same time loyal citizens of Albania.

Your dedication and perseverance deserve respect. You preserved the Macedonian name, language, and tradition even in the most difficult times.

I want to send a clear message: Macedonia stands beside its people wherever they may be, with respect, care, and sincere support.

From this sacred place, I also wish to convey another message, perhaps the most important one: the message of unity. Macedonia today needs unity more than ever. Let us unite around national interests, around the future of our children, around respect for our history and the dignity of our people.

We may have different opinions, different political beliefs, and different perspectives, but when it comes to the homeland, national interests, and the future of the Macedonian people, we must stand together. Only united can we be strong. Only united can we bring progress.

And only united can we preserve Macedonia as a state with dignity, identity, and perspective.

Our ancestors did not divide themselves when defending freedom. They did not ask who came from where or who belonged to whom. They all stood under one common name. This is the lesson we must learn today as well.

Dear brothers and sisters, the names engraved on this monument are not merely a list of people. They are lives sacrificed for freedom, families who mourned, mothers who waited, and fighters who believed that future generations would live proudly and freely.

Our duty today is to continue their struggle with new means: through education, economic development, preserving national dignity, and respect for our history and identity. A state is not built only with roads and buildings; it is also built with memory, values, and a people who know who they are.

Therefore, this monument remains an eternal testament that Macedonia remembers its heroes and that the Macedonian spirit lives on.

May the glory of the Macedonian heroes of Tumenec be eternal. May the memory of the fighters for freedom be eternal. And may God bless the Macedonians, Macedonia, and Tumenec.

Thank you,” said the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Hristijan Mickoski.