Afrim Gashi on 2 August: a call to renew commitment to the Republic

Assembly President Afrim Gashi addressed citizens on 2 August — Republic Day — with a message that the holiday unites the country around the values on which the state was built and underlines our shared responsibility to strengthen it through deeds, vision and commitment.

Gashi recalled the historical roots that give the date its meaning: the Ilinden Uprising (1903) and the First Session of ASNOM at Prohor Pčinjski (1944).

Historic continuity and present responsibility

In his greeting he noted the symbolic link between those milestones and today’s state: "2 August reminds us of the ideals of freedom and self-determination, laid on the two pillars of our history: the Ilinden Uprising (1903) and the First session of ASNOM in Prohor Pčinjski (1944). These two historical events represent the continuity of the aspiration for a state built on freedom, democracy and responsibility to the citizens," Gashi wrote.

He added that the significance of the day is not only what we inherit from history but the example we set every day: "It calls on us to consider how we live the ideals on which the Republic was built, to measure ourselves by how we respect institutions, how we protect democracy, how we listen to one another and how we place the common interest above divisions," he said.

Gashi urged citizens and institutions to renew their commitment: that institutions be examples of integrity, media act as voices of public accountability, citizens take an active role in democracy and each person become a promoter of trust, justice and coexistence. He closed with a forward-looking appeal: "I am convinced that, by preserving the spirit of coexistence and promoting dialogue, respect and institutional responsibility, we will continue to move forward toward a more developed, more democratic and more prosperous state, firmly set on the irreversible path toward European integration. That is the most dignified way to pay tribute to the Republic of North Macedonia. Happy 2 August — Republic Day!" Gashi concluded in his greeting to the citizens.

Photo: press material from the event