Orce Gjorgjievski: Skopje remembers the price of freedom and will not forget those who gave their lives

Skopje Mayor Orce Gjorgjievski marked November 13, the city's Liberation Day, by meeting veterans and calling on citizens to preserve the memory of those who fell fighting the fascist occupier.

In a Facebook post, Gjorgjievski said he held the municipality's traditional meeting with representatives of the City Board of the Union of Veterans of the National Liberation Anti‑Fascist War of Macedonia and thanked them for working to pass the liberators' legacy to younger generations.

He reminded that, after several days of heavy fighting with the fascist occupier, fighters from the 42nd and 50th National Liberation Divisions and the 16th Macedonian Brigade liberated Skopje on November 13, 1944.

Mayor's message and veterans' tribute

Gjorgjievski paid tribute to the combatants and underlined his commitment to lead the city with respect for their sacrifice. He said their deeds live on in every free morning in Skopje and in every generation that grows up entitled to dream and to belong to their city.

He added: "With great courage and self‑sacrifice they opened the way to the future of our city. Their deed lives in every free morning of Skopje, in every generation that grows up with the right to dream, to create and to belong proudly to its city. They fought for freedom. It is our duty to be worthy of it."

Gjorgjievski also called for solidarity and everyday civic responsibility: "A city we will leave to future generations with pride, aware that we have given our best. Let the liberators' covenant be eternal! Let us protect Skopje, build it and love it through deeds! Eternal glory to the heroes who brought November 13! Glory to the fighters for a free Skopje!"

The mayor's remarks came alongside criticism from the head of the Skopje branch of SDSM, Aleksandar Davchevski, who accused the municipal administration in its first year of being dysfunctional and controlled by an "incompetent and criminal" VMRO‑DPMNE leadership. Davchevski listed problems he says the city faces: nonfunctioning services, traffic chaos, accumulated waste, illegal dumps and stray dogs. He characterised Gjorgjievski's 29‑minute report as an attempt to hide the city's problems behind party promotion.

Skopje is marking the 82nd anniversary of its liberation this year. The city's programme for the day includes delegations laying wreaths at 11:00 at the Monument to the Liberators at the Partisan Cemetery in Butel, followed by a visit to the Alley of Meritorious Citizens and the grave of General Mihajlo Apostolski at Butel Cemetery. At 12:30 wreaths will be laid at the Monument to the Liberators in front of the Government building. The evening programme includes the official presentation of the "13 November" award at the Macedonian Opera and Ballet.

Photo: Fejsbuk