The President of the Republic of North Macedonia, Stevo Pendarovski, addressed the opening of the first winter school of the International Seminar on Macedonian Language, Literature and Culture, which is held online, as part of the celebration of one century since the birth of the great Macedonian in philology, linguistics and literature, Academician Blazhe Koneski.
As patron of the jubilee “2021 – Year in Honor of Blazhe Koneski”, President Pendarovski expressed satisfaction with the planned events and program contents, wishing successful work to the participants of the School.
Respected participants of the first Winter School of the International Seminar on Macedonian Language, Literature and Culture,
Dear friends,
I have this special privilege and honor to greet you at the beginning of the first Winter School of the International Seminar on Macedonian Language, Literature and Culture. I believe that the satisfaction of all of us is even greater as this event takes place exactly in the year in which we mark one century since the birth of the great Macedonian in philology, linguistics and literature, Academician Blazhe Koneski. In fact, we have declared 2021 as a year in honor of Blazhe Koneski and all relevant institutions in the field of culture, science and education will be involved in the implementation of activities and projects related to this important anniversary.
As patron of the jubilee “2021 – A Year in Honor of Blazhe Koneski”, I am impressed by all the planned events and program contents. I am glad that exactly through the first Winter School of the International Seminar on Macedonian Language, Literature and Culture, the “St. Cyril and Methodius” University, which includes the Faculty of Philology named after Blazhe Koneski, is practically the first to start the activities marking the great jubilee.
Ladies and gentlemen,
As one of the codifiers of the modern Macedonian literary language, Academician Koneski deserves the greatest respect and gratitude. In a period when, unfortunately, for political reasons, the existence of the Macedonian language is again denied, although it has long been verified by the world linguistic science, it is Koneski’s work that is most under attack. In that sense, one of the strongest pillars in the defense against unargued and often irrational attacks is the International Seminar on Macedonian Language, Literature and Culture, which has a five-and-a-half-decade tradition with more than five hundred participants from sixty countries from all over the world. Therefore, I would like to thank all the participants so far for their commitment and contribution to the wider international affirmation of the Macedonian language, literature and culture.
According to the current situation with the pandemic, as was the case with last year’s Summer School, all the events are online. I hope that soon after the start of the vaccination process, humanity as a whole will emerge victorious in the fight against Covid 19 and we will slowly return to normal everyday life, so that the next school can, according to the tradition, be held in Ohrid, with the physical presence of all participants.
I once again congratulate you on the desire to be part of the first Winter School of the International Seminar on Macedonian Language, Literature and Culture and I wish you successful work in the next ten days during the School.
Thank you for your attention.
