President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova received today Professor Georgi Goce Durtanoski, who presented her with the first copy of the Privilege granted to the Macedonians by Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I of Habsburg in 1690 in Vienna.
The author of this unique document in calligraphic transcription, Prof. Durtanovski, spoke about its importance for confirming the uniqueness of the Macedonian identity.
With it, Emperor Leopold accepted the request for protection of the Macedonians from the Turkish slavery, asking them to join the fight against the common enemy.
Durtanoski indicated that the original minutes were found in the Military Archives in Vienna, and later reconstructed at the Center for Manuscript Studies at the European Christian Academy, which he directs.
Thanking for the copy, Siljanovska-Davkova expressed respect for his successful work in Latvia, where he teaches Christian paleography, as well as for his engagement across Europe. In the Privilege, she recognizes a document of particular importance for the Macedonian people and their identity.
“The document confirms what has been proven many times, but it is good to have another argument, faced with attempts to challenge it”, the President added.
Both believe in the importance and effectiveness of cultural diplomacy, especially for small countries.
