“As long as the world exists, nationalism will, unfortunately, be an integral part of humanity”, says Igor Smilev, well-known activist from Veles.

Smilev considers that although nationalism in Veles may not be as visible as in other cities in the country, it does still exist. He adds that precisely such latent nationalism is much more dangerous.

“Hate speech and nationalism are a lethal cocktail, which are a sore point of every society”, thinks Smilev, but hopes that as a society we are moving toward better.

“I honestly hope and want to believe that we are moving toward better and that the real economic and social policies will suppress nationalism”, he adds.

In terms of the environment and the situation in Veles, Smilev is decisive that the Ministry of Environment is the last ministry that is taken seriously and that environmental ministers have just been a political reward to all the political cliques until now, instead of realistically and substantially handling the environment.

“There is not a centimetre of economic and social progress, if there is no environmental progress. Veles is living a sad social moment, but on the account of that we have the environmental moment, which is several classes ahead of the others. This is a basis for us to hope that one beautiful sunny day, Veles will be an economically prosperous city, because environment, economy and social development are a sacred trinity”, says Smilev.

Dehran Muratov
Text editing: Маја Ivanovska
Camera: Angela Petrovska
Editing: Arian Mehmeti
Photo: Goran Naumovski