By XHABIR DERALLA
The world got to know and will remember Zoran Zaev as a bold leader who doesn’t follow the paths usual for politicians. No matter how much one wants to, there is no black campaign that can outshine that fact. He dealt with and deals with politics in a way that seems to everyone as if it were the easiest thing in the world. But it’s not. The enemies of democracy and peace probably know this best.
There is no neutrality on these issues!
“Are we for a military aggression or for cultural competition among peoples? For Putin or for Delhcev? For aggression or for European freedoms? We have only one choice and we must make that choice. There is no neutrality on these issues” – said Zoran Zaev at the French Embassy’s event in Strumica.
An uncompromising choice between darkness and light, war and peace
A strong symbolism can be revealed in that Zaev said those words precisely on the day when the public remembers Bloody Thursday (April 27, 2017). On this dark date, Zaev’s messages in which he makes an uncompromising choice between darkness and light, war and peace come forth. And he chooses light and peace. Certainly, Bloody Thursday must not be forgotten, so that it doesn’t happen again, but Zaev’s messages will be remembered on that date – “for aggression or for European freedoms?”.
“I am Ukrainian” – Talat Xhaferi
And it will be remembered when Talat Xhaferi in Kiev fiercely condemned the Russian aggression and war crimes and said “Today, I am Ukrainian”.
The choice is as obvious as it’s inevitable
Putin or Delchev? Probably, this part of Zaev’s address will “ring” widely in the public and will bridge all differences, particularly political ones. It’s a reasonable question that everyone should ask themselves, no matter how much one wants to stay out of politics. As throughout history, and the present, we have seen many times that politics mostly deals precisely with those who “don’t deal with politics”.
The choice is obvious to everyone and regardless of whether they support the government or the opposition. Whether they are nationalists or cosmopolitans… Whether they are turned to the West or to the East… The choice is as obvious as it’s inevitable.
Whose victory is bigger? The one OVER fascism or the one FOR Europe?
Word by word, in his address, Zoran Zaev, as if with a mace, was lining up arguments and strong messages. He clearly drew the parallel between the fight of humanity against fascism in World War II and this fight that is currently taking place for the defense of Europe:
“On May 9, 2022, we all need to ask ourselves: Whose victory is greater? The one OVER fascism or the one FOR Europe? Or will we allow someone to triumph against Europe?
Warning
Zaev also warned that May 9, Europe Day and Day of Victory over Fascism will be strongly abused.
“Rest assured that May 9 this year will be used for propaganda. I urge all of us, each of us, to stick strongly to our European postulates – May 9 is our red liberation base – on May 9, Europe defeated fascism – on May 9 this year, let’s remain with our heads held high – let’s not allow aggression to take our May 9”.
A clearer and more realistic warning than this couldn’t have been found.
Macron – a new victory of European values over the threats that nationalism brings to Europe
All important questions of nowadays are incorporated in this address. Zaev recognizes that Macron’s victory is extremely important for European democracy, as it “brings new victory of European values over the threats that nationalism brings to Europe”.
Zaev to EU: Change the way decisions are made
Zaev also referred a clear question to the EU, in the context of the absurd veto from Bulgaria:
“Is this way of making decisions in the Union, in which a member state blocks an entire region out of extremely irrational and nationalist reasons, a mechanism by which the European idea is developed? If not, and I know its’s not, then change the way decisions are made”.
A politician, even it be from Brussels, should not feel very comfortable on this issue.
A fight against Putin’s aggression is being led, and not against the Russian people
Today in the world there is a fight against Putin’s aggression, and not against the Russian people. The Russian people themselves are suffering as well and are yet to suffer from Putin’s dictatorship. Zaev once again clearly set the positions of action against the brutal aggression, speaking with the voice of all reasonable and peace-loving people in the world.
“In addition, EU should know that it’s not easy for the Orthodox population of the Balkans to stand against the Orthodox Russian people. But our peoples are wise – we are not standing against the Russian people, but against Putin’s military aggression over the sovereignty of brotherly Ukraine”.
Every paragraph of his speech is worthy of reading and set aside as a valuable and reasonable message for every person who keeps to civilizational and European values. To humanity.
And let’s conclude. Regardless of the political, ethnic, religious, social backgrounds and differences that people have – everyone is put before a clear, obvious and inevitable choice: For aggression or for European freedoms?
Translation: N. Cvetkovska
