Nurturing and affirmation of the Macedonian language is not only an obligation to the work of academician Blazhe Koneski, but also an obligation to ourselves, to all our ancestors and to future generations, President Stevo Pendarovski said Monday at the event promoting the postage stamp in honour of 100th anniversary since the birth of Blazhe Koneski.

The Post of North Macedonia has unveiled the postage stamp in honour of 100th anniversary since the birth of Blazhe Koneski. The 72-denars stamp printed in 6,000 copies features the Koneski’s portrait created by the academic painter Dimitar Kondovski.

Pendarovski also added that at the promotion of the book “Struggle for Macedonian Literary Language” in 1987 by Trajko Stamatovski, who passed away a few days ago, Koneski expressed the well-known and often quoted thought of language as our only complete homeland.

“Then Koneski said the following: “Even in moments of layering and hesitation, the last thing that should come to mind is to question the benefits of our independent action in terms of language.” Unfortunately, even after decades of codification of the Macedonian language and recognised by linguists over the world, we are witnessing denials and pressures. However, I’m pleased that at least we do not have any internal doubts and what we stand united in defence of the Macedonian language,” Pendarovski noted.

Pendarovski said that the nurturing and affirmation of the Macedonian language is not only an obligation to the work of academician Blazhe Koneski, but also an obligation to ourselves, to all our ancestors and to future generations.

“The protection and nurturing of the Macedonian language is also an obligation not only to those whose native tongue is Macedonian, but also to all those who use it as an official language in an independent and sovereign Republic of North Macedonia, but also to all linguists, Slavists and Macedonians who have studied the language, to all translators who have translated and are translating from or into Macedonian. Therefore, in the year honoring Blazhe Koneski, as individuals, ordinary citizens or representatives of institutions we should work together and responsibly in the affirmation and promotion of his work,” Pendarovski said at the event.

Culture Minister Irena Stefoska stressing that Blazhe Koneski is our national pride, she said that each of his words is at the same time a message and a legacy, and our duty, our obligation is not to forget to pass this legacy to future generations.

Stefoska said that unveiling the postage stamp is one of the series of “2021: A Year Honoring Blazhe Koneski” events organized by the Ministry of Culture. She underlined that several types of logos are already being made, followed by videos about the life and work of Blazhe Koneski, web animations including poetry and quotes, as well as audiovisual music videos with songs in several languages. Publishing books, monographs, academic editions and collections dedicated to the life and work of Koneski, scientific-educational projects, conferences, as well as promotion of the digital edition of the interpretive dictionary of the Macedonian language are also planned.

She also said that on March 21, on the occasion of the World Poetry Day, an event in honor of Koneski was organized at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris. In September, Koneski will be commemorated in Rijeka (Croatia) and Galway (Ireland), both cities that are the two European Capitals of Culture in 2020.

Stefoska also announced that a celebration honoring Blaze Koneski will be organized in Sofia, neighbouring Bulgaria. As part of the Ohrid Summer Festival, a concert will be staged featuring works inspired by the character and work of Blazhe Koneski, announcing many events within this year’s poetry festival Struga Poetry Evenings.

Macedonian Language Council president, the university professor Ljudmil Spasov stressed that Koneski is our tradition, the backbone of the Macedonian culture in the 20th century and the beacon of his Macedonian people.

Director general of Post of North Macedonia, Makraduli noted that the stamp will be a challenge for each of our fellow citizens, and especially for the philatelists to include it in their own collection.

The special stamp launch is one of the series of “2021: A Year Honoring Blazhe Koneski” events organized by the Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Science and held under the auspices of President Stevo Pendarovski.

This year, the 100th anniversary since the birth of Blaze Koneski, is part of the calendar of important international jubilees supported by UNESCO.