For us, August 10 is not just a date, it is a day when Macedonia is silent out of respect and when it bows before its heroes, a day when it remembers its Macedonian defenders with pride and gratitude. Let their example be our guide, and their courage an inspiration for every new, present and future generation. May their love remain an eternal flame that will unite us all. Today more than ever, it is our obligation to preserve the truth about their work, said Aleksandar Stojkoski, the mayor of the Municipality of Gjorce Petrov, at the central commemorative event at the monument to the fallen defenders in the village of Volkovo organized by the Municipality on the occasion of 25 years since the death of the Macedonian defenders in the locality of Ljubotenski Bacila.
As Stojkoski pointed out, the feat of the defenders is not just a part of history, but represents an eternal vow - with courage, honor and love for Macedonia.
– This monument always testifies to the courage, sacrifice and love for the homeland of our fellow citizens Rade Jankovski, Ivica Zlatevski, Tome Dimoski, Tomislav Nastevski and Aco Angelovski, as well as our brothers Tome Badarovski, Goce Čankulovski, Marjančo Boškovski, Branko Janev, who in 2001 near the Ljubotenski Bacila locality laid down their lives defending the country, its peace, dignity and freedom. Let us talk about these heroes in our homes, let us mention them in schools, let us educate the young to know that the freedom we live today has its price and its victims. As a Municipality, we will continue to truly cherish the memory of our heroes, not because it is our duty, but because it is also our honor, because a people who respect their heroes have a future, a people who forget them lose their own identity. Let us keep Macedonia united and dignified and not allow the sacrifice of the defenders to fade into time - emphasized the mayor.
He promised the families of the fallen defenders that their names would never disappear from the Macedonian collective memory. The mayor expressed gratitude to all members of the ARM and the security forces.
The commemoration of the 25th anniversary of the death of the Macedonian defenders in the Ljubotenski Bacila locality began with the laying of flowers at the memorial to the fallen defender Tomislav Nastevski in the Municipality of Gjorce Petrov.
Representatives from the General Staff of the Army and the Ministry of Defense, led by the Chief of the General Staff, Major General Sasko Lafchiski, as well as a delegation from the Government consisting of the Ministers of Transport, Education and Science and Agriculture Aleksandar Nikoloski, Vesna Janevska and Borce Serafimovski, paid tribute to the defenders. The ceremony was also attended by a delegation from the Association of Defenders of Macedonia, the Association of War Veterans and War Invalids – “Bratstvo 2001”, the Association of Fighters of the Municipality of Gjorce Petrov, the Association of Pensioners of the Municipality of Gjorce Petrov, as well as delegations from VMRO-DPMNE – Municipal Committee Gjorce Petrov, the Municipal Organization of SDSM, the Liberal Democratic Party, the Movement “ZNAM”, the Socialist Party, Levica, the Municipal Organization of DOM – Gjorce Petrov, as well as representatives of the families of the fallen defenders, relatives and friends.
On August 10, 2001, eight members of the Army reserve lost their lives when a military truck detonated a mine on the road to the Ljubotenski Bacila area: Tome Badarovski, Goce Čankulovski, Branko Janev, Tomislav Nastevski, Marjančo Boškovski, Ivica Zlatevski, Tome Dimovski and Rade Jankovski. On this day, tribute is also paid to Aco Angelovski, who died in Aračinovo in 2000 during an armed attack on a police patrol.
