PART OF THE MONOGRAPH “GOJKO JAKOVLEVSKI” BY SLAVE KATIN
After completing high school in Sofia, Goyko returned to his native Macedonia in 1955, where he continued his education at the Faculty of Forestry where he studied for four years. However, by the time he was alumnus with only two more exams to pass, Goyko had to go abroad for spe cialization. Because he was fluent in Ger man he decided to continue his education in Germany.
The day has come when Goyko was to leave his native place Zubovce and go to Germany; that day was July 19, 1961. He first came to Belgrade and then left for Germany. While traveling by train he had plenty of time to think, to plan, to rejoice, and at the same time to grieve. He kept asking himself questions: how would he deal with the unknown world – Germany, how much would specialization mean to him, what is next … Many dilemmas and unanswered questions.
The first destination in Germany was Munich, where he arrived on August 5, 1961, and then he left to the Bavarian For est, where he had to complete his special ization within three months. In that part of Germany the wood industry is extreme ly well organized and highly developed. Here he performed his practical work, for which he received free accommodation, food and certain amount of money.
On August 22, 1963, Goyko Yakovleski gained political asylum. To obtain that status, he spent six months in the Zirn dorf refugee camp. The camp was located near Nuremberg, Bavaria.
In Berlin Goyko started his business career. Namely, in November 1966, he opened a fast food kiosk, the so-called im biss. He worked day and night, with great passion and enthusiasm. He was young and could withstand any effort. He was thrilled when long queues began to form in front of his kiosk, earning more money that provided him with greater job security.
As a result of his connections with emigration, Goyko Yakovleski became a member of the Presidency of the Yugo slav Democratic Union “Buducnost” at the Assembly held on December 1, 1962, in Munich. Boards of Croats, Serbs and Bosnian Muslims were elected at the con- ference, and a Macedonian national group was formed, led by Goyko Yakovleski, for which he got membership ID card.
In his early years, Goyko Yakovleski manifested political, cultural and church activity, and maintained relationships with numerous Macedonian emigrants in Europe. According to Goyko’s story, in August 1971 at his request he changed his name and surname from Goyko Yakovleski to Gotse of Macedonia. His activities were the main reason why he had to wait many years to obtain German citizenship.
However, his persistence and deep conviction in honesty and loyalty to the German state, which he always saw as the embodiment of stable democratic socie ty and a trustworthy righteous mediator, would yield the result of acquiring Ger man citizenship. At that time in Germany, Gotse of Macedonia became a prominent businessman and respected citizen, but at the same time he was more affectionate towards his native homeland Macedonia.
As early as 1972, at the initiative of Dimko Nechevski as a president and Dragan Bogdanovski as a member of the revolutionary wing of the Macedonian Liberation Committee (OKM), Gotse of Macedonia began his activity in the Mac edonian patriotic organizations.
The main purpose of the Organization was the unification of a fragmented and enslaved Macedonia into an independ ent Macedonian state, so it accepted in its ranks anyone who wanted to work for the unification of Macedonia, whatever his/her personal ideas and philosophical considerations, no matter whether he/ she is a Democrat, a Communist or an anti-Communist, and regardless of his/her ideological-political considerations and party affiliation.
To be continue
By SLAVE KATIN
