PART OF THE MONOGRAPH “GOJKO JAKOVLEVSKI” BY SLAVE KATIN
Gojko Jakovlevski is the defender and affirmer of the history of ethnic Macedonia and the honor of the Macedonian people in the world. Dragan Bogdanovski and Gojko Jakovleski collaborated together for the future of Macedonia and formed the Democratic Party for Macedonian Unity.
The main goal of the Organization was the unification of a fragmented and enslaved Macedonia into an independent Macedonian state. Goce Makedonski is one of the founders of the political party VMRO DPMNE
Gojko Jakovleski, alias Gojko Delchev Rafkin – Goce Makedonski is an exceptionally well-known, recognized and indispensable person in the Macedonian diaspora and in Macedonia. He is, without a doubt, one of the economically successful Macedonians in the world. Although he lived in Berlin for a long time, from his emigration to the present day he is deeply and strongly connected to the fate, truth and events in Macedonia.
Gojko is Macedonian by nationality and an Orthodox Christian by faith. He is one of the greatest initiators and organizers of the defense of the Macedonian name and truth. Goce Makedonski is the defender and affirmer of the history of ethnic Macedonia and the honor of the Macedonian people in the world.
Otherwise, the founder of a large number of Macedonian organizations in European countries, the famous and recognized patriot, who determined Macedonia to be his goal and future, and for that he suffered – Dragan Bogdanovski, was a close friend and comrade-in-arms of Gojko Jakovleski. Together they collaborated for the future of Macedonia and formed the Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity, today as VMRO-DPMNE.
Gojko’s life story began in the beautiful Gostivar village of Zubovce on February 20, 1935. Zubovce is a settlement located at the foot of the Shar Planina Mountain, from where he left a long time ago, but he never forgot his native land and his Macedonia.
Gojko also had the fate of his ancestors – migrant workers, who at the age of seven his parents decided to leave for Sofia, at the height of World War II. In 1942, Jorde and Filka, the brother and sister-in-law of Delce, Gojko’s father, came from Sofia to Zubovce with the aim of adopting him, taking him with them, living in Sofia and educating him there. He spent his youth in Sofia. He completed his primary and secondary education there.
After finishing secondary school in Sofia, in 1955 Gojko returned to his native Macedonia, where he continued his education at the Faculty of Forestry, where he studied for four years. However, when he was a final year student and had two more exams to take, Gojko had to go abroad for specialization. Since he spoke German well, he was assigned to continue his education in Germany.
The day came for Gojko to leave his native Zubovce for Germany, and that was on July 19, 1961. First he came to Belgrade, and then he left for Germany. While traveling by train, he had a lot of time to think, plan, rejoice, and at the same time grieve. He constantly asked himself questions: how would he manage in the unknown world – Germany, how much would specialization mean to him, what would happen next… Many dilemmas and unanswered questions.
The first destination in Germany was Munich, where he arrived on August 5, 1961, and then he left for the Bavarian Forest, where he was supposed to specialize, for a maximum of three months. In that part of Germany, the wood industry is exceptionally well organized and highly developed. Here he performed his practical work, for which he received free accommodation, food, and money.
On August 22, 1963, Gojko Jakovleski acquired the status of political asylum seeker. In order to acquire this status, he spent six months in the “Zirndorf” refugee reception camp. The camp was located near Nuremberg, in the Bavarian region.
In Berlin, Gojko began his business career. Namely, in November 1966, he opened a fast food kiosk, the so-called imbis. He worked around the clock, with great love and enthusiasm. He was young and could withstand any effort. He was overjoyed when long lines began to form in front of his kiosk, from which he earned more money that provided him with great job security.
When the imbis became too small, he decided to open a restaurant. Thus, after a year of working with the kiosk, in mid-1967, he found a suitable place that he rented. He renovated it and prepared a menu with various specialties, especially Macedonian. He called the restaurant “Skopje at the Macedonian”, or rather known as “Old Skopje”. Then, in the very center of West Berlin, on the main street “Ku-Dam”, Gojko Jakovlevski opened the restaurant “New Skopje”, which began operating on June 12, 1969.
The restaurant “Novo Skopje” was completely renovated in 1974. On that occasion, a grand opening was organized, an act that enriched the mayor of the municipality of Charlottenburg, Dr. Roman Legien. At the same time, the mayor Dr. Roman cut the Gordian knot ribbon with a sword like Alexander the Great for the successful operation of the restaurant.
To be continue
By SLAVE KATIN
