Thousands Turn Out for Independence Day Celebrations

The celebrations marked the 20th anniversary of Macedonia’s independence from the former Yugoslavia and began early in the evening in front of the country’s parliament building.

The speaker of parliament, Trajko Veljanoski handed over the declaration of independence that was adopted on January 25, 1991 to an army guard who, together with President Gjorgje Ivanov, the army and police units led a parade to a brand new museum dedicated to Macedonia's fight for independence.

Along the way, the parade marched under a 22-meter-high triumphal arch, called "Macedonia," which had its official opening.

Thousands of children symbolizing Macedonian youth gave a performance in front of the arch.

The parade then processed over Skopje's ancient stone bridge and, as they did so, two new fountains placed on both sides of the bridge began to spray.

After delivering a short speech, President Gjorge Ivanov placed the declaration in the museum, which had its grand opening.

More than 100 wax figures of historic figures, murals and paintings of historic events are exhibited there. A theater performance was held in front of the museum, where actors performed events from Macedonian history.

The procession of politicians was welcomed in Macedonia Square, Skopje’s main square, by pop singer Karolina Goceva, who was positioned on a 10-metre high crane wearing a long red dress and singing a Macedonian patriotic song.

A musical called "Macedonium" with the Macedonian philharmonics, national ballet and national folk dancing company was then held on a 40-metre long stage.

The culmination of the evening was the unveiling of a 23 metre-high statue of Alexander the Great.

Preceeding this, Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski delivered a speech in which he called for unity in order Macedonia to prosper and to become member of EU and NATO. He vowed
not to change the name of the country and repeated that a referendum would be held for the eventual solution of the name issue with Greece.

Macedonia and Greece are locked in a longstanding dispute over the country's name, to which Athens objects. As a result, Greece has blocked the country's entry into NATO and the EU.

The celebration continued after Gruevski's speech with 20 singers performing specially composed song for this occasion and with concert of different Macedonian folk, pop, rock singers and bands.

No one from Macedonia’s political opposition showed up. They are understood to have boycotted events because of its promotion of the controversial Skopje 2014 rejuvination project, which they see an overpriced project that is completely unnecessary.

Macedonia separated from the formerYugoslavia after the citizens voted positively for independent state on 8 of September 1991. Macedonia was the only out of six Yugoslav republics that separated without a war.