“A nation courageous enough to face its own past has the strength to build its future. A nation that remembers is mature and wise enough to continue with its life and face the challenges ahead,” said Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski in his address at the formal academy on the occasion of the Day of Macedonian Revolutionary Struggle, held in the Macedonian Opera and Ballet on Tuesday.

PM Gruevski stressed that October 23 was one of the brightest dates in Macedonia's history, a day when the Macedonian revolutionary organization was formed, recorded as the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (VMRO) in the memory of the Macedonian people.

"In time, VMRO has grown into a historically recognizable code of the Macedonian people. Its path on the difficult Balkan crossroads represents an indispensable part of our destiny", said Gruevski.

These people, he added, gave their lives for what they believed in. They did not fear of standing in the way of anything or anyone, believing in what they were doing, for the well-being of their people.

"Their example should be ours, their will, passion, energy, faith should become a general code of conduct when it comes to our state and our interests", underlined PM Gruevski.

The academy was attended by President Gjorge Ivanov, Parliament Speaker Trajko Veljanoski, Government officials, judiciary, public life and civil society.

In the framework of the October 23 observances, Government ministers, MPs and VMRO-DPMNE delegation laid flowers at the monument of the founders of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization (VMRO) in Skopje downtown.

State award "23 October" was presented to artist Vladimir Georgievski and author Halil Zendeli in the Museum of Macedonian Struggle for Statehood and Independence. The recognition is given for long-standing achievements in culture, education, protection of state interests and promotion of its priorities, values and cultural and historical heritage.

On this day in 1893, Dame Gruev, Hristo Tatarcev, Petar Pop Arsov, Anton Dimitrov and Hristo Botandziev in the house of Ivan Hadzi Nikolov in Thessaloniki formed the Macedonian Revolutionary Committee, which later on became the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organisation (VMRO) or Internal Macedonian Odrin Revolutionary Organisation (VMORO).

VMRO's establishment marked the start of an organised struggle by Macedonian people and other nationalities for the formation of an independent country. The day symbolises the continuity of Macedonian struggle for independence, which resulted in establishing a modern, sovereign Macedonian state.