“Day of Education in Turkish Language” Was Celebrated in North Macedonia on December 21

Day of Education in Turkish Language was celebrated in Skopje, North Macedonia, on December 21.

The program organized by Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) and the Union of Turkish Non-Governmental Organizations in Macedonia (MATÜSİTEB) was attended by nearly 10 thousand people, including Mustafa Şentop, Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, and the accompanying delegation; Hasan Mehmet Sekizkök, Türkiye’s Ambassador to Skopje; Serkan Kayalar, President of TİKA; Dimitar Kovačevski, Prime Minister of North Macedonia; ministers and members of the parliament of North Macedonia; and representatives of Turkish institutions and organizations in North Macedonia.

In his speech, Prime Minister Kovačevski said “Happy Day of Education in Turkish Language” in Turkish.

Kovačevski stated that Turkish culture, language, and traditions contributed greatly to the “mosaic of diversity,” values, and historical and cultural heritage of North Macedonia, and that citizens of Turkish origin participated in all aspects of state-building equally with other citizens in the country.

Kovačevski stressed that TİKA has been in excellent cooperation with North Macedonia in recent years and implemented more than 900 projects worth €60 million.

Serkan Kayalar, President of TİKA, said, “As an integral part of this beautiful region and esteemed Turkish people, you contribute greatly to the social, economic, and cultural wealth of the region, especially North Macedonia, for tranquility and peace. Similarly, our brothers and sisters in Türkiye play a major role in improving the relations between these two friendly countries.”

Kayalar reminded that TİKA has implemented projects all around the Balkans, a neighboring region, based on the common history and cultural ties, since its establishment. He added that TİKA has been active in North Macedonia since 2005 and carried out nearly 1200 projects and activities in many fields.

Kayalar noted that TİKA contributed to the local continuity of education through the schools it builds and its vocational training projects in many Turkish settlements in North Macedonia. He thanked the government and officials of North Macedonia.

As part of the program, awards were presented to students who ranked in the Top 3 in the painting contest “Turkish Through the Eyes of Children,” the poetry contest “Our Language: Turkish,” and the writing contest “Turkish in the Balkans.”

The speeches were followed by a performance by Turkish singer Buray.