In the village Tuminets on May 10, starting at 11 a.m., a ceremonial unveiling of a monument dedicated to Macedonian heroes, participants in National Liberation Army of Macedonia during Second World War.
The monument is dedicated to the fighters: Mire Andonovski, Koste Mitrevski, Vanko Cvetkovski, Sofre Jankulovski, Slave Trajčevski, Božin Wurmovski, Pavle Wurmovski, Pavle Milalevski, Krane Tasevski, Trajce Trajčevski, Drijo Wurmovski, Petre Vojovski, Giorgija Kacelija, Vanko Mishovski, Mito Milevski, Petre Mitrevski, Milan Kacelinovski, Kazia Andonovski, Jonche Velovski and Alex Michal, who were part of the partisan units and contributed to the anti-fascist struggle.
The presence of the prime minister has been announced at the ceremony Christian Mickoski.
On the occasion of the event, Vasil Mitre said that it is a significant act of paying respect to the fighters from Tuminec and a long-awaited moment for the local community.
He emphasized that by erecting the monument, the historical memory is preserved and recognition is given to the sacrifice and contribution of the Macedonian heroes.
– I am happy that we will finally discover the monument dedicated to the Macedonian fighters from Tuminec. I invite all Macedonians who have the opportunity to attend the unveiling ceremony. I come from a patriotic family. My grandfather, Comita Joakim Mitre, was sentenced to 101 years in prison during Ottoman slavery, while my father Kosta was a participant in Macedonian partisan units and fought for the liberation of Macedonia. During the regime of Enver Hoxha, he spent 25 years in Albanian prisons as a Macedonian patriot. For more than 20 years, I have been asking the Municipality of Pustec to build this monument. I thank Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski for accepting my request during his visit to Pustec last year and helping in its completion – said Mitre.
Jordan Jankula, advisor from the Macedonian Alliance for European Integration in the Pustec Municipality Council, called all Macedonians who have the opportunity to attend the ceremonial unveiling of the monument.
– Our village Tuminec made a significant contribution to the liberation of Macedonia from Nazism and fascism. My grandfather Sovre Jankula fought as a partisan for the freedom of Macedonia, while his son-in-law Jordan sacrificed his life for the Macedonian idea, passing through Albanian prisons. With the construction of this monument, we pay the deserved respect and pay our respects to these brave fighters for the freedom of Macedonia – said Jankula.
The construction of the monument is an initiative of the Macedonian Alliance for European Integration, as the only Macedonian party in Albania, and its implementation is supported by several stakeholders, including the Prime Minister Hristijan Mickovski, the political party Left, a group of Macedonians from Prilep, the mayor of Pustec Municipality Pali Kolefski, as well as the municipality itself.
The initiative to build the memorial was announced on May 11, 2023, at an election meeting in Tuminec, by the president of the Macedonian Alliance for European Integration, Vasil Sterjovski, who then emphasized that it was a multi-year request of the Macedonians from Tuminec and that the project would be realized in cooperation with the municipality.
The then Minister of Defense of Albania, Niko Peleshi, also addressed the same meeting, emphasizing that a Macedonian community with its own language, identity, culture and tradition lives in Prespa, evaluating it as a significant value in the multicultural mosaic of the country.
Tuminec is located in the area of Mala Prespa, on the shore of Prespa Lake, and is the second largest settlement in Pustec Municipality.
