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Turkish Language Education Day was marked on Saturday in Skopje with an official ceremony that brought together senior officials, diplomats and members of the country’s Turkish community.
The central ceremony was held at the Boris Trajkovski Sports Hall and organized by the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) and the Union of Turkish Non-Governmental Organizations in Macedonia (MATUSITEB).
The event was attended by North Macedonia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Aleksandar Nikoloski, former Turkish Parliament Speaker Mustafa Sentop, Türkiye’s Ambassador to Skopje Fatih Ulusoy, TIKA President Abdullah Eren, as well as ministers, members of Parliament, political representatives and officials from Turkish and local institutions. A large number of ethnic Turks from across the country also took part.
In his address, Nikoloski underlined the importance of education in one’s mother tongue, describing it as a fundamental civilizational achievement.
He stated that North Macedonia takes pride in ensuring Turkish-language education for all members of the Turkish community and emphasized the close historical and cultural ties between the two nations. Nikoloski also called for continued cooperation to further improve conditions for Turkish language education.
Sentop conveyed the greetings of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the Turkish community in North Macedonia and congratulated them on the occasion. He stressed that Turkish is not only a spoken language but also a core element of identity, memory and cultural continuity.
Türkiye’s Ambassador to Skopje Ulusoy, highlighted the role of language in preserving national identity and culture, noting that the effective teaching and learning of Turkish is essential for passing these values on to future generations. He also expressed appreciation to TIKA and MATUSITEB for organizing the event.
TIKA head Eren recalled the efforts of the Turkish community to preserve its language, culture, and faith in the region following the withdrawal of the Ottoman Empire. He said the continued presence of Turkish in North Macedonia reflects generations of dedication and resilience.
The program concluded with a concert by Turkish singer Kirac, who performed several of his well-known songs.
Turkish Language Education Day was also commemorated in the western city of Kircova. A ceremony at the Kircova Municipality was attended by North Macedonia’s Minister of Social Policy, Demography and Youth Fatmir Limani, Ulusoy, Kircova Mayor Aleksandar Jovanovski and other officials. During the event, the Turkish flag was raised alongside the Macedonian and Albanian flags at the municipal building.
In his remarks, Ulusoy thanked local authorities for recognizing the significance of the day. Minister Limani described Turkish as an integral part of North Macedonia’s cultural and linguistic diversity and an important pillar of its multicultural social structure.
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