President Gjorge Ivanov decorated the police Special Operations Unit and the Rapid Deployment Unit with an Order of Military Merits, and presented posthumous Medals of Bravery to the eight members of the police forces who were killed in the Kumanovo anti-terrorist operation on May 9, 2015.
"We will not bring them back with these medals. We will not wipe the tears off their parents, wives, children. We will not bring the joy back to their homes", said President Ivanov.
According to him, the act showed that Ljubisa Arangjelovic, Boban Ivanovic, Goran Ilijevski, Zarko Kuzmanovski, Isamedin Osmani, Saso Samojlovski, Nenad Serafimovski and Goran Stojmenovic have not been forgotten.
"Their sacrifice was not in vain. On the contrary, they died so that our children sleep peacefully, but also to give our fellow citizens a safer life by protecting the country's security", added Ivanov.
He said the eight heroes prevented the country's destabilization and conflict that could have had large consequences on the peace, security and stability of Macedonia and the region.
"In a year when Macedonia should celebrate 25 years of independence, it has become a nation infected by doubts. The Macedonian society is divided on all grounds. The deep political crisis has lowered the country's security immunity", added Ivanov.
He underlined it was high time to reject the spirit of divisions, intolerance and hatred to the political opponent while uniting around the national interest.