REMEMBRANCE IN TIME - Index of

Milen MIHOV: The Memory of Josip Broz Tito… 405
Tito’s exceptional role in the Macedonian history is also a subject of discussion in the
official publications of the Institute of National History printed after a decision made by
the governing body and presenting part of the publishing activity of the Institute. In 2003
Trayche Gruyovski’s book was published. It is a kind of historical journalism coloured
with a huge dose of Yugoslav nostalgia [8]. The author, who was a part of the highest
communist elite, aims at revealing the reasons for the dissolution of Yugoslavia. Actually
the book is an idealized picture of the communist government under the exclusive
leadership of Tito who is defined as a charismatic person capable of pursuing a policy
solving all problems and perfecting public relations. His death is defined as a fateful
moment for the Yugoslav peoples. According to the author: “Tito’s death became an
objective factor… for the functioning of the whole social system. It was easy to develop
the system while Tito was still alive. Then everything developed into a negative
direction” [9].
The praise of Tito is complemented with a huge dose of communist nostalgia in
Yugoslav version. By pointing out the achievements of Macedonia during the time of the
Federation, the author denies the historical perspective of independence. The supporter
of the Yugoslav unity ends his book with the optimistic prognosis that the idea of “own
sovereign state” will become old and will give way to the European integration which in
practice makes a parallel between Tito’s federation and the European future of the
Western Balkans [10].
The memory of Tito is also reflected in the interethnic relations in the Republic loaded
with potentially growing tension between the Orthodox Christian majority and the
aggressive Albanian minority. The preservation of the interethnic peace not only has
internal significance but it directly affects neighbour Kosovo and may have consequences
for the whole region. The essence of the problem is the coincident claims of both ethnic
groups for the role of the native population of Macedonia. A friendly match in Pristina on
February 17, 2012 between the handball teams of Kosovo and Macedonia on the occasion
of the 4 th anniversary of the independence of the Republic, became the reason for public
and political conflicts. In the beginning of the match the Albanian fans rose the poster
“Macedonia does not exist” and shouted “God created you Bulgarians, Tito made you
Macedonians”. Started on the sports ground, the scandal quickly spread in social
networks and became the major topic of the Macedonian and Albanian media [11]. The
Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Skopje also intervened in the development of the problem
and made a special statement that the incident raises problems for the development of the
bilateral relations. The incident ended with excuse from Pristina which was extended on
behalf of the Handball Federation [12].
In a specific way, the myth of the communist leader of Yugoslavia continues his life in
the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia combining in a unique way the shadows of
the past with the fears of modernity. In the tensed small Balkan country the deceased
from Belgrade is still accepted as a factor able to solve all the problems of the past, the
present and the future. An illustrative example of this is the T-shirts bearing the image of
the dictator and the words “Come back, Tito”.