Denko Malevski, First FYROM Foreign Minister after FYROM’s independence from the former Yugoslavia, in an interview to Greek TV:

“As far as Alexander and his place in the history of the country (FYROM) is concerned, that is probably the result of POLITICAL PLANNING rather than historical truth.”

“The idea that Alexander the Great belongs to us was in the minds of some outsider groups only. These groups were insignificant in the first years of our independence but the big problem was that the Balkan nations legitimized themselves through their history.”

“In the Balkans, to be recognized as a nation you need to have a history of 2.000 to 3.000 years old. Since, therefore, you made us invent a history, WE INVENTED IT!!”