Bitola, 21 November 2023 (MIA) - Neighbors should respect each other and the national symbols, Albanian President Bajram Begaj said on Tuesday in Bitola.

In response to a reporter's question regarding the possible neighboring vetoes Bulgaria might impose on North Macedonia and Greece on Albania, President Begaj said that the road to EU should be viewed optimistically.

"I am an optimist by nature, so we should be optimistic on the road to EU. I wish both our people the best and the shortest possible road to EU for a better tomorrow for our children, and prosperity and peace in the region. I also want to thank local and national authorities in North Macedonia for making this visit possible and for declaring November 22 a national holiday, which is undeniable proof of the good interstate and neighborly relations between the two countries. Other neighbors should follow suit, respect each other and the national symbols," Begaj said.

Albanian President Bajram Begaj, Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi, Education Minister Jeton Shaqiri, and honorary Albanian Consul in Bitola, Imer Selmani attended a ceremonial event marking the 115th anniversary of the Congress of Bitola organized by the national institution “Museum of the Albanian alphabet” in Bitola. ssh/sk/