Prohor Pchinjski, 2 August 2023 (MIA) — The Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Twitter has offered their best wishes on North Macedonia's national holiday of Ilinden, the Day of the Republic.

"Happy national holiday to North Macedonia! Together we keep the memory alive of the freedom and equality fighters' achievements. Together we look toward the common future: the European Union," the Bulgarian MFA tweeted.

Earlier, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev extended his best wishes to his Macedonian counterpart Stevo Pendarovski on the national holiday.

In his message, Radev said this year marked the 120th anniversary of "the Ilinden–Preobrazhenie Uprising, a magnificent event from the common historical and cultural past of Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia."

"The goal and self-sacrifice of the Ilinden-Preobrazhenie Uprising heroes are one of the bridges through time connecting the two countries and their citizens," Radev also said. mr/