Skopje, 28 January 2023 (MIA) – To us and to our country, the celebration of St. Sava – the national day of the Serbian community, means nurturing all the values by which the spiritual and intellectual creator of the idea of Serbian statehood will be remembered in the history of the people in these areas. The founder and first archbishop of the Serbian Orthodox Church, St. Sava, taught patience, reconciliation between people, spreading love and respect among the people. His teachings were based on faith and truth, Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski said in his address at the St. Sava Day celebration on Friday evening.  

The PM said the legacy of St. Sava is not small, because the values that he fought for and stood for, and his teachings about respect for others and choosing peace before conflict, are today a legacy for all people, beyond than just the borders of his home country, Serbia. A legacy for all peoples who, guided by the principles of good neighborliness and coexistence, choose to build peace, mutual trust and mutual cooperation.  

“That is exactly why we are here today. To nurture those values that made us stand out in the world, to be recognizable by respecting the cultural values of all the people who live here. Multiculturalism has been our special feature throughout the centuries, with the help of which we enjoy the benefits of peace and coexistence today, tracing a stable future for the next generations,” Kovachevski pointed out.  

He added that a common future depends on all of us. No matter how different we all are, we still have one goal towards which we all strive – a prosperous, open and modern Balkan, free from prejudice, hatred and enmity.  

“Our doors, the doors of the Republic of North Macedonia will always be open to all nations that are friendly, and one of those nations is our brotherly, Serbian nation. Let’s build friendships, build peace in our countries and in our neighborhood, and thus contribute to peace in the world,” Kovachevski said.  

Serbia’s Deputy PM and Defense Minister Miloš Vučević said St. Sava doesn’t belong only to Serbs, he belongs to all people of good will, to all Christians, adding that his work is timeless and he still inspires us today. He also commented on the bilateral relations between the two countries and the connection of the neighboring nations.  

“Serbia is unequivocally and strongly committed to preserving the policy of peace, preserving the free spirit, living in brotherhood and love, both with each other and with other nations, be committed to the prosperity of its people, build a better and more secure future for its descendants. The Republic of Serbia attaches especial importance to the promotion of bilateral relations with the Republic of North Macedonia as good neighbors and friends, and I would say even more than that. Together we launched the Open Balkan initiative, we resolved the decades-long issue between the two churches, which further brought our brotherly people closer together, because everything that brings us together is good and noble,” Vučević pointed out.    

He told Serbs in the country to love and respect North Macedonia as much as they love Serbia.  

The event was also attended by other top officials of the government and the opposition, representatives of the diplomatic corps, representatives of political parties, civil organizations, associations, as well as many guests from the country and abroad.