President Rumen Radev has congratulated his counterpart Stevo Pendarovski on the state holiday of North Macedonia "Ilinden - Day of the Republic". In the address, Radev points out that 2023 marks the 120th anniversary of the Ilinden-Preobrazhenie Uprising - a magnificent and significant event from the common historical and cultural past of Bulgaria and North Macedonia.

Marking the day is one of the bridges through time connecting the two countries and their citizens, the Bulgarian president adds. He points out that contacts between the people of both countries are an important way to build good neighborly relations.

"I am convinced that together we can and must resolve the open issues in bilateral relations, which is expected by our citizens and is in the name of our common future in united Europe," Radev wrote.