Pendarovski hopes tradition of Ilinden celebrations will be continued at Prohor Pcinjski

VRANJE - North Macedonian President Stevo Pendarovski said during a visit to Serbia's monastery of St Prohor Pcinjski on Wednesday he hoped the good tradition of celebrations of Ilinden - North Macedonia's greatest national holiday - would be continued at the monastery, the "place where the Macedonian republic was formed."

Pendarovski, who visited the monastery with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, thanked Vucic for his personal engagement to enable North Macedonia to celebrate its holiday at the monastery and for personally heading a Serbian delegation this year.

"The first Macedonian republic was formed at this monastery, which is now in Serbian territory. When it was formed, it was a single state union," Pendarovski said at a joint press conference with Vucic.

He said the fact the monastery was in another state did not mean North Macedonians should not come to Prohor Pcinjski to pay tributes to the founders of the Macedonian republic.