Short history of North Macedonia in the 19th and 20th century. The story takes place in a pub where there is a heated multinational discussion. The greatest of all at the table, Josip Broz Tito solves the discussed problem. His charm is eternal. Nobody resists.
I was at the place when it happened. There was a table where a Greek, a Macedonian, a Bulgarian, a Serbian and Marshal Tito were sitting. They were discussing the origin of the Macedonian beer they were drinking.
The Greek said it is Greek because they produced the same beer 10 centuries ago. It made a Bulgarian angry because he thinks the Macedonians don’t even know it is theirs. A Serbian said it is neither Greek nor Macedonian, it is South Serbian beer. He added: “Macedonian beer doesn’t exist, they taught it at school.” Then Marshal Tito stood up and with a thump to the table said: “Nonsense, you blind people with superpowers’ tendencies. It is Macedonian!”
Everybody at the table kept their mouths shut and agreed it is indeed the Macedonian beer.
Church of St Jovan Kaneo on a hillside in Ohrid. The church was built before the rise of the Ottoman empire.
