NEWS

President Rumen Radev: The Positive Processes in the Bilateral Relations between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia Should Become Irreversible

The President of the Republic of Macedonia Gjorge Ivanov is on an official visit to Bulgaria at the invitation of the Bulgarian Head of State

The Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia are on their way to stability, trust and good-neighborly relations. It is essential that this way should be followed consistently, and whether the processes of friendship and constructivism in our relationships will become irreversible is contingent upon the responsible attitude and dialogue between all institutions in the two countries. This is what President Rumen Radev said, who held a meeting with the President of the Republic of Macedonia Gjorge Ivanov. Gjorge Ivanov is on an official visit to Bulgaria at the invitation of the Bulgarian Head of State extended in February 2018.

“The communication with the Republic of Macedonia at this important moment for both Macedonia and the whole region should continue. As President of the EU Council, it is important for Bulgaria to hold a dialogue and to pool efforts to overcome the challenges,” Rumen Radev said.

The Bulgarian President emphasized that the issue pertaining to Macedonia’s name is important as its resolution comprises a step towards the European and Euro-Atlantic integration of our western neighbor, which our country unswervingly supports. Rumen Radev added that Bulgaria no way interferes in the negotiations between Greece and the Republic of Macedonia. However, the decisions made are an indispensable part of the environment of political dialogue in the region and are important for the whole of Europe.

Rumen Radev further pointed out that, according to preliminary information, the agreement signed between the Republic of Macedonia and Greece does not envisage follow-up changes of the provisions, neither its denunciation, while the bilateral agreement on friendship, good neighborliness and cooperation between Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia contains no such clauses. Therefore our country needs guarantees that it will be fulfilled in the future as well. “The agreement between the Republic of Macedonia and Greece envisages also amendments to the Macedonian Constitution and it is important for Bulgaria that despite the amendments, its provisions will continue to be treated and interpreted in line with the good neighborliness agreement with Bulgaria,” Rumen Radev said.

“The new name offered to the Republic of Macedonia – Northern Macedonia concerns geographic territories, which are located both to the southeast of Sofia and to the west of Pirin. This situation calls on us to be extremely cautious and to keep track of the fulfillment of the commitments assumed,” President Rumen Radev further said. In his words, Bulgaria remains the most ardent supporter of the Republic of Macedonia’s European prospects and the commitments assumed in the good neighborliness agreement should be included in the negotiation process on the Republic of Macedonia’s EU accession together with clear procedures on the monitoring and observation of meeting the requirements.

Rumen Radev and Gjorge Ivanov shared the opinion that the bilateral agreement on friendship, good-neighborliness and cooperation between Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia promotes the comprehensive strengthening of the partnership between the two countries. During the almost one year that has passed since it was signed, a growth of trade, tourism and also the mutual investments is observed, it emerged at the meeting.

“The fulfillment of this agreement gives guarantees that the interests both of Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia will be safeguarded and it is a key condition for our support of Macedonia’s road towards a full-fledged EU and NATO membership,” the Bulgarian Head of State said. Rumen Radev called on the institutions in the two countries to offer full support to the work of the envisaged in the agreement joint multidisciplinary commissions, which will discuss issues of bilateral interest and will keep track of the fulfillment of the agreement.

During the joint news conference of the two Heads of State, Rumen Radev called for continuing the cooperation between all state institutions and ministries of the two countries and the work on the important infrastructure projects of mutual interest. The Bulgarian President confirmed his readiness to continue the cooperation between Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia in the spheres of tourism, culture and the joint commemoration of events of the two countries’ common history and also for promoting the business on mutual investments and the exchange of good practices.

“The good neighborliness agreement between the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Bulgaria sets a positive example of how the countries can efficiently solve the open issues among them. It produces results – the trade and the exchange of tourists between the two countries is growing. Gratitude should be extended to Bulgaria for placing the topic of the Western Balkans’ European integration back on the European agenda,” the Macedonian Head of State Gjorge Ivanov said, for his part. 

In Sofia President Gjorge Ivanov is accompanied by his wife Maya Ivanova. After the official welcoming ceremony, Desislava Radeva and Maya Ivanova had a look around the house museum of the poet Nikola Vaptsarov.