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SOFIA/BRUSSELS/NEW YORK – The separation of North Macedonia (NM) from Albania on the path to European integration is a logical consequence of the policy of the government in NM and the path they chose. This was stated by President Rumen Radev regarding the decision of the ambassadors of the European Union (EU) countries to start substantive negotiations with Tirana in October and to delay the start of substantive negotiations for accession with Skopje.
The reason for the decision was the failure so far to meet the condition set for Skopje to start negotiations – to introduce amendments to the constitution by including Bulgarians among the national minorities in NM. This condition was laid down in the negotiation framework approved by the EU Council two years ago.
President Radev commented on the decision from New York, where he leads the Bulgarian delegation and represents Bulgaria at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly. Bulgaria is ready to continue helping NM on its path to European integration, but there needs to be an awareness in Skopje of the significance that the EU has and how it should work to achieve the national goal that our southwestern neighbor has set for itself, he added.
Meanwhile, in Sofia, the National Assembly unanimously adopted with 178 votes “for” and without discussion a declaration “regarding the systematic and methodical destruction of dialogue between NM and the Republic of Bulgaria, and provocative and offensive statements towards Bulgaria from ruling political factors in NM.” The Bulgarian Parliament insists on restoring the positive dialogue interrupted by NM and stopping the anti-Bulgarian campaign.
The deputies confirm the will of the Bulgarian state and institutions to organize joint commemorations of common historical events. The National Assembly expresses strong disagreement with the denial of the common history of the two countries by members of the NM government, which represents a direct violation of the Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighborliness, and Cooperation between Bulgaria and NM from 2017.
The Chairman of the GERB party Boyko Borissov said that Bulgaria does not violate good manners. The co-chairman of “We Continue the Change” Kiril Petkov noted that NM must decide whether it wants to include Bulgarians in its constitution, or its path to Europe is closing. The decision for Albania to start substantive negotiations to join the EU was logical, even delayed, said the leader of “Revival” Kostadin Kostadinov. The chairman of the parliamentary group (PG) “BSP for Bulgaria” Borislav Gutsanov described the reaction of Brussels as normal. The chairman of the PG of “There Is Such a People” Toshko Yordanov said that NM does not meet its commitments.
Last week, Bulgaria informed its partners about unprovoked provocations from NM aimed at destroying the dialogue. The reason for the reaction was a statement by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport of NM Alexander Nikoloski, who made openly offensive remarks towards Bulgarians. Meanwhile, after a meeting with the Prime Minister of North Macedonia Hristijan Mickoski in Brussels, the President of the European Council Charles Michel called on Skopje to comply with its commitments, to apply legally binding agreements and to continue with determination the reforms on the path to the EU.
Bulgaria supported NM on its path to the EU with a decision of the National Assembly from June 24, 2022, and a month later the NM parliament adopted the negotiation framework with the condition to amend the constitution. This year, Sofia and Athens accused the NM authorities of violating bilateral agreements, whose implementation is monitored by the EU and includes maintaining good neighborly relations. (26.09.2024)