site.btaUPDATED President Radev, PM Petkov meet with organizations of Bulgarians in North Macedonia

President Rumen Radev and Prime Minister Kiril Petkov met in turn here Tuesday with visiting representatives of organizations of Bulgarians in North Macedonia. The President said that as Bulgaria and North Macedonia are trying to invigorate relations in economy, transport, investments and education, and have clear and ambitious schedules set for that, they need to adopt a similar schedule to address the outstanding political issues. 

The meeting was attended by representatives of the Civic Democratic Union party (GDU), the Ivan Mihajlov Cultural Centre in Bitola, Tribuna of Prilep, the Association for Macedonian-Bulgarian Friendship in Skopje, Corridor VIII of Skopje, Interakcija of Ohrid, Edinstvo of Kocani. Vice President Iliana Iotova was also there.

According to Radev, ignoring the outstanding political problems would bring to a halt the EU integration process for the Republic of North Macedonia. He was adamant that clear guarantees and a stable process are required, adding that Bulgaria is the country most willing to see North Macedonia's integration completed. 

The President reiterated his stance that Macedonian Bulgarians must be incorporated in North Macedonia's Constitution along with the other peoples whose rights are protected, before Bulgaria agrees to give a green light to the start of Skopje’s EU accession talks. Other requirements he listed were the protection of Bulgarian cultural and historical heritage in North Macedonia and putting an end to hate speech.

This was the second meeting in less than a year between the Bulgarian head of State and representatives of Bulgarians in North Macedonia. The first one took place in October 2021 in Sofia.

Radev said Bulgaria values and insists on the Macedonian Bulgarians being full-fledged citizens of the Republic of North Macedonia, completely integrated in the local social and economic life. Petar Kolev, Head of the GDU party in North Macedonia, said that Radev’s words and actions suggest that he is a modern politician who sympathizes with the Macedonian Bulgarians’ hopes, dreams and aspirations.

The North Macedonian organizations insist on urgent measures to bring light to the historical truth of the two countries’ common ancestors. This truth must be reflected clearly and categorically in North Macedonia's education, Kolev said.

As he met with the representatives of the Bulgarians’ organizations in North Macedonia, Prime Minister Kiril Petkov said that their rights are a matter of priority for him and the entire government.  He briefed them on the progress of talks between the two governments and said that these talks centre on the inclusion of Bulgarians in the Constitution of North Macedonia, said the government press office. He also familiarized them with the discussions he had had with the European partners with regard to the European integration of the Western Balkans. 

The representatives of Bulgarians’ organizations said that they trust the new approach of the Bulgarian government because they believe that the problems can only be resolved through dialogue. 

The delegation is also scheduled to meet with parliamentary groups on Wednesday.