site.btaForeign Ministry Hails Greek-Macedonian Accord to Resolve Name Dispute

Sofia, June 13 (BTA) - The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry hails the agreement reached by the governments of Greece and Macedonia to resolve the dispute over the latter's name.

In a media statement, the Foreign Ministry says this opens the way for Macedonia's EU and NATO integration. This is a real chance at the end of Bulgaria's EU Council Presidency to make progress towards accession talks.

Bulgaria recognized the Republic of Macedonia with its constitutional name back in January 1992 and the new name, Republic of Northern Macedonia, should not be interpreted as forming a basis for a possible change in the existing borders or for claims on neighbouring countries about language, culture, history and identity, the statement says.

The Foreign Ministry will insist that Bulgaria's two neighbouring friends and partners guarantee that these two principles are unambiguously stated and affirmed in the treaty between them.