site.btaForeign Ministry Reacts to Skopje's Position on Bulgarian Veto of Start of EU-North Macedonia Accession Talks

December 9 (BTA) - "Bulgaria is the staunchest and most disinterested advocate of the European integration of the Western Balkans, including the Republic of North Macedonia," the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry said in a position on Wednesday. It was reacting to a statement by the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia on Tuesday, which said that Bulgaria stopped the enlargement process as a strategic goal of the EU and described Sofia's veto on the start of Skopje's EU accession talks as "an irresponsible and grave geostrategic mistake".

"In a position expressed at Tuesday's EU General Affairs Council, Bulgaria reiterated why, at this stage, it cannot consent to the approval of an EU-North Macedonia negotiating framework and to the holding of the first intergovernmental conference by the end of 2020," the Foreign Ministry said.

"The Bulgarian position is entirely based on the Framework Position adopted by the Government back on October 9, 2019 and supported by the National Assembly, which states the requirements that Bulgaria sets as a condition for its further support for the EU integration of the Republic of North Macedonia," Wednesday's position reads.

"Bulgaria's proposals for inclusion in the negotiating framework for the Republic of North Macedonia are based on clear precedents but, regrettably, they were not tabled for discussion by the present EU Council Presidency. These proposals are also consistent with the EU Council conclusions of March 25, 2020, which stress 'the importance of achieving tangible results and implementing in good faith bilateral agreements, including the Prespa Agreement with Greece and the Treaty on Good Neighbourly Relations with Bulgaria as part of the enlargement process'," the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry pointed out.

"At this stage, the draft negotiating framework does not contain the guarantees that Bulgaria needs to support its approval. Bulgaria will keep up its constructive efforts during the next EU Council Presidency as well."

"Unfortunately, in the past year the Republic of North Macedonia has relied on a diplomatic and media campaign to discredit the positions of the Republic of Bulgaria by making public untrue information regarding the Bulgarian position on numerous occasions," said the Foreign Ministry, adding that "it will be hard to enlist Bulgaria's support with a historical narrative held over from the totalitarian past."

"It is time that the Republic of North Macedonia has abandoned the manipulative claim that Bulgaria contests the right to self-determination and the identity of the citizens of the Republic of North Macedonia or their right to call their language what they like," the Foreign Ministry said, recalling that Bulgaria was the first country in the world to recognize the independence of the Republic of Macedonia, which ushered in the process of international recognition of what was then an emerging State. "Bulgaria has helped that country at the most trying moments and continues to help it."

"However, the Republic of Bulgaria will not accept the identity of the citizens of the Republic of North Macedonia to be asserted in confrontation with the neighbouring countries and to the detriment of their national interests," the Foreign Ministry noted, adding that "proceeding from its responsibility to avoid bringing outstanding issues into the EU and to protect its interests, values and reputation, Bulgaria will continue to seek lasting solutions that will enable a further promotion of bilateral relations and an optimal EU negotiating process with the Republic of North Macedonia". RY/DD
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