site.btaPrime Ministers of Bulgaria, Macedonia Mark Jointly 115th Anniversary of Ilinden-Preobrazhenie Uprising

Blagoevgrad, Southwestern Bulgaria, August 2 (BTA) - Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and his Macedonian counterpart Zoran Zaev marked jointly the 115th anniversary of the Ilinden-Preobrazhenie Uprising at the monument to revolutionary Gotse Delchev in the city. A memorial service was held in front of the two countries' flags and military honours were paid to those who died for the freedom of Macedonia.

This is the second joint marking of the anniversary of the uprising after the signing last year of the Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation and Good-neigbourliness between Bulgaria and Macedonia.

Macedonian Prime Minister Zaev underscored the significance of the treaty that was signed a year before to the day. He said: "There is no greater message than Macedonia and Bulgaria joining hands to develop bilateral relations. Bulgaria's support came at the most critical of times for Macedonia. We have a historic chance to reaffirm our will to be a member of the EU and NATO. Together we'll build our future."

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov reaffirmed Bulgaria's support for Macedonia's accession to the EU and NATO.

He said: "We conducted intensive quiet diplomacy. I would like to congratulate the prime ministers of Greece and Macedonia that a decades-long dispute is about to be resolved. We celebrate our heroes together and we set an example in Europe. Bulgaria, Macedonia, Greece, Serbia, Kosovo and Albania are trying to make a prosperous region out of the keg of gunpowder as the Balkans are known."

Speaking during an earlier meeting with Macedonian counterpart Zaev, Prime Minister Borissov said that a year after the treaty was signed bilateral relations are experiencing a boost.

Borissov voiced satisfaction with the new spirit of cooperation. According to him, there are already positive effects with regards to trade, commercial and tourist exchange. The two discussed the state of checkpoints along the Bulgarian-Macedonian border, possibilities to improve their operation and the opening of more checkpoints.

Attending the ceremony were Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Krassimir Karakachanov, Macedonian Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Oliver Spasovski, Blagovegrad Mayor Atanas Kambitov, among others.