site.btaParliament Chair Glavchev Confers with Macedonian Counterpart, PM

Skopje/ Sofia, August 8 (BTA) - It is now the turn of the parliaments of Bulgaria and Macedonia to confirm and continue what the two prime ministers - Boyko Borissov and Zoran Zaev - have done with the signing of the Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighbourliness and Cooperation, National Assembly Chairman Dimiter Glavchev said in Skopje on Tuesday quoted by the National Assembly Press Centre. He made this statement during a meeting with Macedonian Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi.

Glavchev is on a two-day visit to Macedonia on August 8 and 9.

The two interlocutors were unanimous that Bulgaria and Macedonia have made together a historic step forward with the signing of the Treaty. The two countries have set the beginning of a new stage in the building of modern good neighbourly relations based on European values.

Glavchev noted that the document will give a new impetus to the bilateral relations in all spheres and expressed hope that the two countries parliament will make a contribution to this effect. Glavchev recalled that on July 27, 2017 the National Assembly adopted unanimously a declaration in support of the signing of the Treaty and thus confirmed the broad political consensus and categorical support for the opening of a new page in the relations between Bulgaria and Macedonia.

Glavchev stressed that Bulgaria consistently supports the Euro-Atlantic and European perspective of Macedonia. The EU integration of the countries of the Western Balkans will be among the priorities of the Bulgarian Presidency of the Union as of the beginning of next year.

Macedonian Parliament Speaker Xhaferi thanked for Bulgaria's support for the fulfillment of Macedonia's foreign policy objectives, membership of NATO and the EU.

Glavchev invited Xhaferi to attend the ratification of the Treaty by the Bulgarian National Assembly.

Later in the day the National Assembly Chairman conferred with Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev. Zaev expressed gratitude to Bulgaria for its consistent position and help for Macedonia's integration into the EU.

At the meetings the hosts thanked for Bulgaria's help in the suppression of fires near Skopje.