site.btaBulgarian PM Borissov, Bulgarian Delegation Attend Ilinden Uprising Observances in Skopje

Skopje, August 2 (BTA special correspondent Hristo Vodenov) - On Wednesday, the second and last day of his official visit to Macedonia, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and his delegation attended observances of the anniversary of the 1903 Ilinden Uprising in Skopje. On August 2, the Republic of Macedonia marks its national day.

On Tuesday, Borissov and Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev signed a Treaty of Friendship, Good-neighbourliness and Cooperation between the two countries.

Zaev greeted the participants and guests at the ceremony on the occasion and assured them that a bright future lies ahead for Macedonia as a member of NATO and the European Union. The Macedonian Prime Minister thanked Bulgaria for the extended hand and stressed that this is the reason why Wednesday's observances are shared with representatives of the Bulgarian Government and Parliament.

"The Ilinden Uprising is commemorated in both Bulgaria and Macedonia," Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Krassimir Karakachanov told journalists here.

"Macedonia's accession to NATO entirely depends on the Macedonian side," Karakachanov said, replying to a question. He noted that Macedonia is only at the start of negotiations on membership in the Alliance. "This process cannot be completed within a couple of months. I hope that now that their problem with Bulgaria has been sorted out, the problem with Greece will be sorted out, too," the Deputy PM said, apparently referring to the dispute over the country's name.

Borissov, Zaev and Karakachanov showed the media an Mi-8 military helicopter that Bulgaria sent to Macedonia on Wednesday to help fight wildfires that have been raging in the country for a couple of weeks now. The aircraft is flying back from Montenegro where it also assisted in the fire-fighting effort.

Attendance of the national day ceremony concluded Borissov's two-day visit to Macedonia.

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On Tuesday, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov held a working meeting with VMRO-DPMNE Chairman Nikola Gruevski at the party's headquarters in Skopje, the Government Information Service said. As leaders of parties which are members of the European People's Party, the two rallied behind the understanding that the only possible way for the Republic of Macedonia and Bulgaria is the European way.