site.btaBulgarian Parliament Adopts Unanimously Declaration in Support of Bulgaria-Macedonia Goodneighbourliness Treaty

Sofia, July 27 (BTA) - The Bulgarian Parliament Thursday adopted unanimously a declaration in support of a Treaty of Friendship, Goodneighbourliness and Cooperation with Macedonia. 206 MPs took the vote and all votes were in favour.

The Treaty was already approved by the governments of the two countries and can already be viewed on the website of the Foreign Ministry.

The declaration of the legislature says that the Bulgarian Parliament appreciates the efforts of the governments of Bulgaria and Macedonia to finalize the negotiations on the Goodneighbourliness Treaty and expects the treaty to be signed as agreed between the two sides.

Parliament further expresses readiness to start the ratification process as soon as the Treaty is signed.

The Bulgarian legislators expect that the Treaty will provide a stable, principled and pragmatic groundwork for the relations between the two countries and to bring direct benefits to their citizens.

They propose that the government submit to Parliament an annual report on the implementation of the Treaty.

Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, who was in Parliament while the declaration was put to the vote, thanked the legislators for their support for the government.

During the debate, Socialist MP and former Foreign Minister Kristian Vigenin said they appreciate the efforts of the Bulgarian and the Macedonian government. He said that the debate on the declaration must be one of "carefully measured words" because anything that is said can be used for stirring up tension.

Vigenin said that the signing of the treaty was brought about by the powershift in Macedonia.

Yordan Tsonev MP (Movement for Rights and Freedoms, MRF) said that his party supports the efforts of the government to establish goodneighbourly relations and sign the treaty. "MRF has always believed that all countries of the Western Balkans must be EU and NATO members, especially Macedonia," he said. He added that Bulgaria can act as a mediator and a catalyst of these processes.

Volen Siderov of the United Patriots said it is a historic moment. "We were the first to recognize Macedonia but then a quarter of a century had to pass before we took a significant step," he said. He also said: "We did not behave the way we should have and while we sulked, our neighbours were taking advantage of the situation."

Krassimir Bogdanov of the United Patriots said that the treaty will open up new avenues for cooperation between the two countries. "We have already seen specific steps being taken for implementing infrastructure projects and there will be more to come," he said.

He also said that the past should not be politicized and should be left to historians.