site.btaPortugal's President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa Pays Official Visit to Bulgaria

Sofia, June 2 (BTA) - Portugal's President Marcelo Rebelo de
Sousa arrived here on Wednesday on an official visit to Bulgaria
 at President Rumen Radev's invitation. The Portuguese head of
State was received at an official ceremony in front of the St.
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.

The two presidents gave a joint news conference following their
one-to-one meeting and the plenary talks between the two
official delegations.

President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said that Portugal has a
principled position - it supports the EU's enlargement and does
not wish to have a biased approach. "Regarding the Western
Balkans, we recognize the history, the geography, we know that
this question is sensitive not only for countries that are
members of the EU, but also for countries wishing to join it,"
the Portuguese President said, stressing the importance of
opening pathways to overcome the differences. "The Portuguese
position is in favour of constant dialogue, understanding,
becoming acquainted with others' problems, not to have any form
of biases or insecurities regarding the EU's enlargement," the
visiting Portuguese head of State said.

President Radev thanked the Portuguese EU Council Presidency for
 the efforts for finding a constructive and respectful approach
and the restoration of dialogue at the highest level with the
Republic of North Macedonia.

"Bulgaria has the biggest interest in our neighbours' European
integration," Radev told journalists. He said, however, that EU
enlargement should not be viewed mechanically, as it is a joint
journey between friends, part of a sustainable and irreversible
process.

Answering a question about the Republic of North Macedonia's
European integration, the Bulgarian head of State once again
stressed that the most important task is the restoration of the
full dialogue between Sofia and Skopje. Asked whether Skopje
meets the accession requirements, Radev said there is a whole
list of formal requirements that must be met, adding that the
biggest objective is for young people from both countries not to
 hate each other when the borders are lifted, to be responsible,
 
respect and understand each other. "This is the biggest goal
we are working on," he said, adding that he has tasked the
caretaker Cabinet to consider the possibility of bringing
together young people from both countries.

Radev proposed that, instead of paying for measures simply to
keep tourism alive, the State should pay the hotels that will
accommodate pupils from Bulgaria and the Republic of North
Macedonia. He made this proposal to North Macedonia's President
Stevo Pendarovski during their joint visit to Rome last week.

Among the topics discussed by the two heads of state were the
challenges and decisions Europe faces pertaining to its future,
the Portuguese EU Council Presidency's priorities, the ways
national recovery and sustainability plans will be drafted and
implemented, reinforcing the EU's strategic autonomy, and
enhancing the Union's social pillar as an effective instrument
for achieving a successful approach in the digital and green
transitions.
At the luncheon he hosted in honour of the Portuguese head of
State, Prime Minister Yanev and the guest discussed questions
concerning bilateral relations and current topics on the
European agenda, the Government Information Service said.

The Bulgarian head of government expressed readiness for
deepening dialogue and cooperation in all areas of shared
interest, both at the bilateral level and within the framework
of the EU and NATO, the press release reads.

Yanev stressed the active contacts between the two countries
during the present Portuguese Presidency of the EU Council and
singled out the outlined results of the Presidency priorities.

The key significance of political leadership, the problems of
and challenges to democratic systems, the prospects of the EU,
and the place and role of national interests in the present-day
context also figured high on the agenda of the conversation.
NV/MY, LG


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NV/MY