site.btaDeputy Prime Minister Zaharieva Receives North Macedonia's Special Representative Buchkovski

Sofia, January 11 (BTA) - Deputy Prime Minister Ekaterina
Zaharieva Monday received  the special representative for
Bulgaria of the government of the Republic of  North Macedonia,
Vlado Buchkovski, who is on a working visit here for a few days,
 the Foreign Ministry said. The two exchanged views on ways to
continue the process of confidence rebuilding between the two
countries.

Buchkovski was appointed Special Representative for Bulgaria
early in December 2020. The university professor and former
chairman of the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) has
always stressed that the Republic of North Macedonia has no
alternative to EU membership.

Bulgaria has proposed an action plan for cooperation with North
Macedonia in implementation of the Treaty of Friendship, Good
Neighbourliness and Cooperation. The document concerning all
sectoral ministries is expected to be signed at a future meeting
 of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission (in line with Article
 12 of the Treaty), the Foreign Ministry said.

The sides reviewed the implementation of a number of practical
commitments, in which Bulgaria noted a delay, said the Foreign
Ministry.
   
Earlier in the day, Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister Krassimir
Karakachanov commented on his upcoming meeting with Buchkovski.
He commended Buchkovski and said he is convinced the envoy has a
 will to see progress in  resolving the sticking issues between
the two countries, but  those he represents don't. 

Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia have long-standing
 differences on matters of history and culture, including
events,  facts and figures of their common history until 1944,
what  children in North Macedonian are taught in school about
those,  and the attitude to people with Bulgarian
self-awareness. Sofia  has refused to back the start of Skopje's
 EU accession talks  before it sees its neighbour making
progress, as agreed in a  bilateral Good-neighbourliness Treaty
signed in 2017, and the  Bulgarian "red lines" were set in a
parliamentary resolution.

Karakachanov said Monday this is his third meeting with 
Buchkovski. "Buchkovski has good intentions, political 
experience and a positive attitude to Bulgaria. It was for a 
reason they picked him for envoy and the authorities in Skopje 
are using him to demonstrate good will. I am sure he has the 
good will (to resolve the problems with Sofia) but those sending
  him don't. For three and a half years they have done nothing 
and now they continue to expect Bulgaria to make concessions 
despite the decisions of the Bulgarian Parliament and 
government, but this is not going to happen," said Karakachanov.

 "I believe Bulgaria's position is clear and it is time Skopje 
started reading the resolutions of the Bulgarian Parliament," 
said Karakachanov.

He also said that "Skopje's manipulations and attempts to stay 
evasive and outwit" Sofia is a problem for the entire EU, not 
just Bulgaria. Skopje only pretends to be doing something and to
  show good will but at the same time people in North Macedonia
 with Bulgarian self-awareness remain under pressure, according
 to the Deputy Prime Minister. RI/LN/NV/DD