site.btaPresident Radev: "Bulgaria and North Macedonia Can and Should Resolve Together Open Issues in Bilateral Relations"

President Rumen Radev congratulated North Macedonia's President Stevo Pendarovski on the occasion of the country's Republic Day - Ilinden, the press service of the Bulgarian President said Wednesday.

In his congratulatory address Radev noted that 2023 marks the 120th anniversary of the Ilinden-Preobrazhenie Uprising - a great and significant event in the common historical and cultural past of Bulgaria and North Macedonia. The purpose and sacrifice of the heroes of the Ilinden-Preobrazhenie Uprising is one of the bridges through time connecting the two countries and their citizens, Radev emphasized.

"The reflection of the ideals of freedom, equality and brotherhood of our ancestors is today recognised in the fundamental rights enshrined in the foundations of the European Union, which we sincerely wish you to join," Radev said. The Head of State expressed Bulgaria's support for the efforts of North Macedonia to fully meet the membership criteria, and to fulfill all the commitments made and agreements reached on North Macedonia's path towards the EU.

Radev also pointed out that contacts between the people of the two countries are an important way to build sincere good neighbourly relations. He stressed that the agreements reached between Bulgaria and North Macedonia on joint commemoration of events marking the common history provide an excellent opportunity for rapprochement. "I am convinced that together we can and must resolve the open issues in the bilateral relations, which is what our citizens expect and is in the name of our common future in a united Europe," the Bulgarian Head of State further stated in his congratulatory address.