site.btaForeign Minister Zaharieva: Bulgaria Will Keep Supporting Western Balkan Countries' EU Path, But They Too Should Assume Their Responsibility

Sofia, November 9 (BTA) - Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign
Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva Monday said that goodneighbourly
relations and strict compliance with the bilateral commitments
is the way to guarantee regional stability and settle all
outstanding issues. "We will continue to support the efforts of
the six Western Balkan countries on their path to the EU, but
they too should assume their responsibility and stick to the
process of reforms," she told a news conference after a foreign
ministerial of the Berlin Process for the Western Balkans under
its first ever joint chairmanship held by Bulgaria and North
Macedonia.

Zaharieva added: "It will not be good for the EU to have
problems brought in from outside, either."

The EU has confirmed its commitment to the region in these
trying times by including the Western Balkans in the recovery
plan for Europe, Zaharieva said. The Union has mobilised over
3.3 billion euro for the six countries' fight against COVID-19
and the region's recovery, she recalled, noting Bulgaria's
support in the form of humanitarian aid and protective medical
equipment.
   
Zaharieva also said that during their meeting, the foreign
ministers of the Berlin Process countries put an emphasis on
youth connectivity and the role of civil society. "We should
work even more actively to ensure access to quality education,
good mobility, social integration, and employment so as to stop
young people's emigration," she argued.
  
The Bulgarian Foreign Minister said the meetings thus far had
been aimed at preparing the decisions of the Sofia Summit
scheduled for Tuesday, when the leaders of the Western Balkan
countries will adopt decisions of great importance to the
region. In her words, they will sign two key declarations: on
the common regional market, which should prepare them for the
European single market, and on the green agenda for the Western
Balkans, which is to affirm the six countries' commitments to
the implementation of the European Green Deal's targets.
 
North Macedonia's Foreign Affairs Minister Bujar Osmani said
that his country's and Bulgaria's joint chairmanship of the
Berlin Process is an important moment and a sign that the region
 is showing initiative and responsibility. He recalled a series
of successful initiatives and said that the Sofia Summit will
put forward new ones, such as the plan for a common regional
market and for a green agenda which, in which words, means
potential for the development of regional business,
attractiveness for big multinational companies, and convergence
with the European market.

Osmani also said that the challenges between his country and
Bulgaria in the coordination of the EU negotiating framework for
 North Macedonia have not impacted the good bilateral
cooperation in the organisation of the Berlin Process meeting.
The joint chairmanship shows a new political maturity, he added.

German Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Heiko Maas expressed
 certainty that by moving forward, it will be possible, step by
step, to overcome the political differences and solve the
outstanding issues. He recalled that one of the goals of the
German Presidency of the EU Council is to move forward in the
enlargement process, and declared readiness to continue working
in this direction until the end of the German Presidency.
   
Taking a question, Osmani commented that self-determination is a
 fundamental right and that the Treaty of Friendship,
Goodneighbourliness and Cooperation is an excellent framework
and formula for overcoming the differences between North
Macedonia and Bulgaria in the spirit of good will. According to
him, history should be left to historians and scholars.

Zaharieva commented that she firmly believes the 2017 Treaty of
Friendship, if observed in good faith and without seeking ways
to circumvent its provisions, contains all the guarantees to
solve the open issues. True reconciliation is possible only if
the open issues are put on the table, she argued.
  
She went on to say that there had been thousands of negative
publications in North Macedonia which she would describe as hate
 speech against Bulgaria, and that this should not continue.
Bulgaria has been and will be one of the countries which
continue to support the Western Balkan countries, including
North Macedonia, but they too should bear their responsibility,
Zaharieva stressed.

NV/DS