site.btaBulgarian Leaders Lay Flowers at Gotse Delchev's Grave in Skopje

Bulgaria's National Assembly Chair Rosen Zhelyazkov and Culture Minister Krastyu Krastev laid flowers at the grave of freedom-fighter Gotse Delchev in the yard of the St Spas Church in Skopje Tuesday. The ceremony was also attended by Bulgarian Ambassador to North Macedonia Angel Angelov, other Embassy officers and the director of the Bulgarian Culture and Information Centre in Skopje.

Zhelyazkov said Gotse Delchev is a hero of both Bulgaria and North Macedonia. He said: "Such personalities and their legacy should unite us. Neither side should claim them for itself." According to Zhelyazkov, these heroes should be revered and emulated as they can teach us to look to the future.

Zhelyazkov was paying a working visit to North Macedonia at the invitation of Assembly President Talat Xhaferi. Anticipating his meeting with Xhaferi, Zhelyazkov said it will be yet another session between the two countries' parliament leaders in an effort to build bridges that will help North Macedonia become a member of the European Union while also ensuring the implementation of the bilateral Friendship Treaty. Furthermore, the meeting provides an occasion to raise questions about the rights of the Bulgarian community in North Macedonia, he added.

Zhelyazkov said bilateral commodity exchange continues to grow this year, which, he said, proves that the fewer the spiritual and physical borders, the better for Bulgaria, North Macedonia and the entire Balkans.