site.btaNewly Appointed Bulgarian Ambassador to North Macedonia Radukov Presents Credentials

The newly appointed Bulgarian Ambassador to North Macedonia Zhelyazko Radukov presented his credentials at an official ceremony to the country's President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, North Macedonia head of State’s administration said on Tuesday. Siljanovska wished him "a warm welcome and successful performance of his important diplomatic function to promote relations and cooperation in a positive direction that will contribute to the rapprochement of the two countries and citizens.”

North Macedonia’s President underlined that the relations between the two countries "unfortunately are not at the desired level and are not suitable for countries that are immediate neighbours and NATO allies, one of which is an EU Member State and the other - a candidate for membership, with a strong commitment to EU integration".

"There needs to be a change in approach through developing relationships. In this sense, I, as President of all the citizens of this country, express my expectation and hope that you will work to develop cooperation in areas of mutual interest with a focus on the challenges of everyday life and the future. We appreciate the extremely important and complex process of dialogue, which implies rapprochement, building and nurturing friendship through mutual respect of two neighbouring European countries and in this sense, I believe that respect for dignity, commitments to European integration and good neighbourly relations are fully complementary and mutual interests of both countries," Siljanovska said.

Ambassador Radukov said his mission began in circumstances such as the devastating effects of the war in Ukraine, the crisis in the Middle East, the effects of the COVID pandemic, and the political and social polarization of the global community.

In his speech, Radukov noted that given the complicated dynamics of bilateral relations between Bulgaria and the North Macedonia, ”we often tend to forget that the two countries are allies in the most successful political-military alliance in history, and this joint membership brings countless benefits for which our two countries have paid and will continue to pay the necessary price to be allies with all partners and each other.”

Radukov highlighted Corridor 8 as an important project.