site.btaPresident Radev Expects North Macedonia Counterpart's Wish for Dialogue to Become Consistent Policy

Approached by journalists here on Friday, President Rumen Radev said that he expects the desire for dialogue expressed by his counterpart of North Macedonia, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, to become a consistent policy. "We expect the Republic of North Macedonia to fulfil all the commitments it has made to us on a bilateral basis and to the European Union, so that we can fully build our relations," Radev said.

Radev told to reporters ahead of his meeting with the President of North Macedonia on Friday.  Siljanovska-Davkova is in Bulgaria for the Sofia tour of the Skopje National Opera and Ballet, which will perform Verdi's Nabucco at the Sofia Opera and Ballet.

In Radev's words, the government of North Macedonia has not yet left the pre-election rhetoric. "Let the passions calm down and return to realism, and that [realism] is very clear - our relations will continue to be built on the basis of the agreements and conclusions of the Council of the European Union," Radev said. He pointed out that music and culture are spheres that bring people closer, and Bulgaria has always been open to dialogue with North Macedonia. 

"Bulgaria expects this dialogue not only to contribute to our cultural rapprochement, to boost economic cooperation and tourism, but also to finally resolve the open issues between us," Radev went on to say. He commented that the engagement of the leadership of North Macedonia with Transport Corridor 8 will be a clear indicator of Skopje's real European ambitions for more connectivity and security in the region.