site.btaHead of State: Bulgaria's, North Macedonia's Presidential Institutions Show Constructive Dialogue Is Possible

Bulgaria’s head of state, Rumen Radev, underlined that the Bulgarian and North Macedonia's presidential institutions show that it is possible to have a dialogue between the two countries and that it can be open, constructive, and contribute to the development of good neighbourliness between them. Radev and his counterpart from North Macedonia, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, met on the sidelines of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 29) in Baku on Wednesday at Siljanovska's initiative.

"This is my third meeting with President Siljanovska, and I think that the tone of relations, constructive dialogue, pragmatic dialogue, open dialogue, which we are setting with her, should also be adopted by the government of North Macedonia," Radev added.

He said that Bulgaria expects North Macedonia's government and parliament to soon implement everything that is set in the negotiating framework and in the Goodneighbourliness Treaty so that North Macedonia does not lose historical time for its European Union (EU) membership. The problem is not only with the timely inclusion of Bulgarians in the country's Constitution. Radev noted.

He expressed hope the government in Skopje will work with the State media so that hate speech is not allowed. Radev added that he and President Siljanovska had agreed that in such situations information about the presence of hate speech in the national media should be exchanged.

According to the President, work could be started to ensure that the textbooks in North Macedonia do not contain texts that do not speak well of relations with Bulgaria. "This can contribute to building trust, and I expect us to move in this direction," Radev added.

Radev and Siljanovska last met on September 13 in Sofia.

The visit of the Bulgarian President in Baku continues on Wednesday.