site.btaForeign Ministry Objects to Attempts at Involving Bulgaria, Bilateral Ties into Internal Political Debates in North Macedonia

The Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Wednesday said it had summoned to a meeting North Macedonia's Ambassador in Sofia over recent public comments and untrue claims regarding Bulgaria made by politicians in North Macedonia. The Foreign Ministry firmly objects to the attempt to yet again involve Bulgaria and bilateral ties into the internal political debate in North Macedonia, including in the context of the current election campaign, the Ministry said.

"Bulgaria consistently maintains a constructive dialogue and abstains from comments on the constant provocations in North Macedonia's public space. Bulgaria does this with the understanding that constructive environment needs to be provided for the election process to run normally as well as a calm public environment for the necessary reforms to be carried out. Unfortunately, it is obvious that these efforts of Bulgaria are not met with understanding and are not appreciated by certain factors in Skopje, who continue to use our country to justify the lack of progress before their citizens," the Ministry said further. 

The Foreign Ministry calls "yet again" on the political elite in North Macedonia to show the necessary maturity, to give a constructive contribution to the implementation of the political commitments made within the compromise reached in 2022, and to strictly observe the 2017 Treaty of Friendship, Goodneighbourliness and Cooperation. "That is the only option for making real progress in the process of the country's European integration to the benefit of its citizens," the position reads.