site.btaNorth Macedonia’s Foreign Ministry Concerned about "Protocol Breach" in Presidential Talks with Bulgaria, Deplores "Unpleasant Remarks"

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Skopje summoned Bulgarian Ambassador to North Macedonia Zhelyazko Radukov on Monday to address concerns about alleged deviations from the agreed protocol for photographing Presidents Gordana Siljanovska and Rumen Radev during their meeting in Sofia last Friday. The Ministry requested further clarification from the Bulgarian side.

The Ministry said during the meeting with Radukov that the two presidents met and had lunch in a friendly atmosphere. However, Radukov was informed that the Ministry was "unpleasantly surprised by the recent remarks of former ambassador to North Macedonia Angel Dimitrov, head of the Bulgarian side of the Joint Multidisciplinary Commission of Experts on Historical and Educational Issues," who spoke on Nova TV.

In the televised interview, Dimitrov said, quoted by Bulgarian media: "It sounds extremely unserious when politicians with not much political experience (…), I am talking about Hristijan Mickoski and his team, imagine they can impose their own rules not only on their neighbours in discussions but also on the European Union (…) They have long followed this type of policy, which ignores bilateral dialogue with Bulgaria and tries to achieve their goals in a roundabout way, imagining that someone will impose their will on Bulgaria."

After the conversation with the Bulgarian ambassador, the North Macedonia Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said: "(Dimitrov's) statement essentially violates the principle that the Chair of the expert commission should not make political statements about the government of the neighbouring state, which is legitimately elected. We find this statement inappropriate."

The Ministry said North Macedonia is dedicated to improving and strengthening relations and cooperation in all areas of mutual interest for both nations, with confirmations by the other side that it is also ready for this.

Speaking to journalists after leaving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ambassador Radukov said that during the meeting at the presidency in Sofia, "the Bulgarian side followed the protocol precisely," echoing President Radev's earlier position that it is time to focus on the substance of this very positive visit, rather than on the formalities.