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Bulgarian President Rumen Radev confirmed that Northern Macedonia’s European integration is at a standstill, noting that Skopje must meet certain criteria for Sofia to finally lift the blockade.
Radev said after a five-hour meeting of the National Security Consultative Council that the negotiation process between Sofia and Skopje should not be determined by deadlines, but by the implementation of the tasks set out in the Neighborhood Agreement, including the rights of Macedonian Bulgarians. .
“Four years after the signing of the Neighborhood Agreement in 2017, Northern Macedonia has not done what is necessary for its implementation, but neither has it guaranteed the fulfillment of the obligations undertaken,” Radev said.
The meeting took place ahead of the announced arrival of Bulgaria’s new Prime Minister Kiril Petkov in Skopje on January 18th for talks on resolving the dispute between the two countries.
According to Radev, the Bulgarian government has been instructed to respect the Good Neighborliness and Friendship Agreement, Bulgaria’s framework position, as well as the Bulgarian Parliament’s Declaration on Northern Macedonia in the negotiations with Skopje.
He added that the realization of the project is of great importance, which ensures the traffic, digital and energy connection of the two neighboring countries, emphasizing Corridor 8 as special.
According to all participants in the meeting, these projects will help overcome the stalemate in relations between Bulgaria and Northern Macedonia, restore mutual trust and encourage negotiations.
The meeting of the National Security Advisory Council on Bulgaria’s positions on the EU enlargement process with Northern Macedonia, convened by Radev, was attended by Prime Minister Kiril Petkov, representatives of parliamentary groups, the ministers of finance, interior and defense, deputy foreign ministers and foreign ministers. national security agencies and intelligence agencies.
Bulgaria has blocked the start of Northern Macedonia’s negotiations with the EU since December 2020, insisting that official Skopje first meet the terms of the Neighborhood Agreement with Bulgaria, which official Sofia says includes ending hate speech against Bulgaria.
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