Zaharieva: North Macedonia is not ready for negotiations with the EU – Bulgaria

© Velko Angelov

If Bulgaria turns a blind eye to the fact that North Macedonia continues to follow the ideology started by Stalin and Tito, it would be beneficial to Moscow. Thus, Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva commented to the BTV version that by stopping North Macedonia’s accession process to the EU, Bulgaria is working at the service of Russia.

An EU General Affairs Council will be held on 17 November to decide on the possible start of negotiations. Zaharieva said that Bulgaria would not say yes.

“Their ideology continues to develop as planned by Tito and Stalin. Closing our eyes, we are doing Moscow’s work,” said the Bulgarian foreign minister, citing the fact that in Skopje the mayor, a member of the ruling party, organized an anniversary celebration. of the communist dictator of the former Yugoslavia, Josip Broz Tito, and the people who advocate rapprochement with Bulgaria declare themselves national traitors.

“We do not believe that at this time they are ready to fulfill the conditions to start negotiations,” said Zaharieva, recalling Bulgaria’s position: Skopje does not fully implement the neighborhood agreement signed in 2017, all state policy is based on hatred of Bulgaria. and its people, and the activity of the historical commission was terminated unilaterally. “No one disputes your right to self-determination and call your language whatever you want, but we do not agree that the right to self-determination should be based on hatred, the theft of history and denial of Bulgaria and the Bulgarian language,” he added .

There is no way to say “yes” at this stage, stressed the minister. He added that Bulgaria has an open hand for North Macedonia. Bulgaria is a member of the EU and hardly any other EU member will make such an effort to help Skopje get to the EU, the foreign minister said. “We are not enemies, we want to help, but not at the expense of Bulgaria,” he said, but also stressed that “there is no way that two countries that have pending issues to resolve will sit at this round table.” .