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Bulgaria has not violated the 2017 Neighborhood Agreement, and it is the defense that complies with it. With this argument, Defense Minister Krassimir Karakachanov explained Sofia’s refusal to accept the negotiating framework for North Macedonia’s future accession to the EU. Bulgaria’s position was presented to the European Commission on Friday. The reaction of the Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev was that our country violates art. 2 of the Treaty, which undertakes to support Macedonia “to meet the necessary membership criteria“.
This time we were underrated
According to Karakachanov, Bulgaria complies with a position expressed and supported by the parliament in 2017. In this regard, there is no way for the government to do something different than what the deputies have already decided.
“Unfortunately, colleagues in Skopje underestimated the situation. They trusted someone else to do their job and that Bulgaria, as always, had made concessions in the name of good relations, in the name of having a fraternal feeling, we considered ourselves a people in two countries. This time, however, there is nowhere to compromise and there is no need to compromise.“said Karakachanov.
He added that Zaev’s reproaches told him that the Macedonian prime minister and ministers had not read what they had signed.
“Art. 2 of the Treaty states very clearly and categorically that Bulgaria will support the Republic of Macedonia to achieve the accession criteria. We are trying to support them to meet the criteria, one of which is to solve bilateral problems with neighbors, but it is clear that they are not willing“said Karakachanov.
Big mistake
“I think there is a danger that both parties will make a big mistake. First of all, part of Bulgaria’s national interest is for North Macedonia to be a member of NATO and the European Union. Bulgaria must cooperate closely with this neighbor“.
This was stated to BNR by former US Ambassador to Bulgaria James Pardew. He added that it is tempting for our country to take advantage of its position as a member of the EU, but he is not sure if this will not generate hostility. According to him, the position of Bulgaria does not work for the long-term interests of our country. Pardew called Zaev a “very progressive man” and recalled that the Macedonian prime minister had reached an agreement on the name of his country with Greece.
“After all, we speak English too, but we have no desire to impose ourselves on England. Each country can call its language as it pleases. It depends on her. Historical disputes are never definitively resolved. Scientists have been arguing for centuries. Let them do their job now. There is a way to end this: the two parties have a lot in common“Pardew said.
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