[ad_1]
Bulgaria has officially notified the European Commission that it cannot accept the proposed negotiating framework for the Republic of North Macedonia and the draft declaration, the Foreign Ministry announced on Friday. The reason: there are no guarantees necessary for the fulfillment of the conditions established by Bulgaria.
The negotiation framework includes the option of setting the conditions of our country in a declaration of the Council of the European Union, and it is not a legally binding instrument, said the ministry.
The request of our country to the European institutions is that our conditions are reflected directly in the negotiation framework. Bulgaria insists that the Republic of North Macedonia fulfill its commitments under the Good Neighbor and Friendship Treaty, does not recognize the Macedonian language and opposes its registration as an official language of the European Union.
Earlier, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva said that our country would recognize Macedonia’s present if Skopje recognized the truth about the country’s past.
“At the same time, Bulgaria thanks the German Presidency of the Council of the EU and Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Warhey for the constructive approach and daily joint work in search of a solution that is still possible to reach despite the short deadlines.” indicated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In response, Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev noted that it should not be dramatized, even though the message from the Bulgarian side is not positive.
“Not very friendly message”
“Today, a very friendly message was sent from neighboring Bulgaria, the first step was blocked. According to Article 2 of the Neighborhood Agreement, Bulgaria must support us on the path of integration (into the EU) – said Zaev. Point 2 of the Treaty reads: “The Bulgarian side will share its experience in order to help the Republic of Macedonia meet the necessary criteria for membership of the European Union and will support the Republic of Macedonia to receive an invitation to join NATO from in accordance with the relevant decisions of the meetings of “I am happy to have the support of Germany”Zaev pointed out.
He is optimistic that during the next two meetings of the working groups of the two countries, the positions may converge and expects a positive outcome from the meeting with Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov on Monday.
Skopje does not want to sign a new contract or annex
Zaev reiterated that no new bilateral agreement with Bulgaria will be concluded, nor an annex to the current one.
The Bulgarian side insisted on new documents for the 2017 Neighborhood Agreement, but Skopje refused.
“We have a contract and we must use all those important and promising moments that exist in it. This is the model, that we have a part of history that is common and a part of it is separate. We must use the model of common history already through it to find ways of what we want to establish. If we are smart, what we signed in 2017 could be a great opportunity to find a solution. Historical problems need to be solved by the committee and we see that it works. “ Zaev said.
“I am convinced that the Bulgarian people think well of the Macedonian people. I believe that the Bulgarian government and President Rumen Radev at the end of the day will want to help the integration of North Macedonia into the EU and that will work. We remain true to friendship and the whole process, because only friendship brings progress, prospects and benefits both for the citizens of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia and for the citizens of Bulgaria. And I believe that in this spirit the talks will continue. I believe that with the help of the presidency German in December we will be able to hold and the first intergovernmental conference “, he pointed.
Skopje has adopted tactics to avoid concessions to Bulgaria, while the Bulgarian requirements are not reflected in the draft negotiating framework.
Therefore, despite the efforts of the rotating German presidency, there is no progress in the situation and Bulgaria will block Skopje’s path to the EU. The issue will be discussed at European level in the middle of the month.
Did you find this article helpful?
We would be delighted that you support the electronic edition Mediapool.bg, so that you can continue to have an independent, professional and honest means of analysis of information.
Support us
Subscribe to the most important news, analysis and commentary on the day’s events. The newsletter is sent to your email address every day at 18:00.
Subscription
[ad_2]
