[ad_1]
SINCE The Republic of Macedonia must not continue with hate speech, it must strictly comply with the commitments made in the Treaty of Friendship with Bulgaria and not forget about good neighborliness, which is an important criterion if it wants to join the EU, said Chancellor Ekaterina Zaharieva . videoconference with the participation of the Foreign Ministers of Germany and the Federal Republic of Macedonia, Heiko Maas and Bujar Osmani.
The three diplomats spoke after the meeting of the countries participating in the Berlin Process, which aims to help the Western Balkan countries to join the EU. For the first time in the history of this process, it is co-chaired by two countries: Bulgaria and Macedonia.
“We will continue to support the efforts of the six Western Balkan countries on their way to the EU, but they must also take responsibility, look to the future and follow the reform process,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva, at a press conference. after an online meeting of foreign ministers of the Berlin Process for the Western Balkans, the FOCUS news agency reported.
He stressed that it was not good for the European Union to introduce external problems and emphasized his conviction that good neighborly relations and strict implementation of bilateral commitments were the way to guarantee regional stability and solve outstanding problems.
“It is not good for the EU to bring problems from abroad. Strict implementation of the commitments is mandatory,” he said.
“Good neighborliness and solidarity are needed now more than ever,
when the world is hit by an unprecedented coronavirus crisis. Sadly, and a security crisis given the horrible terrorist attacks that took place in Vienna, Nice, Paris and other parts of the world. In these difficult times, the EU has reaffirmed its commitment to the region by including the Western Balkans in the European Recovery Plan.
“Very briefly, during the leadership meeting in May, the EU mobilized more than 3.3 billion euros for the six countries to fight the coronavirus and rebuild the region. Bulgaria did the same. In just a few weeks, we readjusted our entire aid program to development, helping our friends in the Western Balkans by sending humanitarian aid, protection material, medical supplies and helping thousands of citizens of neighboring countries to return from abroad to their places of origin ”, recalled the Deputy Prime Minister.
“I am glad that, despite the difficult situation for everyone related to the coronavirus pandemic,
we managed to organize, although not as originally planned, this meeting of foreign ministers during the first joint presidency of the Berlin Process for the Western Balkans. There is a lot of symbolism in this co-presidency, not only because it is the first co-presidency, but because one country is a member of the EU and the other is a candidate country, and for the first time the presidency is assumed by countries in the region. Bulgaria views the Berlin Process as an instrument that contributes to preserving the dynamics of European integration of the Western Balkan countries and their approach to European values, “he added.
“We must adhere to the framework and instruments of the Treaty with the Republic of Bulgaria.
We believe that the negotiation process is not just bureaucracy. Our goal is to continue to respect the Treaty and its instruments, “said Macedonian Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani.
“That historians clarify the historical process, but also respect the right to self-determination. Only then will we take the necessary steps to solve the problems, “he added.
Osmani thanked Germany for the initiative and responsibility in the efforts to hold the intergovernmental conference, in which a decision must be made on whether the Socialist Republic of Macedonia will start negotiations for the EU.
“Bulgaria must remain committed to the European integration agenda in the Western Balkans. I believe that we have a common future and that we will find a way to resolve the differences,” said the Macedonian Foreign Minister.
Bulgaria and the Socialist Republic of Macedonia must resolve their differences or the enlargement process will not be able to move forward.
This was stated by the German Foreign Minister, Heiko Maas.
“If a member state has problems with a candidate country like North Macedonia or Albania, it should proceed to soften these relations,” said Germany’s foreign policy chief.
“We are talking with Bulgaria about the existing problem. Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia must resolve the existing contradictions. Otherwise, the accession and enlargement process will not be able to move forward,” Heiko Maas said.
Osmani and Zaharieva spoke after Bulgaria notified the European Commission on Friday,
that it cannot support the negotiating framework for the Republic of North Macedonia, as it does not guarantee the protection of Bulgarian interests.
At the center of Bulgaria’s position on the Skopje talks on accession to the EU is the application for the implementation of the Treaty and the framework position of the parliament from 2019, which sets the conditions for Skopje to suspend applications for recognition. of the so-called “Macedonian minority” in our country, to use the phrase “official language of the Republic of North Macedonia”, which cannot be considered as an acknowledgment by the Bulgarian side of the existence of the so-called. “Macedonian language”, to accept that “North Macedonia” refers to the state and not the geographical region of which it is a part in Bulgaria.
Sofia and Skopje will seek a common solution
Karakachanov: Won’t give up, Skopje underestimated the situation
Scandal with Macedonia, Zaev blamed Bulgaria
Borissov talks to Merkel for 40 minutes about North Macedonia, Radev talks to German President
“> Borissov talks to Merkel for 40 minutes about North Macedonia, Radev talks to Germany …
Radev: clear guarantees for North Macedonia membership
Zaharieva: Permanent and systematic breach of the agreement by North Macedonia
Zaharieva told Reuters: if RS Macedonia recognizes Bulgarian roots, there will be no veto
Skopje: Macedonian language and identity confirmed, not to make political statements
