The Relations Between Bulgaria and Macedonia Should Develop on the Basis of European Values and Standards for Good-neighborly Relations and Cooperation
2014-05-17 13:04:00
“I readily accept the proposal made by You whereby the Declaration of the Prime Ministers of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia of 1999 should be transformed into an Agreement on good-neighborly relations and cooperation. I am convinced that by strictly observing the clauses of this agreement, our two countries will show political will to together be part of the big European family, sharing the democratic values.” This is what President Rosen Plevneliev said in a letter to his counterpart, the President of Macedonia George Ivanov.
The Head of State supports the position of his Macedonian counterpart that “the relations between our two brotherly countries should develop on the basis of European values and standards for good-neighborly relations and cooperation.”
In his letter Rosen Plevneliev expresses his anticipation that a meeting for specifying the technical parameters of the Agreement on good-neighborly relations and cooperation will be held in the shortest possible time after the new government of the Republic of Macedonia is formed. Also, in pursuance of the respective domestic political procedures, the signing of the agreement will be organized in Sofia. “I am convinced that this act will be an additional stimulus for encouraging the cooperation between our two countries in all spheres,” the Head of State said in his letter.
President Plevneliev shares the opinion that the regional cooperation which serves the common interest in ensuring the connection of the road, railway and energy networks in Southeast Europe should be further developed and strengthened. According to the Head of State, only if all parties concerned pool efforts, a real economic progress in our region could be achieved.
“Your proposal to jointly pay homage to the tomb of St. Constantine Cyril the Philosopher on 24 May 2014 in Rome is in line with our willingness to celebrate our common history together by commemorating historical figures and events that are common for the two countries,” Rosen Plevneliev’s letter further stated. However, the President says that the two delegations will visit Rome at different times this year.
The Bulgarian Head of State recalled that the Bulgarian ambassador to Italy will pay homage to St. Cyril’s tomb together with the Republic of Macedonia’s delegation and therefore he expects the Macedonian ambassador, for his part, to join the Bulgarian delegation. “I truly hope that this practice will become a trend which should be accompanied by a joint audience with his Holiness the Pope as early as next year. We also expect that a joint commemoration of the Ilinden-Preobrazhene uprising in the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia respectively, which should start as early as the current year, would also be a positive step towards creating an atmosphere of trust and cooperation,” President Rosen Plevneliev further said.
In his letter the Head of State confirms the support that the Republic of Bulgaria provides and is ready to offer to the Republic of Macedonia on its path to EU and NATO integration. The Head of State wishes his counterpart President Ivanov and all citizens of the Republic of Macedonia personal happiness, prosperity and well-being.
