It is time we stepped away from informal diplomacy in front of cameras and focused on pragmatic decisions with the Republic of North Macedonia, stated Mr. Rumen Radev before the European Council Meeting
„At the last European Council in May Bulgaria was isolated, pointed at and blamed for blocking negotiations with the Republic of North Macedonia and Albania. The Caretaker Government put great effort into catching up on the years in which our partners never managed to hear a meaningful reasoned Bulgarian high-level position,” stated President Rumen Radev in Brussels prior to the European Council Meeting. The President pointed out that, despite the significant pressure on behalf of European partners to commence negotiations for the accession of the Republic of North Macedonia at this European Council, this item dropped out of the agenda at the last minute.
The Head of State also noted that he carried out numerous meetings in person and discussions with both representatives of the European institutions – the European Parliament, the European Commission and the European Council – and with Presidents, Prime Ministers and Ministers of Foreign Affairs of several countries. “I believe they have realised that the criticism towards Bulgaria is unbased, that we have a clear position for finding a way out of this issue and that we insist on reliable guarantees, and on sustainable and irreversible results in bilateral relations,” said Mr. Rumen Radev. The President called for stepping away from informal diplomacy in front of cameras and focusing on pragmatic decisions in the dialogue between Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia.
The Head of State declared that over the past month and a half, Bulgaria has proven that, despite international pressure, it is a responsible member of the European Union and will not allow for the introduction of new problems within it. “Let us not be naïve, we managed not only to postpone this item on the European Council agenda, but also to reject the pressure of committing to a calendar schedule and deadlines for commencing accession talks for the Republic of North Macedonia,” stated Mr. Rumen Radev. The President emphasised that pressure in this regard will continue but Bulgaria has already proven it is open for constructive discussions and that it can initiate dialogues even at the highest level.
“We will not allow for our arm to be twisted with lobbying, media and political pressure,” Mr. Rumen Radev declared and pointed out our country’s position, insisting on the EU enlargement policy to be based on abiding by the Copenhagen Criteria. “We cannot simply neglect the discrimination against citizens in our neighbouring country due to their self-identification as Bulgarians, which is contrary to European values and principles, and we cannot say ‘yes’ until we see resilient mechanisms for eradicating the distorted narrative and the deliberate attitude towards Bulgaria from schoolbooks, museums and monuments to media and state policy,” the President said.
Furthermore, Mr. Rumen Radev emphasised that Bulgaria cannot support the commencement of EU accession talks for the Republic of North Macedonia “until we are certain that our neighbour will not build its identity on stealing from Bulgarian history.” “Let it be clear that people in the Republic of North Macedonia are our brothers and we are obliged to help them as we always have. Bulgaria remains open for quick results and bilateral negotiations in the interest of citizens on both sides. It is time for all to realise that accelerating the European integration of our closest country depends only on engaging in - and the results of - a dialogue with Bulgaria,” President Rumen Radev added.