NEWS

 

 

Along with all the efforts to improve connectivity and economic cooperation, let us not forget the key issues that need to be resolved in order to start the negotiations on the EU accession of the Republic of North Macedonia (RNM), the Head of State said

 

I hope that RNM's state leadership will show wisdom and political courage to resolve the main issues that will effectively unlock the door for launching EU accession talks. This is what President Rumen Radev told the media, highlighting the issues around the rights of the Macedonian Bulgarians as key for building meaningful bilateral relations and opening the door for accession talks.

 

In the Head of State's opinion, there are positive signs in the wake of the prime minister's visit to Bulgaria's southwestern neighbour and every step that leads to an intensification of our relations should be supported. 'Along with all the efforts to improve connectivity, investments, economy and cooperation, let us not forget the main issues that need to be resolved,' the President stressed and recalled what they are: the inclusion of the Macedonian Bulgarians in the Constitution of the RNM, on an equal footing with other parts of peoples, notably, the protection of their rights and enabling their full integration in that country's cultural and political life, the end of hate speech and any encroachments on Bulgarian history and culture. 'As a responsible member of the EU, we should integrate not problems, but partners, Rumen Radev stressed.

 

Responding to a question, the Head of State described as absolutely groundless the allegations that since Bulgaria wants equal rights for the Macedonian Bulgarians, guaranteed in the Constitution, the RNM in turn could reciprocally demand a Macedonian minority in Bulgaria. 'Let us not forget that our constitutional frameworks are radically different - the Bulgarian Constitution provides for the protection of individual rights, while the Macedonian Constitution is based on the protection of collective rights of parts of peoples, so there is no way this could ever happen,' the President explained.

 

Asked to comment on possible amendments to the Bulgarian basic law, the Head of State pointed out that before the Constitution can be opened up for amendments, there needs to be a consensus, a debate, and public maturation about the need for the changes, as well as a parliamentary majority. According to Radev, the individual and his rights, the guarantees for an effective and accountable prosecutor's office, as well as other changes that need to be debated should be at the core of the Constitution, and the time for this is ripe. In the Head of State's view, the resignation of the Prosecutor General, requested by the parliamentary majority in a declaration, is an expression of the necessary political will to initiate legal and constitutional change.

 

In his speech, the president pointed out that Bulgaria highly values its relations with Iraq, which is an important partner in the Middle East region

Taking advantage of their geostrategic position, Bulgaria and Georgia have the potential to deepen their connectivity in various areas such as transport, energy, and the digital sector, which will contribute to promoting the economy, investment, and prosperity in the Black Sea region. This was stated by President Rumen Radev, who held a meeting with the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia, Shalva Papuashvili.

The two were unanimous that restoring peace in Europe through diplomacy is a priority for the EU and the only way to ensure the long-term security and stability of the Old Continent.

The President recalls that the institution of the Special Commercial Administrator (SCA) was introduced by an Act adopted in 2023, which also established a number of safeguards against potential abuse and arbitrariness — safeguards of the kind already adopted in other European states faced with similar circumstances, with the objective of minimising the risk of subsequent financial claims against the State