Bulgaria is ready to help the European integration of North Macedonia where there is a lack of knowledge and political will, President Radev tells the media in Athens
Bulgaria and Greece must intensify their work on strategic projects in the field of energy and transport connectivity. This was stated by Head of State Rumen Radev to journalists today in Athens after a meeting with the Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The Bulgarian president is visiting Greece, where earlier today he participated in the opening of the 28th annual round table of The Economist.
President Radev highlighted the excellent relations at the highest political level between Bulgaria and Greece, which were built in recent years and contributed to the launching of a number of important economic projects. The problem is that we still cannot get the most out of these excellent political relations, the head of state stressed. He recalled the agreements signed in February 2023 in Athens, between ministers from the caretaker government of Galab Donev and their Greek counterparts, which concern the guarantee of gas supplies, the storage of natural gas and the study of the possibility of building an oil pipeline from Alexandroupolis to Burgas. The head of state also pointed to other key projects for the two countries - the multimodal corridor "Sea2Sea", as well as the development and management of the ports in Kavala and Alexandroupolis. When asked whether the liquefied gas terminal near Alexandroupolis, in which this country has a 20% shareholding, will soon be operational, Rumen Radev indicated that there are still technical problems, but the forecasts are that the terminal will be operational by October at the latest.
The processes taking place in the Republic of North Macedonia (RNM) are rapidly moving the country away from its European integration and worry both Bulgaria and Greece, commented the president. Asked about the statements of the Prime Minister of the RNM on the renegotiation of the bilateral Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighbourliness and Cooperation, Rumen Radev expressed disappointment that the state leadership of the RNM clearly demonstrated a lack of knowledge in key areas and a lack of political will to achieve progress in European integration.
According to the Bulgarian president, knowledge of international law is necessary, because when an international treaty is signed, it must be implemented by all subsequent governments, and not revised. Rumen Radev pointed out that there is also a lack of knowledge of constitutional law, because the models of the basic laws of the two countries are very different - that of the RNM protects collective rights, while the Bulgarian one defends individual rights. He apparently has no knowledge of European legislation, the president also commented and pointed out that when there are conclusions of the European Council, adopted by consensus, they are not subject to bargaining, but must be implemented.
President Radev called for the reporting of the statistical indicators in our southwestern neighbour and added that at least 120,000 citizens of the RNM have received Bulgarian citizenship on the basis of proven origin with documents. The head of state emphasised the need for certain knowledge in the field of human rights and their observance. In Bulgaria we do not beat people who express a different identity. We don't shoot at their clubs, we don't set them on fire, we don't keep them away from any positions in the administration, Rumen Radev pointed out and added that the state leadership of the RNM has a lot to learn. We are ready to help where there is a lack of knowledge and, accordingly, of political will, President Radev also stated and reiterated this country's support for the European path of the RNM.
Radev also met with Greek President Sakellaropoulou earlier today. In Greece, Rumen Radev is accompanied by his wife Desislava Radeva.