NEWS

Rumen Radev in Skopje: The Good-neighborliness Agreement with the Republic of Macedonia Should not be a Single Act, but Should Set the Beginning of an Intense Cooperation and Warm Friendly Relations

Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia are considering signing a strategic partnership agreement in the sphere of security and defense

The good-neighborliness agreement between Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia “swept away” the mistrust, distance and fear in our relations. This agreement should not be a single act, but should set the beginning of an irreversible process of a much more intense cooperation.  This is what Head of State Rumen Radev said at a joint news conference with the President of Macedonia Gjorge Ivanov in Skopje.

Rumen Radev is on an official visit to the Republic of Macedonia at the invitation of his counterpart Gjorge Ivanov. This is the first visit of a Bulgarian Head of State after the Agreement on Friendship, Good-neighborliness and Cooperation between the two countries was signed.

At the meeting between the two Presidents an agreement was reached to sign a strategic partnership agreement as a continuation of the Good-neighborliness agreement which should regulate the two countries’ mutual support in the sphere of security and defense. The President of the Republic of Macedonia will be a guest in Bulgaria on 6 May and a guard of honor of the Macedonian army will take part in the military parade on the occasion of the Army and Bravery Day in Sofia.  After that the two Presidents will visit the military cemetery in Novo Selo in the Republic of Macedonia, where they will pay tribute to the dead Bulgarian soldiers, it transpired from President Radev’s words.

“The Bulgarian Presidency of the Council of the EU provides all countries from the region a historical chance for European and Euro-Atlantic integration. Bulgaria has always been one of the most ardent supporters of the Republic of Macedonia’s European prospects. You can always rely on Bulgaria’s support and expertise in all spheres,” the Bulgarian Head of State said. The President added that the Republic of Macedonia still has some work to do on its way to the European Union.

The bilateral relations have been developing in a positive direction in the past year thanks to the intense political dialogue and there has also been a considerable growth in trade and tourism, it transpired at the meeting. The two presidents voiced hope that this positive trend will soon materialize in a better transport, energy and digital connectivity and will bring about a stronger exchange in economy, trade, culture, education and research.

 In reply to a journalist’s question vis-à-vis the establishment of a multidisciplinary expert commission based on a parity principle involved in historical and education issues, Rumen Radev said that the experts should not limit themselves to looking at the past, but should work to ensure a joint future of the two countries. “We share a common past and the Republic of Macedonia’s European prospects depend on the way we interpret this past,” the President added.

 As for the negotiations between the Republic of Macedonia and Greece on Macedonia’s name, Rumen Radev wished open, honest and intense negotiations between the two sovereign countries. However, the President said that it is important for Bulgaria that there are no geographic qualifiers in the future name of the Republic of Macedonia which could be interpreted as pretensions to the Republic of Bulgaria.

“Our two countries have been naturally predetermined for mutual cooperation. Today we reaffirm our close relations and the constructive progress of our bilateral relations and our mutual commitment to strengthening them. The Agreement also proves that our country has no territorial pretensions and our constitution has no provisions on irredentism. We would like our friendly relations to be an example of good-neighborliness in the whole region of the Balkans,” Macedonian Head of State Gjorge Ivanov said and voiced hope that soon his country will start negotiations on EU membership and will receive an invitation for NATO membership.  

Later the President laid a wreath at the grave of the great revolutionary Gotse Delchev in the St. Spas church in Skopje and the metropolitans from the Bulgarian Orthodox Church Nikolay and Kipriyan held a mutual church service with representatives of the clergy of the Republic of Macedonia.

Within his visit, the Head of State will also hold meetings with the President of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia Talat Xhaferi, with leaders of political parties represented in the Macedonian parliament and with leaders of industrial chambers in the country. During the second day of his visit, Rumen Radev will visit the Bigorski monastery. 

Within President Radev’s official visit, two memorandums for cooperation between Bulgarian and Macedonian business organizations are expected to be signed. During his visit, Rumen Radev is accompanied by representatives of the executive, legislative and local branches of power, by leaders of employment organizations and representatives of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church.