05.07.2019
“The states from the Western Balkans must make every effort for the development of the good relations with their neighbors from the European Union. Certainly, a good example of this is the signing of the Treaty on friendship, good neighborliness and cooperation between Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia, which made setting the pace for the negotiations with the Republic of North Macedonia possible.” This was stated by Prime Minister Boyko Borissov during a meeting with his colleague from the Republic of North Macedonia Zoran Zaev in Poznan in the framework of the “Berlin Process” initiative Summit meeting. The two Prime Ministers discussed the achievements and challenges of the bilateral relations between Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia.
During the conversation Boyko Borissov and Zoran Zaev noted, that the signing of the Treaty on friendship, good neighborliness and cooperation gave a positive impetus to the partnership between the two states. “We gave perspective to the citizens of the Republic of North Macedonia and we created the right conditions for the signing of the Prespa Agreement,” pointed out the Bulgarian Prime Minister. “Signing this treaty is our biggest success. Without your leadership this would not have been possible,” said the Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia Zoran Zaev and invited the Prime Minister of Bulgaria to celebrate together the second anniversary of the signing of the Treaty on friendship, good neighborliness and cooperation between the two states on 1 August and to bow together before the monument of Goce Delchev.“ Accept again my feelings of friendship and gratitude to you and to Bulgaria,” also said the Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia Zoran Zaev during the conversation.
In turn, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov pointed out that throughout the whole time from 1992 until today, the Bulgarian state insisted only on the objective presentation of the historical facts. “We are happy that gradually, but hopefully invariably, the truth about our shared history, including for Gotse Delchev, is being publicly recognized by high-level politicians in the Republic of North Macedonia, such as the state’s President – Stevo Pendarovski,” the Bulgarian Prime Minister said.
Prime Minister Boyko Borissov noted that during the Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the SEECP Participating States in Sarajevo next week, there will be talks with the president of the Republic of North Macedonia Stevo Pendarovski.
On the level of prime ministers and foreign ministers we trust each other, but now we have to work in order to gain such trust among our administrations and the commissions, so to have a real impact. A new dynamic is needed in the work of the Commission, which will lead to rapid and categorical results by the end of 2019 on topics such as the Ilinden-Preobrazhenie Uprising, Gotse Delchev, etc.” emphasized Prime Minister Boyko Borissov.
The Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia has assured Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, that the commitments made publicly to Bulgaria, including the permission for the restoration of the monument of colonel Konstantin Kavarnaliev near Doyran, are underway, and there is already such a permission to restore the monument.
Expectations are that in October Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia will commemorate together on the highest level the 1005th anniversary of the death of king Samuil. During the conversation both Prime Ministers expressed the view that this would be a proof of the effective implementation of the commitments made by both governments through the Protocol of 10 June, signed during the first meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission.
