Today's statement from the Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia unfortunately again openly questions the European perspective of his country. This is what the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, BGNES reports.
"It should be clear to the government in Skopje that attempts to launch ideas for renegotiation of international commitments already made can only lead to a new move away from the start of EU membership negotiations," the foreign ministry said, adding:
"This position of ours will not change regardless of whether a caretaker or a regular government is in power. We remind that as a result of unnecessary provocations and confrontation with neighboring countries, North Macedonia has already lost too much time in the process of opening accession negotiations", the Foreign Ministry is adamant.
"The caretaker government of the Republic of Bulgaria is a legitimate government that has all the prerogatives to govern the country. It remains open to dialogue with North Macedonia, while stressing that, whether conducted with the caretaker or the regular Bulgarian government, the dialogue does not include renegotiation of commitments already made by Skopje," the foreign ministry said.
The Foreign Ministry reiterates that the European Consensus of the summer of 2022 between the 27 EU member states and North Macedonia fully outlines all the steps to achieve real progress in the latter's European integration process.
"Bulgaria's position is clearly spelled out in the National Assembly Decision of 24 June 2022, supported by all political forces. It is an expression of the will of the Bulgarian citizens to support North Macedonia in the process of fulfilling the EU membership criteria, provided that the neighboring country adheres to the highest standards in the field of human rights and fulfils in good faith the international commitments undertaken. This nationwide position will not be changed," the Foreign Ministry said. | BGNES
