Bulgaria’s Prime Minister: Bulgaria and North Macedonia Must Heal the Rift for Future Generations’ Sake

Meeting with North Macedonia's Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani on Tuesday, Prime Minister Boyko Borissov said: "All differences between Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia should be ironed out. The future generations will not forgive us if we miss this great opportunity." Borissov was adamant that the progress of the Republic of North Macedonia and Albania to EU accession should not be delayed, therefore the differences between Sofia and Skopje should be resolved, the Government Information Service here reported.

Borissov told Osmani: "Both countries should prepare for negotiations led by reason, not emotions, so that our neighbours can join the EU. This is Bulgaria's geostrategic goal, the point is that both we and you should find the political will."

The Bulgarian Prime Minister said both countries should follow the path of diplomacy and understanding. "The heroes who fell
for freedom cannot be the subject that divides us because they cherished the dream that we would be together and sacrificed
their life for this. They should be a bridge of friendship, not of separation," he stressed.

Borissov reaffirmed Bulgaria's principled support for the EU integration of its neighbor to the southwest, provided the
respective conditions are met. He stressed the need of implementing all commitments arising from the Treaty of
Friendship, Good Neighbourliness and Cooperation signed by Bulgaria and Macedonia in 2017.
  
Borissov and Osmani also discussed bilateral relations, the European prospects of the Republic of North Macedonia, and the pandemic's challenges./BTA