Bulgaria’s Resigned Foreign Minister Hints at Parallel Foreign Policy on North Macedonia

The hearing of the resigned Foreign Minister Teodora Gencovska in parliament on the process of North Macedonia's accession to the EU and the decision-making to approve a negotiating framework has escalated into a scandal. For more than three hours, the deputies have been debating whether the procedure should be only in open session or in a closed one. From Genchovska's brief presentation, apart from the documents with qualified information, it became clear that a parallel foreign policy has been pursued in our country regarding the topic of the veto for the EU membership of North Macedonia.

After the deputies initially decided to hold Genchovska's hearing in closed session, half an hour later it became clear that the procedure would be in open session. It was announced by the chairman of the General Assembly of "We Continue the Change" Andrey Gyurov:

"The proposal was for this hearing to be held behind closed doors. It was not supported by the House. Let all citizens and people who are interested in the subject of North Macedonia hear what the Foreign Ministry has to say."

From Genchovska's speech it became clear that a parallel foreign policy has been pursued in our country on the subject of the veto for the EU membership of North Macedonia:

"Since I took over the post of Minister of Foreign Affairs, during my first meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the RNM, my first sentence was to him: Mr. Minister (Kovachevski), communicate only with me! Unfortunately, this did not happen. The prime minister (Petkov)'s foreign policy adviser sent a draft update of the framework position. However, its content rather suggests a revision of the Bulgarian national position. This new framework project position...