Bulgarian Veto Not to Affect Skopje-Sofia Negotiations, Says Osmani

Macedonia’s Foreign Minister, Bujar Osmani, said on Tuesday that the Bulgarian veto would not affect the negotiations process between Skopje and Sofia, as well as efforts to find a solution. As he added when it comes to the non-paper, Sofia’s answer is that it is still considering it. Potential new meetings are possible after New Year’s, as is a new visit of Special Representative for Bulgaria Vlado Buckovski to Sofia. Until then, Osmani pointed out, Skopje will be building a strategy in terms of the type of approach with which it will continue the negotiations. Asked to comment on Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva’s stand that not all 26 other countries are in favour of EU membership of Skopje, Osmani said the support from the 26 countries was absolutely clear.