At a press-conference on Wednesday, PM Zoran Zaev said he was disappointed by Bulgaria’s veto, adding that the country’s conduct wasn’t in line in with European values. According to him, Sofia’s stand is offensive to the whole Macedonian people. As Zaev added, Bulgaria’s actions represent a violation of the 2017 deal. Telling someone how to feel and express in the 21st century, the PM also said, was neither democratic nor European. “It’s not European to be imposing an identity on another people. These conditions aren’t acceptable to North Macedonia and the Macedonian people. Therefore, we have stood firmly in defence of the Macedonian national interests,” Zaev explained.