Osmani Claims There Isn’t Annex to Skopje-Sofia Treaty

Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani claims that there isn’t a 12-item annex to the Skopje-Sofia Treaty. Macedonia’s Foreign Ministry says the stand of the institution and Government is remains unchanged, that is, that all possibilities to find a proper, mutual resolution and to restore trust in the efficiency and successfulness of the 2017 deal should be found. Towards the end of the year, the Ministry adds, an Action Plan concerning implementation of the Skopje-Sofia Treaty was submitted. This week, Special Representative for Bulgaria Vlado Buckovski will hold talks in Sofia with authorities there. Macedonia is still waiting for an answer from Bulgaria to the non-paper submitted by Buckovski to Bulgarian PM Boyko Borissov in December of last year.  Officially, Macedonia’s stand is that a solution to the issue lies in implementation of the 2017 deal, without negotiations on the identity and language. According to Krasimir Karakachanov, Bulgarian Defence Minister and Deputy PM, the problems aren’t between his country and Macedonia, but rather between the EU and Macedonia. On Monday, met Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva, the country’s Foreign Ministry told BGNES. During the meeting, ideas were exchanged for continuation of the process to restore the trust between Skopje and Sofia. Bulgaria proposed an action plan for cooperation with Macedonia in implementing the 2017 Treaty.