PM Zaev says He Will Once Again Visit Sofia for Talks

Despite the latest developments, PM Zoran Zaev said on Wednesday North Macedonia would continue to seek a solution, adding that he would once again visit Sofia for talks. “The negotiations with the EU mustn’t turn into negotiations with Bulgaria. Progress should depend on reforms and implementation of European standards. That’s exactly why we think that bilateral issues mustn’t be brought into the framework. That’s a dangerous precedent and that’s a stand that all remaining EU Member States share,” he noted. The PM’s stand is that the identity and language will not be discussed. He revealed what had been offered during the visit to Sofia the previous week, that is, that there are no territorial aspirations, that there is no interference in internal matters, and that the two countries have a similar language though both are recognised as different, and joint history. Albania expressed solidarity. It, too, believes bilateral disputes shouldn’t be a problem on the path to start negotiations. “We are not the ones that failed, they failed. They have their own reasons and I understand that, it is their home, while we want to enter that house,” the Albanian PM said in Skopje.