SkopjeDiem Macedonia in English
President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova met Friday in Sofia her Bulgarian counterpart, President Rumen Radev.
Before the meeting, Radev said that the expressed desire for dialogue and understanding by President Siljanovska Davkova to become a consistent policy of the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia.
“Dialogue at the highest level between the two countries should be active and stimulate the work of the governments, businesses, as well as bilateral exchange in the fields of education, science and culture. Bulgaria has always been open to dialogue with the Republic of North Macedonia, and I expect this dialogue to contribute to our cultural rapprochement as well as to boost economic cooperation.
We expect North Macedonia to fulfil all its obligations, both to us and to the EU. Decisions on the open issues must be made on the basis of the Good-Neighbourliness Agreement, the signed protocols and the conclusions made by the European Council in 2022. However, the Government of North Macedonia has not yet left the pre-election rhetoric. It is necessary to return to reality. Our relations will depend on the agreements reached”, Radev stated before the meeting.
President Siljanovska Davkova said after the meeting that she is convinced that her talks with President Radev will result with some progress in the dialogue over resolution of bilateral issues and bringing the countries closer together.
“I am not here by coincidence, I came to talk, and of course now I expect President Radev to come to Skopje. We came together around the fact that we will receive the learned Bulgarian lessons on the European path, we won’t repeat the mistakes and that we will look for a compromise and a joint solution without anyone feeling insulted or hurt, and without anyone thinking they were forgotten.
Of course, we discussed all issues, including the inclusion of the Bulgarian minority in our Constitution, but I say discussed because we can’t adopt a solution nor impose it on the others and the nation. But we spoke, and that’s healthy,” President Siljanovska Davkova said.
After the meeting, President Radev did not provide any statements, and he did not attend the performance of the Ensemble of the National Opera of North Macedonia in Sofia on Friday evening, due to the accident in Bulgaria in which two pilots died after their training aircraft crashed. President Siljanovska Davkova extended condolences to Radev.
