After the meeting Petkov - Kovachevski: Skopje said it has no territorial claims on Bulgaria

after meeting petkov kovachevski skopje said has territorial claims bulgaria

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14:18, 18.01.2022

Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia have agreed to use the country's short name - North Macedonia. This became possible after Skopje sent a note to the UN stating that the name refers to political unification, but not to the geographical region, part of which is part of Bulgaria's territory. This became clear after the meeting of the prime ministers of the two countries Kiril Petkov and Dimitar Kovachevski in Skopje on January 18.

Kovachevski thus pointed out that his country has no territorial claims to Bulgaria.

Good neighbourliness from now on will be measured in real steps, said Kiril Petkov.

I can clearly say that the Sofia-Skopje air link will be a reality and within 30 days we will have the exact specifics, explained the Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov.

Within 60 days, the Skopje-Sofia direct flight, which was closed after 2 years of unsuccessful operation in 2007-2009 due to lack of passengers, will be a fact, the two prime ministers announced.

The working groups have been agreed: on business, education, infrastructure connectivity and European integration issues.

The next meeting will be on January 25, and every week the working groups will meet with clear goals, with clear results, and not just political statements, Kiril Petkov added.

The two prime ministers reiterated their understanding that the joint commission on historical issues would work better in a new context when the other working groups announced specific results of their work to the public on a weekly basis. They demonstrated friendly relations by embracing each other at the beginning of the welcoming ceremony.

Bulgaria’s PM Kiril Petkov clearly answered that identity and language in the Republic of North Macedonia are issues resolved with the Treaty of Friendship and Good Neighbourliness in 2017. Neither he nor PM Kovachevski answered clearly whether there will be changes in the members of the Commission on Historical Issues

The focus on the joint work and the exact calendar are the main focus of the meeting and from now on the relations will be measured in this way, the Bulgarian Prime Minister explained.

I can assure you that I am very optimistic about our joint action and you will see results on a weekly basis, Petkov added.

According to him, the weekly meetings of all commissions will provide an opportunity to work and the two sides to be in constant communication.

In the good neighbourly relations treaty, we have a very clear definition of language. Bulgaria respects and we are really very proud that we were the first country to recognize North Macedonia and we have full respect for the self-identfication of your citizens, said Petkov.

What we achieved in this first meeting shows the different definitions that we have decided neighbourliness to have from now on, added the Prime Minister.

The focus from now on is why it is so important for the two countries to have good neighbourly relations, and not to focus on the problems, Petkov said.

Creating conditions for rapid progress in European integration is one of the most important priorities of the new RNM prime minister, Kovachevski said.

Bulgaria was the first to recognize us 30 years ago, in extremely difficult political conditions. 30 years later, we are opening a new stage in our relations, the Prime Minister of RNM said .

The two prime ministers also outlined the main priorities for the two countries with a horizon of the period 2022-2029.

Working groups will be formed on specific projects related to trade, transport, infrastructure and transport links. They will work together and I expect the initiatives to be implemented soon, Kovachevski added.

"This is the first big step," Kovachevski added.

He thanked Prime Minister Kiril Petkov and the Bulgarian delegation for being the first official guests since the election of the new RNM government.

The visit was described as an attempt to restore dialogue between the two countries, after Bulgaria refused to support Skopje's EU negotiating framework for two years due to systematic non-compliance with the 2017 Good Neighbourly Relations and Friendship Treaty.