Foreign Minister responds to North Macedonia's President on "scandalous request from Bulgaria"

Bulgaria’s caretaker Foreign Minister Nikolay Milkov said on April 6 that Bulgaria would not accept any formulation that would grant the Macedonian Bulgarians a different status from that of the other constitutionally recognised parts of the peoples in the Republic of North Macedonia.

Milkov was responding to the President of the Republic of North Macedonia, who in a statement earlier today said that Bulgaria's demand to take part in the process of constitutional changes in North Macedonia was scandalous.

Pendarovski: Bulgaria's request to participate in the changes of North Macedonia's Constitution is scandalous

"This is not about Bulgaria's interference in the internal processes of our neighbouring country. We were, after all, the first to recognise it as an independent state. It is about creating an atmosphere of trust through a constructive communication, if such is deemed possible. But in our opinion, this is long overdue and very much needed - so that we can move towards some meaningful good neighbourly relations. The Macedonian Bulgarians should finally be given equal rights in every respect, both within the constitution and later, after the constitutional changes, within the laws."