Macedonia Ratifies Good Neighbourly Relations Agreement with Bulgaria

The Macedonian Parliament adopted the draft law on the ratification for the Friendship, Good Neighbourly Relations and Cooperation Agreement with Bulgaria, Macedonian MIA Agency said on 15th of January. 61 MPs voted in favour, and one abstained. The Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the decision of the Macedonian Parliament, the press office of the Foreign Ministry announced.

In Facebook, the Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva said that the ratification confirms the will to foster good-neighbourly relations which are an important element of the European perspective of all countries in the Western Balkans.

Bulgaria will continue its active support for Macedonia's European integration. This is a strategic choice of Bulgaria also upheld in the priorities of its EU Presidency, the statement reads. The Treaty of Friendship, Goodneighbourliness and Cooperation between Bulgaria and Macedonia is underpinned by shared European values which make the region more unified and stronger.

The Friendship and Good Neighbourly Relations Agreement between the Republic of Macedonia and Bulgaria was signed by the two countries’ prime ministers Zoran Zaev and Boyko Borissov on 1 August 2017.