The visit of North Macedonia’s President to Bulgaria was informal, the protocol does not require the placement of the flag in the room at the meeting with Radev

The visit of the President of the Republic of North Macedonia to Bulgaria was on the occasion of a cultural event - it was neither a state visit nor a working one. For this reason, the Macedonian flag was not placed in the “Coat of Arms Hall” of the Presidency, as such visits do not require strict observance of state protocol.

Behind closed doors: A meeting between President Rumen Radev and North Macedonia's President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova

This was explained in the BNT’s "The Day Begins" programme by former caretaker minister and current adviser to President Radev - Dimitar Stoyanov on September 16. He pointed out that the meeting between Rumen Radev and Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova had passed very constructively and in a good tone. Future state visits to the Republic of North Macedonia and Bulgaria were agreed - Stoyanov described this as a step forward in the dialogue between the two countries.

Asked whether the visit of north Macedonia’s President was a provocation, Dimitar Stoyanov replied:

"I would not like to talk about provocation in this case, while we are looking for a step forward in the development of the relations between the two countries. Getting flags involved in this situation is not correct. Am I to understand that if a state representative from a neighbouring country comes to drink coffee in Bulgaria, we should put the flags of the country in the restaurant? Unnecessary exacerbation of the situation," he said.