Sofia, January 25 (BTA) - Emerging from a joint meeting between the governments of Bulgaria and of North Macedonia in Sofia on Tuesday, Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov said that "the good neighborliness will be put on a pedestal" around which the two countries will work. Petkov said that "the huge synergy and the huge advantage that we have if there is good neighborliness are visible".

In Petkov's words, the memoranda signed between the two governments in Sofia in the area of agriculture, small and medium-sized enterprises, and transport will yield the first tangible results from the renewal of the dialogue between Sofia and Skopje. The PM noted that a joint secretariat will be set up between the newly formed working groups and that the next meeting between them will be in a week's time. The joint commission on historical issues is to hold a meeting soon as well.

Petkov said that the memoranda that were signed "have one key end result and this is the economic development of the entire region which the citizens of the two countries will feel with measurable improvements of the living standards". The PM said that the memorandum signed in the area of transport "returns Corridor 8 back on the map". "We have a lot to catching up to do but with the current drive we will catch up quickly," Petkov said.

Responding to a reporter's question, Petkov said that as at the moment, no changes will be made in the composition of the commission on historical issues.

The PM went on to say that with his North Macedonian counterpart they have noted "a different level of enthusiasm for work and setting a new regime of work". The fact that there will be three official meetings in the next four months, plus much intensive work between these meetings, sets a different pace of work, he said.

"Today we found out that in order to perform work people need to talk with each other. They need to see each other, set common goals and work within a common constructive framework," Petkov said.

The Bulgarian PM further noted that the professors on the historical issues commission from both sides have demonstrated that they are ready to see this new whiff of energy transformed into a constructive tone and constructive talks.

North Macedonian Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski said that Bulgaria joined the EU 15 years ago and now has extensive experience which his country could use. Kovacevski thanked Petkov for the good dialogue, noting the productive work of the ministers from the two governments in the newly formed working groups.

Kovacevski said that by means of concrete cooperation in real sectors everyone: from businesses to educational institutions, will be able to see the benefits from the cooperation between the two countries.

Asked whether guaranteeing the rights of people who identify themselves as Bulgarians in the Republic of North Macedonia will be considered a criteria for success, Kovacevski said that various ethnic communities are entered in his country's constitution. "If other citizens of the country identify themselves differently, they too may demand to be part of the constitution of North Macedonia," he said, adding that this is a process which passes through constitutional changes. In Kovacevski's words, it is normal for a country to revise its constitution on the path to the EU and if this happens, the question about the rights of the citizens could be covered as well. RY/ZH//