Foreign Minister Zaharieva: Bulgaria Still Unable to Approve Negotiating Framework for North Macedonia
NW 14:12:01 03-11-2020
DD1410NW.108
108 POLITICS-FORIGN MINISTER-PRESS CONFERENCE
Foreign Minister Zaharieva:
Bulgaria Still Unable to Approve
Negotiating Framework for North Macedonia
Sofia, November 3 (BTA) - "Despite progress made in Berlin, Bulgaria is still unable to approve the negotiating framework for the Republic of North Macedonia," said Deputy Prime Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva at a news conference here on Tuesday. She was speaking after meeting with the Foreign Minister and the Minister for European Affairs of the Republic of North Macedonia in Berlin on Monday evening.
"We are working actively with the German EU Presidency and our colleagues from the Republic of North Macedonia to reflect Bulgaria's remaining demands in the negotiating framework, related to guarantees and an action plan for the implementation of the 2017 Friendship Treaty [between Bulgaria and North Macedonia], as well as the Republic of North Macedonia clearly stating, both unilaterally and in the negotiating framework, that no minority claims will be supported by state institutions," she said.
"We have once again mobilized our entire resources in order to find the necessary mechanisms. Bulgaria has always provided support for North Macedonia's EU integration but it has never been unconditional," said the Bulgarian Foreign Minister.
She added: "The position of the Bulgarian Prime Minister and Bulgarian government is very clear. We are well-intentioned but we can't make compromises which will continue to lead to an anti-Bulgarian campaign. It will be difficult for the entire EU if we have outstanding issues."
"We still have a chance to reach an agreement on the negotiating framework despite the limited time," said Zaharieva. She added that it will be mostly to the disadvantage of Skopje if it misses this window of opportunity.
"We don't have an agreement yet on the negotiating framework, Bulgaria wants nothing more than to see the Friendship Treaty implemented with regards to the shared history as we have agreed," she said.
She said that intense negotiations have been held in the past weeks following a visit to Sofia by North Macedonia's Foreign Minister. "Our messages to our colleagues from the EU and our neighbors haven't changed. Bulgaria has consistently supported the accession to the EU of North Macedonia and the other Western Balkan countries," Zaharieva said.
The EU's decision from March to greenlight accession negotiations between the EU and North Macedonia and a number of declarations, clearly states that the goodneighbourly relations and the Treaty with Bulgaria should be observed, the Bulgarian top diplomat recalled.
"For more than a year we have been witnessing a consistent failure to implement the Treaty not only with regards to the historical commission. Bulgaria has objections regarding the implementation and progress of key infrastructure projects such as Corridor VIII and instances of creating administrative obstacles for Bulgarian investors," said Zaharieva.
She recalled that the joint historical commission met two weeks ago after a year-long hiatus.
"It is not important whether the five historical figures on which the joint historical commission has agreed are a lot or a little. The bigger problem for Bulgaria is the fact that these figures have not been announced publicly and that the agreement is not reflected in the textbooks and museum artefacts, said Zaharieva. "We can't close our eyes and pretend that we don't see that there are problems with the implementation of the Treaty," she said.
According to Zaharieva, regardless of what the Bulgaria-North Macedonia historical commission has accomplished, if it remains concealed, the assessment will be the same.
"We have heard a lot of accusations that Bulgaria does not acknowledge the reality. On the contrary, we do acknowledge the reality, even with the fact that Bulgaria was the first country to recognize the state of Macedonia, but failure to acknowledge the historical truth has serious implications in the reality, which materialize as minority claims," said the Bulgarian Foreign Minister.
"No one has the right to tell people how to self-identify and what language to speak, but the same goes for Bulgarian citizens too. We have a breakthrough and I once again thank the German Presidency for the commitment and the initiative but we are not there yet to say "yes"," said the Deputy Prime Minister. NV/PP
//
DD1410NW.108
108 POLITICS-FORIGN MINISTER-PRESS CONFERENCE
Foreign Minister Zaharieva:
Bulgaria Still Unable to Approve
Negotiating Framework for North Macedonia
Sofia, November 3 (BTA) - "Despite progress made in Berlin, Bulgaria is still unable to approve the negotiating framework for the Republic of North Macedonia," said Deputy Prime Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva at a news conference here on Tuesday. She was speaking after meeting with the Foreign Minister and the Minister for European Affairs of the Republic of North Macedonia in Berlin on Monday evening.
"We are working actively with the German EU Presidency and our colleagues from the Republic of North Macedonia to reflect Bulgaria's remaining demands in the negotiating framework, related to guarantees and an action plan for the implementation of the 2017 Friendship Treaty [between Bulgaria and North Macedonia], as well as the Republic of North Macedonia clearly stating, both unilaterally and in the negotiating framework, that no minority claims will be supported by state institutions," she said.
"We have once again mobilized our entire resources in order to find the necessary mechanisms. Bulgaria has always provided support for North Macedonia's EU integration but it has never been unconditional," said the Bulgarian Foreign Minister.
She added: "The position of the Bulgarian Prime Minister and Bulgarian government is very clear. We are well-intentioned but we can't make compromises which will continue to lead to an anti-Bulgarian campaign. It will be difficult for the entire EU if we have outstanding issues."
"We still have a chance to reach an agreement on the negotiating framework despite the limited time," said Zaharieva. She added that it will be mostly to the disadvantage of Skopje if it misses this window of opportunity.
"We don't have an agreement yet on the negotiating framework, Bulgaria wants nothing more than to see the Friendship Treaty implemented with regards to the shared history as we have agreed," she said.
She said that intense negotiations have been held in the past weeks following a visit to Sofia by North Macedonia's Foreign Minister. "Our messages to our colleagues from the EU and our neighbors haven't changed. Bulgaria has consistently supported the accession to the EU of North Macedonia and the other Western Balkan countries," Zaharieva said.
The EU's decision from March to greenlight accession negotiations between the EU and North Macedonia and a number of declarations, clearly states that the goodneighbourly relations and the Treaty with Bulgaria should be observed, the Bulgarian top diplomat recalled.
"For more than a year we have been witnessing a consistent failure to implement the Treaty not only with regards to the historical commission. Bulgaria has objections regarding the implementation and progress of key infrastructure projects such as Corridor VIII and instances of creating administrative obstacles for Bulgarian investors," said Zaharieva.
She recalled that the joint historical commission met two weeks ago after a year-long hiatus.
"It is not important whether the five historical figures on which the joint historical commission has agreed are a lot or a little. The bigger problem for Bulgaria is the fact that these figures have not been announced publicly and that the agreement is not reflected in the textbooks and museum artefacts, said Zaharieva. "We can't close our eyes and pretend that we don't see that there are problems with the implementation of the Treaty," she said.
According to Zaharieva, regardless of what the Bulgaria-North Macedonia historical commission has accomplished, if it remains concealed, the assessment will be the same.
"We have heard a lot of accusations that Bulgaria does not acknowledge the reality. On the contrary, we do acknowledge the reality, even with the fact that Bulgaria was the first country to recognize the state of Macedonia, but failure to acknowledge the historical truth has serious implications in the reality, which materialize as minority claims," said the Bulgarian Foreign Minister.
"No one has the right to tell people how to self-identify and what language to speak, but the same goes for Bulgarian citizens too. We have a breakthrough and I once again thank the German Presidency for the commitment and the initiative but we are not there yet to say "yes"," said the Deputy Prime Minister. NV/PP
//
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