I have always invited the presidents of the Republic of North Macedonia to come in Bulgaria, because the road from North Macedonia to Brussels passes through Sofia. I hope that the politicians in North Macedonia have understood that the election campaign is over and if their destructive talk and behavior turns into real actions, it means pushing their country towards isolation and away from the European Union, which is to the detriment of the citizens themselves and the state of North Macedonia. This is what the Head of State Rumen Radev told journalists in Burgas, quoted by BTA.
He commented on the topic after being asked to answer whether he would invite the newly elected president of North Macedonia, Gordana Siljanovska, after not receiving an invitation to his colleague's inauguration.
North Macedonia must not forget that it is a candidate country and cannot impose conditions on member states, cannot revise international treaties, because this brands the country that does not respect international law, our head of state summarized.< /p>
Asked if he thinks that the tone with North Macedonia should remain as it is at the moment, or on the contrary - to harden, Radev said: "I expect them to understand that both Bulgaria and Greece are telling them that the international contracts must be respected. This is what the European Union told them. It was made very clear that the negotiating framework must be implemented. This also means the implementation of the bilateral protocols, which specifically regulate the rejection of the language of hate, the change of textbooks, the rehabilitation of the victims, the respect for the cultural and historical heritage of Bulgaria in this country.
Radev indicated that he expects every single politician who will represent Bulgaria in the European Council from now on to continue to defend our national interest, to continue to defend the Copenhagen criteria for membership and the rights of the Macedonian Bulgarians. "Just as I stood for while representing Bulgaria in the European Council during the caretaker governments, the president added. There were two councils and, notice, at the first council I was alone against all the member states, because the pressure was huge - to immediately open the door to membership negotiations for the Republic of North Macedonia. That didn't happen.
There is a huge difference until the second enlargement council, when we already managed to convince all European leaders and European institutions that the issue is not bilateral between Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia. The issue is European - to comply with the Copenhagen criteria for human rights and non-discrimination. And this was understood by everyone and led to the condition that the Constitution be changed, by including the Macedonian Bulgarians in it - to protect their rights, to have clear requirements for the protection of our national interest with the protocols, and then accordingly to open the door to negotiations . And Bulgaria succeeded, but this is now a matter between the European Union and the candidate state", concluded Radev.
The President was a special guest at the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the creation of the Mathematical Chemistry Laboratory at Burgas University "Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov". The Regional Governor Prof. Maria Neikova, the Mayor of Burgas and others were also there.
Later, President Rumen Radev will visit Nessebar, where the summer tourist season will be opened under his patronage. The event, which will take place in front of the Gates of the Ancient City of Nessebar, will be attended by representatives of the Bulgarian institutions and the diplomatic corps in our country. The head of state will be accompanied by his wife Desislava Radeva.