Skopje, 17 September 2024 (MIA) - Commenting on the flag display at the meeting between Macedonian President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova and Bulgarian President Rumen Radev in Sofia last Friday, the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the visit was not an official one. 

The Ministry told Bulgaria's Nova news that the Bulgarian Ambassador in Skopje was summoned to North Macedonia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade on Monday "over the President of the Republic of North Macedonia's visit to Sofia on September 13 and comments in the public regarding the photos from the meeting". 

"The visit was on the occasion of the cultural event - the performance of the National Opera and Ballet of the Republic of North Macedonia in Sofia, and does not have the character of a state, official or working visit. In such cases, the protocol practice does not provide for playing anthems, displaying other state flags, as well as other protocol attributes. The above was also indicated by Ambassador Radukov yesterday in his conversation with diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of North Macedonia," the Bulgarian MFA has said. 

The Ministry has added that "guided by the will for good neighbourly relations and remaining consistent in the policy of supporting open dialogue with the partners from the Republic of North Macedonia, the Bulgarian side sent invitations to the ministers, who accompanied President Siljanovska Davkova, for meetings with their counterparts. Unfortunately, the invitation from the Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivan Kondov to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Timcho Mucunski has been rejected."

The Bulgarian Ambassador was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade on Monday, where concern was expressed over the deviation from the agreed protocol regarding the photo of the two Presidents and clarification was also requested from the Bulgarion side. While Bulgaria's President Radev said Monday that the visit "was neither a state nor a working visit", Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said "when red lines are crossed, then you have to respond, because if you don't, then the exception will become the norm". 

After the diplomatic lapse with the absence of the Macedonian flag at the meeting between President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova and Rumen Radev in Sofia last Friday, a letter of protest was announced from the Macedonian side to the Bulgarian Ambassador in the country Zhelyazko Radukov. Radukov, who was summoned to the Macedonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade on Monday, refused to receive the letter of protest. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade told MIA on Monday that the Bulgarian Ambassador has rejected the letter of protest, and was informed of its content verbally.  

Commenting on the meeting between President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova and the Bulgarian President Rumen Radev in Sofia, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Timcho Mucunski said he expects an apology from Bulgaria and would not like to be disappointed by the neighbour.

Photo: MIA archive