Skopje, 7 April 2023 (MIA) - Bulgaria doesn't want to interfere in North Macedonia's internal affairs. Each state is free to amend its own Constitution and legislation according to the state's own laws and practices. It is a misinterpretation that we wanted to participate in that process, Bulgaria's caretaker Prime Minister Galab Donev said in an interview with bTV. 

Donev noted that North Macedonia has committed to including Bulgarians in the Constitution alongside all the other nations already listed, so that their rights are guaranteed, BTA reports. 

According to him, it is normal for the Republic of North Macedonia to fulfill the undertaken commitment, which is not only towards Bulgaria, but towards all EU member states.

"Because the Republic of North Macedonia, by signing the accession agreement and starting negotiations with the EU, signed the agreement with all member states," said Donev. 

Asked if Bulgaria should reimpose the veto on North Macedonia's EU accession, Donev said it was not the most correct solution, but positive dialogue and ways to bring positions closer should be sought. 

"Since the Republic of North Macedonia wants to join the EU, it should respect the principles on which the Union is based," Donev said.

Bulgaria's Foreign Minister Nikolay Milkov told a press briefing on Thursday that "the process of amending the Constitution is certainly the Republic of North Macedonia's internal affair", but he noted that "Bulgaria will not accept any formulation that grants the Macedonian Bulgarians a status in any way different from that of any of the other constitutionally recognized parts of peoples in the Republic of North Macedonia". 

On Wednesday, Milkov told a press briefing that Bulgaria would want to be involved and consulted in the process of incorporating Bulgarians in the Constitution of North Macedonia, BNR reported. The Macedonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded that the process of constitutional changes is North Macedonia's internal matter.