Ljubljana, 3 April 2023 (MIA) - As a neighboring country, we wish Bulgaria to elect a political government which will be 100 percent oriented to the EU principles, to the principles of the Union's enlargement, respecting all its neighbors and building good neighborly relations with our country and with other neighbors, Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski said at Monday's joint press conference with Slovenian counterpart Robert Golob in Ljubljana. 

Asked to comment on the elections in Bulgaria, Kovachevski said North Macedonia believes that a European government in Sofia will stand for all those principles, just as Slovenia stands for membership of the entire Western Balkans in the EU, because it is the only alternative for the economic prosperity of all the citizens in the region, MIA reports from Ljubljana.

He pointed out that North Macedonia's relations with Bulgaria are based on institutional communication. 

"This means government to government communication, institutions with institutions, president to president... Looking back, a large number of issues that were of key importance for the citizens and for dealing with the crisis were also discussed with the President and the Government of Bulgaria, including uninterrupted supply of gas, liberalization of the gas supply market in our country, which went through Bulgaria, smooth operation of cross-border electricity supply facilities throughout the winter, at a time when there was a shortage of electricity, which was also agreed and respected, as well as cooperation in many fields," said Kovachevski. 

The PM added that there has been one problem, i.e. no political will in Bulgaria. 

"They have been functioning with a caretaker government for a while now. Elections were held there yesterday. As a neighboring country, we wish Bulgaria to elect a political government which will be 100 percent oriented to the EU principles, to the principles of the Union's enlargement, respecting all its neighbors and building good neighborly relations with our country and with other neighbors," Kovachevski said. 

Slovenian PM Golob said it was good that the elections in Bulgaria were now behind us, because sensitive issues are not resolved during elections. 

"Currently, Bulgaria doesn't have a government yet, but we will have a dialogue with any government that will be appointed. That is the meaning of European integration. Bulgaria is also aware of this now, because it really wants to join the Schengen zone. Bulgaria is a country that is aware of what it's like when someone shuts you out of a procedure even though you have the right to further European integration. I believe that there will be an understanding about the issue of North Macedonia. I think it is a clear message that there is no other way for Bulgaria and North Macedonia and that it is a matter of the same process, not two processes," the Slovenian PM said. 

He added that the constitutional amendments, which are a condition for the continuation of North Macedonia's negotiations with the EU, as he had been briefed at Monday's meetings with the country's representatives, are aimed at improving the position of the minorities in the country.

"We were briefed that you have one of the most advanced minority protection systems in Europe and I believe we will be happy to spread that information in all European circles. North Macedonia has so far been among the most advanced, if not the most advanced, and the country wants to stay on that path, and at the same time precisely through the full-fledged EU membership, the minorities will gain access to their home countries," said Golob. 

Kovachevski pointed out that Europe is at an extremely delicate and unique geopolitical moment, after the Russian aggression against Ukraine, adding that from day one North Macedonia has aligned itself with the EU's foreign policy and, as a NATO member, participated in the support of a democratic independent country that has been invaded by a larger neighboring country. That, he noted, only shows that North Macedonia, as always, is on the right side of history.

"As regards our relations with the neighbors, we are a government that has closed all open issues with the neighboring countries in the past five years," said Kovachevski, also mentioning the Ohrid Framework Agreement, which has provided for a functional multiethnic democracy, the Prespa Agreement, which has opened the doors to NATO membership, as well as the accepting of the European proposal based on the Friendship Treaty with Bulgaria to start negotiations with the EU. 

"And we came out stronger, because after 17 years of waiting, North Macedonia started the negotiations with the EU and the screening process, which was put on hold for 17 years because the country was led by politicians who didn't have the courage to make statesmanlike and visionary decisions. Ahead of us is adopting the constitutional amendments that are part of the obligations in the negotiating framework, and I say that when we make them too, the country will come out even stronger again, because then the second intergovernmental conference will automatically continue - opening of the clusters, reforms in society and full-fledged EU membership, regarding which we have the support from all EU member states," Kovachevski told Monday's joint press conference with Golob.

Photo: Government of the Republic of North Macedonia