Skopje, 17 January 2022 (MIA) – The prime ministers of North Macedonia and Bulgaria, Dimitar Kovachevski and Kiril Petkov, at their Tuesday’s meeting in Skopje will mainly discuss the economy, infrastructure, education, educational cooperation, innovation as well as support for the country’s EU integration process. This was confirmed Monday by PM Kovachevski speaking to members of the media after a meeting with President Stevo Pendarovski. Petkov and I, he said, will discuss ways to increase trade, increase sharing of ideas, and increased exchange of young people so as to restore trust and restore dialogue. Kovachevski noted that both of them intend to discuss the future as well as projects designed to improve the standards for living for the citizens in the two countries. Our positions are crystal clear, the PM noted. “The country is the Republic of North Macedonia where the citizens speak Macedonian and we have our own, unique identity.” “Regarding the issues on history, I’ve always said that they should be debated by historians and that trust should be built on positions enabling better standards for them and how do we get to them. As regards minority rights, we respect all charters and all organizations regulating them at international level, including the UN. As a country, we have said we won’t interfere in the internal affairs of our neighbors,” Kovachevski told the media. No agreements as to what needs to be done in economy will be signed with PM Petkov, he said. “Considering cooperation in the economy and trade, I think that the business sector should strengthen the cooperation, which means we will call on the chambers of commerce in the two countries to cooperate. In education, we will call on the universities in the two countries to cooperate with each other. As regards innovations, those running new businesses, innovations should cooperate with each other,” Kovachevski added. According to him, the same principle will be applied in educational and cultural exchange as well as youth exchange. The new PM stressed he is “a rational optimist”. “I believe in a solution and I will make sure a solution is reached.” A Bulgarian government delegation, led by PM Kiril Petkov, will pay an official visit to the capital Skopje on Tuesday.