Skopje, 9 September 2022 (MIA) - The Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Good Neighborliness between North Macedonia and Bulgaria has been recognized by all citizens and over 75 percent oppose the initiative for a referendum calling for its annulment, launched by VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski, former prime minister Zoran Zaev said Friday. Zaev is also one of the signatories of the 2017 agreement. "It has been recognized by all citizens, over 75 percent are against this referendum initiative and the rest 25 percent are in fact VMRO-DPMNE members. There is no one in the world who is against friendship, good neighborliness and cooperation. Our Macedonian people and all the ethnic communities in North Macedonia will not support it," stated Zaev speaking to reporters after an event in which MEP and EP rapporteur for North Macedonia, Ilhan Kyuchyk was awarded the title of honorary doctor (Doctor Honoris Causa). Everyone, but most of all the politicians, have the duty to provide a future for their people, for the whole region and the whole European continent and to set a positive example globally in politics, the former PM said. "I'm confident our friendship, good neighborliness and cooperation in the future would be seen as an example. As former builder of this friendship and signatory of the agreement, I call on the politicians in North Macedonia and Bulgaria to foster that friendship and good neighborly ties," he added. Zaev said he is proud of both the Treaty with Bulgaria and the Prespa Agreement. According to him, they helped re-build the country's friendships with the neighbors. Asked whether there is political will in the country for changing the Constitution and including the Bulgarian minority, he said he believed there is. "I believe it is a matter that should be solved as soon as possible. For example, Croatia, a EU member country, has 24 ethnic communities in its Constitution. We understand the Bulgarian Constitution, which is different than our Constitution. We are a multi-ethnic country and I believe we will do it soon and come closer to opening the EU chapters," Zaev noted. He welcomed today's awarding of the honorary doctor title to MEP Kyuchyuk, calling him "a symbol of our friendship and I hope his example will be followed by all politicians in both North Macedonia and Bulgaria."       2022-09-09,