Zaharieva: Both Sofia and Skopie lose from bad relations

The Republic of North Macedonia must carry out the necessary reforms and fulfil the conditions if it wants to start accession negotiations with the European Union. This is what GERB MP Ekaterina Zaharieva, deputy chair of the Foreign Policy Committee in the 49th National Assembly and former foreign minister (2017-2021), told BGNES.

The occasion for her comments is the upcoming vote in the Macedonian parliament on the inclusion of Bulgarians in the RNM constitution. This is one of the main requirements enshrined in the so-called "French offer", which the authorities in Skopje have agreed to fulfil before starting actual accession negotiations. Zaharieva urged our Macedonian neighbours and friends not to be afraid of change.

"Changing the constitution of the RNM is nothing to fear. Bulgarians are part of the reality in the RNM and this should be accepted," your former first diplomat stressed.

She is adamant that it is beneficial for both countries to open a new page in their relations. "Both Sofia and Skopie lose from being in bad relations. It is much better to have no borders between us and for business to develop. It is important that people can meet and communicate freely without fear," Zaharieva said.

At the same time, she reminded that for all this to happen Skopie must fulfil the conditions of the negotiating framework and accept that the Bulgarians are part of the RNM.

"Discrimination against Bulgarians must stop, as well as the recent increase in cases of physical and verbal violence. And all this is good for the RNM and the citizens of this country so that they themselves feel good in their homeland and do not emigrate," Ekaterina Zaharieva urged. / BGNES