PM Petkov: All European leaders congratulated us, it's time now for North Macedonia to say it wants to be part of the EU

The National Assembly today took a really responsible decision, outgoing Prime Minister Kiril Petkov said on June 24 as regards the giving a mandate for lifting the veto on the European negotiations with the Republic of North Macedonia.

Bulgaria lifts the veto on North Macedonia's EU talks as per French EU Council Presidency proposal

From Brussels, where he is for participation in the European Council on June 24, Petkov said that all European leaders have congratulated Bulgaria for taking a pro-European stance - from Emmanuel Macron, Charles Michel and Olaf Scholz, to Ursula von der Leyen.

"All the prime ministers congratulated us and thanked us that they also understood the conditions that are important for Bulgaria and these conditions are European. It is very important that the rights of Bulgarians are protected in the Republic of North Macedonia,” he added.

Petkov pointed out that he had to thank a lot of people who helped to reach this result.

"I start with Foreign Minister Teodora Genchovska, who said clearly, despite pressure from the party that nominated her to say otherwise - she said clearly that this is the best solution for Bulgaria. I thank her for her courage, despite TISP leader Slavi Trifonov's Facebook posts," Petkov said.

He also thanked the MPs who, in his words, "have gathered the necessary support for such a responsible decision".

"What the European leaders appreciated is that Bulgaria made its step. They appreciated that this decision is the decision that the French government, the EU actually supports and realises that Bulgarian demands are becoming European. Now it is time for the government of the Republic of North Macedonia to lead its nation. It is up to them now to say that they want to be part of the EU and are ready to take the steps to make it a reality," Petkov said.

This decision should have the widest possible support in the country, he added. Even those who voted against - even "Vazrazhdane" - realize that this is the only way to protect the rights of the Bulgarians in North Macedonia

Since outgoing foreign minister Genchovska has also supported the motion, Petkov believes that Slavi Trifonov and Toshko Yordanov (there is Such a People” party) have used rhetoric "as political chewing gum, which is used in the most wrong way".

The outgoing prime minister hopes that with the help of European diplomacy and NATO partners, the Republic of North Macedonia will overcome its internal difficulties.

"The task is entirely with them. European diplomacy will now start working hard to get the proposal accepted. The issue is that strong nationalist forces do not prevail. But we as a government have paid a huge price to get here. Their price must also be paid. It requires leadership."

Petkov was also asked about his interview with the Guardian, where he ambiguously answered about arms exports to Ukraine via third countries.

“We have said very clearly - we have a decision of the Pareliement.. This decision the government has absolutely respected it. What is happening - yes, we are exporting all kinds of ammunition and weapons to our EU partners. It should be very clearly stated and distinguished - there are no hidden imports into Ukraine. Our step is exports to Poland to a large extent," he said.

He is adamant that his words in the Bulgarian media were taken out of context from the interview. The word Ukraine was not even there, he was talking about exports to Poland.

As regards his negative reaction concerning the relations with the Bulgarian President, Petkov said that he had expected at the critical moment related to the vote of no confidence and the issue with the Republic of North Macedonia the institution of the President to lend a hand and be part of the common solution, but this did not happen.