President Radev with a letter to the EU leaders: EU membership of North Macedonia should not be based on lobbying

The inclusion of the Bulgarians in the constitution of North Macedonia is only a precursor to the start of negotiations, but there are other important commitments, President Rumen Radev said on June 27. His Macedonian counterpart assured that a working group of experts and party representatives was working in this direction. The Head of State is in Montenegro, where he is participating in the South East Europe Cooperation Process.

I don't even want to think that we can block ourselves - the President of North Macedonia said.

The accelerated integration of the Republic of North Macedonia into the EU is of utmost importance for Bulgaria, President Rumen Radev stressed.

"But I have always stressed that Bulgaria is a responsible member of the EU and as such we cannot remain indifferent to the future and sustainable development of the Union. If some are ready to compromise with European principles and values for the sake of achieving some fleeting political goals, we are not," Bulgarian President Rumen Radev said.

That is why the President sent a letter to the European leaders and institutions with an appeal that the accession of North Macedonia to the EU should not be based on lobby politics.

"The other important goal is to help the ReRRM in its European integration path, when we see that it is deviating from this path instead of really working so that with political will and effort to solve problems and lead to meeting the Copenhagen membership criteria, it is not guided by lobbyism. What we fought for in the negotiating framework, the inclusion of the Bulgarians in the constitution and guaranteeing their equality, is only a precondition for the start of negotiations", Radev said.

Asked by BNT when the Bulgarians in the Republic of North Macedonia will be included in the country's constitution, the President of our south-western neighbour replied that a working group of experts and representatives of the parties in parliament was working in this direction.

President Radev recalled the other important commitments made by neighbouring North Macedonia.

"Abandoning the hate speech against Bulgaria, ending discrimination against the citizens of the Republic of North Macedonia who identify themselves as Bulgarians, revising the textbooks. There is no development to these things at the moment and we cannot afford a country entering the EU in this way with compromises," the Head of State said.

At the SEECP Summit in Podgorica, the Bulgarian President stressed that the SEE countries should encourage dialogue among themselves on common challenges and prospects. And he gave an example of Bulgaria's leading role in the fight against the energy crisis.

"We proposed regional cooperation, we initiated a number of regional projects. We helped not only our diversification, we helped the diversification and security of the other countries in the region. If we do not solve the problem of connectivity - energy, transport, digital, we will not be able to take advantage of all the chances that come along with the crisis, because every crisis provides chances," Rumen Radev said.

Amid the disputes between the two largest coalitions in the National Assembly, the President said:

"A democratic government should be based on principles and values that work in the interest of society, not on fear."

His words come against the backdrop of remarks between the ruling partners that if the cabinet falls, a caretaker government of Radev is coming.