President Rumen Radev: Bulgaria soon expects a change in the rhetoric in the Republic of North Macedonia and finally an end to hate speech

Bulgaria expects a change in North Macedonia's rhetoric soon and finally - an end to hate speech, Bulgaria's President Rumen Radev said on May 23.

"The Republic of North Macedonia must show that it really wants to be part of a united Europe by fulfilling all the requirements for membership, as every country in the European Union has done," Radev said.

Rumen Radev is heading a Bulgarian delegation to the Vatican on the eve of the feast of the Holy Brothers Cyril and Methodius - 24 May. Earlier today, he was received in an audience with Pope Francis. At the same time, a delegation from North Macedonia, led by Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, is in the Vatican.

Radev's words made it clear that Siljanovska had expressed her readiness to meet the Bulgarian head of state in Rome, but it did not take place because his schedule is too busy. Radev described the aspiration for dialogue as a positive sign and said that he would invite the President of North Macedonia to Sofia.

At the audience in the Vatican, the Bulgarian head of state presented Pope Francis with a gift - an original icon of St Cyril and St Methodius from the 19th century, a work of the Sofia School of Zoography.

"Pope Francis has always had the warmest feelings for Bulgaria and the Bulgarian people and today he wished us good health, peace and prosperity. He wished us more interesting things - the Pope is really familiar with our problems and - literally - wished us to have more children, against the background of the universally ageing population of Europe. He wished that we give our children a decent education, but that it is also linked to education so that they grow up with respect and knowledge of our history language and culture. And he said "May your children be more rooted in Bulgaria and may the knowledge they receive be directed towards the future so that the nation prospers". He also called for more attention to the elderly," Rumen Radev said.

Our values are our moral compass in times of trials, Radev said in Rome.

President Rumen Radev and Pope Francis also discussed the wars in Ukraine and Gaza. The Head of State called for finding a solution for peace through diplomatic channels.