Bulgarian FM Zaharieva: Green light for Macedonia’s accession talks after signing of name deal


After signing the name agreement, scheduled on June 17, Macedonia will be finally allowed to open negotiations to join the EU and to be given an invitation for NATO membership, Ekaterina Zaharieva said on Saturday.

“Bulgaria wants Macedonia by the end of June to finally start negotiating with the EU. Truly, there’s no more time and I’m confident that after the signing of the agreement between Macedonia and Greece tomorrow, by the foreign ministers in the presence of the two prime ministers, Commissioner Hahn and Commissioner Mogherini, Macedonia will be given the green light on June 26 at the Council of the EU, which will be chaired by myself,” the Bulgarian Foreign Minister told reporters in Skopje, where she is attending the festival One Love Tour 2018.

For Bulgaria, she said, the name Republic of North Macedonia is acceptable.

“Bulgaria was the first nation that recognized the Republic of Macedonia. For us it is important there there are no territorial claims, which is also incorporated in our friendship treaty,” stated Zaharieva.

Asked why she and PM Boyko Borissov cancelled their meetings with President Gjorge Ivanov when he was in Sofia, Minister Zaharieva said that Bulgaria didn’t want to take sides in the Macedonia-Greece dispute.

“We don’t want to take sides in your dispute. Bulgaria is investing a lot of efforts throughout its presidency to re-divert Europe’s attention on the region,” she noted.

The Bulgarian Minister said she was pleased that she could attend the festival at the Skopje City Park adding that artists and culture had always served as an example of unity.