Ivanov: PM Borissov is taking sides and fails to realize the goal of EU presidency


Bulgaria should seek intensive contacts not only with Macedonia’s government, but also with other institutions, such as the President Office, Parliament, opposition parties. That is the way for the two countries to enjoy constructive, good-neighborly and friendly relations, President Rumen Radev said Thursday, commenting the Bulgarian Prime Minister’s decision to cancel a meeting with Macedonia’s President …

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Bulgarian President Radev: Bulgaria accepts Macedonia–Greece name agreement


Bulgaria is very concerned about the escalation in Macedonia over the agreement on new name of the country, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev at Thursday’s press conference in Sofia after meeting his Macedonian counterpart Gjorge Ivanov. Radev urged Ivanov not only to be a participant, but also a leader in the dialogue between the institutions in the Republic …

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Bulgarian PM Borissov cancels meeting with President Ivanov


The press office of the Bulgarian government confirmed that the Thursday meetings of Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva with the visiting Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov have been cancelled. “We don’t want to interfere in the home affairs of our neighbour [Macedonia]. Our position [on the solution to the Macedonia-Greece name dispute] is clear …

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President Ivanov: Agreement is detrimental for Macedonia, I will not sign it


President Gjorge Ivanov said Wednesday the name agreement reached with Greece is detrimental for the Republic of Macedonia, adding he would not sign it. In a TV address, President Ivanov said the agreement reached between Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and Greek counterpart Alexis Tsipras abandoned the country’s positions that the Constitution would not be changed …

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Zaev-Mickoski meeting this afternoon


A meeting  between Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and leader of the opposition VMRO-DPMNE Hristijan Mickoski will be held in the Government of the Republic of Macedonia. The meeting comes after today’s press conference of Mickovski calling for an urgent meeting with President Gjorge Ivanov and Prime Minister Zaev to review the provisions of yesterday’s agreement …

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Ivanov to address citizens following his two-minute meeting with Zaev and Dimitrov


President Gjorge Ivanov will address citizens during the day following his two-minute meeting with PM Zoran Zaev and FM Nikola Dimitrov at which they briefed him about the deal reached on name issue, Ivanov’s Cabinet said in a press release. The Republic of North Macedonia, erga omnes, change of the Constitution and gradual introduction of …

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CoE Secretary General Jagland welcomes Athens – Skopje name agreement


The Secretary General of the 47-nation Council of Europe, Thorbjørn Jagland, has warmly welcomed the agreement achieved between the Prime Ministers of Greece and Macedonia on the name issue. “This agreement has been a long time coming. It shows that talking, listening and understanding each other’s concerns allows us to find solutions to even the …

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1,402 Macedonian citizens received Bulgarian citizenship in 2018


2,098 people have received Bulgarian citizenship by origin since the beginning of the year, Bulgarian Deputy Chairperson Iliana Jotova said. She specified that the largest number of them, 1,402 persons are from Macedonia. In 2017, a total of 1,436 people acquired Bulgarian citizenship. She clarified that most people acquired Bulgarian citizenship on the basis of …

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US State Department: US welcomes the historic name agreement


The United States congratulates Prime Ministers Zoran Zaev and Alexis Tsipras and welcomes the historic agreement to resolve the name dispute. This resolution will benefit both countries and bolster regional security and prosperity. Prime Ministers Zaev and Tsipras demonstrated vision, courage, and persistence in their pursuit of a mutually acceptable solution, US State Department spokeswoman …

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History of a dispute between two neighbors – From a referendum on independence to a referendum on the name


On September 8, 1991, when Macedonia declared independence after a referendum, no one could predict that the country would have to wait for 27 years to get its name recognized by its southern neighbor and the entire international community. On the request for recognition under the constitutional name in the United Nations, on the basis …

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MEP Vajgl: Name agreement opens Macedonia’s road to EU and NATO membership


Ivo Vajgl, special rapporteur for Macedonia in the European Parliament, welcomed Tuesday the agreement reached by Prime Ministers Zoran Zaev and Alexis Tsipras, saying that it opens Macedonia’s road to the EU, NATO membership. ‘The agreement reached by the Prime Ministers of the two neighboring countries, Greece and Macedonia, creates conditions for better, more productive relations, contributing …

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Tsipras informs the Greek President that he reached a deal with Zaev on the name issue


Alexis Tsipras spoke of a “good deal” that “covers all conditions we had set” during his meeting with the President of Greece, Prokopis Pavlopoulos whom he visited at the Presidential Mansion. He met the President joined by the Minister of State & Government Spokesperson, Dimitris Tzanakopoulos and the General Secretary of the PM, Ioanna Pepe. “I am …

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European Council President Tusk extends congratulations on the name agreement


European Council President Donald Tusk extended congratulations Tuesday to the Prime Ministers of Macedonia and Greece over reaching an agreement on the name dispute. ‘Sincere congratulations to PMs (Alexis) Tsipras and (Zoran) Zaev. I am keeping my fingers crossed. Thanks to you the impossible is becoming possible,’ he tweeted.

NATO’s Stoltenberg welcomes Athens-Skopje name agreement


NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg welcomed Tuesday the agreement on Athens-Skopje name dispute. ‘I warmly welcome the agreement reached between Prime Ministers Tsipras and Zaev on a solution to the name dispute between Athens and Skopje. This historic agreement is testament to many years of patient diplomacy, and to the willingness of these two leaders to solve a …

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