Zaev: Sofia hasn’t asked for help in its Bulgarian passports probe

“We know full well that many Macedonians have Bulgarian passports and that we have Bulgarians in Macedonia,” PM Zaev said. “We have no problem with this, but if there’s anything illegal about it, Bulgaria will discover it.”

PM Zaev, who is paying a two-day working visit to Lisbon to participate in the 2018 Party of European Socialists Congress, told the foreign press he believes the inclusive parliamentary process and public debates will secure a two-thirds majority for the constitutional revision in line with the Prespa Agreement.

“If we judge by how things are going so far,” PM Zaev said, “I believe we’ll gather strength to secure a two-thirds majority as we did at the start of the constitutional revision process.

“The public debate in Parliament is very constructive. I believe it will not only help citizens learn about all Prespa Agreement details but also help Parliament find a way to gather strength and guarantee the future of Macedonia.

“Because, finally, with this Agreement, as we did earlier with the friendship treaty with Bulgaria, we’ve been solving bilateral problems with our neighbors.

“We are becoming a normal country, a European country, which, after reforms are completed, we’re convinced will be the next, thirtieth NATO member state, as well as start negotiations with the EU in June 2019,” Zaev said.

Speaking to the media about the escape and behavior of the former Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, Zaev said that in accordance with international standards and conventions, Gruevski should be returned to serve the legally effective court verdict in Macedonia. He expressed hope that Hungary will reconsider the decisions and extradite him to serve his prison sentence.