Sofia, 3 February 2025 (MIA) - There will be no joint February 4 observance of the 153rd anniversary from Goce Delchev's birth because Bulgaria did not get an invitation from North Macedonia, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Georg Georgiev told BTV on Monday.

"If the question is why there is no joint observance, it's because we have not been invited for such an event. The last joint observance took place after the signing of the Friendship Treaty in 2017. However, as of now, there is no invitation from the Republic of North Macedonia for joint observance," says Georgiev.

Asked if the joint observance could lead to a repeat of 2023 tensions, he says "history should unite, not divide us", while adding that Sofia - Skopje relations are "specific".

Asked if Bulgaria would change its position, considering the position of Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski that Bulgarians would not be included in the Constitution without firm guarantees from the EU, Georgiev says Skopje cannot continue its accession process unless it meets the commitments it has undertaken.

"We are not talking only about Bulgaria. The so-called 'French proposal' is between all EU members and North Macedonia. We are talking about commitments that extend far beyond a bilateral dispute. If the commitments are not respected, there is no way for EU to go on with North Macedonia's accession path," says Georgiev.

According to him, there is no country that would like to see the integration of countries from the Western Balkans more than Bulgaria.

"We are sincerely pleased to have North Macedonia and Albania as our NATO allies. This is an investment in the region's security. It is only natural that we are also pleased for the Euro-integration, if requirements are met," notes Georgiev.

MIA file photo