Skopje, 16 September 2024 (MIA) – Bulgarian Ambassador Zhelyazko Radukov, who was summoned to the Macedonian Foreign Ministry on Monday over the absence of the Macedonian flag at the meeting between President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova and Bulgarian President Rumen Radev in Sofia, has refused to accept the letter of protest.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade (MFAFT) told MIA that the Bulgarian Ambassador has rejected the letter of protest, and was informed of its content verbally.  

Earlier on Monday, the MFAFT said in a press release that Bulgarian Ambassador Radukov was summoned to the Ministry, where concern was expressed over the deviation from the agreed protocol regarding the photo of the two Presidents and clarification was also requested from the Bulgarion side. 

"In the conversation with the Bulgarian Ambassador, it was pointed out that the meeting and joint lunch of the two Presidents took place in a friendly atmosphere. In addition, Ambassador Radukov was informed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade was unpleasantly surprised by the latest statement made by Angel Dimitrov, the Bulgarian co-chair of the joint multidisciplinary expert commission on historical and educational issues, in the program “Offensive with Lyubomir Ognyanov” on NOVA News. The statement basically violates the principle that the chair of the expert commission should not make political statements about the Government of a neighbouring country, which is legitimately elected. We find this statement inappropriate," reads the MFAFT's press release. 

During the meeting at the MFAFT, Ambassador Radukov was also told that the Republic of North Macedonia remains committed to positive development, promotion and strengthening of bilateral relations and cooperation in all areas of mutual interest for both countries and their peoples, regarding which readiness was also reaffirmed on the other part.

A letter of protest was announced from the Macedonian side to Bulgarian Ambassador Zhelyazko Radukov over the photograph of President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova and Bulgarian President Rumen Radev in front of the Bulgarian flag taken during their meeting Friday in Sofia. MFAFT sources said Head of the MFAFT directorate for the region will hand over the letter of protest to the Bulgarian Ambassador. 

The meeting between Radev and Siljanovska Davkova was part of the Macedonian President's activities during her visit to Sofia where she attended the Macedonian National Opera and Ballet’s performance of Giuseppe Verdi’s “Nabucco”, as a step in cultural diplomacy. The Macedonian delegation also included Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Timcho Mucunski and Minister of Culture Zoran Ljutkov. 

The new Bulgarian Ambassador Zhelyazko Radukov handed over his credentials to President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova on September 10. 

Photo: MIA archive