Skopje, 15 September 2024 (MIA) - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade has said it would summon the Bulgarian Ambassador to the country, Zhelyazko Radukov, for talks on Monday 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.

“Regarding the announcement made by President Siljanovska-Davkova, we would like to inform you that the Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria will be summoned for talks at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade on Monday,” the Ministry told MIA.

The Office of President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova announced on Saturday it would seek clarification over the photograph taken in front of the Bulgarian flag in the Office of Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, noting that such an act wasn’t planned nor agreed.

“What overshadowed the event was the deviation from the agreed protocol for the meeting, according to which photographs were not supposed to be taken within the closed area. However, unfortunately, before the beginning of the tête-à-tête meeting, President Radev invited the President to take a photo together in front of the Bulgarian flag, even though such an act was not planned nor agreed. We want to believe this is a mere oversight in the protocol and not an intentional act and deviation from what has been agreed, and we will seek clarification from the Bulgarian side,” Siljanovska-Davkova's Office said in a press release.

The photograph showing Siljanovska-Davkova and Radev shaking hands in front of the Bulgarian flag in Radev’s Office caused controversy in the country.  

Photo: MIA Archive