Sofia, 20 October 2022 (MIA) - Bulgaria has always tried to strengthen and deepen friendship and good neighbourly relations with North Macedonia. Bulgaria has put a lot of effort into realizing this goal in recent years, the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a press release. In this regard, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria underscored that any public statements insulting or provoking the other side are absolutely unacceptable. They do not represent Bulgaria’s official position, and attempts to present them as such are incorrect and a sign of bad faith, reads the press release, MIA’s Sofia correspondent reported. In spite of the numerous provocations against Bulgaria and mainly against the Bulgarians in North Macedonia in recent months, the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs considers that this kind of speech is unacceptable and very counterproductive. “Such statements are not in the interest of Bulgarians in North Macedonia. They distract the public's attention from the fair and legitimate aspirations of the Bulgarian community for equal civil rights, especially for free association and protecting their cultural and historical heritage,” reads the press release. In line with the spirit of the 2017 Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighbourliness and Cooperation between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia, they call on politicians and public figures from both sides of the border to direct their efforts and messages to support the process of restoring trust and establishing good-neighbourly relations.