Skopje, 20 January 2022 (MIA) - Each step which leads to expansions of the bilateral relations should be supported. There has been a lot positive feedback from this visit, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev said Thursday when asked to comment on PM Kiril Petkov’s visit to Skopje earlier this week. He said he was informed about the PM’s Skopje visit by Petkov himself at their meeting yesterday, Bulgaria’s news agency BTA reported. “As I stated on Wednesday in Parliament, I hope that along with all efforts to improve connectivity, investments, business and cooperation, we must not forget the fundamental issues that need to be resolved and which will truly open the door to the start of [EU accession] talks [of the Republic of North Macedonia]," Radev said. Also, Radev voiced hopes that the authorities in Skopje will demonstrate wisdom and political courage to solve the issues, especially “the rights of Macedonian Bulgarians so we can open the door for start of accession negotiations.” “As a responsible EU member, we have to integrate partners instead of problems,” he stated. According to the Bulgarian President, the constitutional systems of the two countries are radically different. While the Bulgarian Constitution regulates protection of individual rights, the Macedonian Constitution is based on protection of collective rights of parts of the communities. “All claims that if Bulgaria demands the rights of Macedonian Bulgarians to be included in the Constitution then as a reciprocal move North Macedonia should demand recognition of the Macedonian minority in Bulgaria are absolutely unfounded,” President Radev said.