Sofia, 6 February 2023 (MIA) — Bulgarian–Macedonian relations should change for good in both directions: Bulgaria should stop threatening and finger-wagging, and North Macedonia should stop provocations, former Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivailo Kalfin told BNR.

“We need to think about living well as neighbors and not as countries in conflict... The behavior on both sides of the border needs to permanently change. We should not constantly wag our fingers and threaten them with a veto. They should stop provoking us all the time and instead work on solving open issues — how to open the borders, allow people to travel — and reduce provocations,” Kalfin said.

According to the Bulgarian politician, Bulgaria should always place human rights first. Some politicians’ statements were problematic, he said, as were names of the Bulgarian clubs in North Macedonia.

“The statements of some Bulgarian politicians who are trying to make their political career last a little longer — saying the Republic of North Macedonia does not exist — do not help. We should also bear in mind that cultural clubs in the Republic of North Macedonia were named after personalities who are obviously controversial and irritating to their public,” Kalfin said. mr/