Sofia, 10 June 2026 (MIA) – Considering the bilateral aspect between Sofia and Skopje, what I always say is that it is in the joint interest of the two countries to move forward on the road to full-fledged EU membership, said Foreign Minister Timcho Mucunski speaking to members of Bulgarian media ahead of the South-East European Cooperation Process (SEECP) in Sofia. 

“Both countries will benefit a lot from this process. I want to assure you that we have the most positive intention to cooperate in defence and security policy, cooperate in economy, in education. Personally, as a professor at a university, I’d taken part in multiple international conferences in Sofia. That’s why I believe all of these events in the past several years have divided the people in the two countries artificially. What matters is to look ahead into the future, not to focus on issues of the past – issues related to the identity, history and language, because we have a future that should unite us,” stated Mucunski. 

On the agreement proposed by France in 2022, he said Macedonia views it differently.

“We should function in a system of mutual trust. Our view is that we have different interpretation of what is expected of our country regarding the 2022 decision,” Mucunski stressed.

According to him, North Macedonia prepared, according to some of the requirements, an excellent minority action plan. 

“It doesn’t involve only the Bulgarian minority, it covers all the minorities in the country, prepared in cooperation with leading Council of Europe experts. What matters, in order to be able to move forward, is to work in building mutual confidence in the coming period,” said the foreign minister.

Mucunski said: “Strong identities shouldn’t be built by attacking the identities of others. In Europe in the 21st century, we should have the capacity to nourish our differences, to respect one another and not to be tied to issues from the past regarding identity, history and language.”

“Our objective is to successfully close the accession negotiations, not only to open them. To do that, what’s important for us? To be sure there are no additional demands for our country in relation to history, identity and language, as well as other bilateral issues that might emerge after starting the negotiations – issues related to history commissions, because they are not European fundamental issues. It’s good to talk and to clear up what is expected of both sides because there is still a strong bilateral element in all of this. Here the biggest misunderstanding lies,” concluded Mucunski.

According to the minister, no challenge can remain unsolved through dialogue and mutual respect if there is willingness and if all sides are committed to the European idea. 

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