Sofia, 14 November 2021 (MIA) – Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, who is seeking re-election in Sunday’s presidential elections, said the opening of EU membership negotiations of North Macedonia will not depend on the next Bulgarian government but solely on the country itself. “What is crucial for the Republic of North Macedonia to open EU negotiations is to respect the rights of Macedonian Bulgarians, eliminate hate speech and put an end to attempts for systematic destruction of Bulgaria’s cultural and historical heritage. The opening of negotiations will not depend on the next government in Bulgaria and new parliament, but solely on the Republic of North Macedonia itself, which needs to take adequate measures,” Radev told reporters. He said he is confident that only an open dialogue between Sofia and Skopje can build sincere friendship between the two countries, MIA’s Sofia correspondent reported. Radev mentioned that at the EU-Western Balkans summit in Slovenia, the current EU presidency holder, he had reiterated Bulgaria’s clear position expressed to the EU leaders – North Macedonia has to take adequate measures and an open dialogue between Sofia and Skopje is the way for sincere partnership rather than lobbying in the European capitals. Radev, who is poised to be re-elected for a second five-year presidential term, said Sunday’s elections, where voters are also electing a new parliament, are extremely crucial. “It depends on them whether recovery processes in the country will continue. The first task of the Bulgarian politicians is to form a new government and that cabinet should have strong support from the Bulgarian parliament,” he stated.