Skopje, 30 September 2021 (MIA) – Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said Thursday that there’s a change in positions as Bulgaria is becoming more understanding of the necessity of key aspects in the negotiations that are non-negotiable. “The Macedonian language and the Macedonian identity are not only one of our most important issues, they are also European values the same as the Bulgarian identity and Bulgarian language are European values,” he told reporters after the eighth Western Balkans Civil Society Forum in Skopje. Zaev said that European Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi and European Council President Charles Michel are making attempts a positive solution to the dispute to be found by mid-December during the Council of the EU. “Until then, all sides have to work, North Macedonia and Bulgaria, and the EU as well to reach that goal,” he stated. Changes in Bulgaria’s position, according to the PM, involve mutual understanding. “However, not all steps are defined and that should be discussed further.” “These are serious and positive messages from Bulgaria and we want to respond to that with positive messages,” PM Zaev said adding he hoped the politicians in the two countries will ultimately provide “a good future of both Macedonians and Bulgarians by acting wisely.” Asked whether Bulgaria will acknowledge that Macedonia, present name North Macedonia, is not an artificial nation established after 1945, Zaev said he wouldn’t like to comment interviews or media articles. “Bulgarian President Rumen Radev and PM Stefan Yanev have never said such a thing to me. They believe in our friendship, our cooperation and our good neighborliness. They want to help as we do, because it is important what kind of history we’re writing now. No one is asking us to define history now. History, according to the Friendship Treaty, should act as a bridge of friendship and cooperation,” stated PM Zaev.