Skopje, 23 January 2023 (MIA) – Latest developments in relations with Bulgaria were in the focus of Monday’s session of the Security Council of the Republic of North Macedonia, President Stevo Pendarovski said after the meeting.  

The Security Council has come up with a proposal to the Government to ban the entry of one MEP and several other people in the country. According to President Pendarovski, it is suspected that some of those people are connected to the Russian intelligence service.  

He said that an organized group is expected to arrive in the country on February 4 to mark the anniversary of Goce Delchev’s birth. The group will aim to disrupt security in order to destabilize the country and relations with Bulgaria. The President noted that all necessary security measures will be taken from the border to Goce Delchev’s grave.  

“According to the available analyses and knowledge of the competent authorities, these are activities organized by structures in neighboring Bulgaria, which have been activated particularly after the adoption of the European negotiating framework in July last year. These structures have already been mobilized both logistically and financially to support organized arrival of several people in Skopje on February 4, when we celebrate Goce Delchev’s birth anniversary. According to all estimates, it will be a high security risk event and the competent authorities must not be just silent observers of what will be happening,” said Pendarovski.  

At the session, Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani reported on the visit to Ukraine held as part of North Macedonia’s OSCE Chairmanship. Defense Minister Slavica Petrovska and Army Chief of Staff, Lieutenant-General Vasko Gjurchinovski, reported on the situation in Kosovo, where army members are part of the KFOR mission.  

Apart for the Council members, the session was also attended by Intelligence Agency director Erold Musliu, National Security Agency director Zarko Miloshevski, and Army Chief of Staff, Lieutenant-General Vasko Gjurchinovski, the President’s office said in a press release.