Skopje, 15 February 2025 (MIA) - Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Timcho Mucunski will meet Saturday with his Bulgarian counterpart, Georg Georgiev, on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade confirmed yesterday.

Ahead of the meeting, the first between top officials from the two countries after Bulgaria formed a government, Mucunski in a statement to the national broadcaster MRT said a dialogue in positive spirit over issues that unite the country is needed to overcome the challenge with Bulgaria.

“As neighbors we should talk in good faith, we should talk about things that bring us together, we should stop creating divisions and sowing hatred. The logical and obviouGs way forward, with positive energy and positive spirit, is by removing all barriers that do not correspond with European values. So, the question isn’t whether all challenges will be solved tomorrow, I believe they won’t. Some challenges need time, they need dialogue, but I believe [the meeting] is a chance for a positive step forward,” Mucunski told MRT.

Minister Mucunski is attending the conference in Munich as part of a government delegation led by Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, which also includes Defense Minister Vlado Misajlovski, Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski and Minister of European Affairs Orhan Murtezani.

On Friday in Munich, Prime Minister Mickoski mets with European Council President António Costa in Munich on Friday, discussing European integration, efforts and concessions made in that regard, as well as the need to open the EU's doors.  

Mickoski pointed out that the country deserves to move forward and finally not be held hostage to bilateral disputes and obstacles, of which there have been many in the past, the Government said in a press release.

Attending the Munich Security Conference, Mickoski is expected to meet with the Chairman of the Munich Security Conference, Ambassador Christoph Heusgen, and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic, the government said in a press release.

“The head of the Macedonian government, Mickoski, will be one of the speakers at a closing event of the conference, dedicated to the EU accession negotiations of the Western Balkans and will take part in a Foreign Policy discission, in which he will speak about geopolitics, energy security and the role of global changes. Mickoski will also take the opportunity to lobby and showcase the real picture of the country’s accession negotiations as regards the European perspectives as well as a plan for development and economic achievements, part of the efforts made for economic progress and safety of the citizens,” said the government.

The 61st Munich Security Conference, held on February 14-16, offers a high-level dialogue on key foreign and security challenges, considered topical issues by the political leaders. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, US Vice President JD Vance and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also attend the conference.

MIA file photo