Skopje, 13 March 2025 (MIA) – Regretfully, it can be concluded that our neighbour once again has attempted the responsibility of unfulfilling its international commitments to be shifted onto our country, the Macedonian Foreign Ministry says in a response to yesterday’s reaction by the Bulgarian foreign ministry to PM Hristijan Mickoski’s remarks.

“We emphasize that respect and implementation of European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) decisions is not a bilateral issue, it is a mandatory commitment of every Council of Europe member country. The Republic of North Macedonia remains fully committed to the rule of law and honouring of human rights and liberties, being the founding values of European integration and the country cannot accept seeing them denied or relativized, including when it comes to the rights of the Macedonian minority in the Republic of Bulgaria. Additionally, we want to stress that the Republic of North Macedonia is fully committed to the European integration process, which we believe shouldn’t be misused by introducing additional political conditions that are not part of the Copenhagen criteria. The policy of conditions and baseless accusations is an unprincipled obstacle on our country’s EU integration path, which doesn’t contribute to building of good neighbourly relations. Quite contrary, it creates unnecessary tensions that doesn’t correspond with the European spirit of cooperation,” says the Foreign Ministry in a statement.  

Macedonian authorities, it adds, strongly advocate for the development of friendly relations between the two countries and settlement of all open issues through an equal dialogue, responsible behaviour, mutual respect and understanding.

“Thus, we expect an equally constructive approach by the Republic of Bulgaria, based on complete honouring of the goals and principles of the UN Charter and the rules of international law, because it is in the interest of our citizens, in the interest of the two countries playing a role in strengthening regional peace, stability, security and the common European perspective,” says the Foreign Ministry’s statement.

MIA file photo