President Radev: The Veto on North Macedonia should Remain until the Bulgarians are Included in the Constitution

"I cannot compromise with the rights of Macedonian Bulgarians. They must be in the Constitution." This was stated by Bulgarian President Rumen Radev in his half-hour speech at the opening of a conference on "European perspective for good neighborly relations between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia".

The forum is organized by the Institute for Historical Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the Macedonian Scientific Institute and under the patronage of the head of state. The conference is in memory of Gotse Delchev, whose death today marks 119 years.

According to Radev, he does not agree with the formula reached by Prime Minister Kiril Petkov and EC President Ursula von der Leyen - the change in the Constitution to be guaranteed by the EU, to be introduced together with the package of measures of the neighborly agreement between the two countries in the negotiating chapters. This will not only unblock the accession of North Macedonia to the EU, but will also protect Bulgaria's position.

"I am convinced that the European future of the Republic of North Macedonia has no alternative", said Rumen Radev at the beginning of his speech and added that he was convinced of the desire of the people on both sides for full communication. He recalled that Bulgaria was the first country to recognize the independence of the young Macedonian state in 1992.

"We have unconditionally supported North Macedonia's membership in NATO, provided guarantees for its security." If we want our relations to develop strategically, we must be honest in our dialogue," Radev said. He added that an anti-Bulgarian campaign involving state institutions, media and political parties is still raging in Skopje....