site.btaSlovak Ambassador Summoned to Foreign Ministry following President Pellegrini's Visit to Skopje

The Ambassador of Slovakia to Bulgaria, Vasil Grivna, was summoned to the Foreign Ministry in connection with official statements made by Slovak President Peter Pellegrini during his visit to the Republic of North Macedonia, including unacceptable remarks regarding the country’s European integration process, the Ministry said Thursday.

The Director General of the European Affairs General Directorate, Yordan Parvanov, expressed Bulgaria’s deep astonishment at President Pellegrini's positions, which in effect challenge the validity of the European consensus of July 2022, adopted by all EU Member States, including Slovakia, the Ministry noted.

“We are deeply disappointed that a partner country would choose to encourage the counterproductive rhetoric of the government in the Republic of North Macedonia, which persistently seeks a culprit for the lack of progress in its European integration process. Such a position serves neither the EU’s strategic vision for the region nor the interests of the citizens of that candidate country,” Parvanov said.

The Foreign Ministry reminded its partners in Bratislava that progress toward EU depends solely on each country’s own merits in fulfilling established criteria and honoring commitments.

On October 14, during his visit to Skopje, the Slovak President said that his country is a strong supporter of North Macedonia’s integration into the EU. "The EU must not abuse your country's accession process for its own internal issues," he added. "That is a serious political mistake. Countries like yours have the capacity to implement reforms and progress chapter by chapter. The enlargement process must be based on technical readiness, not geopolitical calculations," Pellegrini said. He said that he cannot accept double standards, and that is why he criticizes the EU.

"You have really come a long way. I know how difficult it was to resolve the name issue. I will be honest – the EU is making a big mistake by constantly setting new conditions. Your country has been part of the accession negotiations for 20 years and has made many difficult decisions, and there is still no answer as to when it will become a full member," Pellegrini said at a joint news conference with North Macedonia's President, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova. "The EU is taking a risk with this process. Slovakia stands firmly by your side and supports you in every possible way, because we believe the EU’s future lies in enlargement and this includes security, especially in this region," he added.