site.btaPresident Radev: It Becomes Clearer That Issue of Bulgarians’ Rights in North Macedonia Is Not a Bilateral Problem

The more attention Bulgaria draws to the rights of its compatriots in the Republic of North Macedonia, the clearer it becomes that this is not a bilateral issue, Bulgarian President Rumen Radev said during a news briefing in Vukovar, Croatia, where he is on an official two-day visit.

“The more Bulgaria explains its position and highlights the issue of our compatriots’ rights in North Macedonia, the more understanding we receive. It becomes evident that this is not a bilateral matter, but rather a problem with the leadership in Skopje—one that must be resolved with European institutions,” Radev stated. “Skopje must finally meet the Copenhagen criteria for EU membership and uphold the commitments it made in 2022.”

President Radev also reported having productive discussions with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic and President Zoran Milanovic, covering a broad range of bilateral and regional topics.

“The Republic of North Macedonia was among the topics discussed. I want to thank Croatia for its understanding and support regarding the situation of Bulgarians in North Macedonia,” Radev added.