site.btaForeign Ministry Expresses Disappointment with Skopje's "Non-Constructive Approach and Lack of Openness"

In a position issued on Tuesday, the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses deep disappointment over the "continued non-constructive approach of Skopje and the lack of openness in communication with the public.”

“For yet another time, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of North Macedonia [Timcho Mucunski] speaks of 'an initiative by larger and more influential EU Member States' to organize a meeting between the Foreign Ministers of Bulgaria and North Macedonia. This is not the first time that official Skopje has made such vague and manipulative claims,” the position reads.

The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry recalls that the European consensus of 2022 was adopted with full unanimity by all EU Member States, as well as by North Macedonia itself, and underscores that the dialogue is institutional, between the candidate country and the European Union. According to the Ministry, the implementation of all measures set out in the consensus, aimed at progress in the process of European integration, depends solely on Skopje.

“Since the beginning of the term in office of the current Government of North Macedonia, we have always been open to a dialogue on all other issues. Unfortunately, Minister Mucunski demonstrates an unwillingness to engage not only in words but also in practice in conducting such a frank dialogue. The most recent example of this is the declined invitation for his visit to Sofia on November 25, 2025, to commemorate the work of St Clement of Ohrid, a significant historical figure from the shared history of the two countries,” the position reads further.

“With regard to the insinuations and assessments made by Minister Mucunski concerning Bulgaria’s approach to the presented draft plan on the rights of communities, we recall that the draft was rejected by the Bulgarian community in North Macedonia as unacceptable due to the absence of fundamental principles guaranteeing the protection of human rights. We expect the legitimate demands of our compatriots in North Macedonia to be heard,” the Foreign Ministry adds.