North Macedonia seeks solution with Bulgaria within clear principles

We want to have active communication and active engagement with Sofia and Corridor VIII is an example that we can cooperate, said Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of North Macedonia Timcho Mucunski, answering journalists’ questions ahead of the Macedonian-Slovak Business Forum.

"We also have concrete communication with the European Union. One of the topics we discussed is the process of potentially finding a solution with neighboring Bulgaria and this is something that we will work on, however, within the principles that are clear," he said

“Yesterday I attended an event in Tirana on Corridor VIII, and tangible measures are being taken by both parties for the realization of this project. But we said that the western section of Corridor VIII in Albania should also be accelerated, and we have been seeing positive signals from Albania recently, and we should welcome that because Corridor VIII wouldn’t be whole without the obligations that Albania has to deliver, and here I am not only talking about road and rail infrastructure, but also energy infrastructure and other complementary issues. Why am I bringing up Corridor VIII? Because Corridor VIII is proof that we can cooperate with neighboring Bulgaria when we want to,” Mucunski said.

The Foreign Minister noted that an electoral process is currently underway in Bulgaria and Macedonian officials should be careful when making statements since, he said, the country has absolutely no interest in becoming a part of the election rhetoric in Bulgaria.

“Anyone who wants to and aims to involve us in the election rhetoric in neighboring Bulgaria does not have pro-EU values. And we can see this also from certain factors in neighboring Bulgaria. But to be honest, I also feel this from certain political factors in our country as well,” Mucunski said.

The Foreign Minister said the dispute is also being discussed with the European Union.

“A few days ago you could see in Munich that I accompanied Prime Minister Mickoski at a meeting with the President of the European Council, António Costa, and of course one of the topics we discussed is the process of potentially finding a solution with neighboring Bulgaria and that is something we will work on, but within the principles that are clear to everyone,” Mucunski stressed.