“Support for Ukraine must go hand in hand with active efforts through diplomacy and other effective mechanisms to stop this debilitating war.”President Rumen Radev commented in an interview with the Greek newspaper Kathimerini.
Radev has repeatedly spoken out against military aid to Ukraine and warned his caretaker government against preparing new supplies as expected.
In the interview, the head of state says that “Bulgaria will continue to support Ukraine within its capabilities and the Ukrainian refugees on Bulgarian territory, but the “sad anniversary of the beginning of this brutal war, which brought terrible suffering, death and complete devastation to Ukraine, with dangerous consequences worldwide”, is approaching.
Therefore, according to the president, it is much needed collective pressureto end this tragedy and stop the senseless violence, avoiding escalation as soon as possible.
The President also pointed out that the sensitivity of Bulgarian society to Russia’s historical role in the Liberation of Bulgaria does not change the fact that our country condemns Russia’s aggression and war against Ukraine.
In response to a question about the European integration of the Republic of North Macedonia, the head of state pointed out that Bulgaria has always supported the country in its most difficult moments and that all the countries of our region set their goal of joining the United Europe.
“The start of negotiations for accession to the EU, however, requires a certain European maturity, the fulfillment of a number of criteria, among which the observance of human rights is mandatory”, said Rumen Radev.
According to the president, in recent months we have witnessed the failure of the stated ambitions of the Republic of North Macedonia for European integration, after a number of hate crimes committed against local Bulgarians.
“Arsons and shootings against Bulgarian cultural clubs in the Republic of North Macedonia and violence against Bulgarians in the country reveal a situation that is closer to the dark past of the Balkans than to their European future”. the head of state pointed out.
Rumen Radev said that both Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia have accepted the proposal of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which foresees a certain negotiation framework for our neighbor.
In order to fully begin accession negotiations, Skopje must complete the agreed constitutional changes and enroll Bulgarians in North Macedonia on an equal footing with the other state-forming peoples listed in its constitution.
“Without this step, negotiations cannot really begin,” the head of state said in the interview.
Therefore, according to the president, the political leadership of the Republic of North Macedonia should be encouraged to take bold steps to democratize the country.
