Bulgarian President Rumen Radev said Tuesday that concerns over the rights of Bulgarians in North Macedonia should not be seen as a bilateral dispute, but as a broader issue involving the country’s alignment with European standards.
“The more Bulgaria explains its position and highlights the issue of our compatriots’ rights in North Macedonia, the more understanding we receive,” Radev told reporters during an official visit to Croatia. “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 urged North Macedonia to fulfill the Copenhagen criteria for EU membership and to uphold commitments made in 2022.
The Bulgarian president said he held productive talks with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković and President Zoran Milanović, covering a wide 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,” he said.