Bulgarian MEP Andrey Kovachev, in an interview with BTV, stated that Bulgaria wants full membership in the European Union for all Western Balkan countries, especially now that Northern Macedonia achieves this, informs Zhurnal.
He says both sides must overcome the hatred created by the totalitarian regime.
“Regarding the Republic of Northern Macedonia, I believe that it is not European to support manipulations and lies. We must overcome the hatred that was built during the time of the totalitarian regime. It is normal to seek to overcome anti-Bulgarian rhetoric, especially in recent weeks. They must have the courage to do so, not because it is a Bulgarian position, but because it is the historical truth,” Kovachev said.
According to him, external factors such as Belgrade and Moscow, as well as the pro-Yugoslav elite with nostalgia for Tito, do not allow Bulgaria to be close to Northern Macedonia and the two countries have relations like Germany and Austria, Greece and Cyprus, Romania and Moldova.
According to a survey we published yesterday, almost 84% of Bulgarians say that there should be talks between Northern Macedonia and the EU, but only when Macedonia overcomes historical manipulations and reaches an agreement on the facts from Bulgaria’s past.
According to Kovachev, Bulgaria in 2017 warned Macedonia that the problems should be solved.
