The issue of power should not shift the problems of the people from the focus of Bulgarian politicians, which should be solved responsibly, the President tells journalists

 

The change in the Constitution of the Republic of North Macedonia (RNM) is not the last, as some claim, but the first step on the path of its integration into the European Union. This is what President Rumen Radev told journalists in Plovdiv and urged Bulgarian politicians not to rush to declare a historic victory. The head of State clarified that from now on the process of European integration of the RNM will be based on two important documents - the negotiating framework, which is being developed by the EU, and the bilateral protocol, which is a commitment of Bulgaria and the RNM and will be an integral part of the negotiating framework. 

 

The President pointed out that the proposal of the French Presidency of the Council of the EU for a negotiating framework is the best so far and has been achieved thanks to a clear Bulgarian position and argumentation last year. The position I shared is already clear to our European partners and they share it too - the defence of civil rights and the fight against discrimination cannot be just a bilateral issue between Bulgaria and the RNM, the head of State stressed. In his words, these issues should be raised at the level of the European Union, as the rights of the Macedonian Bulgarians and their inclusion in the constitution are already enshrined in the negotiating framework.

 

The negotiating framework alone cannot protect our interest, it generally describes the process itself. The real protection of Bulgaria's interests depends on the content of the bilateral protocol, the head of State stressed. He recalled that in this protocol this country's cultural and historical heritage should be defended and it should be ensured that the process of de-Bulgarisation in the RNM is stopped, because on the basis of this document the EU will monitor what exactly to demand and defend in the long process of negotiations. 

 

At the moment, the proposed bilateral protocol does not sufficiently protect and does not provide sufficient guarantees for the protection of our interest in terms of concrete actions, clear mechanisms, deadlines and measurable criteria, the President said and called on the responsible institutions to start setting the missing parameters in this bilateral protocol, because if it is not updated and refined, the negotiating framework will be rendered meaningless. The head of State stressed that it is also necessary to refine the texts on the proposed constitutional amendments and to refine the European control mechanism. 

 

I call once again on the Council of Ministers not to hide behind the National Assembly. It is the leading institution and we expect it to make clear and responsible decisions in this direction, President Rumen Radev said. He also addressed the political leaders in the RNM. It is time for political leadership, courage and responsibility for the sake of the future. The road to Europe is a road forward, not backward, the head of State said.

 

Responding to a question about the upcoming cabinet vote of no-confidence in the National Assembly, the President stressed that he expected common sense from Bulgarian politicians. The issue of power is not the main issue in the country, the problems of the Bulgarian citizens should be solved responsibly. I expect that the issues of power do not shift the focus of our politicians from the agenda of the Bulgarians, which is clear, Rumen Radev concluded.