North Macedonia’s Prime Minister Zoran Zaev met with Bulgaria’s President Rumen Radev at the end of Monday’s NATO Summit in Brussels, discussing perspective to achieve a real step forward in North Macedonia’s European integration.
Participants in the meeting agreed that PM Zaev pays a visit to Sofia this week.
President Radev underlined the principled and continued support for North Macedonia’s future in the EU, as well as Bulgaria’s expectation for direct and active political dialogue to resolve outstanding issues in mutual relations, the Government said in a press release.
“Both Rumen Radev and Zoran Zaev highlighted the positive sign in the relations between the two countries, achieved by the heads of state of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia with their joint travel to Rome and the Holy See in May to honor Ss. Cyril and Methodius,” reads the press release.
Interlocutors also emphasized the common will to achieve sustainable results in building good neighborly relations between Bulgaria and North Macedonia, to meet expectations of citizens in both countries, the press release adds.
Prime Minister Zaev and President Radev also tackled, among other, bilateral partnership in the area of security and defense, as well as the possibility to expand cooperation in military training and exchange of cadets between the two countries.
Deputy PM for European Affairs Nikola Dimitrov, Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani and Defense Minister Radmila Shekerinska, as well as Bulgaria’s Defense Minister Georgi Panayotov also attended the meeting.