The Macedonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade summoned Bulgarian Ambassador Zhelyazko Radukov on Tuesday to issue a formal protest over the use of the term “North Macedonian.”
An oral demarche was delivered to Radukov following remarks made Monday by Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova Chamova.
During the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting on May 11, Chamova reportedly referred to Macedonian government officials as “North Macedonian partners.” At the meeting with Ambassador Radukov, ministry representatives noted that the adjective derived from the country’s name was incorrect.
The latest development followed a brief encounter between Chamova and Macedonian Foreign Minister Timcho Mucunski late Monday. While Chamova suggested they had had a bilateral meeting, Mucunski said the two had only a short exchange of words.
Macedonian FM also publicly criticized Chamova’s phrasing, calling the adjective “North Macedonian” inaccurate and inappropriate.
“Bulgaria has a clearly expressed position that the problem with Macedonia from 2022 is no longer a bilateral issue, but a matter of discussion between the European Union and the candidate country. I am glad that we have a very broad political consensus on this in Bulgaria. I have also told this to our North Macedonian partners. We expect activities from them that will show that they have full political readiness to move forward on their European path. This enlargement window may open in the coming years and if they do not seize this opportunity, they may actually lose out. It is also good for us to see stronger activity from their side in accordance with the agreements reached. To stick to the agreement reached in 2022 and to take the necessary political steps. To open their European path,” said Petrova Chamova in her address.
