The Ambassador of North Macedonia to the country, Agneza Popovska, was summoned to a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
09 May 2023 News
The Minister of Foreign Affairs Ivan Kondov today summoned North Macedonia's Ambassador to Bulgaria Agneza Popovska to a meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the conversation, the Minister expressed strong concern and strong disagreement with the actions of the representatives of the border authorities of the Republic of North Macedonia at the Novo Selo border crossing, who on 6 May 2023 did not allow Mr. Andrey Kovachev, member of the European Parliament, holder of a diplomatic passport, Mr. Milen Vrabevski, chairperson of the Bulgarian Memory Foundation, as well as three other Bulgarian citizens, to enter the country, which prevented their participation in paying tribute to the fallen Bulgarian servicemen in the military cemetery in Novo Selo.
Minister Kondov said that he considers such a measure as unjustified and incompatible with the European principles and norms that the Republic of North Macedonia has committed itself to respect.
On the Bulgarian side, it was pointed out that it is unacceptable to draw up ban lists for citizens of an EU Member State and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs expects to be informed of the criteria according to which Bulgarian citizens and European parliamentarians are included in such lists.
Minister Kondov stressed that such actions by official institutions in North Macedonia, which are not the first time they have happened, have a negative resonance among the Bulgarian public and are undeniably detrimental to building good neighbourly relations between both countries.