Deputy Minister Ivan Kondov today held a meeting with Manuel Sarrazin, Special Representative for the Western Balkans at the German Foreign Ministry
24 July 2024 News
Deputy Minister Ivan Kondov today held a meeting with Manuel Sarrazin, Special Representative for the Western Balkans at the German Foreign Ministry. The two interlocutors discussed the current developments in the region and the opportunities for interaction between Bulgaria and Germany to ensure regional security and stability. Deputy Minister Kondov reaffirmed Bulgaria's support for the EU's increased commitment to strengthening the resilience of the Western Balkan countries in the context of the complicated geopolitical environment, as well as for the enlargement policy based on the principle of own merits in meeting the established conditions and criteria.
A special focus in the conversation was placed on the Republic of North Macedonia. Deputy Minister Kondov underlined Bulgaria's clear and consistent position on Skopje's European integration, based on the need for strict implementation of the European Consensus of July 2022. He assured that the Bulgarian side has no intentions to set ‘new conditions’, but will also not allow deviation from the agreements reached, the first of which is the inclusion of Bulgarians, on an equal footing with other communities, in the constitution of the Republic of North Macedonia. In this regard, he expressed concern that the frequent statements of government representatives in Skopje, questioning the implementation of the commitments and provocations against Bulgaria, only lead to further delay of the accession process of the neighbouring country. The Bulgarian side also stressed the importance of economic and transport connectivity in the region and the need for further investment in this area.
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