Bulgaria expects nothing from North Macedonia beyond what was agreed in 2022, foreign minister Velislava Petrova said after talks in Sofia with Macedonian foreign minister Timcho Mucunski. The talks took place during the international ministerial conference on Corridor 8.
This follows our earlier story on Petrova's plan to raise the case of Iva Mihaylova with Mucunski. North Macedonia asked for the meeting, and Petrova agreed.
Petrova said the conditions for North Macedonia's path to the EU have not changed since 2022. They include the constitutional changes and all other parts of the deal from that time, which Bulgaria expects to be met. She asked how soon North Macedonia expects that to happen.
Petrova said the Macedonian officials stressed the need to build trust. In her view, trust grows mainly from commitments that are kept, and she hopes to see positive steps. Other Western Balkan countries manage to find the political will to move forward, she added. Bulgaria supports North Macedonia's path to the EU.
The ministers also discussed the treatment of Iva Mihaylova. Petrova said North Macedonia's readiness to accept Bulgarian doctors is good news, but only if treatment starts sooner. She called the case a humanitarian one and said she hopes Mihaylova will be treated.
The return of the remains of Tsar Samuil was not discussed at the meeting.