Petrova-Chamova: Talks with North Macedonia require not mediation, but a change in the anti-Bulgarian approach

Bulgarian Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova-Chamova said, in response to a question from lawmakers in the Bulgarian Parliament, that Sofia does not consider mediation necessary in talks with North Macedonia. According to her, issues related to European integration have already been defined at the European level.

Petrova-Chamova said it is not common practice to appoint a mediator between a European Union member state and a candidate country for agreements that are not bilateral but have been approved at the European level. She said Bulgaria’s position on the matter is clear.

The minister added that Sofia expects the Republic of North Macedonia to be willing to change its political narrative toward Bulgaria. According to her, an anti-Bulgarian narrative has prevailed so far and, without changing this approach, dialogue between the two countries will remain difficult.

She described as unfounded claims that Bulgaria might submit further demands or change the position it has maintained to date. Petrova-Chamova stressed that the government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs conduct dialogue with the Republic of North Macedonia based on the 2022 consensus and subsequent decisions of the Bulgarian Parliament, which define the country’s position.

Her position follows a proposal by North Macedonia’s Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski to involve representatives of the European Union as mediators in talks with Sofia. Earlier, Foreign Minister Timço Mucunski had said that dialogue on outstanding issues was supported by European institutions and European Union member states.