Rosen Plevneliev: There is discrimination towards people with Bulgarian consciousness in Macedonia

Unfortunately, there is a tendency for nationalistic rhetoric, a discriminatory attitude towards citizens with Bulgarian self-consciousness and administrative obstacles for Bulgarian businesses in the Republic of Macedonia, President Rosen Plevneliev said at a meeting with EU Commissioner responsible for enlargement and European neighbourhood policy Stefan Fule.

Thank you for the opportunity to discuss the expansion of the EU and the Western Balkan countries and their accession. Bulgaria has always supported the accession of the Western Balkans to the EU, the President said.

European integration is a guarantee of security, stability and prosperity of the region and it has no alternative. However, this support is not unconditional - it is based on the overall compliance with the membership criteria and the criterion of good neighbourly relations is one of the most important ones, Plevneliev commented.

I read very carefully the EU's enlargement package containing a strategic report on Macedonia's progress, and we cannot agree with some of the formulations in it. In our opinion, the report on the progress does not reflect the role of Macedonia in regional cooperation and the state of bilateral relations between Bulgaria and Macedonia, the President added.

We expect politicians in Skopje to observe the Good Neighbour Declaration and to stop the campaign against Bulgaria. Bulgaria is very tolerant and patient. We will continue to work actively for the European prospect of Macedonia, Plevneliev declared.

The problems need to be resolved prior to the adoption of the countries in the European Union, Stefan Fule said in turn.

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