Position of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
10 July 2025 News
Today, the Bulgarian Ambassador in Skopje was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of the Republic of North Macedonia in relation to the use of the adjective “North Macedonian” in reference to the Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia, Hristijan Mickoski. On the same day, the Prime Minister of the neighbouring country made highly inappropriate public remarks directed at the Bulgarian Minister of Foreign Affairs. In this regard, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria issues the following statement:
The Bulgarian Ambassador in Skopje expressed surprise at the reason for the summons, particularly in light of a series of unfriendly messages and actions emanating from representatives of the authorities in Skopje in recent months. The Bulgarian diplomat explicitly emphasised that, in the public domain, the official authorities of the Republic of North Macedonia have systematically and deliberately demonstrated a lack of respect toward our country.
During the meeting, the Bulgarian Ambassador also conveyed Bulgaria’s serious concern regarding a number of sharp, manipulative and often offensive statements by senior officials of the Republic of North Macedonia, directed both at Bulgaria and at the European Union. It is especially unacceptable for a country that has consistently extended genuine and selfless assistance – including, at present, Bulgarian firefighters providing support in Kriva Palanka in response to ongoing wildfires – to be labelled a “hostile state.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria strongly condemns the unacceptable and offensive language used by Mr Hristijan Mickoski in reference to an official representative of Bulgaria – namely, the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Such statements are incompatible with the most basic norms of diplomatic and political dialogue, as well as with the principles of good neighbourly relations, which the Republic of North Macedonia publicly claims to uphold, yet in practice blatantly violates.
This latest use of vulgar epithets towards representatives of the Bulgarian state not only undermines the already fragile trust between our two countries but also calls into question the genuine commitment of the political leadership in Skopje to the 2017 Treaty of Friendship, Good-Neighbourliness and Cooperation, as well as to the stated aspiration to join the European Union – a process that requires mutual respect, responsibility, and political maturity.
Bulgaria will not tolerate hate speech, personal attacks or deliberate efforts to erode bilateral relations. Such statements by the official authorities of the Republic of North Macedonia create a climate of hostility and fail to demonstrate the political will necessary to return to a normal, respectful and constructive dialogue.