Osmani Claims There Isn’t Annex to Skopje-Sofia Treaty
Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani claims that there isn’t a 12-item annex to the Skopje-Sofia Treaty. Macedonia’s Foreign Ministry says the stand of the institution and Government is remains unchanged, that is, that all possibilities to find a proper, mutual resolution and to restore trust in the efficiency and successfulness of the 2017 deal should be found. Towards the end of the year, the Ministry adds, an Action Plan concerning implementation of the Skopje-Sofia Treaty was submitted. This week, Special Representative for Bulgaria Vlado Buckovski will hold talks in Sofia with authorities there. Macedonia is still waiting for an answer from Bulgaria to the non-paper submitted by Buckovski to Bulgarian PM Boyko Borissov in December of last year. Officially, Macedonia’s stand is that a solution to the issue lies in implementation of the 2017 deal, without negotiations on the identity and language. According to Krasimir Kar
Skopje-Sofia Exchange of Proposals over Action Plan Agreed
This week, Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani communicated with Bulgarian counterpart Ekaterina Zaharieva. It was agreed for proposals from both sides to be exchanged over the Action Plan, Macedonia’s Foreign Ministry said on Saturday. As it was added, Special Representative Vlado Buckovski’s role is to regularly travel to Bulgaria in order to follow the Action Plan and encourage cooperation of line ministries. In that regard, he’s expected to frequently travel from Skopje to Sofia in the period ahead. According to Bulgarian Defence Minister and Deputy PM Krasimir Karakachanov, Skopje has a chance to get in January or February a date for EU negotiations if it signs the 12-item annex. He also points out that the western neighbour had a chance for a date in November of last year, but didn’t want to use that.