The Republic of North Macedonia is the closest most friendly country and the development of bilateral relations is of great importance to Bulgaria. This requires regular contacts, dialogue and cooperation, President Rumen Radev said during his meeting with the Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia Zoran Zaev.

"The two countries must resolve issues through dialogue," Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said. The North Macedonian delegation, which also includes Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Nikola Dimitrov and Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani, has also met with Bulgarian caretaker Prime Minister Stefan Yanev and the GERB and BSP party leaders. "Mr. Zaev's delegation comes with concrete proposals, which will be discussed intensively and professionally today and in the coming days," Yanev said.

PM Zaev's visit comes before the General Affairs Council, which will take place next Tuesday and would discuss the start of EU Membership talks with Skopje and Tirana. Bulgaria's position is that the negotiating framework does not meet the demands of our country, but according to Yanev and Zaev the dialogue continues in a friendly and constructive way. The North Macedonian delegation stays in Sofia this evening, as talks continue in an informal setting.