The start of accession negotiations between the EU and the Republic of North Macedonia depends only on Skopje, Bulgaria’s President Rumen Radev, who is running for a second term in office, said. 

The respect for the rights of Macedonian Bulgarians, the eradication of hate speech and terminating the destruction of Bulgarian cultural and historical heritage in North Macedonia are the key to the start of accession talks, Rumen Radev said, quoted by BGNES. The beginning of accession talks will not depend on Bulgaria’s next government or Parliament, but on the actions of the Republic of North Macedonia itself. Sofia and Skopje will build just and friendly relations via an open dialogue only, President Radev noted.