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Southeast Europe
August 4, 2017 www.intellinews.com I Page 15
Macedonia and Bulgaria sign historic friendship treaty
bne IntelliNews
Macedonia and Bulgaria signed an historic friend- ship treaty that opens the way for deeper coopera- tion between the two neighbours on August 1.
The treaty, which was signed shortly after a new government took power in Skopje and followed years of negotiations aimed at the conclusion of such an agreement, also strengthens Macedonia’s prospects for Euro-Atlantic integration. However, it drew sharp criticism from the opposition in both countries.
Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and his Bulgarian peer Boyko Borissov signed the treaty in Skopje during the first day of Borissov’s two-day visit to Macedonia.
The rights and obligations of the two countries that stem from the treaty are packed into five pages containing 14 articles. Macedonian and Bulgarian ministers also signed two memorandums for coop- eration, one on the development of railway infra- structure and the second in the field of natural gas.
“With this agreement we showed that if there is a political will all issued can be solved,” Zaev, who looked obviously cheerful, said after the signing ceremony. Borissov appeared somewhat tense at the event.
The friendship treaty, which sparked controversies in the two countries, is intended to put an end to all disputes arising from history, language and minority issues, which have resulted in a troubled and com- plex relationship between Skopje and Sofia. Most importantly it could help Macedonia secure support from Bulgaria for its EU accession process.
For Zaev, the treaty closes outstanding issues from the past and opens the way for collaboration in many fields, as well as contributing to the po- litical stability of the whole region. “Let the treaty be a model for cooperation in the region,” Zaev
said in a live broadcast on 24vesti.
According to Zaev, the agreement will also create opportunities for greater economic development and cooperation on road and gas infrastructure. “It will be of benefit for citizens of the both coun- tries,” he said.
The Macedonian prime minister underlined that the agreement is sending a message to the EU and Nato that governments in the Balkans can build bridges and deserve membership in interna- tional organisations.
Borissov agreed: “You’ll see the reactions in the EU after the signing of this treaty, they will be positive... If we look back we can stumble and fall, so we decided to look forward”.
The Bulgarian prime minister also underlined the importance of the two memorandums, particu- larly for the construction of the Pan-European Corridor VIII, which links Bulgaria and Albania
via Macedonia, and opportunities for receiving EU funds for such projects.
The gas memorandum opens the way for a direct gas connection between Macedonia and Bulgaria, Borissov noted.
Asked about the criticism expressed by the Mac- edonian opposition VMRO-DPMNE party about the treaty, Borissov said that critics are everywhere, also in Bulgaria. “But you will see the results if the memorandums are implemented,” Borissov said optimistically.
VMRO-DPMNE had asked for the friendship treaty to be examined in an urgent open session in the parliament to allow the public to know what will be signed and to be aware of “the benefits for the Bulgarian side and disadvantage for Macedonia”.