Bulgarian Foreign Minister Meets Ambassadors, Leaders of Albanian Parties in Macedonia

Skopje, June 14 (BTA) - Bulgarian Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov 
began his working visit to Macedonia Sunday with a meeting with 
the ambassadors of Germany, the United Kingdom, USA, Italy and 
the Head of the EC Delegation, the Press Centre of the Bulgarian
Foreign Ministry said.

The internal political situation and the prospects for the 
settlement of the political crisis topped the agenda of the 
discussions. The talks focused on the results of the 
negotiations between the political leaders of June 2 and the 
ones of June 10 held with the mediation of the EU. Mitov urged 
for a strong commitment of the EU and the Euro-Atlantic 
community for resolving the political crisis and for the 
implementation of the necessary reforms in the Republic of 
Macedonia. 

The interlocutors united around the importance for the soonest 
possible return of the Republic of Macedonia to the road of the 
European and Euro-Atlantic integration. Mitov voiced Bulgaria's 
readiness to provide support in regards to the implementation of
reforms.

Later in the day, in Tetovo, he conferred with the leaders of 
the two main Albanian parties - Ali Ahmeti (Democratic Union for
Integration) and Menduh Thaci (Democratic Party of Albanians). 
At these meetings, Bulgaria's top diplomat stressed the 
importance of ethnic stability and praised the mature political 
behaviour demonstrated by the Albanian community in the current 
crisis.

Mitov dwelled on the need of a permanent political dialogue and 
voiced hope that negotiations between the leaders of the main 
parties will continue. In this critical moment, there is a need 
of consensus between all political parties and active 
inter-ethnic dialogue. The implementation of reforms requires a 
clear political responsibility towards the process on the part 
of all participants and the civil society, he added.

The interlocutors also discussed bilateral relations between 
Bulgaria and Macedonia. Ahmeti and Thaci voiced support for the 
signing of an agreement on good neighbourly relations between 
the two countries. The two leaders confirmed that there is no 
alternative to Macedonia's European and Euro-Atlantic 
perspective. 

Later on Sunday Mitov is expected to have a talk with President 
Gjorge Ivanov and Foreign Minister Nikola Poposki in Ohrid. On 
Monday he will be received by Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and
will also meet with Zoran Zaev, leader of the opposition Social
Democratic Union of Macedonia.