Bulgaria-Macedonia Good Neighbourly Relations Agreement to be Signed August 2

Sofia, June 20 (BTA) - Macedonia's Agreement on Good Neighbourly Relations with Bulgaria is almost ready, and after some final modifications it will be signed in Macedonia on August 2 during joint observances of Ilinden (Saint Elijah's Day), Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said on Tuesday.

Zaev was speaking to journalists in Sofia after meeting with Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov.

He said Macedonia will count on Bulgaria to help it accede to NATO and later to the European Union.

Borissov and Zaev paid respects at the monument to Tsar Samuel in Sofia.

The guest said: "This is a historic moment. After my visit to Brussels, my first trip is to Sofia as we hope to enlist support and assistance for our EU and NATO membership."

Zaev said he asked Bulgaria on Tuesday to share its experience in the absorption of EU funds. Macedonia has few EU-funded programmes but hopes to launch more, and Bulgaria's valuable experience can be of help. He reaffirmed Skopje's wish to open EU accession talks and to become NATO member.

Borissov stressed that congratulations were due to Zaev because after a bad political crisis, there is finally calm at Bulgaria's border with Macedonia. "Macedonia has a historic chance to make its citizens feel good. Progress to NATO and the EU and unity in the Balkans require domestic stability and problem solving," said Borissov. Infrastructure connectivity through railways and a motorway between Skopje and Sofia will open Macedonia in all directions, the Bulgarian Prime Minister said. "We will do our best with our friend Greece to solve all problems because instability in Macedonia means instability at our borders. We are in favour of a unitary Macedonia and of its NATO and EU membership," said Borissov.

"Commemorating history together has been a major issue, that is why we are going to the monument to Tsar Samuel - this is something we can commemorate together," said Borissov, adding that this was the reason why he had picked Saint Elijah's Day for his visit to Macedonia. "If we concentrate on infrastructure projects, I am confident that both the Balkans and our relations will be different in 10-15 years," he said.

The Bulgarian Prime Minister noted that the Agreement on Good Neighbourly Relations was very close to being finalized, which would be good both for Brussels and for the two countries.

For his part, Zaev stressed that Macedonia has a European future and he is very happy that his country has a friend like Borissov. He added that Skopje also needed help from its friend Greece. "The West wants to see us helping each other and lending a helping hand where possible," he said. Macedonia is closing the chapter of nationalism and hatred and is opening a chapter of a European future for all. "History can bring us closer together rather than dividing us. The country which first recognized Macedonia has taken the first step towards our aspirations to quick NATO and EU accession," said Zaev.

Regarding the agreement, Zaev said there was one detail: it remained to be seen if signing it in the Macedonian language would be a problem. "What we are doing now, paying homage to our common history, is more valuable than any treaty," he said.

Borissov noted that details were important for the future generations, not for today. Some words lend themselves to various interpretations, he said. "The Constitution of Macedonia says treaties shall be signed in the Macedonian language. It should be decided what 'common history' means and to which period this applies. Historians talk about different periods, but since 1901 Macedonia has had a separate history which is not shared with Bulgaria," said Borissov.

The Bulgarian Prime Minister also said: "No other people is closer to us, that is why when historians come up with terms which will help us guarantee the future, we will set a good example to the other Balkan countries and Macedonia's road to Europe and NATO will be opened."