PM Borisov: Macedonia Is Bulgaria's 'Best Friend'

Bulgaria remains resolutely friendly and supportive of Macedonia's EU and NATO bids, but insists that Macedonia fulfills all requirements beforehand, stated Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov.

Thursday Borisov commented on this week's developments, which saw the European Council for General Affairs adopting the Bulgarian proposal tabled by Foreign Minister Nikolay Mladenov to delay giving a date for Macedonia.

The decision is expected to be confirmed by the European Council meeting in Brussels Thursday and Friday.

Bulgaria's move was also backed by President Rosen Plevneliev and PM Boyko Borisov, who had long expressed strong concerns regarding the rights of ethnically Bulgarian Macedonians and what they see as a general anti-Bulgarian rhetoric on the part of authorities in Skopje.

"Our position toward Macedonia is resolute: we have always wholly supported the country in its EU and NATO accession," said Borisov Thursday.

"It is our closest country and our best friend, but criteria have to be met first, especially good neighborly relations," added he.

"We have not said "no" to Macedonia. We just said what we were also told back at that time - cover the criteria, be good neighbors, be tolerant to everyone, get your judiciary in shape," explained the Bulgarian PM.

Thursday all three democratically elected former presidents of Bulgaria - Zhelyu Zhelev, Petar Stoyanov, and Georgi Parvanov - as well as former Bulgarian EU Commissioner Meglena Kuneva, criticized the move of the Bulgarian government as counter-productive.

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