Saturday. 17 February 2018
Meeting of the President Xhaferi and the President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Mr. Rumen Radev
The President of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia, Mr. Talat Xhaferi met the President of the Republic of Bulgaria, Mr. Rumen Radev, who is officially visiting the Republic of Macedonia for two days.
Mr. Kristijan Vigenin, Chair of the Committee on European Affairs and European Funds Oversight, Mr. Boris Borisov, Chair of the Friendship Group, Bulgaria – Macedonia, as well as the MPs from the Parliamentary Group for Cooperation with the Parliament of the Republic of Bulgaria from the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia, Ms. Frosina Tasheva Remenski, Mr. Ilija Nikolovski and Mr. Rexhail Islaili, members of the Group attended the Meeting.
The two interlocutors agreed that signing and the ratification of the Agreement on Friendship, Good Neighbourliness and Cooperation is in European spirit and undoubtedly opens new opportunities in the relations between the two states, but also proves the strong determination of the Republic of Bulgaria to fully support the Republic of Macedonia for accession in NATO and EU.
The President Xhaferi underlined that he is particularly pleased by the support of the Republic of Bulgaria for accession of the Western Balkan States in NATO and EU. The membership of Macedonia in these organizations remains highest state, political and strategic priority. The Republic of Bulgaria and its institutions, can significantly contribute in the realization of these goals and successful finalization of the process. The current leadership of the Republic of Macedonia makes efforts to improve the relations with the neighbours though various steps, such as the ratification of the Agreement with Bulgaria, resolution of the open disputes with the Republic of Greece. Macedonia expects date on opening accession negotiations with EU, and finally in July 2018, a confirmation of the invitation from Bucharest in 2008 to become Member of the Alliance.
The President Radev expressed pleasure from the meeting and welcomed the ratification of the Agreement in the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia as n important political act and statehood behaviour, underlining the support for the activities in the implementation of the Agreement, which should be constant and continuous. The Agreement opens new dimensions for the Euro Atlantic perspectives of the state. The continuation and the intensification of the cooperation between the two Parliaments, particularly through the Friendship Groups and the Committees on European Affairs. Foreign Policy and Defence is of great importance. 
President Radev underlined that the cooperation between the government and the opposition is of outmost importance, especially in the consensus for the strategic topics of the state, such as the membership in NATO and EU, emphasising the example of the Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria, which fully supported the Agreement on Friendship, Good Neighbourliness and Cooperation with the Republic of Macedonia.
The MPs underlined the dynamics of the cooperation in the areas of mutual interest and emphasised that, though their activities in this historic moment they will contribute and support the joint efforts for promotion of the bilateral cooperation between the two close states and people and support the reforms of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia in the European integration processes.