Bulgarian Defense Minister Krasimir Karakacanov reacted to the growing dispute with Macedonia and the intervention of Slovakia and Czechia, by saying that it is wrong to raise the dispute at the EU level. Bulgaria demands concessions from Macedonia on issues of history and national identity before it will allow the opening of EU accession talks, but the the V4 countries blocked an attempt by Bulgaria to officially make resolving historic differences a condition of EU membership.

Raising the disputed issues between Bulgaria and Macedonia in the European Union will not contribute to the safety and stability of the Union. Our position is the correct one and is in line with European and our national interests, Karakacanov said, speaking about the prospect of dispute between Bulgaria on one side and Slovakia and the Czech Republic on the other.

Speaking in Varna, Karakacanov blamed the dispute on Zoran Zaev and his dragging his feet on the implementation of the 2017 Zaev – Borisov treaty. “I told Zaev that they did nothing for three years, and now it is too late. I will not compromise with the anti-Bulgarian policies and I don’t care if our European partners have different opinions. There were attempts to dissuade us but they had no arguments. Ultimately, Bulgaria must take care of its own interests”, he added.