Bulgarian President Rumen Radev warned Macedonia that it should not consider Bulgarian support for its EU accession as something that is given without preconditions.

Bulgaria must be and will be the country that supports North Macedonia the most, that is our duty toward our brothers there, but it is clear that this support can’t be unconditional and without reservations. We must be sincere and clearly state our red lines, Radev said.

The two countries were involved in a bitter political dispute over the nationality of legendary VMRO leader Goce Delcev, with Bulgaria demanding that future Macedonian history books declare that Goce was a Bulgarian. The issue is about to come to the front again, as both countries prepare to celebrate Ilinden (August 2nd), the anniversary of the 1903 Ilinden Uprising.