Bulgaria FM on Balkans Tour, First Stop in Skopje

Sofia news agency Novinite reported that Mladenov will likely present the treaty, which has already been seen by Skopje, and that it will be a major topic of discussion during his visit.

Mladenov is also set to visit Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Bosnia, and Albania on an extended Balkans tour over the next several days.

Issues of bilateral character as well as ways of boosting the economic cooperation will be on the table during his visit to Macedonia, the country's Foreign Ministry informed.

Mladenov is to meet with his Macedonian counterpart Antonio Milososki and with Parliament Speaker Trajko Veljanovski.

The officials will also tackle the issue of Macedonia's progress towards EU integration as well as recent developments concerning the forthcoming Macedonian Chairmanship of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers.

During his visit Mladenov is expected to meet with the individuals who rescued a number of Bulgarian tourists during the last year’s boat accident on Macedonia's Lake Ohrid. He is set to reward them for their bravery.

The FM will also visit Macedonia’s northwestern town of Tetovo, where he will hold a lecture before the students and professors at Tetovo University.

Bulgaria was the first state to recognise Macedonia’s independence from Yugoslavia in 1991, and Bulgaria recognises its neighbour under its constitutional name (i.e. the Republic of Macedonia rather than the Former Yugoslav Republic Of Macedonia – in contrast to countries such as Greece which insist that Macedonia should change its name in order to avoid any references to possible territorial claims).

However, Sofia has not recognised the existence of a Macedonian language separate from the Bulgarian and many Bulgarian historians say that the Macedonians are part of the Bulgarian nation.

In addition, the Macedonian minority in Bulgaria complains that it is being unfairly treated by the state while Sofia objects toSkopje’s treatment of Bulgarians living in Macedonia.

Media recently revealed that Sofia has offered to Skopje a draft friendship treaty suggesting increased cooperation in many fields and pushing for the elimination of hate speech between the people of both countries. Skopje has said it is reviewing the document.

However, some ethnic Macedonian organisations oppose the treaty, expressing concern that it will be based on unequal terms and give Sofia the upper hand over Skopje.