Macedonia ratifies friendship treaty with Bulgaria

SKOPJE, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Macedonia's parliament adopted at Monday session the draft law on ratification of the Agreement on Friendship, Good Neighborliness and Cooperation between Macedonia and Bulgaria.

The ratification was approved only with 61 votes of majority lawmakers as the opposition MPs continued the parliamentary boycott.

While noting the difficulties encountered during the process of reaching an agreement between the two countries, Macedonian foreign minister Nikola Dimitrov said that the treaty covered Macedonia's interests in Bulgaria as well.

"Today marks a nice symbolism because on this day Bulgaria had recognized the independence of Macedonia, being the first nation that had done so. It is pivotal that before the agreement's ratification in practice we are seeing a substantial shift in our relations," Dimitrov said in his address to the parliament.

Macedonia and Bulgaria's premiers, Zoran Zaev and Boyko Borisov respectively, signed the friendship treaty on Aug. 1, 2017.

Both officials declared upon signing of treaty that it aimed at strengthening the countries' friendly relations, advancing good neighborly ties, establishing versatile mutual relations in compliance with the international law.

Following the adoption of draft law on ratification of this treaty, Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, posted a message on social media where he welcomed Macedonia's parliament act.

"The decision of Macedonia's Parliament to ratify the Friendship Treaty with Bulgaria is an important step into the right direction towards the country's European Union path," Hahn wrote Monday.

He noted that the treaty was also a milestone for good neighborly relations in the entire Western Balkans region. Enditem