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Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban on Friday offered to help mediate a long-running dispute between North Macedonia and Bulgaria that has been a sticking point holding back EU negotiations for the former.
North Macedonia’s route to membership in the European Union has been blocked for years by neighbouring Bulgaria, which demands it change its constitution to acknowledge its Bulgarian minority.
“Whether the parties are prepared to accept Hungary as a mediator will be their own decision, but we are ready and we want to work on this,” said Orban.
The nationalist prime minister made the statement during a trip to the city of Ohrid during a two-day state visit to North Macedonia, where he met with counterpart Hristijan Mickoski.
Mickoski welcomed Orban’s willingness to help find a solution.
“It is good that these friends want to spread our voice into the EU. One of these great friends and supporters is Prime Minister Orban,” said Mickoski.
North Macedonia has faced a rocky diplomatic road in managing relations with its neighbours.
The Balkan nation added “North” to its title in 2019 to end a long-running dispute with Greece, following a historic agreement that paved the way for NATO membership and aimed to provide a path to EU membership.
But its ongoing dispute with Bulgaria has bridled progress in its efforts to join the bloc.
Mounting frustration in North Macedonia over the lack of EU progress has stoked resentment that helped Mickoski’s tough-talking nationalist VMRO-DPMNE party crush the centre-left coalition government in elections early this year.
Mickoski and VMRO-DPMNE’s party leaders have occasionally refused to use the country’s new name, stoking renewed tensions with Greece.
Hungary took over the rotating presidency of the council representing the EU’s 27 nations in July.
The six-month presidency passes between the EU’s member states and does not mean the holder represents the entire bloc.
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Publish date : 2024-09-27 08:06:00
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The post Orban Offers To Mediate Between N. Macedonia, Bulgaria first appeared on Love Europe.
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Author : love-europe
Publish date : 2024-09-27 15:18:27
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