Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova-Chamova has warned that plans to blockade border crossings between Bulgaria and North Macedonia would be counterproductive and risk undermining Sofia’s diplomatic position, particularly amid ongoing tensions between the two countries.
Further reading: Protests Announced in Bulgaria to Temporarily Block Border Crossings with North Macedonia Over Claims of Repression
Responding to questions about announced protest actions, the minister said such initiatives do not serve Bulgaria’s interests and could instead damage its international standing. “In any case, such actions will be counterproductive,” she stated, stressing that the government is not involved in organizing or supporting the planned demonstrations.
Petrova-Chamova emphasized that civil society actions of this type are separate from state policy and do not contribute to protecting national priorities. While acknowledging that non-governmental groups may organize such events, she said the key focus for the government is maintaining a firm but controlled diplomatic stance.
“From our side it is important to maintain a very strong position with clearly expressed rights that we defend,” she noted, adding that escalation would not help address the underlying issues in bilateral relations.
