The Macedonia Foundation has announced that it is withdrawing its planned temporary blockade of border crossings between Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia, scheduled for Sunday. The decision comes after official reactions from Bulgarian institutions and diplomatic concerns linked to recent tensions between the two countries.
Viktor Stoyanov, head of the organization, confirmed the cancellation in a statement to Bulgarian National Radio. He explained that the initial plan had been for a coordinated, peaceful two-hour closure at the Deve Bair crossing on June 21, between 11:00 and 13:00, but that the initiative would no longer proceed.
“A few days ago, through social media and the media, we announced our intention to block the border at Deve Bair on Sunday from 11:00 to 13:00, coordinated with the Bulgarian state and in a peaceful manner. We saw the reaction from the Foreign Ministry and the request from our ambassador in Skopje to postpone the protests. We have decided to cancel the blockade,” Stoyanov said.
The announcement follows a series of warnings from Bulgarian officials that such actions could escalate tensions and negatively affect diplomatic efforts. The Foreign Ministry had previously stated that blocking border crossings would be counterproductive and potentially harmful to Bulgaria’s international position.
