During the press conference of the Heads of Government of Germany, Poland, Bulgaria and the Republic of Northern Macedonia, Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov was asked how the EU foreign policy High Representative, the Spanish Foreign Minister, Josep Borrell, will work for the European integration of the Western Balkans, after his country (Spain) does not recognize Kosovo.
The Prime Minister's answer was that in taking such a high position the national interest must be the last thing to be done. Instead, the focus of the High Representative is to protect the collective interest of the whole of the EU.
"If Borrell is elected, that does not mean that Spain's opinion will be relevant to the other states like us who have recognized Kosovo," Borisov stressed.
Serbian First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic replicated Borisov's position with Serbian state-run television RTS, calling on the Bulgarian prime minister, "Not to give lessons to the new EU foreign policy commissioner, Josep Borrell," regarding the recognition of Kosovo's independence.
The tension between Sofia and Belgrade is unacceptable for the EU, Bulgaria’s Premier Boyko Borissov said in Sarajevo at the summit of the Southeast European Countries Cooperation Process. The European Union does not only mean EU funds, but also responsibility and foreseeability. The Balkan countries will not progress with this type of attitude.
Later Borisov told Serbian national television that he expected Dacic to apologise to him because he made a diplomatic row on his back.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Ekaterina Zaharieva met with her Serbian counterpart Ivica Dacic in the High Tatras in Slovakia, at an informal meeting of the foreign ministers of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
“Obviously there is a misinterpretation of Borissov’s words. I have been cooperating with Borissov for many years and I was surprised by the interpretation of his words by our media,” Ivica Dacic said as justification.
(SNA)
