Bulgaria Rebukes Republic of Macedonia Leader Over EU Relations
- Bulgarian premier, foreign minister drop meetings with Ivanov
- Bulgarian president urges Ivanov not to block NATO, EU process
Gjorge Ivanov
Photographer: Thierry Charlier/AFP via Getty Images
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Bulgarian officials rebuked the opposition-backed president of the neighboring Republic of Macedonia for rejecting a deal that seeks to unlock the former Yugoslav nation’s path into the European Union and NATO.
The premiers of Greece and the ex-Yugoslav nation on Tuesday reached an agreement to change the name of the Balkan state of 2 million to the Republic of North Macedonia. Yet President Gjorge Ivanov, supported by the nationalist VMRO-DPMNE party that was at odds with Greece for years, rejected the legislation, saying it hurts national interests.