North Macedonia’s Prime Minister, Hristijan Mickoski, has extended an invitation to Bulgaria’s newly elected Prime Minister Rumen Radev for an official visit to Skopje, signaling openness to direct political engagement despite mixed expectations over future bilateral relations.
Speaking to reporters, Mickoski said there was no obstacle to such a meeting at the highest level. “I see no reason why I shouldn’t invite him. If an invitation can be made in this way, I’m inviting him,” he stated, confirming his willingness to host Radev in an official capacity.
The comments came shortly after the Bulgarian National Assembly approved a new government headed by Radev, nominated by the Progressive Bulgaria party. Asked whether the political change in Sofia could affect relations between the two countries, the North Macedonian prime minister said he did not foresee an improvement, but stopped short of predicting deterioration.
He instead criticized domestic political rivals in North Macedonia, accusing the opposition Social Democratic Union (SDSM) of undermining national interests. In his remarks, he said that certain political actors had weakened the country’s position rather than defending it, using strong language to describe their conduct.
At the same time, he pointed to earlier contact with Radev, noting that he had already offered congratulations following the Bulgarian election result. According to him, that initial exchange included hopes for constructive cooperation and stable bilateral relations moving forward.
He said he remains open to dialogue with the new Bulgarian leadership and expressed hope that the two governments would be able to address outstanding issues and work toward improving neighborly relations through continued communication at the political level.