“Bulgaria is not happy with the fact it had to say “no” to the start of North Macedonia’s EU accession negotiations,” said Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva for “Counterinterview” current affairs programme with host Asen Genov.

She pointed out that the problems are rooted in the non-observance of the good neighbour and friendship agreement, and the continuing hate speech.

“30 years after the (democratic) changes, generation after generation is being nurtured on hatred for Bulgaria,” Minister Zaharieva said. Asked why Bulgaria is not developing the infrastructure of Corridor No. 8, Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister said: “The railway line has got as far as the border, there is no way we can continue to build something ending up nowhere,” BGNES reports.