I have invited North Macedonian President Stevo Pendarovski to visit Bulgaria at least ten times. I understand Pendarovski's pain as I am the person who raised the topic of the rights of the Macedonian Bulgarians in the European institutions two years ago, President Rumen Radev said in the National Assembly.

I hope that Pendarovski realized that the inclusion of Bulgarians in the constitution would help his country and I hope that he started to democratize the country and break with the idolatry of the Yugoslav totalitarian period, President Radev said and pointed out that his doors were always open for the North Macedonian president.

Pendarovski told Sitel TV that he would not invite Radev to North Macedonia and accused Sofia of "provocations" by opening Bulgarian cultural clubs in the country.