Enhanced commitment to the Western Balkans and Eastern partners has become an integral part of the EU's response to the new geopolitical reality following Russia's aggressive war against Ukraine, Zhelyazkov noted. He pointed out that Bulgaria has never supported the artificial connection of the European roads of Albania and North Macedonia. The acceleration of the integration processes cannot and should not be at the expense of the principle of own merits, Zhelyazkov added as quoted by BNT.

In the face of the Bulgarian national minority in Albania, your country has some of the most hardworking citizens for the prosperity of their homeland and strong supporters for the European future of Albania, Rosen Zhelyazkov also noted. We look forward to the publication of the results of the recent population census in Albania, the first since the recognition of the Bulgarian national minority, he added.