EU visa scrapping to help improve Bulgaria-Macedonia ties: presidents

The European Union's lifting of visa obligations for Macedonia will help expand the country's ties with Bulgaria, Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov and his Macedonian counterpart Gjorge Ivanov told a joint press conference in Bansko on Saturday.

Ivanov, entering Bulgaria several hours before the press conference, was among the first people enjoying visa-free travel for the three Balkan states, namely Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, to the European Union members, which came into force on Saturday. Britain and Ireland are the only exceptions.

"To lift visa regime will be a powerful incentive for communication between people and businesses in Bulgaria and Macedonia," Parvanov said.

"In fact, today is a significant day for Macedonia, for its citizens and the European Union. Schengen barrier is in collapse. Symbolically, the spiritual barriers between us are breaking down as well," Ivanov said.

According to Parvanov, friendly neighborhood is a very important criterion for Macedonia's entry into the EU and NATO. "I hope there are not any problems for Macedonia to rely on our support," the Bulgarian president said.

He will pay an official visit to Macedonia in 2010, and according to the Macedonian president, Bulgaria will receive a symbolic award as "it was the first country recognizing Macedonia's independence, what Macedonia will never forget."

Source: Xinhua