Bulgarian politicians were outraged when North Macedonia’s Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandar Nikoloski called President Rumen Radev an “uncivilised host” and Bulgarians “miserable” in response to the recent escalation of diplomatic tensions between the two countries.

Earlier in September, during a meeting between Radev and North Macedonia’s President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova in Sofia, the flag of North Macedonia was absent, which angered Skopje. 

Following Nikoloski’s interview, the Bulgarian foreign ministry issued a statement, calling his words insulting, and his tone un-European and incompatible with good manners.

“Our partners have been notified of the unprovoked provocations, aimed, among other things, at destroying the dialogue. Once again, we recall the key importance of the development of good neighbourly relations for the European future of the Republic of North Macedonia,” the ministry said in the statement.

Siljanovska-Davkova visited Bulgaria to attend a performance of Giuseppe Verdi's Nabucco by the Macedonian Opera and Ballet, which opened the new season at the Sofia Opera. The Macedonian delegation included Foreign Minister Timco Mucunski and Minister of Culture Zoran Ljutkov.

The president used her visit to Sofia to meet with her Bulgarian counterpart. The discussions were focused on resolving the long-standing tensions that have persisted since Bulgaria's veto of North Macedonia’s EU accession talks in 2020.

Radev also reacted, suggesting that the informal meeting has bothered some circles in Skopje and saying that he had a constructive dialogue with Siljanovska-Davkova. He also pointed out that the visit of North Macedonia’s president was not official and that he hoped Siljanovska-Davkova to soon pay a formal visit to the country.

Several political parties also called for an official reaction to Nikoloski’s statement, saying it can blow up the good neighbourly relations.