The Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly condemned the speech of Dragan Gyurovski from VMRO-DPMNE made at a rally in Skopje, in which insulting and vulgar qualifications were used to address Bulgaria and the Bulgarians.

The event has been assessed as a purposeful incitement to hatred. Such provocations contradict all basic European principles and norms. Bulgaria expects the government in Skopje to categorically differentiate itself from the act and to take promised actions for counteracting public manifestations of hatred against Bulgaria, the ministry said in a statement.

Slovenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Anže Logar said that one of his first visits would be to Bulgaria to discuss Sofia's veto on the start of Skopje's EU accession talks.