"Bulgaria and Albania are good friends and trusted partners. We share a common vision for peace, stability, and prosperity in the region," has said the Bulgarian ambassador to Albanian, Ivaylo Kirov in an exclusive interview with Albanian Daily News.

Asked by ADN the ambassador dwelt on the Bulgarian Cultural Days held last month in Tirana, saying "we tried to present our beautiful traditions and arts to our Albanian and foreign friends."

The ambassador praised the strategic partnership between Bulgaria and Albania, which, according to him, is unwavering, especially when it comes to security policy, which is the most important policy for any country. "Bulgaria has always supported Albania's accession to the EU and has taken an active stance in support of key decisions on your country's European path. We congratulate Albania on the start of accession negotiations, which clearly recognize the concrete progress made in the previous years."

Further, Sofia's top diplomat to Tirana says that the ongoing tensions between Kosovo and Serbia are a cause for concern. "Stability in the region is crucial not only for the Western Balkans, but also for Europe as a whole. The EU has an important role to play, and recent initiatives suggest a more proactive and unified approach to conflict resolution. However, mediation requires trust and willingness on the part of all parties involved."

Asked by ADN on the return of President Trump to the White House, ambassador said the United States has historically played a stabilizing role in the Western Balkans, and it was his hope that this would continue under any administration. A renewed focus on stability, economic development, and Euro-Atlantic integration of the region could be beneficial.

"Bulgaria stands ready to cooperate with both the US and Albania to ensure a peaceful and prosperous Western Balkans," said Ambassador Ivaylo Kirov in the following interview:

Albanian Daily News: Mr. Ambassador it's a pleasure to have you in this interview with Albanian Daily News and the more so after a successful activity: I mean the Days of Bulgarian Culture which took place last month with all its colors of the rich Bulgarian culture in Tirana. So, please, could you tell ADN's readers some of the highlights of this wonderful activity?

Bulgarian Ambassador: Thank you for the invitation! It's always a pleasure to interact with the readers of the Albanian Daily News. In Bulgaria, the Day of National Enlighteners is celebrated on November 1 - a praise and tribute to those deserving Bulgarians who dedicated their lives to Bulgarian spirituality, language and culture and inspired national pride in our nation. For this reason, at the beginning of November, we tried to present our beautiful traditions and arts to our Albanian and foreign friends. On November 3, we were honored by the presence of the famous Bulgarian writer Zdravka Evtimova, who presented her wonderful books. The event was hosted by our Honorary Consul, Mr. Selim Hoxhaj, in his Villa Sofia. The representative of the Bulgarian minority in the Committee for Minorities and tireless translator from Bulgarian to Albanian, Ms. Milena Selimi, was the hostess of this fascinating event. The next day, the B-Folk Quartet gave a concert to a full house. It took us through the landscapes of Bulgaria, weaving motifs from its rich history and diverse regions. Each song they performed carried the Bulgarian tradition, connecting us in a way that words could never achieve, uniting our different cultures through shared rhythms and heartfelt melodies. And of course, no celebration of Bulgarian culture and spirit would be complete without our traditional cuisine. Chef Krassimir Veselinov, the esteemed chef of the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, had prepared a selection of traditional Bulgarian dishes and wines that embodied the warmth, cordiality and rich diversity of our culinary heritage. Among the guests were Albanian intellectuals, including the famous writers Ylljet Alicka, Diana Çuli and Goran Namik Dokle, members of Parliament, diplomats, representatives of the Bulgarian national minority and friends.

- Albania and Bulgaria have a rich heritage of very old links. Against this background the bilateral cooperation has had a solid foundation for more beneficial cooperation, its development. Please, could you tell us some of the aspects of the current cooperation and are the bilateral the ties satisfactory at the current levels?

- We consider the relationship to be excellent and stable, with a solid historical foundation, traditional friendship, cooperation, and partnership. There are no open or contentious political issues between our two countries, and we would like to see an active and fruitful dialogue, including at the highest and most senior levels. In the framework of the active high-level dialogue (official visit of the President of the Republic of Albania, Bajram Begaj to Bulgaria in December 2023, the official visit of the President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria R. Zhelyazkov to Albania in February 2024) concrete steps were identified to further strengthen our sectoral cooperation in priority areas such as economy and trade, connectivity, defense, tourism, education, culture, youth and sports. The European Energy Corridor VII project, which is of particular importance to both countries in terms of economic and security cooperation, as well as the potential for bilateral cooperation, was a key point of discussion during the talks between the Minister of Energy Vladimir Malinov and the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Energy of Albania Belinda Baluku. The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of energy was also agreed upon. This collaborative spirit deepened further during the visit of the Minister of Tourism, Mr. Eftim Miloshev, and the signing of a bilateral action plan with Minister Mirela Kumbaro. Additionally, the bilateral meeting between the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria and Albania, Mr. Ivan Kondov and Mr. Igli Hasani in Tirana, where the excellent state of bilateral relations was discussed and the desire to further deepen sectoral cooperation was confirmed, is also noteworthy.

Another important aspect of our bilateral relations is the Bulgarian national minority in Albania, which serves as a significant bridge of friendship and a factor in strengthening mutual trust between our countries. We would like to express our sincere appreciation for the efforts your country has made thus far to protect minority rights, as evidenced by the adoption of the Law on the Protection of National Minorities (2017). We are confident that Albania will maintain its consistent position to fully guarantee the rights of national minorities.

- Both Albania and Bulgaria are NATO active members and hopefully Albania will join the EU. Taking into consideration the rich past and present links and the fraternal exchanges between our people as well as the troubled region and the world, do you see the perspective of strategic partnership between the two countries?

- Bulgaria and Albania are good friends and trusted partners. We share a common vision for peace, stability, and prosperity in the region. We will deepen our cooperation in areas such as energy security, regional connectivity, and digital transformation to pave the way for a robust strategic partnership. Our shared NATO and EU membership provides a solid foundation for a shared vision of peace and prosperity in Europe and our region, built on shared European and Euro-Atlantic values. Bulgaria is grateful for Albania's early support, including the deployment of a platoon of Albanian soldiers to the NATO multinational battle group established on Bulgarian territory under Italian command. A platoon of the Albanian Armed Forces is part of the Bulgarian contingent in KFOR in Kosovo. Our strategic partnership is unwavering, especially when it comes to security policy, which is the most important policy for any country. Bulgaria has always supported Albania's accession to the EU and has taken an active stance in support of key decisions on your country's European path. We congratulate Albania on the start of accession negotiations, which clearly recognize the concrete progress made in the previous years. We also welcomed the Intergovernmental Conference on December 17, 2024, to initiate negotiations under Cluster 6 "External Relations." This underscores Tirana's strategic alignment with the EU's positions and declarations. I would also like to clarify that Bulgaria has never supported the artificial linkage of the European routes of Albania and the Republic of North Macedonia. The July 2022 Council conclusions clearly articulate the difference in the accession processes of the two countries. Albania's further progress and the speed of the negotiations depend solely on Tirana's efforts and results, in line with the principle of own merits.

- In the meantime, how do you assess the situation in the Western Balkans where the conflict between Kosovo and Serbia goes on being a danger for the region and beyond? Do you think the new EU cupola will be more effective to mediate between them finding a settlement?

- The Western Balkans is a region that has the potential to thrive, but it also faces significant challenges. The ongoing tensions between Kosovo and Serbia are a cause for concern. Stability in the region is crucial not only for the Western Balkans, but also for Europe as a whole. The EU has an important role to play, and recent initiatives suggest a more proactive and unified approach to conflict resolution. However, mediation requires trust and willingness on the part of all parties involved. It is essential that the EU, supported by NATO and other international stakeholders, provides consistent support and ensures that the dialogue remains constructive. At the same time, we are gravely concerned by recent developments in Kosovo. Bulgaria strongly condemns the attack on critical civilian infrastructure. In this situation, we call for a thorough investigation and for the perpetrators to be brought to justice. Our country stands in solidarity with those affected.

- Please, what could you say about the relations of your country with North Macedonia, and the Sofia veto on that country blocking the start of its further EU accession process?

- It seems there may be some confusion about the situation, which I would like to try to clarify. The Republic of Bulgaria has not vetoed and is not preventing North Macedonia from moving forward on its path to the EU. In 2018, during its EU Presidency, the Republic of Bulgaria successfully brought back the integration of the Western Balkans as a significant part of the European agenda.

We have always been strong supporters of the European perspective of the Western Balkan countries, including North Macedonia. The guiding principle in this process is the principle of each candidate country's own merits and the results achieved in terms of meeting the necessary criteria. The conditions that Skopje should fulfill on its path to EU membership are clearly spelled out in the European Consensus of 2022, endorsed by all Member States and North Macedonia itself.

The first step in this process, which by no means exhausts all the agreements in the consensus, is the entry into force of the constitutional amendments in North Macedonia. The aim of these amendments is to include in the constitution those of its citizens who live on the territory of this country and are part of other nations, such as the Bulgarian people. The adoption of the constitutional amendments will only have an impact on the full opening of accession negotiations. One of the conditions for the opening of the first cluster of negotiating chapters, that on fundamental principles, is that North Macedonia should prepare, and the Council should unanimously approve, an Action Plan for the Protection of the Rights of Persons Belonging to Minorities or Communities. In this sense, the European future of our neighbors depends entirely on the will and readiness of the government in Skopje to implement the commitments made.

- As a follow up how do you consider the start of the intergovernmental talks on the first chapter of the EU? Given her past experience with EU, including this important process, is Bulgaria helping Albania in any aspect of the process?

- The start of the negotiations marks a significant milestone, and as I mentioned previously, Bulgaria firmly stands by Albania's EU aspirations. EU enlargement remains based on the fundamental principle of own merits. The first cluster, "Fundamentals" focuses on fostering reconciliation between Albania and the EU on pivotal matters, including the judiciary and fundamental rights, justice, freedom and security, public procurement, statistics, financial control, and economic criteria. It also encompasses the operation of democratic institutions and the reform of public administration. Given its comprehensive nature, this cluster was opened first and will be closed last. It is my understanding that Albania is ending the year with another piece of good news, namely the opening of negotiations on Cluster 6, "External Relations."

- Being straightforward do you see possibilities that Albania could join the block in 2030?

The principle of own merits is said to be a key element of EU enlargement policy. The second EU-Albania Intergovernmental Conference took place on October 15, marking the start of the Cluster 1 negotiations. This could be seen as a recognition of the efforts made and the results achieved in the area of fundamentals. It is important for Albania to become a full member when it is ready. It is commendable that the Albanian people have demonstrated a high level of support for their country's European integration, which is among the highest compared to other candidates for membership. All Albanian institutions and citizens who demonstrate determination and a will to move forward on this difficult path also deserve support. Regarding the matter of "estimated dates," it is important to emphasize that the process is progressing in accordance with the principle of its own merits. For this reason, the EU itself does not set dates in advance for the conclusion of this process.

- We are having this conversation as Mr. Trump returned to the White House after the presidential elections. Which are, please, your expectations for the future US policy in the Western Balkans?

- The United States has historically played a stabilizing role in the Western Balkans, and it is my hope that this will continue under any administration. A renewed focus on stability, economic development, and Euro-Atlantic integration of the region could be beneficial. The United States' continued support for various initiatives and its role in mediating disputes, such as the Kosovo-Serbia conflict, will be essential for maintaining stability and fostering cooperation in the region. Bulgaria stands ready to cooperate with both the US and Albania to ensure a peaceful and prosperous Western Balkans.

Thank you!