The friendship accord signed between Bulgaria and Macedonia opens doors to building mutual trust and cooperation. This was what Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov said in a speech addressing the nation on the occasion of Ilinden.

Ivanov said that the agreement was a result of compromises that could not satisfy everyone, but have been made with a look to the future and not to the past.

The Macedonian President pointed out that since the beginning of his first term in office he has declared good neighborly relations with all the neighbors on the principles of mutual respect, assistance and support and has therefore supported the initiative to transform the declaration of good neighborly relations between Bulgaria and Macedonia from 1999 into an official agreement.