Bulgaria and Macedonia share a common past and should forge close neighborly ties, stressed Bulgarian caretaker PM and Foreign Affairs Minister Marin Raykov in a statement Tuesday.

"All Bulgarian institutions and the entire Bulgarian people know very well that the European perspective of all our neighbors is a positive tendency that we support," said Raykov.

"In the case of the FYR of Macedonia, this can happen only and exclusively if, in accordance with EU requirements, Skopje creates an atmophere of good relations with all neighbors, especially EU members Bulgaria and Greece," added he.

"The Republic of Macedonia shares with Bulgaria common linguistic traditions, a common history and common past. Until 1945 we were part of the same people," said the Bulgarian PM and FM.

"Of course, we have recognized Macedonia's independence, but there are historical facts that they also must recognize," said Raykov.

The Bulgarian PM reiterated Bulgaria's requirement that Macedonia and Bulgaria sign a so-called "friendship treaty" based on the 1999 declaration for good relations.

According to Raykov, Macedonia has "violated" the 1999 declaration, which has necessitated the drafting and signing of a new document.

End of 2012, Bulgaria together with Greece opposed the setting of a starting date for EU accession negotiations with Macedonia.

The reasons given on the Bulgarian side included harassment of Macedonian citizens who consider themselves Bulgarian, and an overall encroachment on what parts of what Bulgaria considers its own historical and cultural heritage.

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