It is unusual in diplomatic practice for the host to react with a note of protest during an official visit of a senior official of a foreign state, Deputy Foreign Minister Zoran Petrov stated on Tuesday, responding to a journalist’s question on whether the Macedonian Foreign Ministry would react to Bulgarian Prime Minister Sergey Stanishev’s inappropriate “comments” on Monday as regards the Macedonians in Bulgaria.

During his visit to Macedonia, the Bulgarian prime minister made fun of the leaders of OMO Ilinden-Pirin, stating that these people would no longer be “interesting” if their party is registered legally. He said this at the joint press conference with Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, who did not react.