The President of Bulgaria accused today of anti-Bulgarian propaganda Rumen Radev the new government of North Macedonia, but also for violation of the rights of the Bulgarian minority living in the countrywhile also arguing that this attitude of Skopje is directed against the European authorities.
“This country’s biggest fear is recognizing the existence of the words “Bulgarian” and “Bulgarian””
“The new government of our neighbor has clearly shown that the greatest fear of the political class in this country is to recognize the very existence of the words “Bulgarian” and “Bulgarian”… This is a policy that goes directly against European authorities and decisions taken with the consent of all member countries, against international obligations, but above all against its citizens, who clearly expressed their desire for the European development of their country”, noted Rumen Radev speaking to journalists in Sofia today.
He added that he expects “appropriate actions” from both the Bulgarian government and European institutions “to preserve European principles and rules in the EU enlargement process”.
“Sooner or later, the Balkans will face Europe with a balkanization mentality”
According to Rumen Radev, if the EU does not promote the fact that the European perspective in the Balkans must be based on clear principles, rules and values, “then sooner or later the Balkans will face Europe with a balkanization mentality.” .
Mickotsky’s response: Anachronistic statements, referring to the Middle Ages
The new Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Christian Mickoski, when asked to comment on these reports by the President of Bulgaria, spoke of anachronistic statements that hark back to the Middle Ages.
“I am sorry that we hear such anachronistic messages from our eastern neighbor, which refer to the Middle Ages, but unfortunately in modern Europe, in the 21st century, there are still politicians like the one you mentioned (ss Rumen Radev)”. Mickoski said in response to journalistic questions about how he comments on these statements by the Bulgarian president.
Christian Mickoski rejected Rumen Radev’s accusations that North Macedonia does not respect the rights of the Bulgarian minority and accused Sofia of denying the existence of “Macedonians” in Bulgaria.
“14 rulings have been issued by the European Court of Human Rights, which state that there is a Macedonian minority in Bulgaria that has the right to assemble and can organize itself on the basis of a non-governmental organization, but unfortunately this cannot be done due to political issues like Mr. Radev,” said the Prime Minister of North Macedonia.
Bulgaria, in 2020, vetoed the start of North Macedonia’s accession negotiations to the EU due to open ethnic, linguistic and historical differences between the two countries, which provoked strong reactions from Skopje.
However, in the summer of 2022, the governments of the two countries at the time reached an agreement, based on a proposal from the European Union, according to which Sofia would lift the veto it had placed on the start of Skopje’s accession negotiations to the EU, on the condition that North Macedonia amend its Constitution, with the inclusion of the Bulgarian minority living in the country.
This agreement provoked strong reactions from the then nationalist opposition party VMRO-DPMNE, which did not agree with the proposal and therefore it was not possible to obtain a 2/3 majority in the Parliament of North Macedonia for the relevant amendment to the country’s Constitution. . Due to this involvement, North Macedonia cannot open EU accession funds, which made it clear to Skopje that opening these funds requires the implementation of the country’s agreement with Bulgaria.
He will not give in to “Bulgaria’s blackmail”
The new Prime Minister of North Macedonia, today reiterated that he will not succumb to “blackmail from Bulgaria” and ruled out the possibility of changing the country’s Constitution under the “conditions” that were established in his country.
According to the latest population census carried out in 2021 in North Macedonia, Bulgarians represent only 0.2% of the country’s population (a total of 3,500 people), a fact that official Sofia disputes and considers that the percentage of Bulgarians in Macedonia of the North is much larger.
AMP Source