site.btaPresident Pledges Support for Bulgarians in North Macedonia's Efforts for Equality

Sofia, October 27 (Asen Boyadjiev of BTA) - Bulgaria stands resolutely behind you in your fight for equality, along with the other parts of peoples in the Republic of North Macedonia, President Rumen Radev said on Wednesday. He received representatives of оrganizations of Bulgarians in the Republic of North Macedonia. Vice President Iliana Iotova also participated in the meeting.


The delegation of the Bulgarian community in the Republic of North Macedonia included representatives of the Civic Democratic Union party, and of the associations Ivan Mihailov in Bitola, Tribuna in Prilep, the Association for Macedonian-Bulgarian Friendship in Skopje, Corridor VIII in Skopje, Interakcija [Interaction] in Ohrid, and Unity in Kocani.

President Radev stressed the importance of the meeting, which he described as symbolic, and said that for the first time in contemporary history, at a high institutional level, Bulgaria is receiving representatives of the organizations of Macedonian Bulgarians. As a society and a State, Bulgaria is launching an important positive change in its attitude to the Republic of North Macedonia. So far these relations developed mainly along the Sofia-Skopje axis. "Our compatriots were largely left isolated from the political process of decision making. This is no longer so. Bulgaria stands resolutely behind you in your fight for equality, along with the other parts of peoples in the Republic of North Macedonia," President Radev said, adding that he had stated categorically this position at the latest EU-Western Balkans summit in Slovenia on October 6, as well as at his separate meetings with the EU leaders. "I largely draw the strength to stand up for this position from you, from the position you take every day," the President said. "From now on, Bulgaria will largely be guided by your role, your wish, your statement of national identity and historical memory," said Radev.

"Regardless of the political context, of the projection of our broader interests on the European and the global political scene, you can rest assured that we will always stand up for your interest, it will continue to be of key importance as before," said President Radev. He said Bulgaria is in the process of formulating a new policy towards the Republic of North Macedonia, whose milestones the President has already firmly spelled out to the state leadership of the Republic of North Macedonia, the EU institutions and state leaders.

"We are making efforts to meet your expectations - to make the process of granting Bulgarian citizenship faster and easier," President Radev said on the topic which was also discussed by Vice President Iotova. Radev added, however, that rights come with obligations because this is not simply an acquisition of citizenship. "We should work in such a way as to make Bulgarian citizenship, which is also European citizenship, something to be proud of," said the President. "That is why when I say that we have a problem with the respect for rights, with the discrimination against citizens of the Republic of North Macedonia holding Bulgarian passports, who are also European citizens, this is a problem of the EU," Radev commented, saying that a passport comes with both rights and obligations.

"We have a common goal: to end de-Bulgarization in the Republic of North Macedonia, to preserve our common cultural and historical heritage, the memory of our ancestors down to the earliest historical sources, to guarantee the dignity and equality of Macedonian Bulgarians, along with all other citizens of the Republic of North Macedonia. It is those particular rights, along with the violation of the cultural and historical heritage, that are the reasons why, at this point, Bulgaria has postponed the start of EU accession talks with the Republic of North Macedonia, regardless of the price Bulgaria is paying," said the head of State.

"It should be crystal clear that the Republic of North Macedonia is a sovereign State, we cannot and shall not interfere in its internal affairs," said President Radev.

Saying that the the initiative can and should come from them, he praised the representatives of the organizations of Bulgarians in the Republic of North Macedonia for their appeal to the State and political leaders of October 12, 2021, which he backs categorically, and is confident that they will meet with the same level of support at their meetings with the leaders of political parties in Bulgaria.

"Other countries, your neighbours and countries of the region, which comprise parts of peoples as referred to in the Constitution of the Republic of North Macedonia, have much more structured, formal relations with their compatriots in the Republic of North Macedonia. In this respect we leave much to be desired, but I promise that we will catch up quickly," said Radev.

The President commented that Wednesday's meeting was also a sign of the unity emerging among the organizations of Bulgarians in the Republic of North Macedonia, which he defined as being extremely important. "You know that your interests cannot be defended without this unity," said Radev. He also talked about the protection of the Bulgarians' rights in the Constitution of the Republic of North Macedonia, in its legislation, about adequate census taking.

Peter Kolev of the Civic Democratic Union said the position expressed by Bulgaria at the October 6 summit in Slovenia was absolutely to the point, clear and comprehensible, it pinpointed the crux of the problem between the official authorities of Skopje and Sofia - the process of de-Bulgarization and the process which is very similar to a regeneration process, which has been going on in the Republic of North Macedonia for decades now. "This was a clear signal and a ray of hope in the eyes of Macedonian Bulgarians; that is why, inspired by that moment, on October 12, united by common visions, demands and a method to achieve our political goals, we sent this appeal to the Bulgarian State leadership, the political leaders and Bulgarian society. We are that part of the citizens of the Republic of North Macedonia who have the strongest desire for a European future for our country, but this cannot happen at the expense of the national interest of the Bulgarian people and especially of the part of it that lives in the Republic of North Macedonia," said Peter Kolev. "We do not want and do not expect anything big, we want small, simple things," Kolev said and elaborated on equal treatment. "We want to be treated equally by the Constitution and the laws of our country where we pay taxes. We do not know any model safeguarding human rights, actually a European value, other than the Constitution of the country and the legal framework," said Kolev. "We expect a fair, democratic and real census of the population," he said. "We expect the Republic of Bulgaria to support clearly and firmly our demands for equality, for sorting out the historical conflicts and problems, and for putting an end to hate speech," said Kolev. "We are confident that this is the only way for the Republic of North Macedonia to integrate in the EU quickly and effectively," he added.

Other representatives of the Bulgarians in the Republic of North Macedonia also spoke during the meeting and raised various topics and issues. Vladimir Perev of the Koridor 8 [Corridor 8] - Skopje Association, along with other participants, described the meeting and timing as historical. He said that the stand behind will uphold their Bulgarian traditions and roots. "We will never stand back from our forefathers' behest or the feelings we have," Perev said. The task of Bulgaria and its diplomacy is to win, before theinternational community, the right of Bulgarians in North Macedonia to self identify and be registered in the Constitution, he noted. Commenting how Bulgarians are represented in different institutions, Perev said there is absolute isolation and Bulgarians are always in the third or fourth echelon. Perev raised the question of the "media war" waged in North Macedonia against the Bulgarian cause and the Bulgarians as a people. Ljupco Georgievski of the Ivan Mihailov Cultural Center- Bitola brought up the question of disclosing the files of communist Yugoslavasia's State Security Administration because, in his words, "there can be no forgiveness without the truth". Vlado Trenevski of the Interakcija [Interaction] Association - Ohrid also believes that the files must be disclosed. He believes the time has come to tell the truth and fight for it, adding that they expect support from the Bulgarian State. Another participant in the meeting said that the topics related to Bulgaria and the Bulgarians are used in North Macedonia's media as a "scarecrow", and that needs to stop.

"We are doing everything possible for the friendliest and closest of countries - the Republic of North Macedonia, to become a member of the European Union as soon as possible. This, however, cannot happen at the expense of the Bulgarian cultural and historical heritage, nor at the expense of your interests, which are also our common interests," President Radev said during the meeting. He stressed the importance of the rights and fate of the Bulgarians in North Macedonia, and not just the importance of historical matters.

"The previous government's veto in late 2020 was imposed because the treaty signed in 2017 was stalling and also on account of the question about Gotse Delchev. That was a big problem. Our European partners did not understand it. They did not understand the veto because there had been unison among the leaders of the countries, the prime ministers, and Bulgaria was speaking about unconditional support for [Skopje's] membership all the time, but suddenly, it imposed a veto. It was met with incomprehension. The real reasons for the veto were not explained," Radev recalled.

"The veto which I have just imposed at the latest Council on October 6, if we may call it that way, is entirely different. I had begun to explain the real reasons for our disagreement back in May. Then, I formulated them very clearly at the Council, which was attended by the leaders of all Western Balkan countries. This other veto rests on a very different foundation, very different reasoning - it is about your rights, the fact that you are equal to all other citizens of the Republic of North Mavedonia, it is about your right to full integration in the social, political, economic and cultural life, the need to prevent discrimination, stop the process of de-Bulgarization and do away with hate speech. It is a very different veto, and you are in its main focus," Radev said.

At the meeting, Vice President Iliana Iotova expressed her firm conviction that the Goodneighbourliness Treaty is not a good document. "It is too general, it sets just a framework, and even this is not being implemented," Iotova said. RY, DT/ZH, DD, MY, VE