site.btaMeeting of Joint Historical Commission with Bulgaria and North Macedonia Postponed

The meeting of the Joint Multidisciplinary Commission of Experts on Historical and Educational Issues between Bulgaria and North Macedonia, which was scheduled to take place in Skopje on September 18 and 19, has been postponed, media in the Republic of North Macedonia reported. Some of them added that a likely reason is the change of the composition of the Commission on North Macedonia's side.

A week ago, the Government of North Macedonian changed the composition of the Commission during a closed session. Historian Vancho Georgiev was elected chair. Georgiev used to be a member of the Commission before resigning after allegations of political pressure having been exerted on the Commission's activities.

Former members of the Commission said in an open letter sent Monday that the organ is turning from an expert into a political one. In his response, Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia Hristijan Mickoski said that an investigation should be carried out into the money spent so far and the work completed by the Commission. He alleged that it has been unable to protect his country's national interests to a sufficient level.

According to the media in North Macedonia, changes are also planned in the composition of the historical commission, which North Macedonia has established with Greece.