site.btaSharp Reactions in Bulgaria to Claims by North Macedonia Deputy PM about His Country Being Exploited for Political Gain

On Wednesday, there were sharp reactions in Bulgaria to the claims made by North Macedonia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Aleksandar Nikoloski that his country is being exploited by Bulgarian political parties and its President for political gain. In a televised interview earlier in the day, Nikoloski joined an outcry in his country against the absence of the national flag of North Macedonia in a photo of Presidents Rumen Radev and Gordana Siljanovska during Siljanovska's visit to Bulgaria on September 13. Nikoloski said the hosts were disrespectful to President Siljanovska.

The Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a position that reads: “In connection with the latest insulting qualifications towards Bulgaria and the Bulgarian people by officials from the Republic of North Macedonia, we categorically refuse to enter into such un-European tone that is incompatible with good manners”.

The press service of Bulgarian President Rumen Radev circulated a position on Wednesday, which states that “the open and constructive dialogue, even at an informal meeting such as the one held between the presidents of Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia on September 13, is obviously very worrying for certain circles in the government of North Macedonia. The manipulation of the facts and the hysterical reactions of North Macedonia’s government do not inspire optimism that Bulgaria’s southwestern neighbour wants relations with Bulgaria to go beyond provocations and orchestrated scandals”.

GERB Deputy Chairman and former foreign minister Daniel Mitov said that “a minister in a European country would be urged to resign immediately over such offensive remarks. According to Mitov, Skopje's rhetoric has escalated tothe point of speaking in such an inappropriate way.

Continue the Change Co-chair Assen Vassilev Wednesday told journalists that Bulgaria and Europe should react to the claims made by Nikoloski. "I think the words are offensive and excessive, and the politicians of North Macedonia should understand that if they want to be members of the European Union, they should respect the written agreements", Vassilev stressed.

Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF) Floor Leader Delyan Peevski urged North Macedonia to apologize to Bulgaria and the Bulgarian people for what he described as "one more outrageous and inadmissible instance of arrogance shown by the pro-Russian Mickoski regime."

The majority of the population in the Republic of North Macedonia is of Bulgarian origin, speaks Bulgarian and belongs to Bulgarian culture - including Minister Nikoloski, Vazrazhdane said in a statement.

BSP for Bulgaria MP Ivan Ivanov described the language used by North Macedonia's Deputy Prime Minister Nikoloski during as "extremely unacceptable, especially in the context of the Republic of North Macedonia's EU membership bid. Ignorance of the international protocol is not an explanation, an excuse for such actions because the unofficial visit has its attributes, he stressed. "Such speculations on this topic are not productive," Ivanov noted.

There Is Such a People (TISP) Floor Leader Toshko Yordanov said that Aleksandar Nikoloski’s statement is evidence of the Republic of North Macedonia not having a place in the EU as well as of the national treason committed by Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria, the Movement for Rights and Freedoms, and GERB when they lifted the veto on that country's EU membership. "This type of rhetoric and state leaders who dare speak like that, have no place in the EU," Yordanov added.  

On September 16, North Macedonia Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said that his country is willing to build good neighborly relations but will react if "red lines" are crossed, potentially issuing a demarche to the Bulgarian Ambassador. Mickoski's comment came after a meeting between the Presidents of Bulgaria and North Macedonia.

The topic of the photo, at which the two Presidents stay in front of Bulgarian and EU flags, while that of North Macedonia is missing, continues to dominate the country’s media for the third day.