site.btaTimco Mucunski Meets New North Macedonia Members of Joint Historical Commission With Bulgaria

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade of North Macedonia Timco Mucunski conducted a protocol meeting with the new members of the Joint Multidisciplinary Commission of Experts on Historical and Educational Issues between Bulgaria and North Macedonia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Skopje reported Tuesday.

In an address to the members of the commission, Mucunski stressed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade is at their disposal with all its capacities "in the process of responsible and unhindered further implementation of their regular activities."

He pointed out that decisions and discussions in the commission should be based on scientific arguments and with full respect for academic freedom. At the same time, he stressed his personal commitment to independence in the commission's decision-making, "free from political influences and pressures", as stated by the press release.

At a closed session in early September, the government of North Macedonia's PM Hristijan Mickoski almost completely replaced the members of the North Macedonian side in the joint commission, its co-chair was also changed, with Vanco Georgiev being appointed in place of Dragi Georgiev. The new North Macedonian co-chair was a member of the commission until 2021, when he left it, alleging that political pressure was exerted on its work. 

After these changes in the commission, its now former members came out with a position stating that the work of the commission was a constant target of politically motivated attacks by many media and political parties, and its work was used to achieve political goals and that the commission became a political body instead of an expert body.

Due to the changes in the composition of the Joint Multidisciplinary Commission of Experts on Historical and Educational Issues between Bulgaria and North Macedonia, the meeting planned for September and to be held in Skopje was postponed.