site.btaVMRO Leader Karakachanov: Bulgaria Cannot Be Used by Skopje as Stepping Stone for EU Membership

September 28 (BTA) - VMRO leader and Defence Minister Krassimir Karakachanov issued a position on Saturday, circulated by his party's press centre, in which he says that at this stage Bulgaria should not give the green light for the start of North Macedonia's EU membership negotiations. The EU cannot be used to legitimize wrongdoings, while Bulgaria cannot be used in this harsh manner as a stepping stone by the incumbents in Skopje, he says in his position, which comes in response to an interview given by North Macedonia's President Stevo Pendarovski for a media outlet.

According to Karakachanov, Pendarovski abuses the historical truth surrounding Gotse Delchev (a historical figure and revolutionary venerated in both countries) and sends ambiguous signals to the Joint Multidisciplinary Commission of Experts on Historical and Educational Issues, that is should delay having straightforward talks. This, in Karakachanov's words, reveals Skopje's true intentions to sabotage the process.

"Then I say that on October 17, Bulgaria too should not hurry to give the green light for starting negotiations with [North] Macedonia for its EU membership, until all falsifications concerning the Bulgarian people's history in [North] Macedonia are cleared," the VMRO leader said.

A European Council meeting is scheduled for October 17, when the leaders of the EU Member States are to decide about the start of negotiations for North Macedonia's and Albania's EU membership. This decision requires the support of all EU Member States. The Joint Multidisciplinary Commission between the two countries, which was established as part of the Treaty of Friendship, Goodneighbourliness and Cooperation between Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia, is scheduled to meet on October 14 and 15.