site.btaBulgaria-North Macedonia Multidisciplinary Expert Commission Co-Chairs Describe Meeting as Unfruitful

September 13 (BTA) - The seventh meeting of the Joint
Bulgaria-North Macedonia Multidisciplinary Expert Commission on
historical and educational issues was described as the "least
fruitful" one so far by Commission Co-chair Prof. Angel
Dimitrov.

"Yesterday and today we had very intense, emotionally charged
talks, but the results are close to nil," Prof. Dimitrov said at
 a briefing on Friday after a two-day Commission meeting in
Sofia. Reaching such a stalemate means that the two countries
obviously have very deep discrepancies in the interpretation of
the past and in the way they want to resolve the issues at
stake, added Prof. Dimitrov.

"It is very important for us to continue working not in the
spirit of compromise, but with a kind of agreement that can be
reached on the basis of solid arguments," the Commission
Co-chair noted.

Prof. Dimitrov explained that the main discrepancy between the
two parts of the Commission is that Bulgarians consider, analyze
 and historically evaluate the role, significance and activity
of [revolutionary and national hero of both Bulgaria and North
Macedonia] Gotse Delchev in his historical time, in terms of the
 two countries' common past, while North Macedonians put more of
 an emphasis on Gotse Delchev's life from a later historical
period.

Prof. Dragi Georgiev, Commission Co-chair from the North
Macedonian side, also said that the meeting was disappointing in
 terms of what had been achieved. He noted that the aim was to
reach a compromise based on an understanding of the two parties'
 arguments and to achieve a balanced outlook. He expressed
confidence that the high-level discussion that ensued would
provide a good basis for a future meeting. RY/DT