site.btaNorth Macedonia PM Mickoski Questions Bulgarian Inclusion in His Country’s Constitution, But Not Albania’s

The real question is why around 700-800 Bulgarians in North Macedonia, who declare Bulgarian as their mother tongue, need to be included in the constitution, while there is no such requirement for Albania, where 8,000 people identified as Bulgarians in the last census, said Prime Minister of North Macedonia Hristijan Mickoski from the parliamentary rostrum in Skopje on Wednesday.

Mickoski's remarks were in response to a question from MP Dimitar Apasiev from The Left political party, who asked whether North Macedonia would open a consulate in the Albanian city of Korçë and how the country's ambassador would counter "aggressive Bulgarian propaganda" in Albania with a budget of EUR 180 per month.

Mickoski said the strategy of North Macedonia's government is to first strengthen the country's economy and then use part of the funds to open consulates in Korçë and other countries worldwide.

"The result of the economic abyss we are in is precisely the EUR 180 budget received by the Macedonian ambassador in Tirana. Not only in Tirana, but the Macedonian ambassador in Brussels receives a monthly budget of EUR 300, and the Macedonian ambassador in the USA receives USD 300, because that is how much this plundered, pillaged Macedonia has. Let's talk, let’s create an economic strategy, and then I promise you that the 2,300 people [who identified as North Macedonians in Albania] will be 12,300 in the next census," Mickoski said.

The most recent census in Albania showed that 7,057 citizens identified as Bulgarians, while 2,281 registered as Macedonians, compared to 5,512 in the 2011 census. These results caused significant tension in North Macedonia immediately after their announcement. The 2023 census is the first since Albania recognized the Bulgarian minority in 2017.

"The question is this: if in the 2023 census there are more than 8,000 Bulgarians, and in 2011 there were 5,500 Macedonians, but now they are 2,300, theoretically, the remaining 3,000 have fallen into the assimilative Bulgarian policy, as you claim. But the others, up to 8,000, what are they? Albanians?" Mickoski asked from the parliamentary rostrum.

"Macedonians, not only in Albania but also in Serbia, Bulgaria, Greece, Kosovo, and worldwide, should know that they are one of the main priorities of this government," Mickoski said.