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Unfortunately, both sides use hate speech, Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said Monday.
“I appeal to everyone, first of all we are a good and meek people and we are friends, above all it is the duty of our citizens to build friendships.” Zaev said at a press conference marking 100 days since the beginning of his term.
The Bulgarian government has repeatedly accused Skopje of not taking sufficient measures against hate speech and has even counted more than 10,000 negative posts for Bulgaria in recent months.
Now the issue has moved to Skopje and Zaev has called on Bulgarian citizens to refrain from any provocation because “They don’t really bring any good to anyone.”
Certainly, we as responsible politicians, starting with the president, the speaker of Parliament and the deputies, myself as prime minister, our ministers, are constantly working to eliminate, demotivate and with specific activities to prevent hate speech, not only because we are waiting for Bulgaria to lift the veto, but this is not good for our people, “Zaev was quoted as saying by BGNES.
When asked by journalists if the government would react to Bulgaria and the EU over statements by senior Bulgarian government officials that “the Macedonian part in the historical team is behaving like donkeys on a bridge” and that “the Macedonian is a disorder mental “, Zaev replied that Skopje always reacts and will continue to react.
“It is an insult and a damage to our feelings, of course. Of course, we continue to appeal to refrain from provocations and insults, because it really does not lead anywhere. It returns us to isolation from each other, hostility and the like.” .said the Macedonian prime minister.
In Skopje, they refer to the comment by Deputy Prime Minister Krassimir Karakachanov that “Colleagues from Skopje stumble like a donkey on a bridge. Tomorrow it may decide that it is a Martian nation and that King Samuel has come down from Mars.” and BAS historian Voyn Bozhinov’s statement to BNR that Macedonian is an ideology, but also a mental deviation.
Bulgaria did not approve of North Macedonia’s EU negotiating framework and thus blocked its European path. According to Sofia, so far there has been no progress in resolving historical controversies, ending hate speech and strengthening business relations. Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, for his part, described the veto as an irresponsible geostrategic mistake that offends all Macedonians.
“Neither this government, nor our country, nor our people are to blame for this situation. The Macedonian national identity cannot be negotiated and we cannot renounce our right to self-determination guaranteed by all international institutions. We hope that this damage to the European integration will pay off quickly. They also know “Zaev commented, quoted by BTA.
Bulgaria insists that a new document be signed between the two countries with more details and guarantees for the implementation of the commitments than in the failed 2017 Neighborhood Agreement. Until recently, Skopje indicated that it was ready to sign such a document. in the form of a roadmap, but relations between the two countries have been strained in recent days.
“The Republic of North Macedonia does not negotiate with Bulgaria on the Macedonian identity and it is guaranteed”, said the First Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia, Artan Grubi, during the report on the first hundred days of government.
He spoke Albanian, but addressed Macedonian citizens in Macedonian and assured them that no talks were taking place about Macedonian identity and language, so there was no reason to fear.
The Zaev government is facing heavy pressure from the largest opposition party, VMRO-DPMNE, which has organized street protests and declared against any concessions to Bulgaria.
However, the Bulgarian government failed to persuade other EU member states to include good neighborliness as a criterion in the negotiating framework, despite stating its demands. Sofia even complained that one candidate received more support from a member state.
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