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The government accused the Macedonian rulers of conducting a diplomatic and media campaign to discredit Bulgarian positions and announced that “With an inherited totalitarian historical narrative, it will be difficult to find support from Bulgaria.”
“It is time for the government of the Republic of North Macedonia to abandon the manipulative thesis that Bulgaria is challenging the right to self-determination and identity of the citizens of the Republic of North Macedonia or their right to call their language as wish “., says the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bulgaria in his position.
The diplomatic office reacted after Skopje called Sofia’s veto of the negotiating framework “an irresponsible geostrategic mistake.” Yesterday, the German Minister for European Affairs, Michael Roth, who is chairing the European Council until the end of the year, commented that the veto of Sofia threatens the security of the Union.
Despite European pressure, Sofia has confirmed that her veto on North Macedonia’s negotiating framework remains in force. Since the other member states also refused to reflect the Bulgarian requirements in it.
“Bulgaria’s proposals for inclusion in the Negotiating Framework of the Republic of North Macedonia are based on clear precedents, but have unfortunately not been discussed by the current presidency.” indicated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
“The establishment of Skopje cannot be to the detriment of Bulgarian interests”
The ministry recalls that Bulgaria is the first country in the world to recognize the independence of the Republic of Macedonia, which began the process of international recognition of the then young state, and throughout the years provided assistance in the most difficult moments.
“This assistance continues today. However, the Republic of Bulgaria does not accept that the assertion of the identity of the citizens of the Republic of North Macedonia is carried out in confrontation with neighboring countries and to the detriment of their national interests.” indicated by the Chancellery.
“Based on its responsibility not to bring open issues within the EU and to protect its interests, values and authority, the Republic of Bulgaria will continue to seek durable solutions that allow a further development of bilateral relations and an optimal negotiation process of the Republic. North Macedonia with the EU “, added from there.
Bulgaria has already explained that there are three main requirements for the negotiating framework: good neighborly relations should be a criterion for North Macedonia’s accession to the European Union, the official constitutional name of the Republic of North Macedonia should be used. instead of the abbreviation for North Macedonia and the wording to make the language “official”. language “of the candidate country, not” Macedonian “.
Barriers to business and support for the Macedonian minority
Just hours later, the Macedonian government’s special envoy to Bulgaria, Vlado Buckovski, met with Deputy Prime Ministers Ekaterina Zaharieva and Krassimir Karakachanov.
“Unilateral blocking and politicization of the work of the commission on history and educational issues, administrative obstacles to businesses, unofficial support for organizations with claims to the Macedonian minority in our country, etc.” Zaharieva said after the meeting.
He also noted that the anti-Bulgarian campaign and attempts to discredit Bulgaria are hampering bilateral relations.
“Bulgaria cannot claim how a part of Macedonian society defines itself, but this self-determination cannot be at the expense of appropriating parts of Bulgarian history and identity. Furthermore, there are many people in the former Yugoslav republic who define themselves themselves as Bulgarians and their language as Bulgarian and this right of yours cannot be denied or suppressed “, for his part, said Deputy Prime Minister Krassimir Karakachanov.
According to him, “the Bulgarian people will not accept any compromise with the historical facts and the common history of Bulgaria and Macedonia until 1944, nor with the blood of more than 200,000 people who died not as occupiers, but for the freedom of their brothers in Macedonia. “. .
Vlado Buckovski he is a former prime minister and his appointment as special envoy was received by Sofia.
He, for his part, said that trust between the two parties had been broken.
“We agreed that in the next period it is much better to boast about facts than empty talk.” he said.
Berlin: it’s only a matter of time before Skopje starts negotiations on the EU
In this context, the local Nezavisne Vestnik writes that the German presidency of the EU has assured Skopje that the start of the process is only a matter of time.
For Germany’s European Affairs Minister Michael Roth, this veto is both a personal disappointment and a threat to the security of the entire region, and of Europe in the long run, the publication writes, cited by BTA.
I think it is a complete tragedy that after so much time solving the name problem with the Greeks, the Bulgarians made demands on the Republic of North Macedonia for internal reasons, said Madeleine Albright, former US Secretary of State, writes Republic.
In a hearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on a question from Congressman Gregory Mix, Albright said Joe Biden’s new administration must work with Brussels so that countries aspiring to the EU don’t stay. in the waiting room because of his neighbors, writes the newspaper. According to Albright, one wonders how Bulgaria fulfills its obligations to the EU, writes the Skopje daily.
After the veto of Bulgaria we must be humble and sober, we must behave like adults. We must not repeat the mistake of the NATO summit in Bucharest in 2008, when we took the third path. Our real defeat will be if we raise our hands or if we focus so much on this issue with Bulgaria that we forget why we need the accession process, and this is a process with which we must bring Europe home, said Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Nikola . Dimitrov, quoted by the Sloboden Pechat newspaper
According to Dimitrov, the country should not give up an understanding with Bulgaria.
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