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In the extensive interview that the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Zoran Zaev, gave especially to Deutsche Welle, it is mainly about relations with Bulgaria. By the way, it is significant that Zaev tries to pronounce “Bulgaria” and “Bulgarians” instead of “Bulgaria” and “Bulgarians”.
Before Boris Georgievski, the Macedonian prime minister called for friendship, love and understanding between the two neighboring nations, writes the Bulgarian edition of Deutsche Welle.
“Our best friend, whom we call brother, blocks us”
“We are good friends, brother peoples. Both countries want to see all the Balkans together in the EU, with open borders between us and Bulgaria, through which citizens can freely travel, cooperate and build friendship,” said the prime minister. Macedonian. However, Zaev notes that the problem that led to the blocking of his country’s talks on EU membership probably has its roots in “Bulgaria’s attempts to determine history.” The Prime Minister of North Macedonia also believes that historical questions should be decided by historians, not politicians.
“We have a wonderful agreement,” he said about the Neighborhood Agreement signed between Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia in 2017. The story “unites us, it is something in common from the past and through it we build bridges, cooperation and even greater brotherhood.” But there is also the risk that “this common story, if we make it more Macedonian or more Bulgarian, will be a bone of contention and create conflicts.”
Zaev has not lost hope that the problems of the conflict will be solved: “It is probably never too late, but if we solve them an hour before, it will be better.” While he doesn’t hide his disappointment that “our best friend, the one we call brother, is blocking us,” he says talks are ongoing and consensus can still be reached by the end of the year.
“The Macedonian people would never block the Bulgarian people”
“We definitely have no claims, neither territorial nor minority,” added the Macedonian prime minister. “I sincerely want our kind and fraternal people to recognize us as Macedonians and our language as Macedonian,” he said, adding: “The recognition of my history is my right to self-determination. Both I and the Macedonian people recognize the Bulgarian right to self-determination: that there is a Bulgarian people and language with a whole history that is sacred to them, as our history is sacred to us. And through that we can build friendship. ” According to Zaev, “The Bulgarian citizens do not like what is happening today. The Macedonian people would never block the Bulgarian people, and if they do, the politicians will be punished in the elections. The Bulgarian people will not impose a blockade either. Now, without However, it all depends on politicians. “
Zoran Zaev believes that “our interest is that Bulgaria is stable and has power and a parliament that the people support.” In this regard, he suggested that it would also be good for Borisov and the Bulgarian authorities to stand in the next elections “with a problem solved”: “My friend and brother Boyko Borissov is European and he has proven it, I don’t need to say it.” “It has proven it several times, especially for us in North Macedonia and the Western Balkans. And I think it will continue in that spirit. In my opinion, the Bulgarian people will reward a person who finds a solution, not a person who creates problems. “.
But isn’t the source of tension really Karakachanov? – asks the journalist Boris Georgievski. In response, the Prime Minister of North Macedonia said that according to him, the Bulgarian people were against the blockade against the Macedonian people on their way to the EU. Still, there are coalition partners in the government, he recalled, adding to Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister Krassimir Karakachanov: “I often listen to my good friend Karakachanov. And I say that he wants Macedonia, but sometimes he wants it in the wrong way. And I am his Said There is a saying: “Love, brother, you want so much!”
Zaev reiterates once again that North Macedonia has no territorial or minority rights over Bulgaria. As for the common history, the Macedonian Prime Minister says: “It exists and is a reality. From this common history emerged the Bulgarians and Macedonians, the Bulgarian language and Macedonian.” On this basis, friendship and brotherhood must be built, love must be sought, which opens the way to the future, and not to fights, Zaev believes. “I am convinced that Karakachanov, who is the chairman of a right-wing party, does not want a conflict with his neighbors, he does not want to divide Macedonians and Bulgarians, but he wants to build friendship,” said the North Macedonian prime minister.
“May reason finally prevail on both sides of the border”
Later in the interview, Zaev briefly brought up the painful subject of memorials and plaques and summarized: “Together with all my people I work to strengthen the friendship and brotherhood of the two peoples. But something that has been lost for decades is not You can do it for two years. We need more time and it’s up to us. “
When asked about the reasons why the two IMRO parties act as combat partners on both sides of the border, Zoran Zaev said: “First, these are right-wing and nationalist parties. And unfortunately, when it comes to on such sensitive issues, this nationalism is becoming radical. ” According to him, VMRO-DPMNE is only interested in winning more votes to win the next election. But love for the country and the people is not a 100-meter race, Zaev said figuratively, explaining: “Politicians have a responsibility to think about the future of their country and its people.” Zaev knows that as a nationalist-oriented right-wing party, Karakachanov’s Bulgarian IMRO has its priorities. However, he expresses his personal hope that, in the end, reason will prevail on both sides of the border and that pro-European forces will triumph.
* The title is in Mediapool.
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