NEWS

President in Slovenia: The systematic de-Bulgarisation and destruction of the Bulgarian cultural and historical heritage in the Republic of North Macedonia is not a bilateral, but a European problem

Bulgaria expects legally binding guarantees from the EU to make progress in the European integration of the Republic of North Macedonia (RNM), President Radev stressed ahead of the EU-Western Balkans summit

The crux of the problem in the Republic of North Macedonia is the systematic de-Bulgarisation and destruction of the Bulgarian cultural and historical heritage in that country for years. The 'revival process' against the Macedonian Bulgarians that has been going on for years is not a two-sided problem: human rights and non-discrimination are fundamental principles deeply embedded in the foundations of the European Union. This is what President Rumen Radev told journalists in Brdo ahead of the EU-Western Balkans Summit, after holding a series of top-level meetings on the European perspective of our southwestern neighbour.

The first meeting, which took place on the initiative of the European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, Oliver Varhelyi, was attended by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Slovenia, Janez Janša, and the Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia, Zoran Zaev, and also included the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

In the second meeting, Head of State Rumen Radev discussed RNM's European perspective with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Emmanuel Macron and RNM's Prime Minister Zoran Zaev.

Rumen Radev stressed that these top-level meetings in Slovenia are taking place against the background of numerous reports of persecution and threats against people with Bulgarian identity in the census process in the Republic of North Macedonia. They are also taking place against the backdrop of the replacement a few days ago of a Bulgarian monument, which shows that not only the living are being persecuted, but also the memory of dead Bulgarians is being destroyed. More than 120,000 citizens of the Republic of North Macedonia are also citizens of the Republic of Bulgaria, based on their explicit will and on the reliable documents of origin presented. Tens of thousands more are waiting for their Bulgarian passport and this country expects this reality to be taken into account in the census of the population of the RNM.

The European integration of our southwestern neighbour is extremely important for our region, for the citizens of the Republic of North Macedonia, especially for those who openly express their Bulgarian national identity, for Bulgaria's place and role in the European Union and for our dignity as a nation, the Head of State stressed. Rumen Radev recalled that last May the caretaker government had found the relations between Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia in a dead end, despite three years of hugs and promises of unconditional support, and despite the 'stalled' bilateral Treaty on Friendship, Good Neighbourliness and Cooperation.

In the President's words, Bulgaria's European partners increasingly understand the nature of the problem with the Republic of North Macedonia. The suppression of the rights of citizens in the RNM, who are also citizens of the Republic of Bulgaria, is a challenge for the European Union itself, because they are also European citizens. That is why Rumen Radev called for European solidarity with them and with Bulgaria.

The Head of State also pointed out that this country is neither vetoing the European integration of the RNM nor stopping the process, but expects its European partners to respect the basic, fundamental European principles and the interests of each EU member state. "We expect an end to this process of de-Bulgarisation, an eradication of the language of hatred, the misinterpretation of Bulgaria in textbooks, museums, monuments, including in speeches in public of representatives of official institutions, as well as in the state policy. Then our people and our society will be ready to say 'Yes' to the start of negotiations," Rumen Radev said. The President reiterated this country's position that it awaits legally binding documents from the Republic of North Macedonia on this process because the Bulgarian people have a very acute and enduring sensitivity on these issues.

The President pointed out that this country is ready for dialogue on the open issues and is working on signing a bilateral protocol with the Republic of North Macedonia, which is expected to be completed and presented in early November. "We have to analyse this protocol and we will sign it if we are satisfied with the results because we have to compare the results of the protocol with the National Framework Position adopted by the Bulgarian Parliament," Rumen Radev said. The Head of State reiterated the fact that the most important issue in this dialogue is the respect for the rights of the Bulgarians in the RNM. Bulgaria does not expect new promises and declarations from our southwestern neighbour, but legally binding guarantees, including an amendment to the RNM Constitution and the inclusion of Bulgarians among the state-building peoples listed in its preamble.

"We need real and objective results of the ongoing census in the RNM, without people being coerced to express their national identity. We need recognition of historical truth. And if all this is fulfilled, we need the next guarantee from the EU - a roadmap, to be included in the negotiation process and the negotiating framework for the RNM," the President underlined. Rumen Radev added that this country expects to receive guarantees from the European Union within the enlargement process itself.

The President also recalled that every European country has gone through its own catharsis and this process has been particularly painful in the post-Soviet countries in Central and Eastern Europe. Bulgarian society is also still healing the wounds inflicted by the totalitarian regime in the campaign to forcibly change the names of the Bulgarian ethnic Turks. That is why the countries that are today applying to become members of the European family cannot bypass this process of catharsis. There is no way that the RNM can bypass it either, the President concluded.

Rumen Radev called on his colleague from the RNM, President Stevo Pendarovski, as well as Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, to take historic decisions and bold actions, breaking for good with the ideologies of the totalitarian past, with the Macedonism built on hatred towards Bulgaria, which will finally open the perspective of our brothers from the RNM towards full EU membership.