Meeting of Joint Expert Commission on Historical Issues between Bulgaria and North Macedonia ended without result

The meeting in Skopje of the Joint Expert Commission on Historical Issues between Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia ended without result on October 25.

The Ohrid Archdiocese and the minutes of the past meetings were a topic of discussion. Bulgarian historians held discussed for the first time together with the new composition of the commission of the Republic of North Macedonia. The issue of the content of the 7th grade history textbooks in North Macedonia was not addressed.

"We have started some very long discussions about the Ohrid Archbishopric in the 11th century and since our colleagues need time to get into this topic, we decided to leave it for the next time when we will be in Sofia. We did not discuss these topics related to the review of the 7th garde textbooks in North Macedonia. But we have started working on validating minutes from previous meetings," said Prof. Angel Dimitrov - co-chair of the Joint Committee on Historical Issues.

The next meeting of the commission will be held in Sofia.

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Speaking in a joint news conference with North Macedonia's Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski in Skopje on October 24, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the constitutional changes that North Macedonia has agreed to make must be implemented.

There is a very clear goal in sight - to open the first cluster of EU accession talks with the Republic of North Macedonia as soon as possible, she said.

We need joint effort, cooperation and dialogue. I hope that all political forces in the country will come together to take this decisive step forward. I am convinced like you that we can overcome the obstacles that are still there," the EC President added.

Von der Leyen arrived in Skopje from Tirana as part of her tour of the Western Balkans. She held a one-to-one meeting with Mickoski.

Prime Minister Mickoski said he would work only in the interest of the citizens. The next stop on Ursula Von Der Leyen's tour of the Western Balkans is Bosnia and Herzegovina.