Ministry of Foreign Affairs follows with concern the developments in the case of the Bulgarian club "Ivan Mihailov" in Bitola

The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry is following with concern the developments in North Macedonia related to the right of association of Bulgarians in the country and in particular the latest developments around the name of the civil association "Ivan Mihailov" from Bitola, the ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

The Bulgarian Cultural Club "Ivan Mihailov" in Bitola should change its name

According to the Foreign Ministry, the decisions that are being prepared have a significant bearing on the democratic processes in North Macedonia.

It reminds that in order to objectively interpret the historical events of the common history between Bulgaria and North Macedonia, the two governments have established a joint multidisciplinary expert commission on historical and educational issues.

Systematic blockages in its work have so far prevented the elaboration of a common assessment of the role of the historical figures of this period.

Therefore, we hope that the competent institutions in North Macedonia will not use unilateral and tendentious interpretations of historical events and personalities as a basis for restricting fundamental rights, including the right to association, the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry’s position says.

Attack on Bulgarian cultural and information centre in Skopje