President Radev: The masks have fallen, the biggest fear of the political class in North Macedonia is to recognise the existence of the words "a Bulgarian" and "Bulgarian"

The masks have fallen. The new government of North Macedonia has clearly shown that the biggest fear of the political class of this country is to recognise the very existence of the words "a Bulgarian" and "Bulgarian" in North Macedonia, President Rumen Radev told journalists on June 26.

“It has already become very clear why in the spring of 2021, as Bulgaria's representative in the Council of the European Union, I shifted the focus of European institutions and leaders from the protection of our history, culture and language to the protection of the rights of Bulgarians in the Republic of North Macedonia. Why even then I raised the idea of their inclusion in the country's Constitution as an important obligatory precondition for the start of membership negotiations and defended this cause to the very end, until it was enshrined in the negotiating framework. But today the masks have finally fallen.

The new government of North Macedonia has clearly shown that the biggest fear of the political class of this country is to recognise the very existence of the words "a Bulgarian" and "Bulgarian" there. This is a policy aimed directly against European principles and decisions taken by consensus by all Member States, against international commitments, but most of all against its own citizens who have clearly stated their ambitions for the European development of the country.

I expect immediate, correct actions from both the Bulgarian Government and the European institutions to uphold the European principles and norms in the enlargement process, to ensure irreversibility and sustainability in the consolidation of the principles of democracy and the basic criteria in respecting human rights. And if the European Union is not committed to the European perspective of the Balkans, but one based on clear principles, norms and values, then sooner or later the Balkans will face Balkanisation in Europe,” Radev said.

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On June 25, Bulgaria’s Foreign Ministry issued an announcement, in which it said that the intention of the Republic of North Macedonia not to abide by its international commitments and signed agreements is unacceptable, The statement was in connection with statements by North Macedonia’s Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, who said that if there is a desire and political will, the negotiating framework for the country’s accession to the European Union can be changed.