Let him explain why he wants to replace the Macedonian scholars in the Joint Historical Commission - they are desperately defending Macedonism against the interests of their own society.
This is what prof. Kiril Topalov, a member of the Joint Commission on Historical and Educational Issues, after the Macedonian prime minister said that the current commission has not "defended the national interests of the Macedonian people".
"Their commission is defending Macedonian positions quite firmly and desperately. Only Mickoski can give an explanation why he took this decision. In the Commission we have against us well-trained, erudite North Macedonian scholars - a fact which aggravates their moral guilt, because being such they quite consciously defend unscientific theses. This is a step towards Mickoski's attempt to suspend the work of the Commission altogether, to liquidate it. We are constantly exposing the fact that their well-trained scientists defend false positions. What kind of people he (Mickoski) would put in I can't imagine. The present ones, from their point of view, have done their job very well so far. They have not allowed us to come to generally acceptable positions and conclusions on all the issues we have discussed. Like Gyuro Mihailov, they stood their ground and defended indefensible positions," the Bulgarian scientist explained.
Asked by BGNES what are the real imperative changes for the Joint Commission to function in practice, prof. Topalov replied:
"The North Macedonian part of it must finally step into its role as serious scientists, which at least half of them are. The other half are somewhat accidentally getting there, but desperately defending the position from their fringe. Progress in the work can only come from a change in the political thinking of the North Macedonian rulers. If their political leaders decide that the whole society will benefit if they converge with the Bulgarian position, then they will instruct their committee accordingly."
"However, it is obvious that Mickoski is deepening the rift between Bulgaria and North Macedonia. This is regrettable because it works against themselves. They keep hoping for some miracle to happen, for Europe to press Bulgaria: 'accept them, these cousins of yours'. However, they do not see us as cousins, they do not follow the interests of their own society. The problem comes from the fact that Skopje has no position of its own. They listen to what Belgrade tells them, and through Belgrade - Moscow", the professor is adamant. | BGNES
