"The previous composition of the mixed historical commission with Bulgaria spent hundreds of thousands of euros in vain and betrayed the national interests of North Macedonia."
This was stated by the Prime Minister of the North Macedonia, Hristiyan Mitskoski, who called for an investigation into how the commission's money was spent, BGNES reported.
Mickoski's statement came after historians who were part of the former Macedonian team participating in the commission said earlier on September 12 that it should include experts from the OSCE, UNESCO and the Council of Europe.
The Macedonian prime minister said he agreed with the inclusion of OSCE members, but also accused the former composition of the commission of having spent hundreds of thousands of euros in vain.
"Let the OSCE get involved, but now the control and investigative bodies will also get involved to see where and what the money was spent on, what are the fees of those who in recent years have done nothing and sold Macedonian interests" , Mickoski said.
"Let the experts get involved, we are for them to get involved and find a solution. Now, should these political platitudes on the part of the former members of the historical commission be commented on more and given attention, I don't think so. Hundreds of thousands of euros have been wasted. For something that led to capitulation by accepting what the Kovaczewski and Osmani duo accepted. So I think that the lack of confidence of this government, which has been given legitimacy by the citizens to correct the misguided processes of the past, to these members of the old commission is a matter of political decision, not a matter of anything else, whether the OSCE will get involved or I don't know who would have turned up," he added.
In their open letter, the former members of the historical commission accused the rulers in Bulgaria and North Macedonia of not seeking the historical truth, but of pursuing political and party interests.
Macedonian historians also stated that the public in North Macedonia had fallen into the "trap of nationalists in Bulgaria" and their intention to force a discussion on issues related to Macedonian identity. | BGNES
