Prime Minister of North Macedonia Hristijan Mickoski
Bulgarian society and politicians have condemned the anti-European behaviour of the government in North Macedonia, BGNES reported.
On 17 September, Macedonian Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Aleksandar Nikoloski called Bulgarians "wretched" and "uncivilised". The government in North Macedonia has consistently denied the Negotiating Framework for opening talks with the European Union. It is Skopje's duty, as part of this framework, to include the Bulgarians in the Macedonian constitution.
On 13 September, Macedonian President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova paid an unofficial visit to the Bulgarian capital Sofia to watch a performance by the guest Macedonian Opera and Ballet. She was, however, invited for an informal talk by Bulgarian President Rumen Radev. The Macedonian flag was missing from a photo taken after the meeting, which caused serious discontent among Macedonian politicians, even though an informal meeting does not require an official protocol and placing the flags of the two countries.
The Macedonian government, headed by Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, has used this to intensify its hate campaign against Bulgaria.
Alexander Nikoloski's insulting words to the Bulgarians provoked a backlash.
"In connection with the latest insulting qualifications towards Bulgaria and the Bulgarian people by officials from the Republic of North Macedonia, we firmly refuse to engage in such un-European and incompatible with good manners tone. Our partners have been informed of the unprovoked provocations, aimed at destroying the dialogue," the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry stated.
The foreign ministry reiterated the key importance of the development of good neighbourly relations for the European future of the Republic of North Macedonia.
"Unfortunately, the escalation in Skopje's rhetoric has reached the point of speaking in such an obscene manner. A minister in a government of a European country has no right to use such words in relation not just to a neighbour, but to any European country and any European nation."
This is what GERB MP Daniel Mitov said.
"Obviously, this is another provocation by the authorities of the Republic of North Macedonia, aimed at destroying the good-neighbourly relations and what has been achieved so far," he insisted.
"I think the words are insulting, unreasonable, and the Macedonian politicians should understand one thing: if they want to be a member of the European Union, they have to respect the written agreements", said the co-chair of "We Continue the Change - Democratic Bulgaria" Asen Vasilev.
"There is a written agreement between the EU, Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia that protects Bulgarian interests, which the Macedonians have agreed to, and they have to implement this agreement if they want to join the EU," Vasilev added.
"This type of rhetoric and a country where its politicians dare to talk like this has no place in the EU and will not join," said Toshko Yordanov, chairman of the There is Such a Nation (ITN) group.
"The language used by the Macedonian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Alexander Nikoloski is extremely unacceptable and in no way contributes to improving good neighbourly relations with the Republic of North Macedonia. On the contrary, such language and attitude can totally blow them apart," said Ivan Ivanov, MP from the Bulgarian Socialist Party. | BGNES
