site.btaPM Mickoski: Previous Government Was Wrong to Sign Treaty of Good Neighbourliness with Bulgaria

The Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Hristijan Mickoski, stated from the parliamentary rostrum here on Thursday that the SDSM government made a political and strategic mistake when it signed the so-called French proposal for North Macedonia’s EU path, i.e. the Treaty of Good Neighbourliness with Bulgaria. Mickoski said that the Agreement was putting his country's path to the European Union in jeopardy.

The Prime Minister's statement came after SDSM MP Mitko Trajchuleski asked about the government's unfulfilled promises related to the country's European integration.

Mickoski referred to the Bled agreement that was signed between Bulgaria and Yugoslavia in 1947. He said: "Representatives from Macedonia also participated in the drafting of this treaty. It stipulated that due to the occupation of Macedonia by the Bulgarian fascist forces and after their defeat, they had to pay war reparations of USD 50 million. This was waived. They did not have to pay, and the then Macedonian Prime Minister agreed to this [...], and in return they even ceded [to Bulgaria] certain territories in the area of Dimitrovgrad [from the territory of Serbia]. In return it was accepted by the Bulgarian leadership that the Macedonian population, other than the Bulgarian population in the then Western Bulgaria, in the area of Pirin Macedonia, would have the right to self-determination, separation from the then communist state of Bulgaria and joining the then federation of Yugoslavia."

The Prime Minister said that the leadership of the USSR and the leadership of Yugoslavia had a falling-out, as a result of which the USSR instructed Bulgaria to waive all rights previously granted to the Macedonian people. He continued: "Why? Because after [the idea of a Bulgaria formed by the Treaty of San Stefano], it is clear who the big owner of this country is and what the goal is – assimilation and an attempt for all of us to recognize that idea of one nation in two states."

Mickoski criticized the opposition for having accepted the assimilationist policies of communist leaders Joseph Stalin and Todor Zhivkov. He concluded: "And yes, it is hard. We cannot change it overnight or in a year, but we will work to change it. Be patient." He promised that his government will correct the mistakes made by its predecessor, one of which he alleged was that it was "heresy to mention Macedonian identity and language" in the European Parliament reports on the progress of North Macedonia towards EU membership.