site.btaJanuary 15, 1992: Bulgaria Recognizes Republic of Macedonia's Independence

Thirty-four years ago, on January 15, 1992, Bulgaria became the first country to recognize the independence of what was then the Republic of Macedonia (now North Macedonia). On that day, the parliamentary sitting was interrupted and Prime Minister Filip Dimitrov announced that his government had decided to recognize the independence of four former Yugoslav republics: Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The step was taken at the insistence of Bulgarian President Zhelyu Zhelev.

Several months earlier, on September 8, 1991, Macedonian citizens voted at a referendum in favour of independence, beginning the process of peaceful secession from Yugoslavia. On November 17, 1991, the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia declared the country's independence. Conferring with Turkish Prime Minister Suleyman Demirel in Davos, Switzerland, on January 31, 1992, Zhelev provided compelling arguments for Turkiye recognizing independent Macedonia, and it did so shortly after.

On August 4, 1992, during a visit to Sofia, Russian President Boris Yeltsin accepted Zhelev's idea and ten minutes after boarding his flight back home, he signed a decree by which the Russian Federation recognized the Republic of Macedonia under its constitutional name.

Recognition of the country's independence was withheld by all other states until December 1993, when Germany, the UK, Italy and France recognized it as "The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia"

Following is a selection of BTA's original English-language news reports covering this event in 1992:

"BULGARIA RECOGNIZES INDEPENDENT SLOVENIA, MACEDONIA, CROATIA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Sofia, January 15 (BTA) - Prime Minister Filip Dimitrov today briefed Parliament on the Bulgarian Government's decision to recognize the independence of Slovenia, Macedonia, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. The decision was taken at today's cabinet meeting after the Government familiarized itself with all data and the information received through diplomatic channels, including the information of Foreign Minister Stoyan Ganev.

The MPs reacted with stormy applause to Mr Dimitrov's statement.

'The decision comes as an expression of the steady position of the Bulgarian Government and State which observe definite principles and, in the first place, the right to self-determination of each one of the republics in the former Yugoslavia,' the Prime Minister said.

He characterized the Bulgarian Government's act as an expression of willingness to assist peace and co-operation in the Balkans and in Europe. 'We perform this act, taking into account and respect the stand of all other states, and we are convinced that it will be understood precisely as an expression of Bulgaria's desire for peace,' the Bulgarian Prime Minister said in conclusion."

"PRESIDENT ZHELEV ON RECOGNITION OF YUGOSLAV REPUBLICS' INDEPENDENCE

Sofia, January 15 (BTA) - 'I am convinced that the entire Bulgarian people and all political forces support the decision of Bulgaria's state leadership,' said President Zhelyu Zhelev of Bulgaria in an address to the nation occasioned by Sofia's recognition of the former Yugoslav republics.

Bulgaria's head of state emphasized that the decision is entirely consistent with the report of the EC arbitration board headed by the President of the French Constitutional Court Mr Robert Badinter! It is an expression of Bulgaria's principled policy which respects all peoples' right to free and democratic self-determination, including the establishment of separate and independent, states, the President said.

The decision confirms once again Bulgaria's unswerving desire to serve as a stabilizing factor in the Balkans and to help a genuine unification of Europe – the principles of international law and democracy. In this respect, Bulgaria's national interests coincide with the objectives of modern Europewide policy, according to Dr Zhelev.

The President described the Bulgarian position as a logical outcome of Sofia's overall view of the crisis in Bulgaria's western neighbour. 'We are convinced that this decision is an important step towards closer cooperation with all our neighbours and towards a still closer integration within the CSCE process. This is an essential characteristic of the new foreign policy to which the Republic of Bulgaria will remain committed,' the President said."

"STOYAN GANEV ON YUGOSLAV REPUBLICS RECOGNITION

Sofia, January 15 (BTA) - One hour after the Government recognized the independence of Slovenia, Croatia, Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Bulgarian Foreign Minister Mr Stoyan Ganev said upon his return from an official visit to Germany:

'Bulgaria must declare that it regards as inalterable the borders of Macedonia with Bulgaria and with its other neighbouring states.' Mr Ganev believes that Bulgaria should be prepared to establish diplomatic relations with Macedonia after the European Community or part of it take such a decision.

Mr Ganev explained that he himself had suggested that the act of recognition should follow the decision of the European Community in Lisbon. In his view, the recognition of a state cannot be a unilateral act from the point of view of international law. "If we do seek the recognition of a state, our efforts should be directed, just as before, towards a recognition as an act of at least part of the European Community,' the chief Bulgarian diplomat said.

Asked about the future of Bulgarian-Greek relations, Mr Ganev said that relations with Greece and Turkey are of exceedingly great importance for Bulgaria. “We must keep pursuing them irrespective of the differences which existed," he emphasized."

"Calls for Support of the Republic of Macedonia

Yambol, January 15 (BTA) - 'We strongly urge the government of Bulgaria to take a more categorical position on recognizing the sovereignty of the Republic of Macedonia,' says an address to the people of Yambol and all Bulgarians from the Committee for the Protection of the Republic of Macedonia, established here on January 9. In it, members of the committee, mainly descendants of Bulgarians from Pirin Macedonia, express their readiness to morally and materially support the Republic of Macedonia in defending its right to an independent and sovereign state. /P. Syarov/CL"