site.btaSkopje Has No Objection to Including Bulgarians in Constitution but Is Concerned of EU Accession Process Becoming Bilateral, Says Deputy Foreign Minister

Skopje has no objection to including Bulgarians in the Constitution but is concerned about its EU accession process being bilateralized, Deputy Foreign Minister Zoran Dimitrovski said here Thursday. He was speaking at the EU Meets the Balkans forum in Sofia.

The event is organized by the European Liberal Forum, the ALDE Party, and the Atlantic Club of Bulgaria with the participation of Vice President Iliana Iotova, EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, MEP Ilhan Kyuchyuk, representatives from Turkiye, Romania, North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, and Montenegro, Bulgarian MPs and policy experts.

"The Republic of North Macedonia has no issue with including Bulgarians in its Constitution or with guaranteeing their rights—this has never been a problem. What we fear is that our EU accession process could become strictly bilateral and dependent on the outcomes of the work of the Joint Commission on Historical and Educational Issues," he said. In his view, that commission could continue its work for decades.

The commission was expected to play a key role in resolving disputes in history and education between Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia but the tensions have remained despite long years of efforts.

Dimitrovski also expressed gratitude to Bulgaria for its fraternal assistance following the recent tragedy in Kocani.

A fire in a Kocani night club on March 15 killed 59 people and injured 155. Three later succumbed to their wounds. Some of the injured received medical treatment at hospitals in Bulgaria.

He emphasized the importance of continued US engagement in the Western Balkans, noting that it will take time for Europe to fully take responsibility for its own defence.