site.btaNorth Macedonia's PM: Sofia Aims to Create "New, Current Macedonian Nation that Rests on Bulgarian Nation's Roots"

North Macedonia’s Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski has been quoted by the media in Skopje as saying that Sofia aims to create "a new, artificial, current Macedonian nation that rests on the roots of the Bulgarian nation."

In Mickoski’s words, the working version of European Parliament Chief Rapporteur on North Macedonia Thomas Waitz's report on the country’s EU integration progress is "important and significant because it mentions a separate Macedonian identity for the first time." "Unfortunately, some of his colleagues, MPs who come from our sister party, GERB, are proposing that the word 'current' be placed before 'Macedonian identity'," he added. 

"This is not a surprise, because from the very beginning of this adventure undertaken by the previous government, we have been talking about this, that behind all of this is the creation of an artificial nation, the current Macedonian nation," Mickoski said. He noted that he had had intensive discussions with several influential people in both the European Parliament and Brussels. If that happens, it would confirm once again that it is not just about a few hundred citizens considered part of the Bulgarian community in North Macedonia, but rather "an attempt to create a new, artificial, current Macedonian nation that rests on the roots of the Bulgarian nation," the Prime Minister added. "I will not accept that. I will reject it. Because it has nothing to do with European or any other values," Mickoski told reporters after an event marking the 80th anniversary of the State Statistical Office.

He noted that Europe now "has a chance to right a historical injustice," which, he said, was committed by the previous government that accepted and signed the negotiating framework for North Macedonia’s EU accession. The framework makes opening negotiations with the EU conditional on the inclusion of Bulgarians in the country’s constitution. 

According to Mickoski, “the truth is that Sofia officially has remained a blind hostage to the policies of Zhivkovism." He was referring to former Bulgarian communist leader Todor Zhivkov.

The draft report on North Macedonia’s EU accession progress is scheduled to be discussed by the EP Committee on Foreign Affairs on June 4. The report’s content has sparked reactions not only in North Macedonia.

Chief Rapporteur Thomas Waitz said that he had tried to prepare "a balanced report" but did not deny that Bulgarian MEPs had disagreed with some parts.

In an interview with 360 Degrees, Waitz said that his draft report includes "several references to the recognition of the Macedonian language and Macedonian identity," adding that he had tried to accommodate Bulgarian MEPs' proposals. He noted that "the Bulgarian community in North Macedonia is mentioned once as a Bulgarian community."