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There should be a clear timetable of resolving the outstanding political issues between Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia (RNM). Neglecting them will lead to the blocking of the process of RNM's European integration, which we do not want at all, and that is why I strongly insist on clear guarantees. This is what President Rumen Radev said at a meeting with representatives of organisations and associations of Bulgarians in the RNM. Vice President Iliana Iotova also attended the talks. 

 

The meeting is part of the Head of State's consistent dialogue with the Macedonian Bulgarians. It took place on the initiative of the Civic Democratic Union (CDU) political party, the associations Ivan Mihailov Cultural Centre in Bitola, Tribuna from Prilep, Macedonian-Bulgarian Friendship and Corridor 8 from Skopje, Interaction from Ohrid, and Unity from Kocani. 

 

President Radev pointed out that the inclusion of the Macedonian Bulgarians in the constitution of the country on an equal footing with the other parts of peoples should be a mandatory condition for the opening of RNM's negotiations in order to guarantee their rights. I insist that before the start of the negotiations there should also be clear guarantees for the protection of our cultural and historical heritage in the RNM, that we should see a clear and sustainable process of eradicating hate speech, the Head of State said. The President pointed to the need for the Macedonian Bulgarians to be full citizens and to fully integrate into the social and economic life of the RNM. This should be the guarantee of our support for the start of the negotiations and the whole process of European integration in general, where we are open, able and willing to help. This is our duty - the duty of the Republic of Bulgaria, Radev specified.

 

In the President's words, the effective and sustainable path of the RNM towards EU accession is based on the respect for human rights and the eradication of the ideologies of the totalitarian past. The President pointed out that he had always stated to the governments of both countries, as well as to European leaders and institutions, his unswerving support for respecting the rights of the Macedonian Bulgarians and their full integration into the RNM through their inclusion in the country's constitution. 

 

There is no denying the fact that our grandfathers were Bulgarians, and we cannot be expected to deny the fact that our children are Bulgarians, said Petar Kolev, Chairman of the CDU, at the beginning of the meeting. He pointed out that the organisations insist on respect for the cultural and historical heritage, its preservation and a serious fight against hate speech in textbooks, but also in the political and public life of the RNM. We will do everything within our power to ensure our children a normal and European future in their own country - the RNM, as part of the Bulgarian people, Kolev added. He insisted on changing the textbook content to reflect the historical truth because the future generations will build their relations on the basis of consciousness created by the educational process. 

 

Petar Kolev pointed out that the organisations would also have meetings with representatives of the executive and the National Assembly. We are in Sofia to hear clearly and firmly whether Bulgaria continues to support our just demands, the guest said. He thanked the presidential institution for its strong support. 

 

During the meeting, the sides discussed the process of acquiring Bulgarian citizenship, the opportunities for deepening the cultural exchange between Bulgaria and North Macedonia, as well as the problems experienced by the Macedonian Bulgarians.

 

 

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