The single European negotiation framework for the Republic of North Macedonia will not crack, no matter how much Viktor Orbán offers his services.
This is what the EPP MEP Andrey Kovachev told BNR in connection with the separation of the RSM from Albania on the path of EU integration.
He recalled that the former Macedonian Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski fled to Hungary, and a large part of the Macedonian "VMRO-DPMNE media is in the hands of the Hungarians and is not, to put it mildly, very friendly towards Bulgaria and the spirit of good neighborliness is missing".
A mediator is not needed for relations between Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia, said Kovachev in a comment on the Hungarian Prime Minister's proposal for mediation between Sofia and Skopje.
According to him, the main thesis of the rulers in North Macedonia is that "the RSM's path to Europe is blocked by Sofia, the Bulgarians are the bad guys and they are to blame for everything":
"This is what they are trying to push as the main thesis in the Macedonian media as well. ... The policy of Hristijan Mickoski and his government and the fact that they do not respect the negotiation framework - they themselves are guilty of this, but they do not want to admit it.
It was unfair for Albania to keep waiting because the RSM does not meet the criteria for starting EU membership negotiations, the MEP emphasized.
"The question is why North Macedonia does not meet these criteria. We are talking about basic human rights, so that the Bulgarians in the RSM feel at ease and have the opportunity for career development. At the moment, there is not a single Bulgarian who openly declares his identity, who is in any position in any institution, because this is not considered good, it is dangerous. This needs to be changed. We have been supporting them for so long, we were the first to recognize them. ... We have not had a problem with the name, Bulgaria recognized them back in the day with the name Republic of Macedonia. Don't present yourself as a victim because they changed their name. Bulgaria has nothing to do with this. ... We have a problem with the fact that our compatriots are afraid and have a problem defining themselves as Bulgarians. In addition, the language of hatred, the falsification of textbooks, non-compliance with the Good Neighbor Agreement, signed in 2017, explained Kovachev.
Bulgaria has always wanted and continues to want the EU integration of all countries from the Western Balkans, but they "have to do their homework", said Kovachev:
"Regarding the RSM, the main homework is overcoming hatred and the falsification of history, because that is where the discrimination of people who now want to define themselves as Bulgarians comes from.
In the show "Sunday 150" the MEP indicated that Bulgaria needs a new law on Bulgarian citizenship and to have a public register of all those who have received Bulgarian citizenship since 2001.
"For the RSM, there are between 120 and 140 thousand people who have taken Bulgarian citizenship. ... The Bulgarian National Assembly must change this injustice and not use the Bulgarian citizenship for compromising material, as happened with the mayor of Skopje and many other people - ministers and members of their families. Finally, this sabotage in the Bulgarian parliament - not accepting the public register - must be overcome".