Calling for official recognition of separatist groups on an ethnic basis is dangerous!
This is what the leader of VMRO and former Deputy Prime Minister for National Security Krasimir Karakachanov says in his position, published on "Facebook". The reason for the sharp reaction is another reckless statement by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Macedonia, Hristijan Mickoski, with which he once again demonstrates arrogance and disrespect for international documents and the law that underlies the EU, namely:
„We need to see actions, and in my opinion, actions represent recognition of the decisions of the Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg for the Macedonian community in Bulgaria. Clear and unambiguous recognition of the centuries-old Macedonian identity, clear and unambiguous recognition of the centuries-old Macedonian culture, tradition, customs and clear and unambiguous recognition of the Macedonian language“.
„I remind Macedonian Prime Minister Mickoski that as the head of a state that is applying for membership in the European Union, he must maintain good relations with neighboring countries and, above all, comply with the agreement signed on August 1, 2017. Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighborliness and Cooperation between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia. In it, in Art. 11, it is clearly stated that neither side will allow organizations and groups that have separatist activities or make territorial claims“, Karakachanov also reminds us of facts from recent political history.
And regarding Mickoski's very words that he wants “clear and unambiguous recognition of the centuries-old Macedonian identity, of the centuries-old Macedonian culture, tradition, customs and the Macedonian language“, the leader of VMRO responds as follows:
“But of course, it is clearly and unambiguously recognized that they are Bulgarian. And this is proven not by Bulgarian historians and politicians, but by hundreds of foreign historians - Byzantine, Turkish, American, French, German, Russian, who in their works write only and exclusively about Bulgarians in Macedonia, and not about any Macedonian identity“.
The leader of VMRO advises the Prime Minister of RS Macedonia to stop the provocations and to take care of observing the laws and protecting the rights of Macedonian Bulgarians, instead of instilling hatred with his statements.
“The authorities in RSM must, as a first step and as a matter of urgency, stop the hate speech against Bulgarians and Bulgaria, the encroachments on the rights of Bulgarians in RSM, the threats, harassment and physical attacks on RSM citizens who identify themselves as Bulgarians“, reminding him that his own wife's family identifies itself as Bulgarian, in the documents submitted for citizenship in Bulgaria.
Krassimir Karakachanov also insists on an official position from the Bulgarian state, and also reminds of the proposal of VMRO to convene a referendum in which the citizens of the Republic of Bulgaria would answer the question: “Do you want the Republic of North Macedonia to become a full member of the European Union?“