The year did not bring a breakthrough in the relations between Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia. Skopje did not start accession negotiations with the EU. In an interview with Radio Bulgaria, Martin Minkov, correspondent of the BNR in Skopje for many years and renowned Macedonian columnist Erol Rizaov comment the direction bilateral relations took during the outgoing year:

Mdrtin Minkov: “Neither side has budged from their red lines.”

Erol Rizaov: “The time factor is very much underrated in the Balkans. But in this instance Macedonia is the biggest loser because we, as a country want to join the EU. But in past days an atmosphere has been created and some kind of solution and progress is possible.”

Bulgaria is insisting that the 2017 agreement of friendship and good neighbourhood be applied. The joint commission on historical issues has been holding meetings to no avail, there is no sign of development in any of the other bilateral relations negotiated.  The hate speech by the Macedonian side towards Bulgaria and Bulgarians has not been eliminated.

Е.Р.: “The agreement signed between Bulgaria and Macedonia is good. But this agreement should have been implemented little by little, instead of giving priority to historical issues.”

М. М.: “From the time the Republic of Macedonia was recognized as an independent state, right up to 2019 we gave that country a great deal of credence. We expected an evolution in Macedonian society’s attitude towards Bulgaria. That did not come to pass because North Macedonia made no move to break with the ideological presuppositions of Macedonism, an ideology that is entirely anti-Bulgarian, which finds an identity for this young nation which we reject.”

Е. Р.: “The idea is to make a gesture, a step towards the launch of negotiations with the EU, even though they could last 10 or 20 years. It is my belief that by bringing bilateral relations into the negotiations, the Western Balkans are not going to enter the EU. If we want to have stable Balkans, it is particularly important that Bulgaria attain a different kind of endeavour with Macedonia. What has been done is wrong – instead of seeing what brings us closer, we started with our differences.”

М. М.: “History is what it is. It is based on facts. The mistake both sides made was to encumber this commission with political expectations.”

The end of the year was marred by a tragic incident – a Macedonian bus crashed and burned on Struma motorway in Bulgaria, and 45 people lost their lives. Doesn’t that go to show just how urgently the Pan-European Transport Corridor 8 needs to be built?

M. M.: “I would like to say, from a purely human point of view, that the tragedy was not exploited politically. Sooner or later a normal road will be built. No Macedonian government has shown the political will for the construction of Corridor 8.”

Е. Р.:“Someone in Bulgaria, quite cleverly, suggested that a motorway be built and named Gotse Delchev (a national hero who, even though he himself has identified as being Bulgarian, Skopje claims to be Macedonian – editorial note). The agreement signed between Bulgaria and North Macedonia is good and envisaged just that.”

What can we expect in 2022 of the new prime ministers in Sofia and in Skopje?

E. R.: “A nation is not formed by decisions or decrees, it is a historical process. Unfortunately, we have been delaying the historical processes. North Macedonia will be a part of the EU some day. Meanwhile the wasted time, the blocking of its progress, the words we are now uttering will remain burned in collective memory for a long time to come. What do you think, is that a good thing?”

М. М.:“I am hoping to see a much more pragmatic approach by both sides. In an interview with the Financial Times, Prime Minister Kiril Petkov assumed a commitment – that Bulgaria will propose a new process, with a timeframe of 6 months. But one thing is certain – Bulgaria will be adamant in its insistence on a renunciation of the hate speech which is poisoning the public atmosphere in North Macedonia with regard to Bulgaria.”

Photos: BNR, private library