Commenting on the famous Bulgarian print and electronic edition “Club Z”, Kapka Todorova writes that even the most extreme nationalists in Bulgaria can deny that good relations with Northern Macedonia are of interest to Bulgaria, and they, according to her, can be good only in a political and economic community such as the European Union. For Bulgaria, the rapid entry of Northern Macedonia into the EU is of great importance and will bring only benefits.
As the MIA correspondent from Sofia reported, according to the author of the comment, unfortunately in recent years the Macedonian issue has been handed over to pseudo-nationalists in Bulgaria, who destroyed the good tone with Skopje and destroyed much of what was achieved in Sofia’s relations with Macedonians. And the sad thing, he says, is that the reason for this failure is far from some melancholy idea of a common history, language, stupid claim to Bulgarian supremacy and the like.
The Macedonian card was played with the sole purpose of small nationalist formations in Bulgaria gaining voters and participating in the government after the April 4th parliamentary elections and the next two elections. And their participation in the government was cashed in in the most dishonest way, reminds the author of the affair with the sale of passports.
According to her, the new government in Bulgaria faces a great challenge to restore good relations with Northern Macedonia, but it will be difficult not only because of the escalation of nationalism in the country, but also because of the provoked response from Macedonia.
“Ordinary citizens of Bulgaria and northern Macedonia are victims of a longing for a great past by nationalists on both sides of the border,” she said.
Kapka Todorova is adamant that there is no need to list the benefits for Northern Macedonia from a purely economic point of view if it becomes a member of the European Community as soon as possible. She also highlighted the economic benefits for Bulgaria, which will also be large – the market will be more compact, lower barriers to free trade and investment, and prosperity will increase. In fact, she adds, it is in Bulgaria’s interest for all countries between Bulgaria and the West to join the EU and close the vacuum from which the demons of the past continue to spring, bringing only war, strife and poverty to the Balkans. But, politically, it is extremely urgent, he says, “Bulgaria to do everything to speed up the negotiations for Macedonia’s EU membership, otherwise it, like Serbia, will sink into the arms of Russia and become a barrier between us and the West.” ”.
According to her, a direct proof of that is the press conference of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov a few days ago, at which he paid special attention to the Balkan states and insisted that Russia’s influence in the Western Balkans should not weaken.
Source: MIA
