President Stevo Pendarovski and Prime Minister Zoran Zaev feel no responsibility over the Bulgarian obstacle, with Pendarovski saying it is based on Sofia’s demands beyond the Friendship Treaty and Zaev noting that the entire world sees Macedonians as Europeans looking to the future.
President Pendarovski told reporters after Thursday’s session of the Security Council that he feels no responsibility because nothing has been agreed, either in written or verbally, beyond the Friendship Treaty.
“If we had signed something outside of this treaty, then responsibility could be sought. In such a case, we would have left by ourselves,” said Pendarovski.
PM Zaev feels no responsibility as well, since the entire world has rewarded Macedonians by saying “we are people looking to the future, Europeans using European manners”.
Asked if the rhetoric towards Bulgaria is getting harsher, both the President and the PM said this is not the case.
“There is no such thing or an attempt to show ourselves who is the bigger patriot. I, the PM and the ministers agree that we should not stoop to a low level in the talks with Bulgaria, in talks with anyone. We have gained the people’s trust to lead this country and not only this dispute. We must demonstrate that we are truly a European country, not only geographically, but one having democratic authorities that apply European standards,” said Pendarovski.
Zaev urged for the creation of a narrative that will make North Macedonia friends with neighbors, because this is the European way to do it.
“We will continue to employ a friendly rhetoric, one of dialogue not creating conflicts. We communicate with Bulgaria on all levels, primarily between the ministers of foreign affairs. There are working groups headed by both ministers and we believe that we should do everything possible until the last minute, somewhere at the beginning of December, so that the first intergovernmental conference takes place under the German Presidency,” said Zaev.
He called for restraint, despite the fact that the situation is perceived as injustice.
“We should reach a European solution through dialogue, talk, understanding, while considering respective positions,” said the PM.
Pendarovski said it is not true that the Friendship Treaty is the legal basis for the blockage, because Sofia’s demands ate not incorporated in the agreement.
“Bulgarian demands for some negotiations or talks over our identity or the Macedonian language are not part of the treaty. These things are not even mentioned in the treaty,” noted the President.
He said that the shared history in the Treaty means that certain events and persons in the past were common for both countries and could be jointly celebrated.
“No academic, expert or political explanation says that shared history means only Bulgarian history or only Macedonian history. We have a shared history of 50-60 years with all former Yugoslav republics that are now independent states. This is interwoven history in certain events and persons. Everything else is our Macedonian history. Of course, there are a number of Bulgarian heroes and events who are their pride and joy. However, there is a segment, not only between the Bulgarian and Macedonian people but also among all neighboring peoples, when this history was intertwined,” said Pendarovski.
He added that certain people, unfortunately politicians from Bulgaria, claim that history was shared until 1945 and that Macedonian history is not unique.
“This is beyond comprehension or European principles. This is not part of the Treaty,” underlined Pendarovski.
