Sofia, 25 May 2022 (MIA) – It is illogical and difficult to explain the thesis that we let Albania move forward while seeing the North Macedonia issue from a historical standpoint, says Bulgarian Member of European Parliament (MEP) and North Macedonia Rapporteur, Ilhan Kyuchyuk. “This thesis is very difficult to explain. Europe cannot understand the tangled historical arguments because it must open the Pandora Box of its own history, and it does not want to do this. However, Europe understands human rights and freedoms very well. And that is why the demand of Bulgarians in North Macedonia to be incorporated in the Macedonian constitution is fair,” MEP Kyuchyuk told BNR. He says there is rising and legitimate pressure coming from European institutions over settlement of the North Macedonia issue, whereas enlargement is a key priority for the European Commission. “Bulgaria has nothing to be concerned about and should not avoid a sincere, open conversation with North Macedonia both about the past and the future. Nevertheless, it is obvious that from a national point of view that we do not have a clearly expressed position by the authorities. If the government should be criticized, then it should be about its inability to find consensus on key issues, one being North Macedonia and the other its attitude towards Ukraine,” says the Bulgarian MEP. According to him, the formula to solve the North Macedonia issue should result not only from efforts within the ruling coalition but also by through the involvement of the opposition.