Skopje, 22 October 2021 (MIA) – The government said Friday it has neither interfered nor exerted any political pressure on the work of the joint multidisciplinary commission for historical and educational issues of North Macedonia and Bulgaria. “On the contrary, we have always supported their work, as scholars who on their own, together, had established their principles of work,” the government said in a statement after a member of the Macedonian team of the joint commission resigned citing “attempts for political influence over the work of the commission by top official of the Foreign Ministry.” “We categorically dismiss any insinuation that there has been any influence on the decision of professor Vancho Georgiev to end his engagement as member of the commission by the government or by any government institution. Given the principle of full independence in the work of the commission, all members in our team of the commission have the right to decide in relation to their future engagement,” said the statement. Only a week ago, it added, professor Vancho Georgiev “had signed willingly a contract to resume his engagement as member of the Commission.” Earlier, Dragi Gjorgiev, head of the Macedonian team of experts in the joint commission on historical and educational issues, confirmed to MIA that a member has resigned. “A member of the commission offered verbal resignation, but the commission will continue its work,” Gjorgiev told MIA offering no more details. According to media reports, professor Vancho Gjorgiev in a written statement listed several reasons for his resignation, including “double leadership in the Macedonian team of the commission and a modification of the established principles for decision-making consensus, changes to the history textbook without his approval, modification of the defined red lines done by the other members of the commission to the detriment of the national interests.” Following Gjorgiev’s resignation, the Macedonian team of the joint commission issued a statement saying there is no basis for claims that new principles have been introduced. “There has also been no pressure from the Foreign Ministry, the government or the political parties,” said the statement, noting the scientific principles in the work of the commission will remain unchanged. Also, said the Macedonian experts, the proposals and ideas shared today and yesterday are no different than the proposals and the approach applied so far after being agreed by all members of the Macedonian team of the commission since its establishment and they are not against the Macedonian identity and the national interests. Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani also dismissed claims that pressure has been exerted on the talks and decisions of the joint Macedonian-Bulgarian commission on historical issues.