Skopje, 3 October 2023 (MIA) – I urge Europe not to allow Russian interests to be a reality in the Balkans once again in the 21st century, and not to allow the assimilation of the Macedonian people. VMRO-DPMNE is clear in its positions and under no condition will it deviate from them and accept the Bulgarian dictate, said VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski in answer to a journalist’s question Tuesday.

According to Mickoski, history has always shown that “whenever Bulgaria has tried to assimilate the Macedonian people or deny the Macedonian identity, their actions have had the support of Russia, i.e., the Russian interests in the Balkans.”

“This was the case with the Treaty of San Stefano when Bulgaria practically received today’s Macedonia as a gift, and as a result of an agreement between the foreign ministers of the Ottoman Empire and the Russian officials. The same happened when the Bled Agreement was abandoned by Bulgaria, unanimously, upon the instruction of then Soviet leader Stalin. The same was signed now, unfortunately with a Macedonian hand this time, by the trio of Kovachevski, Pendarovski, Osmani. If Todor Zhivkov were alive, he would be very proud of these three, and I am sure that he would refer to them as hopeful Bulgarians. That’s why I urge Europe not to allow the Russian interests to be a reality in the Balkans once again in the 21st century, and not to allow the assimilation of the Macedonian people. VMRO-DPMNE is clear in its positions and under no condition will it deviate from them and accept the Bulgarian dictate,” said Mickoski.

According to Mickoski, VMRO-DPMNE is only asking that the rights of the Macedonian community in “Western Bulgaria/Pirin Macedonia” are being respected, just as they were during the Bled Agreement. 

Mickoski pointed to the fact the European Court of Human Rights has 15 judgements about the rights of the Macedonian community, and none related to the Bulgarian community in North Macedonia.

“On one hand, you have 14 judgements from the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg which focus on the rights of the Macedonian community in Bulgaria, and zero judgements related to the Bulgarian community in Macedonia. Whose rights are threatened, who is subject to assimilation, torture, and terror? VMRO-DPMNE has no intention of accepting a Bulgarian dictate, even less so because it wasn’t a part of the creation of that dictate,” said Mickoski.

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