Skopje, 1 February 2022 (MIA) — President Stevo Pendarovski’s recent meeting with representatives of the Ilinden Pirin association of Macedonians living in Bulgaria had no hidden agenda and didn’t go against the 2017 Friendship Treaty, he told a reporter Tuesday asking him to comment on the meeting that caused a stir in Sofia. “If someone is bothered by the President of the Rеpublic of North Macedonia meeting Macedonians living anywhere in the world, this is another matter, and this is their problem, not mine.” The President explained that he had heard them out and advised them to seek a solution to their problems through the Bulgarian institutions or international courts. This is why, he added, he was surprised by Sofia’s reaction. “I was surprised because in that press release [from Sofia] there was no substrate, no argument other than an acknowledgment. Did anyone mind the meeting at all? [...] There was absolutely nothing questionable, not even a single period or comma said by me or the people I talked to went against the 2017 Treaty.“ He said he didn’t refuse the request by the Ilinden Pirin association for a meeting just as he hadn’t refused to meet any individuals or associations asking to meet him in the past two and a half years since he’d been in office. “I’ve also welcomed Bulgarians who are citizens of the Republic of North Macedonia, political parties, citizens' associations, individuals – and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. On the contrary, I have to and will continue to meet people,” the President said, pointing out that his Bulgarian counterpart Rumen Radev had also had meetings with citizens of North Macedonia who declared themselves Bulgarian. He added that he saw nothing wrong with that. “I hope he continues doing this in the future, too, because it can only create an atmosphere in which we get to know each other better. Only in such an atmosphere can we overcome this problem which for the past couple of years has blocked the European integration of our country,” Pendarovski said. He noted that the Macedonians from Bulgaria had told him about the problems they were facing in exercising their rights, but he said he told them he couldn’t do anything to help them, referring them to the country where they lived and to the international courts. “I gave them a straightforward answer,” Pendarovski said. “I want to hear about your plight, if you need me to, I’ll see you again at some point, but don’t expect me to tell Bulgarian institutions, government, state, courts, etc. to do anything in terms of protecting your rights. Why? Because the institutions of the Republic of Bulgaria are responsible for Bulgarian citizens. “If they are not happy, and we know they aren't, about exercising their human rights and freedoms, then they have the right to go to the international courts. There are some ten verdicts abroad,” he added. According to international law, the President said, he should not interfere in any way in the protection of Bulgarian citizens' rights. “This is in accordance with the 2017 Treaty,” Pendarovski said. “And vice versa, I, the Macedonian Government, the Macedonian institutions, the Macedonian courts are responsible for the Bulgarians living in North Macedonia. If they are not happy with me, they can go to Strasbourg or to the international organizations dealing with the protection of human rights and freedoms. These are the rules.” The President said he refused to give false hope to people "quite exhausted from seeking to exercise their human freedoms and rights for decades" and had told them he had no authority over the matter. “I expect this, of course, of every President of another country where Macedonians live and want to exercise their rights. Their country’s institutions are responsible for their rights,” Pendarovski said. mr/