Skopje, 20 October 2021 (MIA) – The whole process, we as well as the EU’s policies toward the region, are held in a way hostage by historical issues, Deputy Prime Minister Nikola Dimitrov said Wednesday when asked to comment the reactions by the Bulgarian MEPs during yesterday’s address of European Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi in Strasburg claiming that the citizens with Bulgarian self-awareness have been discriminated against in North Macedonia and their human rights have been violated. Unresolved bilateral issues shouldn’t hold the accession process hostage, said Dimitrov citing as he said one of his favorite paragraphs in the revised negotiations methodology. He called the accusations “unproductive”. “It far from being the truth and to criticize our country, which is a multi-ethnic society that protects the right to self-determination, is not wise and it’s not right,” Dimitrov said adding that no complaints on the matter have been ever filed to the ant-discrimination commission or to the European Human Rights Court. EU members too should be good neighbors, not only candidate countries, he added. “I welcome the fact that the report notes the agreements with Greece and Bulgaria should continue to be implemented by all involved parties. I believe it is important the Commission deemed it relevant to underscore it,” Deputy PM Dimitrov told a joint news conference alongside EU Ambassador David Geer where they presented the EC progress report on North Macedonia.