Sofia, 29 October 2021 (MIA) – We have a common past and a common future with North Macedonia, said Bulgarian Caretaker PM Stefan Yanev on Friday and urged Skopje to recognize the rights of those citizens identifying themselves as Bulgarians. “Bulgaria has continually supported the country but it needs to defend its own national interests at the same time. Unfortunately, the leadership in the Republic of North Macedonia is not in a hurry to meet the obligations arising from the Friendship Treay,” Yanev told a discussion on Facebook and urged for a “stop to the incitement of hatred towards Bulgaria.” He added that Bulgaria is interested in supporting Macedonian citizens who identify themselves as persons of Bulgarian descent, so they have the same rights as all others and they are not “persecuted and repressed”.