Today, at its meeting, the highest forum of VMRO between congresses - the Organizing Council, unanimously adopted a declaration, which categorically insists:
1. The Bulgarian government, through the European institutions, to negotiate a veto by not giving consent to the start of RSM negotiations for EU membership, until RSM begins to respect the rights of Bulgarians there and fulfill its commitments to Bulgaria and the EU. The Bulgarian government should immediately draw up and introduce a sanctions list for individuals from the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the RSM, as well as media outlets that incite hatred against Bulgaria and Macedonian Bulgarians and threaten their rights and legitimate interests, by banning these individuals from accessing the Schengen area and confiscating their assets and those of their associates on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria.
2. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs should immediately toughen its tone towards the Republic of North Macedonia and direct all efforts of Bulgarian diplomacy towards protecting the rights of Bulgarians in our southwestern neighbor, including through assistance to repressed citizens of the RSM with Bulgarian identity for actions in the Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
The reason for the declaration is the verdict of the Macedonian court against the chairman of the closed Bulgarian club “Ivan Mihaylov“ in Bitola Ljubcho Georgievski and the repressions against citizens with Bulgarian identity in the RSM.
DECLARATION
To the Organizing Council of VMRO – Bulgarian National Movement
Regarding: the verdict of the Macedonian court against the chairman of the closed Bulgarian club “Ivan Mihaylov“ in Bitola Ljubcho Georgievski and the repressions against citizens with Bulgarian identity in RSM
After the Bulgarian from the Republic of North Macedonia Ljubcho Georgievski was sentenced to 1 year in prison with 2 years of probation,
After the government in RSM, headed by Hristiyan Mickoski, refuses to abide by the Treaty of Friendship and Good Neighborliness signed with Bulgaria,
After the repressions against Bulgarians in RSM do not stop,
VMRO categorically insists:
1. The Bulgarian government, through the European institutions, to negotiate a veto by not giving consent to the start of the negotiations of the Macedonian Republic for EU membership, until the Macedonian Republic begins to respect the rights of the Bulgarians there and fulfill its commitments to Bulgaria and the EU. The Bulgarian government should immediately draw up and introduce a sanctions list for individuals from the executive, legislative and judicial branches of the Macedonian Republic, as well as media outlets that incite hatred against Bulgaria and the Macedonian Bulgarians and threaten their rights and legitimate interests, by banning these individuals from the Schengen area and confiscating their assets and those of individuals associated with them on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria.
2. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs should immediately strengthen its tone towards the Republic of North Macedonia and all efforts of Bulgarian diplomacy should be directed towards protecting the rights of Bulgarians in our southwestern neighbor, including through assistance to repressed citizens of the Republic of North Macedonia with Bulgarian self-awareness for actions in the Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
VMRO once again declares its unwavering support for the Bulgarians in North Macedonia and for their right to defend their identity, history and culture.
VMRO has always worked to protect national interests and to affirm the truth about the Bulgarian presence in the region.
VMRO – Bulgarian National Movement with the support of all Bulgarian patriots will continue with the protest actions against the anti-Bulgarian policy of the authorities in the Republic of North Macedonia until the Bulgarian cause in Macedonia is protected so that this country can claim membership in the EU.