Osmani Meets Borissov and Zakharieva in Sofia

Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zakharieva met with Macedonian Foreign Minister Osmani in Sofia. Borisov set November 10, the date when the Berlin Process will take place, which is chaired by Macedonia and Bulgaria, as a time for, as he said, a compromise solution that will satisfy everyone. Borisov told Osmani that a lot of work awaits him, expressing dissatisfaction with the resolution adopted by the European Parliament, which raises the issue of the Macedonian minority in Bulgaria. “I am very upset by the inclusion of OMO Ilinden and the Macedonian minority in a political resolution in the EP. And that is by no means beneficial at this moment when we are seeking a compromise from both historians and our political partners in Macedonia and Skopje, to find a solution to this issue. We should try to make history a bridge of friendship, of closeness, and not a broken bridge through which Macedonia is not able to pass. And the world will not understand us,” said Borissov. On historical issues, Bulgarian Foreign Minister Zakharieva, who also met with Osmani, was somewhat more explicit. Asked about the controversial memorandum with which Sofia disputes the Macedonian language, Zakharieva sent a message – as Bulgaria acknowledged contemporary political realities, it is now necessary for Macedonia to recognize the historical realities associated with the process of creating a new national identity. She says Macedonia has no new claims. “I am really surprised that this memorandum is perceived as something surprising. We have nothing against Macedonian citizens to self-determine. We have an agreement that has a language clause and we want it to be treated that way,” said Zakharieva. Osmani, for his part, said that the present must not be endangered and to give the future a chance. He encouraged the Commission on Historical Issues to take a positive approach to the challenge of relations. Previously, the European Parliament adopted a resolution, which, among other things, calls on Bulgaria to implement the relevant judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, which refer to the inability of the Macedonian unrecognized minority to register its own association or political party.