Zaharieva Says Sofia Doesn’t Deny Macedonian’s Identity and Language

Bulgarian Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zaharieva has once again presented the stand that her country doesn’t deny the Macedonians’ identity and language. In her view, it is the other way around, that is, they deny the Bulgarians’ right. In an interview with Die Welt, she says that over the past 10 years, 88,450 citizens have obtained Bulgarian citizenship on the basis of their descent. “They’re Bulgarian and European citizens. They have a right to self-determination. But everybody who defines themselves today in North Macedonia as a citizen with Bulgarian roots is still discriminated. Two weeks ago, some groups published these people’s personal data and addresses, in some cases they were even threatened that they would be hanged,” the Bulgarian politician points out.