There has never been a veto over North Macedonia, but Bulgaria's key condition is that the rights of the Macedonian Bulgarians be protected and respected with the rights of all other nations and people in the RSM.

Until this happens, there will be no European future for the Republic of North Macedonia, said national security expert and former Minister of Defense Boyko Noev in the program "This Morning".

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Relations Bulgaria - Republic of Macedonia 801

"The affirmation of the Macedonian identity comes at the expense of the banning of everything Bulgarian, which also reflects on the people in the RSM who consider themselves Bulgarians.

The Macedonian authorities justify that they cannot make changes to the Macedonian constitution to recognize the rights of the Macedonian Bulgarians.

But at the same time, they passed a law against the Bulgarians in a matter of days," said Noev. 

He was categorical that the change in the constitution is the main condition for the European perspective of the RSM.

"In the RSM, it is still forbidden to be Bulgarian, and this must be put to an end," Noev believes.

"Bulgarian politicians want us to be separated from Europe and defend the interests of the Kremlin"

"We cannot close our eyes to the fact that in reality there are Bulgarian politicians who worsen our relations with North Macedonia and give the Macedonian authorities a reason to find justification when Bulgarian citizens and Macedonian Bulgarians are fighting," he said. 

His speech is about the fact that a few days ago, the president of North Macedonia, Stevo Pendarovski, announced on Facebook that Bulgarian MEPs and politicians are prohibited from attending the celebrations of Gotse Delchev in Skopje on February 4.

The reason is that the Macedonian special services have received information about some of them that they are connected to the Russian services. 

"There are Bulgarian politicians who should not be allowed not only in the RSM, but also should not be allowed in the Bulgarian political force.

These are Bulgarian politicians who want Bulgaria to be separated from Europe.

These are politicians who are holding referendums for secession from Europe, against the euro, and perhaps for entry into the ruble zone.

These are politicians who openly defend the Kremlin's interests in Bulgaria," said Noev.  

In his words, we should not close our eyes to the fact that there are "Bulgarian politicians who worsen our relations with North Macedonia and give the Macedonian authorities a reason to find justification when Bulgarian citizens and Macedonian Bulgarians are fighting". 

He explained that these are politicians who are holding referendums for secession from Europe, against the euro or for entering the ruble zone.

"They are openly defending the Kremlin's interests in Bulgaria," Noev believes. 

"The person who has a connection with Russia has a currency nickname and is the head of a Bulgarian political party.

People like him cause severe damage not only to the European future of Bulgaria, but also to our relations with North Macedonia and to the security of the country", he specified. 

"Russian services have a role in our political life"

"Russian services in our country have a role in our political life and unfortunately we do not take enough measures to neutralize them," he said.  

He emphasized that the Macedonian authorities must say who these services are behind these systematic acts of violence against the Macedonian Bulgarians.

Relations Bulgaria - Republic of Macedonia