The meeting of the Joint Expert Commission on Historical Issues between Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia ended without result

The 11th meeting of the Joint Expert Commission on Historical Issues between Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia ended without result, its co-chairman from the Bulgarian side, Prof. Angel Dimitrov, announced on December 4.

Historians from Sofia and Skopje could not agree on the use of the adjective "Macedonian" to sign the minutes of previous meetings. The meeting comes two weeks after Bulgaria refused to support the negotiating framework for the Republic of North Macedonia with the EU.

The disagreement between historians from Sofia and Skopje is on a number of issues, but the focus now is on the use of the adjective "Macedonian".

Prof. Angel Dimitrov, Co-Chair of the Joint Expert Commission on Historical Issues: Not even a tiny step forward has been made in our work.

Minutes of previous meetings of the commission may not be signed without consent to the use of the adjective.

Prof. Angel Dimitrov, Co-Chair of the Joint Expert Commission on Historical Affairs: This is the 11th meeting, and it turns out that we are moving so slowly, at a turtle pace.

There was a retreat on the part of Skopje and on concessions already reached for Tsar Samuel and the period of the First Bulgarian Kingdom.

Prof. Dragi Georgiev, Co-Chair of the Joint Expert Commission on Historical Issues: The main problem is that, in my opinion, the introduction of a multiperspectivity in history textbooks is avoided and that the idea of ​​imposing only one view on this state actually resulted in no result.

Prof. Angel Dimitrov, Co-Chair of the Joint Expert Commission on Historical Issues: There is a common language in science and history and this common language is respect for historical sources and the dominant point of view and assessments in world historiography. And they all talk about a Bulgarian state and a Bulgarian king like Samuel.

The Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia, Zoran Zaev, said that talks with Bulgaria should continue and that what historians have agreed on so far would be included in the 2021 curriculum.

The Joint Commission was already considered to have reached compromises not only for the Holy Brothers Cyril and Methodius, St. Kliment Ohridski and St. Naum, but also for King Samuel.

Whether the Republic of North Macedonia will receive an invitation to start negotiations with the EU will be discussed again in the Council on general issues on December 8th.

The German presidency of the Council of the EU, which urges negotiations with Skopje to begin as soon as possible, continues until the end of this year.

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