The March 8 congratulations of the Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Krassimir Karakachanov became an occasion for an angry Macedonian reaction. Yesterday he posted on Facebook a congratulation for the women’s holiday against the background of a map of Greater Bulgaria, including territories from today’s Macedonia, Albania, Greece and Serbia.
On this occasion, the cabinet of the President of the Republic of Northern Macedonia Stevo Pendarovski reacted immediately, reports “TV 21”.
“President Pendarovski has always said of statements coming from Sofia that they are a blatant violation of the Neighborhood Agreement and undermine trust between the two countries and peoples. Such actions run counter to NATO’s core principles and values, in which both countries are equal members, “Pendarovski’s cabinet said in a response.
The Agreement on Friendship, Good Neighborliness and Cooperation between the Republic of Macedonia and the Republic of Bulgaria, signed by the Prime Ministers Zoran Zaev and Boyko Borissov in 2017, Article 11 (3) states: “both Contracting Parties have no territorial claims to another “, the publication reminds. He added: “It is not the first time that Karakachanov has made provocative statements that only ignite fire between the two countries. So far, the country has not officially reacted to any of his statements.”
The Prime Minister of Northern Macedonia Zoran Zaev and the Deputy Prime Minister Nikola Dimitrov defined as “pre-election folklore” the map of San Stefano Bulgaria, published by the Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister Krassimir Karakachanov on social networks, MIA reported.
Asked to comment on a post on the social networks of the Bulgarian Minister of Defense, Nikola Dimitrov described it as “pre-election folklore” before the parliamentary elections in Bulgaria in April.
“The stronger the reaction in our country, the stronger the effect, which is probably the idea above all. We who are sincerely on the side of good neighborly relations and friendship must be more careful what we say and publish in “We must especially refrain from statements and publications that look like territorial ambitions and are contrary to the Treaty of Friendship and our participation in NATO,” said the Deputy Prime Minister of Northern Macedonia.
In the same vein, Prime Minister Zaev described Karakachanov’s publication as “election folklore” and said commenting on it would mean interfering in Bulgaria’s election campaign.
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