Hundreds of supporters of the main opposition party, VMRO-DPMNE, blocked Skopje’s main streets today (08/06). The move came as a sign of protest against the fact that her government Northern Macedonia of Zoran Zaef does not publish a document, according to which negotiates with Bulgaria for resolving historical and linguistic differences between the two countries.
The nationalist party VMRO-DPMNE accuses the Zaef government of secretly negotiating with Bulgaria on issues related to “Macedonian national identity, language and culture”; as he characterizes them.
For his part, o Zoran Zaef accuses VMRO-DPMNE opposition of “cheap populism” reiterates in all its tones that issues of national identity and language of the country are non-negotiable and cannot be part of the talks with the Bulgaria, aimed at lifting the “veto” on the start of EU accession talks with northern Macedonia.
Similar protests were organized today by VMRO-DPMNE in ten other cities of the country, while according to the APE-MPE, it stated that these will continue in the coming days.
It is recalled that, in March 2020, EU countries had agreed that Northern Macedonia could start accession negotiations with the Union, the official launch of which was to take place last December, but Bulgaria vetoed, stating that it can not currently support such a development, due to open ethnic, linguistic and historical differences between Bulgaria and Northern Macedonia.
Sofia wants Skopje to recognize that their nation and language have Bulgarian roots, something that Northern Macedonia categorically rejects, accusing Bulgaria of undermining its European course.
Sofia also accuses Skopje of anti-Bulgarian rhetoric and reluctance to implement a bilateral friendship agreement between the two countries from 2017.
The decision on whether or not to start EU accession negotiations with Northern Macedonia, as well as Albania, is expected to be taken by the Union General Affairs Council on 22 June.
Portugal, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union, has taken initiatives with Skopje and Sofia to reach an agreement that will put an end to the dispute between the two countries.
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