SKOPJE — North Macedonia’s international minister, Bujar Osmani, has described Bulgaria’s resolution to recall its ambassador to Skopje as “disproportionate” if it’s a response to a weekend assault on a minority Bulgarian within the metropolis of Ohrid.
Hristijan Pendikov, a Macedonian citizen who identifies as Bulgarian and is an worker of one of many Bulgarian cultural golf equipment in North Macedonia that some Macedonians regard as provocative, was attacked and overwhelmed final weekend in that Macedonian metropolis.
Sofia introduced the diplomatic withdrawal on January 25, with Bulgarian Overseas Minister Nikolay Milkov saying it might stay in impact till Sofia sees indicators of change.
Relations between the Balkan neighbors have lengthy been strained by deep cultural, historic, and linguistic ties that spilled into the open three years in the past when Sofia invoked its veto energy to stall North Macedonia’s EU negotiations.
Sofia lastly agreed to withdraw the veto final yr however solely after barely reshaping the Macedonian EU accession framework.
The day after the assault on Pendikov, he was flown to Bulgaria on a Bulgarian authorities aircraft to endure surgical procedure for his accidents.
Macedonian President Stevo Pendarovski known as a gathering of the Safety Council on January 23, after which he mentioned he would ask the federal government to ban the entry into the nation of a number of Bulgarian residents he mentioned have been main a marketing campaign towards North Macedonia and have been linked to Russian intelligence companies.
Osmani blamed the assault on Pendikov on particular person perpetrators and mentioned Macedonian officers had executed all they may to answer the assault.
“The state instantly recognized the perpetrators, [and] one among them is in custody,” Osmani informed the Macedonian Desk of RFE/RL’s Balkan Service on January 26. “There have been condemnations by the president, the prime minister, the minister of international affairs. I went to Sofia [and] we expressed what the state ought to present our residents, so I do not see what the connection can be between one case and the response.”
Milkov instructed on Bulgarian state tv that Sofia would “evaluate” joint initiatives with its North Macedonia and mentioned “issues can’t proceed as they’ve been.”
He added that “issues have modified” between the neighbors.
Osmani rejected generalizations a few state’s conduct based mostly on a single incident.
He additionally mentioned he thought the Bulgarian authorities’s actions have been associated to elections there scheduled for early April — the nation’s fifth in lower than two years.
“The Republic of Bulgaria is getting into the election course of,” Osmani mentioned, including {that a} political vacuum over the previous two years has been an “aggravating circumstance” with respect to “delicate points.”
He mentioned “the season of provocateurs, thugs, and political profiteers is open and now everyone seems to be in hassle.”
The European Fee is at present reviewing all 33 of North Macedonia’s accession chapters to find out what North Macedonia should obtain to arrange to grow to be an EU member.
Any present member state — together with Bulgaria — can veto the opening and shutting of such chapters in negotiations.
Bulgarian cultural golf equipment grew to become a flashpoint for tensions between the nations as their numbers and visibility elevated final yr.
Different latest celebrations of historic figures have additional stirred tensions.
A big contingent of Bulgarian nationals is anticipated to journey to North Macedonia to mark the 151st anniversary of the delivery of revolutionary Goce Delcev on February 4.
Earlier this week, the Macedonian authorities instructed the Inside Ministry to take measures to maintain the occasion secure.
