The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia today summoned the Bulgarian ambassador in Skopje to whom it presented a letter of protest over the “manner” in which the Bulgarian authorities treated the president of North Macedonia, Gordana Silianovska, during her recent visit to Sofia. However, Bulgarian Ambassador Zeliasko Radukov rejected Skopje’s objections and refused to accept the protest letter.

Gordana Silianovska visited Sofia last Friday (13/09) to attend an opera performance in the Bulgarian capital. The show was produced by the Lyric Theater of North Macedonia.

On the occasion of her visit to Sofia, the president of North Macedonia was received by the president of Bulgaria, Rumen Radev, at the Bulgarian presidential palace.

However, the North Macedonian authorities strongly protested because only the Bulgarian (and EU) flag was present at the meeting, while the North Macedonian flag was missing.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia, as it stated in its statement, delivered today a letter of protest to the Bulgarian ambassador in Sofia, asking for an explanation for the absence of the flag of North Macedonia from the meeting between the presidents of the two countries. The latter, however, as reported by North Macedonian diplomatic sources, refused to receive the written letter of protest, arguing that there was no reason to place the North Macedonian flag, as Gordana Silianovska’s visit to Sofia was not official.

Earlier today, the whole matter was commented on from Sofia by the president of Bulgaria, Rumen Radev, rejecting the claims of North Macedonia.

“To be clear: It was neither an official visit nor a working visit. There was no provocation and let’s not speculate. The meeting took place in a friendly spirit. I hope that soon the President of the Republic of North Macedonia will make an official visit here, which will be done with all official honors, as defined by etiquette and will contribute to the further development of our relations,” said Rumen Radev.

However, North Macedonia’s Prime Minister Christian Mickoski today felt that Bulgarian authorities deliberately did not plant the North Macedonia flag at the meeting between the presidents of the two countries in Sofia and added that the days of “humiliation” for his country are over.

“When we see that the red lines have been violated, then we will intervene and there will be protests… The intentions of the leadership of Sofia are not benevolent. It is not so much a matter of including Bulgarians in the Constitution of our country. That’s the least of the problems. The point is that they feel a great need to make a show of strength and show their true intentions,” added Christian Mickoski.

North Macedonia’s troubled relations with Bulgaria have worsened in particular since the nationalist VMRO-DPMNE took power in Skopje last June. The two countries have historical, ethnic and linguistic differences that span decades.

North Macedonia’s European path remains stagnant, mainly because Skopje has not fulfilled the obligations it undertook – on the basis of a compromise proposal presented by the EU two years ago. The proposal envisages amending the Constitution of North Macedonia in order to include the Bulgarian minority living in the country.

This agreement has been opposed by the right-wing ruling party of North Macedonia, VMRO-DPMNE, which, throughout the past period of being in the opposition, did not consent to the agreement “passing” through the Parliament, where a 2/3 majority is needed for the changing the country’s Constitution.

North Macedonia’s new government has expressed its intention to agree to the amendment of the Constitution, on the condition that it take effect when North Macedonia joins the EU, something which both Bulgaria and the EU categorically reject.

Both Brussels and Sofia have repeatedly stated that Skopje will be able to open the chapters of accession negotiations with the EU, after North Macedonia first amends its Constitution.

According to the last population census carried out in 2021 in North Macedonia, Bulgarians make up only 0.2% of the country’s population (a total of 3,500 people), a fact which the official Sofia disputes and considers that the percentage of Bulgarians in North Macedonia it is much larger.