Bulgaria should stop attaching undue weight to history, immediately unblock the start of EU negotiations with Macedonia, and implement the Friendship Treaty by working toward a warmer climate of cooperation, Bulgarian intellectuals write in an open letter to Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borissov.
Also addressed to Bulgaria’s Foreign Minister Ekaterina Zakharieva, Ambassadors of EU Members State to Bulgaria, and the EU Delegation in Bulgaria, the letter expresses concern that political elites have unraveled the bilateral progress made after the countries signed the Friendship Treaty in 2017.
“There is an alarming increase, including at a high political level, of insulting behavior, arrogance and short-sighted historical interpretations with a clearly nationalistic and chauvinistic flavor,” signatories note.
“We are particularly concerned that Bulgaria has blocked the start of accession negotiations between the RNM and the European Union without providing a clear justification in the framework of international relations.”
According to the letter, this may damage Bulgaria’s international reputation as a responsible member state of the European Union and NATO. It has also jeopardized the friendship, good neighborliness and cooperation that are the main pillars of the landmark treaty.
Although the treaty is based on good intentions, the letter continues, its implementation has failed so far because “an excessive emphasis [was placed] on historical issues” whereas socio-political, economic and other kinds of cooperation covered by the treaty have been disregarded.
In conclusion, signatories call for a serious change in the philosophy, approaches, means and actions in implementing the Friendship Treaty.
No matter the content of the letter, one thing is absolutely certain: No matter how many “friendship” treaties or made up joint histories are signed between bought Government officials, the gap between the two neighbors has only increased.
