Bulgaria exasperates at Skopje’s discrimination policy

Bulgaria’s resident representative in the EU Dimitar Tsanchev said in an interview for the DPA Insight Bulgaria is losing patience with the discrimination practices displayed on the part of the government in Skopje in view of Macedonian citizens identifying themselves as Bulgarians.

If that policy on the part of Skopje towards neighboring countries continues, it would have long-term consequences and would put at stake regional policy. That is why such problems should be solved before and not after the start of negotiations for Macedonia’s accession to the EU, the diplomat pointed out.

Bulgaria was the first country to recognize the independence of the former Yugoslav republic and helped it in the hard times of general embargo against former Yugoslavia. Unfortunately the present leadership in Skopje is pushing bilateral relations backwards, Dimitar Tsanchev said further in the interview.

Adapted from Bulgarian National Radio