Iliana Iotova is adamant that "we will firmly continue to defend the Bulgarian position, on which there is a national consensus"

 

The inclusion of Bulgarians in the Constitution of the Republic of North Macedonia is a statesmanlike act and a condition for future European membership. This is what Vice President Iliana Iotova said in Bitola, where, at the invitation of the Bulgarian "Ivan Mihaylov Culture Centre" Society, she unveiled its new cultural club.

 

According to Iotova, the rights of Bulgarians in North Macedonia are the most important condition in the EU membership roadmap, which should be bound with specific commitments and deadlines. The European Union is right. Where they are not protected, there is no Europe. There can be no compromise with rights, the Vice President stressed and addressed our compatriots in Bitola: In the family of European nations you are free to call yourselves Bulgarians, to name your ancestors with pride, to speak whatever language you want and to cherish your Bulgarian memory. Just like other nations.

 

Iotova is adamant that North Macedonia's path to the EU will be cleared when along with Bulgaria it walks the common path, clears bilateral disputes and shows concrete results. This cannot happen with pressure from outside, she added.

 

The lies and prejudices, soaked in hate speech, are poison that our parents drank, but we will not give them to our children. Our common history and ancestral memory cannot be divided. Memory brings us closer, let countries not divide us, Iotova said further.

 

In this Bulgarian home we will continue to talk about our traditions, about Bulgarian culture and spirituality, about Bulgarian heritage and identity. About what is in front of our heirs, young people, the future and the prospects, the Vice President told members of Bulgarian societies who attended the opening of the new club and expressed confidence that they would be even more active. Iotova conveyed special greetings from Head of State Rumen Radev. The President and I are in constant contact with you, we meet both here and in Bulgaria, we share common concerns. I assure you that at all levels, both national and international, we will continue to raise the issue of your rights in North Macedonia as the most important condition for that country's future EU membership, the Vice President told our compatriots, whom she described as a natural bridge in the relations between the two countries.

 

Earlier, at a meeting with members of Bulgarian organisations, Iotova underlined the national consensus on the position on the Republic of North Macedonia. The presence here of representatives of all Bulgarian institutions and political parties is a vivid picture of this firm position, which we will continue to defend, the Vice President said. Speaking to journalists, Iotova expressed hope that Prime Minister Kiril Petkov would take all measures to ensure that his foreign policy advisers did not make a second foreign policy.