It is high time that the anti-Bulgarian ideology that is rampant in the Republic of North Macedonia (RNM) become a thing of the past. It is deliberately poisoning our relations and undermining the RNM's path towards the European Union, is what President Rumen Radev told journalists. In his words, the attempt of the politicians in the RNM to build an identity on the basis of the falsifications of the Communist International, and not on the historical truth, are against the interests of the citizens of the RNM who really want EU membership.

 

Regarding claims by politicians in the RNM who define one of the leaders of the Bulgarian national liberation movement in Macedonia, Ivan Mihailov, as a fascist, the President pointed out that it was Ivan Mihailov who opposed Nazi Germany to drag Macedonia into a fratricidal war with Bulgaria. Not Ivan Mihailov, but other people after the establishment of the Yugoslav dictatorship in Macedonia killed and tortured tens of thousands in concentration camps, just because they decided to continue calling themselves Bulgarians and not Macedonians. This is fascism proper, the Head of State stressed.

 

Bulgaria should continue to help anybody who seeks refuge from the war in Ukraine, the President said in response to a journalist's question. In the Head of State's words, Bulgaria should help Ukraine within its capabilities, but also taking into account that, unlike other countries that are far away from the conflict, Bulgaria has a huge historical diaspora in Ukraine. We have our compatriots in the areas of military operations. This requires a very careful and responsible attitude, the President pointed out and reiterated his call for Bulgaria to provide personal protective equipment such as bulletproof vests and helmets.

 

In response to a question about the rescue of the Bulgarian sailors from the Tsarevna ship in Ukraine, the Head of State noted that the most important thing was that they were alive and well and back in Bulgaria. We are grateful to everyone - from the Bulgarian institutions that worked for this, to the Ukrainian and Russian sides, Rumen Radev said. 

 

Asked to comment on claims by President Rosen Plevneliev (2012-2017) that he refused to meet with US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin during his visit to Bulgaria, the President noted that it was good that more and more Bulgarian citizens were interested in politics, but Mr Plevneliev's words were at odds with reality. Radev recalled that he had had fruitful meetings and talks with US President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, as well as with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin during the NATO summit in Brussels last month. There, I once again clearly raised the issue of our expectation for the fastest possible delivery of our F-16 fighters under the contract we have already signed and paid for in advance, the Head of State recalled. 

 

I have not heard that the US government has appointed former Bulgarian ministers as its spokespersons, the President responded to a question about allegations by two former defence ministers about the reasons for the postponement of the delivery of the F-16s, which he described as speculation.