Iliana Iotova represents Bulgaria at the Fourth Council of Europe Summit

The systematic violation of the rights of Bulgarians in the Republic of North Macedonia (RNM) was presented by Vice President Iliana Iotova at the general debate "United for Europe", which took place in the framework of the Fourth Council of Europe Summit. Within the context of the organisation's basic principles of respect for human rights, the Vice President recalled the series of cases of aggression against individuals because of their declared Bulgarian identity, as well as the adoption of the special law against associations.

In RNM, there are blacklists of Bulgarians who are not allowed on the territory of the country. A Bulgarian MEP is on them without any argument. This is a gross provocation to the common European values and to everything sustaining our community - unity, solidarity, mutual respect. The most dangerous trend is the widespread hate speech against a neighbouring country, a member of the Council of Europe and of the European Union, Iliana Iotova stressed.

The Vice President reaffirmed Bulgaria's position against the war on Ukraine and the support for its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity. We condemn Russian Federation's continued aggression against Ukraine, Iotova said. The Vice President stated Bulgaria's support for the establishment of a Register of Damage in Ukraine caused by the war. Iotova signed the final declaration of the Fourth Council of Europe Summit, which reaffirms the organisation's principles of democracy and respect for human rights, supports Ukraine and focuses on Ukrainian children.

The Vice-President called on the Council of Europe to carefully adapt its objectives and activities to the numerous challenges of the complex geopolitical setup.