President Rumen Radev presents Bulgarian identity documents to Ljupcho Georgievski and Blagoj Shatorov

 

The Bulgarian state stands behind its citizens and will protect their life, dignity and rights with all its institutions. This is the duty of any civilised state, and it is also the duty of the Republic of North Macedonia (RNM), which claims that its EU membership is a real goal. This is what President Rumen Radev said after handing over Bulgarian identity documents to Ljubcho Georgievski and Blagoj Shatorov at an official ceremony at the Presidency. Vice President Iliana Iotova signed the decrees for acquiring Bulgarian citizenship on the basis of their Bulgarian origin. 

 

Georgievski is the chairman and Blagoj Shatorov is the secretary of the Ivan Mihailov Bulgarian Cultural Centre in Bitola, which was closed down by the RNM authorities late last March, after a unanimous vote in the Macedonian parliament to amend the Law on Associations and Foundations, on the basis of which only two Bulgarian clubs out of 17,000 NGOs in the country were closed down. 

 

It is a privilege for me to honour with Bulgarian identity documents two of our compatriots whose patriotic activity and courage reminded the whole of Bulgaria that the "iron candlestick" of Bulgarian patriotism has never been extinguished in the neighbouring Republic of North Macedonia. That the millennia-old Bulgarian culture and our historical heritage in Macedonia are indelible and will continue to awaken the minds and hearts of the Bulgarians, the head of State said in his address.. 

 

President Radev expressed confidence that as citizens of the Republic of Bulgaria and of the European Union, Ljupco Georgievski and Blagoj Shatorov will continue to defend the cause of human rights and the principles of democracy on which modern United Europe is built. Not only Bulgaria, our whole region will benefit if the processes of democratisation in our neighbour become irreversible and if nobody persecutes, abuses, judges and shoots someone just because he is Bulgarian, President Radev said.

 

The head of State reiterated that the inclusion of Bulgarians in the constitution of the RNM on an equal footing with other peoples and guaranteeing their equal rights is a necessary requirement of the EU and an obligatory condition for the start of accession negotiations. The President expressed his gratitude to the European institutions and leaders for understanding and accepting the position he has steadfastly defended over the past two years that human rights are at the core of the membership criteria and there is no alternative to their respect.

 

Let us work together for the sake of the citizens of the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia, the people on both sides of the border, with the conviction that we share not only a common centuries-old history, but also a common future in a united Europe, the head of State stressed in his address. 

 

During the ceremony, Ljupcho Georgievski expressed gratitude for acquiring Bulgarian citizenship. We are grateful to the presidential institution, which first heard our request for help, responded and familiarised the European countries with our problem and this became a European policy, Georgievski stressed. 

 

The ceremony was attended by Vice President Iliana Iotova, Foreign Minister Ivan Kondov, and representatives of state institutions.