Vigenin to the politicians of North Macedonia: There is no way to erase the past, we can create the future together

“In the Bulgarians and the Bulgarian MEPs you have friends, we want your country to be a member of the European Union.” This was how the head of the Delegation of Bulgarian Socialists in the European Parliament Kristian Vigenin addressed the citizens of North Macedonia in his speech on the report on the progress of the country in preparing for EU membership. He also sent a message to those governing in Skopje: “Stop creating a parallel reality in your country, stop looking for excuses and justifications. You have got to the point of accusing the EU of not being democratic.”

The MEP advised the politicians of North Macedonia to invest effort in our common European future, instead of creating disputes over our common past: “There is no way you can erase the facts of the past, but we can create the facts of the future together. Change the constitution, respect the rights of Bulgarians, accept them on an equal footing with the representatives of the other peoples and give good neighbourly relations a chance.”

An appeal to colleagues in the European Parliament

Kristian Vigenin also addressed his colleagues from the European Parliament with the words: “The report we are discussing today created a lot of tension and conflict. In the end nobody will remember what is written in it, only the comments and the scandals will remain. That is why in future the approach has to be more careful, more transparent, and the European Parliament should not open questions it cannot resolve.”

At the end of his speech Vigenin addressed from the rostrum Ljubco Georgievski, convicted at first instance in Skopje, who is in Strasbourg: “Courage, Mr Georgievski!”