VIDEO | Damceska: Bulgaria and Macedonia will negotiate, but both countries to maintain their dignity
The talks between the two governments took place in a very positive and constructive atmosphere. Three memoranda of cooperation were signed yesterday, which means that it is a kind of unlocking of Macedonian-Bulgarian relations, a step forward, something that is expected after Bulgaria vetoed and thus blocked the way to S Macedonia, but also to Albania, told Morning briefing by the journalist of Free Press Marina Damceska which followed the visit of the government delegation to Sofia.
-Macedonian-Bulgarian relations in this whole period of 30 years, are at a standstill all the time. We are talking about two neighboring countries and two nations that need to have greater connection. It takes a lot of good will, understanding, a positive approach for the countries to be able to cooperate, to have any connection and exactly with this intergovernmental session held in Sofia, things are already starting to move forward or at least such are the projects, adds Damceska.
- The problems between the two countries exist, but now they have been defined as points, open political issues that both countries need to solve. The approach is to talk, to sit at a table at a higher level, at the ministerial level, and to seek solutions to problems. What the two prime ministers agreed on is that there should be more intensive communication between the two countries at both higher and lower levels, because the real sector, experts should be involved in solving problems, because political issues are very sensitive for both countries and the way they will be resolved, what Kovacevski said, is to preserve the dignity of the two countries, the two peoples, ie not to consider someone to be constantly at a loss, and someone to gain at the expense of the other, said Damceska .
-History is a very sensitive moment. We have a common history with Bulgaria, that is a fact, but I think we should not allow ourselves big concessions. Yes, there should be changes, because in our textbooks there are some formulations that are offensive to the Bulgarian people and I think that should be revised, says Damceska.
Damcevska comments that the two prime ministers understand each other very well that they are both pragmatic and want to find a solution because things have been standing still for too long.
- Before the beginning of the intergovernmental session, I noticed that there was a protest of the opposition VMRO seeking to dismantle these political issues. They constantly talk about Macedonia stealing Bulgarian history, culture and even language, on the other hand representatives of the Associations of Macedonian Bulgarians were guests on television and it is an interesting moment, because in the Bulgarian media there is a lot of space for them. These same associations were revolted because when Petkov came to Skopje, he set aside only 15 minutes for them, says Damceska.