The relations with Macedonia are a sensitive topic to the Bulgarian citizens. Bulgaria has always considered itself for more mature, more moderate, for country which need to help to the new state to establish itself and to start moving more confident on the European road.
The GERB government missed nearly four years, in which as a member of the EU, Bulgaria could actively promote European framework for relations with Macedonia. The promised activity in the Western Balkans not only wasn`t realized, Bulgaria just disappeared politically. Valuable time expired in the dismissals, restructurings, layoffs, sales plus many, many empty words.
The lack of a strategy for Macedonia shone especially strong in the recent months. Instead to sit with his colleague Gruevski at least in one of the forums of the European People’s Party and to seek common terrain for action, Borisov start to scold Macedonia in the media as he accustomed to do in Bulgaria. Most shocking were suddenly announced claims about the name of the country. Mladenov started to carve “red lines” which we wait for several months. Now we reached new „heights“ with the threats of the president and of the minister that will stop the start of negotiations for membership. Impressive was the Mladenov`s tour in Blagoevgrad, to ask what to be the position of Bulgaria – tour that looks more like a view of a potential constituency for elections next year.
During this time, Macedonia followed a consistent, financially and media backed policy – the new state was far more prepared to pursue their goals, which are contrary to our expectations and to the European concept for good neighborhood relations and the protection of citizens’ rights, but we still could not find an appropriate way to confront them.
Bulgaria must not stop the start of negotiations. Our country must to support the efforts of Commissioner Stefan Fule, which are directed to Greece to veto repeal. The beginning of negotiations will link Macedonia with European process and will enable Bulgaria to negotiate problematic issues on each chapter. If this doesn`t happen – the process can be stopped at any time – unanimity is required for the beginning of negotiations for the opening and closing of each chapter, and finally for the completion of negotiations, signing and then ratifying the membership agreement. I.e. Bulgaria can stop the membership of any stage between 70 and 80 times! To throw “atom bomb” against our neighbors is wrong and could only worsen the problem. Our position does not harden, just becoming more inadequate.
And if we want to win sympathy for our cause in Brussels, I would suggest not to rely on threats, but to put ourselves in active position, such as update and renew our contract proposal for friendship and good neighborliness with Macedonia, made by Stanishev in 2008 – a project that current government preferred to forget.