Bulgarian DM to Skopje: If you want to create a new nationality, do us a favor and do not steal history

In a message to Skopje, Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister said: "If you suddenly decide to create a new nationality, do us the favor of not stealing Bulgarian history."

A large number of European countries seeking to launch negotiations with North Macedonia to join the EU seek to satisfy their own interests, announced Bulgarian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister, Krasimir Karakachanov.

His comments were in response to a comment by a television presenter that Sofia is under enormous pressure from Europe over its veto on the start of negotiations with Skopje.

According to the Bulgarian politician, it is impossible to pressure a country on such issues.

"Large countries very rarely take into account the interests of smaller countries. Is it normal? I think not, the Bulgarian minister highlighted.

"It is impossible for these many and large EU countries, our partners, to pressure or demand that an EU member abandon its national interests for the benefit of a country applying for membership!", said Karakachanov.

"There is no such paradox anywhere else in the world!", he added.

He said that in order for North Macedonia to join the EU, it is necessary to resolve controversial issues with Bulgaria, however, in recent years, Skopje has not done this despite warnings from Bulgarian politicians.

Karakachanov again addressed his country's western neighbor and asked them not to steal Bulgarian history.

"If you suddenly decided to create a new nationality, do us the favor of not stealing Bulgarian history and, moreover, by falsifying the history of Bulgaria by cultivating a sense of hatred towards Bulgaria, Bulgarians and anything Bulgarian", he said.

"When you do good to someone and help him, you expect that he will not stab you in the back, that they will not steal history and will not train young people to have hatred against Bulgaria", he added in his comments to Skopje.