Anyone who claims there is no threat should open the negotiating framework, says Macedonian President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, pointing out that Bulgaria’s unilateral declaration on the Macedonian language has been included in it, and asking why such an issue was insisted upon at all if the European Union considers there to be no problem regarding the language and identity.
In an interview with Sitel TV, the Macedonian head of state raised the very issue of the negotiating framework’s content when asked about relations with Bulgaria and how to break the stalemate in Macedonia’s European integration process.
“It is true that the EU says there is no issue with that language; however, if, contrary to all international norms of the 21st century, including those of the United Nations, such a declaration is included in a negotiating framework, why shouldn’t I be suspicious of the threat? After all, why else would there be insistence on something like this?” said Siljanovska-Davkova.
The Macedonian President believes that the dispute does not end with the question of the Macedonian language alone but extends into other areas she considers to be matters of identity.
“If there is no problem, then what is the issue concerning the Bulgarians? Isn’t that a question of identity? Who has ever negotiated about identity within the EU? What is history if not identity, if I may ask? What is culture if not identity?” noted Siljanovska-Davkova.