Bulgaria–Republic of Macedonia relations

Bulgaria–Macedonia relations

Bulgaria
Macedonia

Bulgaria–Republic of Macedonia relations refer to the bilateral relations between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia.

Relations

Historically there have been many Bulgarians in the Strumica area of the Republic of Macedonia.[1] At the same time, until 1913 the majority of the Slav population of Macedonia had Bulgarian identity.[2] During World War II, most parts of Yugoslav and Greek Macedonia were annexed by Bulgaria, and the local Slavic-speakers were regarded and self-identified as Macedonian Bulgarians.[3][4] Not until much later did the process of Macedonian national identity formation gain momentum.[2] After 1944 the People's Republic of Bulgaria and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia began a policy of making Macedonia a connecting link for the establishment of new Balkan Federative Republic and stimulating there a development of distinct Slav Macedonian consciousness.[5] Therefore, it is not surprising that, ever since the Republic of Macedonia broke away from former Yugoslavia in the decade of 1990, the relationship with Bulgaria has not been without controversy and disputes.

Rules for governing good neighbourly relations were agreed between Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia in the Joint Declaration of February 22, 1999 and reaffirmed by a joint memorandum signed on January 22, 2008 in Sofia.[6]

The Foreign Minister of the Republic of Macedonia, Nikola Poposki, needs to shore up relations with Bulgaria, according to The Economist.[7]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Yugoslavism: histories of a failed idea, 1918-1992, Dejan Djokić, C. Hurst & Co. Publishers, 2003, ISBN 1-85065-663-0, p. 122.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Center for Documentation and Information on Minorities in Europe - Southeast Europe (CEDIME-SE) - Macedonians of Bulgaria
  3. ↑ The struggle for Greece, 1941-1949, Christopher Montague Woodhouse, C. Hurst & Co. Publishers, 2002, ISBN 1-85065-492-1, p. 67.
  4. ↑ Who are the Macedonians? Hugh Poulton,Hurst & Co. Publishers, 1995, ISBN 1-85065-238-4, ISBN 978-1-85065-238-0, p. 101.
  5. ↑ Europe since 1945. Encyclopedia by Bernard Anthony Cook. ISBN 0-8153-4058-3, p. 808.
  6. ↑ Bulgarian Policies on the Republic of Macedonia: Recommendations on the development of good neighbourly relations following Bulgaria’s accession to the EU and in the context of NATO and EU enlargement in the Western Balkans. Sofia: Manfred Wörner Foundation, 2008. 80 pp. (Trilingual publication in Bulgarian, Macedonian and English) ISBN 978-954-92032-2-6
  7. ↑ "Macedonia's brand new foreign office". The Economist. 2012-10-12.