Original title: FROM NEXT YEAR BUCKOVSKI WILL PROHIBIT OCTOBER 11 CELEBRATION? NO HOLIDAY THAT WILL OFFEND BULGARIA SHOULD BE CELEBRATED?
On December 2nd, 2020, the anonymous portal MKD Press published an article titled FROM THE NEXT YEAR BUKKOVSKI WILL PROHIBIT OCTOBER 11th CELEBRATION? NO HOLIDAY THAT WILL OFFEND BULGARIA SHOULD BE CELEBRATED? The content of the text was presented via a press conference of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bujar Osmani, and the new Special Representative of the Government of the Republic of North Macedonia for the Republic of Bulgaria, Vlado Buckovski.
In the title, although in question form, the unknown author of the text states the thesis that allegedly Buckovski would have banned the celebration of October 11th next year and would not have dared to celebrate any holiday that would have offended Bulgaria.
The content of the text does not mention any possibility of banning the celebration of October 11th and other holidays, as it is said in the title, nor was such a thing stated at the joint press conference of Buckovski and Osmani.
What the author bases this assumption on in the form of a conclusion are probably the suggestions of Gunter Fellinger, an Austrian expert and advisor from the non-governmental sector for faster integration of the Balkan countries in the EU and NATO. Namely, in an interview with Alfa TV on November 19th, he suggested changing the national holidays that were supposedly very provocative for Bulgaria, especially October 23rd, VMRO Day, and October 11th, which was celebrated as a day when we defeated the Bulgarians (although on that day the beginning of the uprising is actually celebrated). According to him, this is not a very wise narrative for a potential modern EU member state, so he suggests that they should not be public holidays, but holidays of the political parties VMRO and SDSM.
Of course, these are just his personal views and suggestions for resolving the dispute between N. Macedonia and Bulgaria. Almost two weeks after the interview, his suggestions are attributed to the now-appointed Special Representative for Bulgaria, Vlado Buckovski. Additionally, Prime Minister Zaev clarified what will be the role of Vlado Buckovski, i.e. that he will not be a negotiator.
This text is an attempt to discredit Buckovski’s position from the very beginning, which is manipulated by the public, in order to impose distrust on further efforts and activities that will be undertaken to resolve the dispute. The unprofessional behavior of the portal is only one in a series that in the period recorded growth in order to undermine the work of the officials of our country who make efforts for the best possible solution to the problem and accession in the EU.
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