{"id":6002,"date":"2020-12-04T10:47:25","date_gmt":"2020-12-04T07:47:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/boldbg.net\/?p=6002"},"modified":"2020-12-05T00:54:37","modified_gmt":"2020-12-04T21:54:37","slug":"otvoreno-pismo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/boldbg.net\/en\/2020\/12\/04\/otvoreno-pismo\/","title":{"rendered":"OPEN LETTER"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u0411\u044a\u043b\u0433\u0430\u0440\u0441\u043a\u0438 \u043f\u0440\u0435\u0432\u043e\u0434<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We bring to your attention an open letter signed by citizens on the initiative of BOLD (Bulgarian Organizing for Liberal Democracy). The letter expresses the positions of the signatories in their individual capacity.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

To:<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n
  • Mr Boyko Borisov – Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria <\/li>
  • Ms Ekaterina Zaharieva – Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria <\/li>
  • Ambassadors of EU Members States to the Republic of Bulgaria <\/li>
  • Representative of the European Union in the Republic of Bulgaria <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    Ladies<\/strong> <\/strong>and<\/strong> <\/strong>gentlemen<\/strong>,<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    We write to express our concern that, following\na short period of progress in bilateral relations between the Republic of\nBulgaria and the Republic of North Macedonia (RNM) in the aftermath of signing the\nTreaty of Friendship, Good Neighbourliness and Cooperation (the Treaty), the\npolitical elites of both countries have allowed this achievement to unravel. We\nare particularly concerned that Bulgaria has blocked the start of accession\nnegotiations between the RNM and the European Union without providing a clear justification\nin the framework of international relations. We think that Bulgaria will be\npaying a reputational price at different levels internationally, with unclear\nconsequences. At this time, the friendship, good neighbourliness and\ncooperation that are the main pillars of the Treaty are at stake. There is an\nalarming increase, including at a high political level, of insulting\nbehaviour, arrogance and short-sighted historical interpretations with a\nclearly nationalistic and chauvinistic flavour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    This crisis jeopardises not only our\nneighbourly relations, but also our joint future as responsible member states of\nthe European Union and NATO. Our chances for good neighbourly cooperation\nwithin the united European political space are put on hold. The Republic of\nAlbania\u2019s schedule of EU membership negotiation which is tied with that of the Republic\nof North Macedonia in also at risk. Moreover, the geopolitical dimensions of\nthis crisis should not be underestimated: our disunity is increasing our\nvulnerability to threats from outside the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Some of the main causes for the current\ncrisis are set out below: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    1. Despite the good intentions underlying the Treaty, its\nimplementation is plainly flawed, with an excessive emphasis on historical\nissues and elimination of aspects of cooperation related to the other groups of\nsocio-political, economic and other issues covered by the Treaty. <\/li>
    2. The Joint Multidisciplinary Expert Commission on\nHistorical and Educational Issues established under the Treaty has, on a number\nof occasions, applied approaches supported by both sides that are not aligned\nwith the philosophy and approaches of modern historiography, thereby seriously\nundermining the Commission\u2019s effectiveness.<\/li>
    3. The flawed reliance, in the negotiation process, on prioritisation\nof historical issues has imposed undue political responsibilities on the Joint\nMultidisciplinary Expert Commission. Complex multifaceted policy decisions with\nhuge national, bilateral and geopolitical implications have become dependent on\nthe Commission\u2019s narrow expert opinions. <\/li>
    4. The process of Treaty implementation remains to date restricted\nmainly to the political and diplomatic level. Rather than participating through\na series of attractive and innovative civic, academic, cultural, educational\nand other initiatives, citizens ended up as witnesses of fierce rhetorical\nfights between the heavyweights of historical scholarship on both sides of the\nborder, replaying conflicting views from the 20th century. Instead of fostering\ncreativity for the sake of a better future, this development mobilised historical\nsensitivities and stereotypes among the general public.<\/li>
    5. At the level of policy and diplomacy, current approaches\nare inconsistent with the spirit, objectives and texts of the Treaty, including\nBulgaria’s refusal to recognise the name of the official language of the RNM (a\nname recognised by the UN), its non-acceptance of the existence of a separate\nMacedonian nation and of the right of North Macedonian citizens to self-determination.\nThese approaches are unacceptable in the European political space. There have\nbeen instances of hostile speech coming from both state parties to the Treaty. <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Having drawn attention to the above\ndeficits in the implementation of the Treaty so far, we also emphasise that thousands\nof citizens in both countries continue to feel a natural connection at the\nlevel of everyday life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      In view of the foregoing, we call on you\nto show statesmanship and, at this critical time, take urgent steps as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      1. Bulgaria should immediately, in accordance with the established procedure, unblock the start of negotiations<\/strong> for membership of the RNM in the European Union. We call on you to do this before the end of 2020, within the framework of the German presidency of the Council.<\/li>
      2. The question of the EU membership of the RNM and Albania should also be on the agenda of the forthcoming presidencies of the Council. <\/li>
      3. New priorities, approaches and initiatives in bilateral relations with the RNM should be developed, having in mind that:
        – All such issues should be addressed in the spirit of, and according to, standards of modern international law related to bilateral and multilateral relations. We believe that in such a negotiation framework, there is no place for conditions coercing one party to adopt the other party\u2019s unrealistic demands, such as a full or partial renouncing of its people\u2019s self-determination or its citizens\u2019 right to self-identification.
        – It is inappropriate to expect that, under whatever kind of negotiation process, any governing team would burden itself with the suicidal action of making a political decision<\/strong> regarding the self-identification of its citizens and ruling that, from a certain point, the entire population has changed its belonging to a certain ethnic group.
        – We recall the traumatic experience of Bulgaria during the time of the communist regime when she tried to impose \u201cthe<\/strong> historical truth\u201d, by repeatedly resorting, through political decisions<\/strong>, to assimilation of ethnic Turks, Pomaks and Roma, aiming to \u201crevise\u201d their ethnic and religious identity and impose a Bulgarian Christian \u201cself-identification\u201d \u2013 of the living and the dead alike. We further recall the fact that the \u201chistorical truth\u201d in question was decided by \u201cauthoritative history commissions\u201d.    
        – Transparency and openness to consultation with civil society must be ensured. <\/li>
      4. A roadmap <\/strong>should be adopted specifying joint time-bound actions of Treaty implementation, provided that it would:<\/li>
      5. Ensure a decisive start of activities with a strong potential for creating a warmer climate of cooperation through promoting political, diplomatic and civil exchanges, military cooperation, joint action in areas including the economy, the environment, education, culture, science, the media and human rights protection.
        – Establish bilateral public and civic expert bodies with mandates to facilitate joint initiatives in the areas of cooperation established by the Treaty, with broad citizens\u2019 representation. Flexible mechanisms should be agreed for the implementation of joint citizens\u2019 initiatives in the relevant areas.
        – Ensure that issues and activities related to history are not given undue weight or allowed to dominate Treaty implementation, as is the case at present, but are instead limited to one of the specific aspects of cooperation in the areas of culture and education. The discussions of issues of history should be based on modern historiography approaches and diversity of expert participation.
        – Require that all joint action bodies with a coordinating and expert mandates reflect the socio-political diversity and the range of views in both countries in an open and pluralistic manner, ensuring broad access for institutional and civil society experts with a democratic pro-European orientation.
        – Urge that politicians, citizens and media in both countries actively counteract hate speech and attitudes of historical revanchism, arrogance and superiority in political and public life. <\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        In conclusion<\/strong>, we call for\na serious change in the philosophy, approaches, means and actions aimed at the\nrealisation of the Treaty of Friendship, Good Neighbourliness and Cooperation,\nso that it can accomplish the purpose contained in its title. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        We support the\nsuggestion<\/strong> to name a part of the planned transport\ninfrastructure between the two countries (in Corridor No<\/sup> 8) after Gotse\nDelchev, to symbolise both the historic and present-day interconnectedness of\npeople on both sides of the border.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        We call on you to show strong leadership\nand political will for achieving the objectives outlined above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Sincerely, <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        SIGNATORIES<\/em><\/strong> <\/em><\/strong>(<\/em>in\nalphabetical order<\/em>)  <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Prof Albena Khranova<\/strong> – Plovdiv University
        Prof Aleksandar Kiosev<\/strong> \u2013 culturologist and literature scholar, University of Sofia
        Antoaneta Nenkova \u2013 <\/strong>journalist
        Antonina Zhelyazkova <\/strong>\u2013 historian
        Prof Antony Todorov<\/strong> \u2013 political scientist, New Bulgarian University, BOLD (Bulgarians Organising for Liberal Democracy)
        Boyan Zakhariev<\/strong> \u2013 economist, researcher in Open Society Institute
        Boyko Tsenkov<\/strong> \u2013 clinical psychologist, BOLD (Bulgarians Organising for Liberal Democracy)
        Dimitar Atanasov<\/strong> \u2013 historian
        Prof Dimitar Vatsov <\/strong>\u2013 philosopher and culturologist, <\/strong>New Bulgarian University
        Dimitrina Petrova<\/strong> \u2013 human rights expert, BOLD (Bulgarians Organising for Liberal Democracy)
        Prof Evgenia Ivanova<\/strong> \u2013 historian and ethnologist, New Bulgarian University
        Kalina Bozeva<\/strong> \u2013 expert on ethnic issues, BOLD (Bulgarians Organising for Liberal Democracy)
        Keti Mircheva<\/strong> \u2013 historian
        Krassimir Kanev<\/strong> \u2013 chair of the Bulgarian Helsinki Committee
        Prof Mikhail Ivanov <\/strong>\u2013 adviser to President Zhelev on national and ethnic issues (1990-1997)
        Mikhail Mishev <\/strong>\u2013 student, BOLD (Bulgarians Organising for Liberal Democracy)
        Mila Mineva<\/strong> – sociologist, University of Sofia
        Prof Milena Yakimova<\/strong> \u2013 sociologist, University of Sofia
        Prof Nadya Danova<\/strong> \u2013 historian of the Balkans
        Radost Nikolaeva Cohen<\/strong> \u2013 art manager, Circle Art Movement
        Rositsa Atanasova<\/strong> \u2013 lawyer, BOLD (Bulgarians Organising for Liberal Democracy)
        Rumen Avramov<\/strong> \u2013 economist and historian
        Rumyan Russinov<\/strong> \u2013 political scientist
        Savelina Russinova<\/strong> \u2013 human rights expert
        Stefan Dechev<\/strong> \u2013 historian
        Prof Svetlana Ivanova<\/strong> \u2013 historian, University of Sofia
        Tsvetozar Tomov<\/strong> – sociologist
        Vania Kaneva<\/strong> \u2013 child rights expert, BOLD (Bulgarians Organising for Liberal Democracy)
        Vladimir Kolev<\/strong> \u2013 human rights activist, BOLD (Bulgarians Organising for Liberal Democracy)
        Yuliana Metodieva<\/strong> \u2013 human rights journalist, Marginalia<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

        We bring to your attention an open letter signed by citizens on the initiative of BOLD (Bulgarian Organizing for Liberal Democracy). 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