Sofia Has NO "Macedonian" Policy

Miloshevich's goal was to prevent any hope of true liberation, by transferring control to the existing political leaders, long selected, groomed and answerable to Belgrade. Ultimately, and at some fated moment, these same leaders would push for re-amalgamation with Yugoslavia.

Although this plan was well supported and financed, it was still not without some risk. Since the tenets of Macedonism are firmly ground in the distortion and Macedonian nation between the 7th and 19th centuries, suitable Bulgarian scholarship could readily establish the falsehood of Macedonism. If this Bulgarian policy was coordinated with rapid implementation of economic and cultural programs, there exists a strong likelihood of a re-awakening amongst the people of Vardar of their latent Bulgarian national consciousness and a strong possibility for geopolitical realignment within the Balkan region.

Today, a decade later, it is clearly evident that no such Bulgarian policy was supported, and moreover neither is it under present deliberation. Sofia has done nothing to modernise transport corridors between Bulgaria and Macedonia, nor does it seek any role in Vardar's privatisation program. Far worse, Sofia has failed to financially support spontaneous group expressions of Bulgarian re-affirmation, failed (to the point of obstruction) to facilitate Macedonian student enrolment within Bulgarian Universities, and failed to grant Bulgarian citizenship to the thousands from Macedonia who sought it. In direct contrast, Greece and Serbia are pursuing these very same programs with zeal. The consequences are plain - Macedonia remains firmly committed to Macedonism, i.e. Serbian ideology. In fact today's Macedonia manifests a character consistent with a Serbian satellite state. It is therefore not surprising, that the first signs of a return to Yugoslavia have appeared. In the Balkans major changes are always initially tested through the Church (let us all recall our accomplishments through the Exarchate). This is the only rational explanation concerning the decision of the Macedonian Bishop Jovan, to return the Veles-Vardarian episcopacy back into the fold of the Serbian patriarchy.

Why does Bulgaria fail, even to the amazement of Macedonian's political leaders, to make any attempt to re-establish itself within Macedonia? Why does Bulgaria continually fail to confront the falsehoods of Macedonism? Revelations from Bulgarian politicians, encompassing the entire political spectrum, suggest the reason relates to Bulgaria's key strategic goal since 1992 - admission to the EU and NATO. One of the most important criteria for admission, and which is well known, is that the applicant has neighbourly foreign-policy relations. The second reason is that any Bulgarian policy change towards Macedonia will not only lead to confrontation with Serbia, but also with Russia. Regardless of some people's perceptions, Russia remains a key player within the Balkan region.

However Bulgaria's response to entirely distance itself from all forms of economical, political and spiritual activity within Macedonia, is so extreme, that it far surpasses any condition that the EU, NATO or Russia would have ever imagined necessary. Bulgaria needs to act immediately to help the enrolment of Macedonian students in Bulgaria, by abolishing the unwarranted 30% fee surcharge, and to accelerate procedures leading to Bulgarian citizenship. There is also an urgency to use our telecommunication services so that Macedonians can receive Bulgarian radio and TV broadcasts - facilities that were already in place even during the era of Todor Zhivkov. The importance of a modern railway and highway to Skopje is obvious, but the cost would not allow it to presently proceed.

Elimination of Macedonia, from any Bulgarian foreign policy consideration, will undoubtedly benefit our request for admission to NATO and EU. However this policy of denial, with respect to the Macedonian issue, will be at a significant national cost, particularly in the future when the consequences will have to be addressed. At this very moment Serbia, through its numerous agents in Skopje, is working diligently and undisturbed, not only in the Pirin region, but throughout Bulgaria. However under an ignorant and passive Bulgarian administration, OMO "Ilinden" (registered under different names) is gaining momentum and issuing provocative statements on Macedonism and separatism. Given the correct circumstances this can develop into very grave situation for the Bulgarian state. Can we ever forget the previous disastrous era of Bulgarian national nihilism concerning Macedonia, which followed WWII? Irrespective of any foreign policy, as a nation, we simply cannot afford to ignore the threat of Macedonism. In this matter Bulgaria will have many foreign allies from both the West and from East, particularly amongst scientific and political circles.

Finally, remember that even NATO's special envoy in Skopje, Peter Feith, stated that the

Macedonian nation, does not exist, within the true ethnical meaning of the term.