Bulgaria’s Deputy Foreign Minister Marin Raykov expressed concerns over an act of vandalism against a club of the Bulgarian community in Bitola, North Macedonia, the Foreign Ministry said on Friday.
“We view this act as a reflection of the politically sponsored and ongoing campaign against thousands of citizens of North Macedonia who identify themselves as Macedonian Bulgarians. We expect the official authorities in the neighbouring country to respond in line with the commitments set out in the European consensus of July 2022 and in response to the European aspirations of the majority of society in North Macedonia”, Raykov said.
Earlier in the day, Bulgarian National Television reported that graffiti reading “Macedonia for the Macedonians” and obscene symbols had been sprayed on the building of the Bulgarian Ivan Mihaylov Cultural Club in Bitola. Photos from the site were published on social media. This is yet another act of vandalism against the club.
/RY, VE/