Skopje, 24 October 2024 (MIA) – The joint Commission of Experts in Historical and Educational Issues between North Macedonia and Bulgaria held a meeting on Thursday. Today's meeting in Skopje was the first meeting of the new composition of the Macedonian team with their Bulgarian counterparts. Bulgarian co-chair of the joint history commission Angel Dimitrov said after the meeting that it was focused more on getting to know the team and protocol issues. 

No further details are available on what was discussed at today's meeting, and as announced, talks continue on Friday. 

"We discussed some technical, general, i.e. protocol issues. We met, but it's hard to come to a solution like this. However, that doesn't mean we have wasted time today," said Dimitrov. Asked what are the first conclusions about the new members of the commission, he said "we still do not have a final opinion, we will have a position after a few meetings".  

The last meeting took place in Sofia on May 30-31, whereas the Skopje meeting that was scheduled on September 18-19 was postponed at the request of the Macedonian side.

Historian Mitko Panov, who is part of the new composition that the Government appointed last month, said in an interview with TV Sitel on Wednesday that he could not comment on the expectations from the meeting beforehand, but he added that he was optimistic if the principles of free expression of views about history are achieved.

"I can't say anything about my expectations now, beforehand, because we need to get to know each other, we need to get to know the work methodology, the concept of work, the principles of action... If we stick to modern work principles, the European work practices on this type of commissions, I can say that I am optimistic, not that anything will be achieved, we will see, but if we achieve those principles of work, I think we will be able to freely express our views and, in fact, that is the goal and my understanding of the commission - let's express our own views, the views of Macedonian historiography and see what are the problematic points that one side considers to be some kind of conflicting problems," said Panov. 

He noted he had reiterated many times that he did not agree with the previous commission's concept of work, adding that the new team will work "unburdened of any political influences" because, he said, the commission should work in such an atmosphere in order to discuss.

The Government elected the new composition of the Macedonian team in the commission on September 10, with Faculty of Philosophy professor Vancho Gjorgjiev as its chair.

In addition to Mitko Panov, the commission also includes Aleksandar Litovski and Dimitar Ljorovski from the Institute of National History, Nikola Minov and Sasho Dodevski from the Faculty of Philosophy, and Besnik Emini from the Institute for Spiritual and Cultural Heritage of Albanians.

The joint commission, comprised of historians and professors from North Macedonia and Bulgaria, was set up in line with the Friendship Treaty signed in August 2017.

Photo: MIA archive