Skopje, 2 February 2022 (MIA) – OMO Ilinden Pirin, an association of Macedonians in Bulgaria, in a reaction to yesterday’s remarks by Bulgarian President Rumen Radev said the party has never promoted separatism. “Lies about alleged separatism on our part are used to justify the systemic discrimination the Bulgarian citizens with Macedonian self-awareness are exposed to,” the party said in a statement adding that no Macedonian organization or Macedonian in Bulgaria has been either tried or convicted on separatism charges. It is mentioned that President Radev has ratified the framework convention on protection of national minorities and that Bulgaria has officially recognized the Macedonian minority in the past. On Tuesday, President Stevo Pendarovski reacted to outcry in Bulgaria after meeting with representatives of the associations of Macedonians in Bulgaria. He said the meeting had no hidden agenda and didn’t go against the 2017 Friendship Treaty. “If someone is bothered by the President of the Rеpublic of North Macedonia meeting Macedonians living anywhere in the world, this is another matter, and this is their problem, not mine.” The President explained that he had heard them out and advised them to seek a solution to their problems through the Bulgarian institutions or international courts.