Skopje, 4 November 2022 (MIA) - The Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed concerns over the passed amendments to the laws on associations and foundations and on political parties in the Macedonian Parliament. According to the Ministry, the amendments aim at "discrimination and restriction of the right of association of Bulgarians in North Macedonia", because there is a "one-sided interpretation of historical facts." "The legitimate desire to oppose all forms of extremism and hatred cannot be instrumentalized to deliberately restrict the rights of certain groups. Restrictions of this kind have already been imposed on Bulgarians in North Macedonia in the past. With similar arguments, in 2001 the organization 'Radko', which is the pseudonym of Ivan Mihailov, was banned. The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has already made a decision on this issue," the Bulgarian MFA said in a press release. According to the Ministry, "the mechanism according to which the consultative body in Skopje issues a positive opinion, in order to allow the use of a given name, surname, nickname, pseudonym, abbreviation or initials of a historical figure, raises the question of imposing an approach in the interpretation of historical figures and events to be the dominant official interpretation that North Macedonia has". A specific problem, it adds, is the decision of the Parliament of North Macedonia not to include communism at all, as a totalitarian and repressive ideology, in the application of the adopted changes. There is still no legislative measure or mechanism for the rehabilitation and compensation of those killed and those who suffered during the communist regime in the former Socialist Republic of Macedonia, persecuted and repressed solely because of Bulgarian self-awareness. According to the Ministry, this type of legislative measures hinders the full fulfillment of the Treaty of Goodneighborliness. "We expect the authorities in the Republic of North Macedonia to guarantee equal rights and freedoms to all their citizens, including those who self-determine as Bulgarians. It also refers to the free expression of their historical views and convictions in the conditions of a pluralistic society, as well as to the possibility of creating political parties, associations and cultural centers. In the spirit of the strategy 'One society for all', the authorities in North Macedonia should provide the necessary conditions for the members of the ethnic communities to develop their culture, to preserve the basic elements of their identity, traditions and cultural heritage. The right to free association, peaceful assembly, freedom of speech and freedom of belief should be guaranteed for all citizens of the country," states the Bulgarian MFA. The amendments to the Law on Associations and Foundations, submitted by VMRO-DPMNE, and to the Law on Political Parties, submitted by SDSM, which prohibit associations and parties from bearing fascist names, were unanimously adopted in the Parliament past Tuesday. The proposed legal amendments of the two parties followed the opening of Bulgarian clubs in the country with the names "Vancho Mihailov" in Bitola on April 16 and "Tsar Boris III" in Ohrid on October 7. The amendments to both laws envisage the rejection of fascism, Nazism and national-socialism in all social forms of association. With the adopted amendments, all associations and foundations established so far, as well as political parties, have a deadline of three months to comply with the new legal amendments. dk/ik/