Skopje, 13 June 2025 (MIA) - Draft recommendations for seventh-grade textbooks in the country and the possibility of joint celebrations of historical figures were discussed at the 36th meeting of the Joint Commission on Historical and Educational Issues between North Macedonia and Bulgaria on Friday, with no concrete agreements reached.

“Regarding the draft recommendations, differing perspectives and understandings once again came to the forefront. As for potential joint celebrations, discussions were held in principle and not on specific proposals,” the Macedonian team in the joint commission said Friday.

The Macedonian team in the joint commission said, regardless of the different approaches and views, it remains committed to a proactive course, advocating for the development of constructive and sustainable solutions based on positive European practices and with mutual respect for the right to different perceptions of the past.

At the meeting, the minutes of the 29th session from February 2024 were signed, and the work dynamic for the second half of the year was determined.

On Thursday, ahead of the meeting, the possibility of a joint celebration of Goce Delchev was noted as a topic for discussion in addition to the textbooks.

“We are going to discuss the seventh-grade textbooks in the Republic of North Macedonia, as well as the possibility of a joint celebration of Goce Delchev,” said Angel Dimitrov, head of the Bulgarian team in the commission, on Thursday.

The Government elected the new composition of the Macedonian team in the commission on September 10, 2024, 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 chair, Vancho Gjorgjiev, was a former member of the Commission but resigned in 2021. According to his statement at the time, he left due to facing political pressures affecting the Commission’s work.

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.

The Commission has so far adopted recommendations for joint celebrations of five historical figures – Saints Cyril and Methodius, St. Naum of Ohrid, St. Clement of Ohrid, and Tsar Samoil, along with five recommendations for changes to history textbooks for 6th grade in North Macedonia and 5th grade in Bulgaria.

MIA file photo