Skopje, 13 June 2025 (MIA) - The Joint Commission on Historical and Educational Issues between Macedonia and Bulgaria continues its meeting on Friday in Skopje. Discussion topics include seventh-grade textbooks in the country and the possibility of a joint celebration of Goce Delchev.

“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.

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. 

Photo: MIA archive