Skopje, 1 July 2022 (MIA) - The assembly of the clergy of the Macedonian Orthodox Church - Ohrid Archbishopric (MOC-OA) has called for absolute protection of the Macedonian national interests. The MOC Synod on Friday in a press release said it discussed recent developments regarding the country's EU integration process at yesterday's session. "The Synod expects the government in a transparent way in cooperation with all relevant social and political factors in the Macedonian society to establish a position that fully protects the Macedonian identity, Macedonian language and culture in line with European values. Historical issues and the Friendship Treaty with Bulgaria in this process should not be included in the negotiating framework," said the press release. We hope, said the Synod, that the Bulgarian authorities will see the reality and implement the recommendations of the international institutions to allow the Macedonian minority in Bulgaria to exercise their basic human rights reciprocally in fact, taking in consideration the demands of the Bulgarian side toward the Macedonian.