Skopje, 18 August 2022 (MIA) - After recommendations of the Joint Multidisciplinary Commission on Historical and Educational Issues, adopted in 2018 and 2019, were published, public backlash emerged with defamation, allegations and manipulation over lack of scientific knowledge, treason and Bulgarisation dominating. At the same time, no arguments have been offered and the few that were lack expertise offering only selective interpretation of history with the use of empty and politicized rhetoric over alleged Bulgarisation of Macedonia and Macedonians, reads a reaction issued by the Macedonian team of the Commission. "The biggest disappointment and irony at the same time is that in most of the accusations over alleged treason, Macedonian historiography is cited having already noted factographic data included in the Commission's solutions," says the Macedonian team of experts. Earlier this week, the joint commission on historical and educational issues released the adopted recommendations that refer to improving history textbooks for 6th grade in North Macedonia and 5th grade in Bulgaria as well as recommendations for joint honouring of figures of the medieval period, including the Saints Cyril and Methodius, St. Clement, St. Naum and Tsar Samoil. The biggest lie, it adds, is that the texts recommending joint observations will be applied in the educational system even though it has been stressed at every possible chance that joint observation is one thing and recommendations for textbooks is a completely other topic for discussion. "The figures proposed to be the subject of joint observations were chosen due to their universal significance for the cultures of the modern states and due to the existence of historical traditions in the two societies," says the statement. The Macedonian historians note that the Macedonians will continue to celebrate and honor the Saints Cyril and Methodius, St. Clement, St. Naum and Tsar Samoil as part of the Macedonian history, culture and tradition and the possible joint observation during milestones could only be perceived as a way to show that these figures have universal character. "Not a single recommendation suggests that the Macedonians do not have the right to celebrate independently its national and historical values. No one is trying to de-Macedonise them, as it is being manipulated, because it is fully legitimate in the national policies of commemorations that all the legacy of these figures can be celebrated as national heritage," the Macedonian members of the Commission say. Addressing their historian colleagues in Bulgaria, the Macedonian experts stress that the Bulgarian historians "celebrating victory" is a false triumphalism that can only hinder the work of the Commission and the good relations between the Macedonian and Bulgarian people.