Skopje, 18 November 2025 (MIA) - The Government will always stand in defense of the Macedonian language, identity, and history, said Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Timcho Mucunski in answer to a question Tuesday by Levica MP Redzep Ismail over the conclusions of the work of the Joint Multidisciplinary Commission of Experts in Historical and Educational Issues with Bulgaria at a Q&A session in Parliament.

Ismail said the Foreign Minister “is trying to evade political responsibility by seeing the Commission as a scientific or academic issue,” since, according to him, it touches upon sovereignty which is a political issue. In his answer, Mucunski said perhaps it is a coincidence that there is a “coordinated attack on him by the Bulgarian co-chair of the Commission, Angel Dimitrov, and the MP”.

“It is completely surprising to me that within a period of a few days a question about the work of the Joint Commission and political attacks on me were made by the co-chair on the Bulgarian side, Angel Dimitrov, and you. Perhaps it is a coincidence, the coordinated attack against the Foreign Minister by Angel Dimitrov and Redzep Ismail. Some would say you shouldn’t believe in coincidence in politics, but I will choose to believe that this is a coincidentally coordinated attack,” Mucunski said.

The Foreign Minister reiterated that the Commission’s work should be based on knowledge and facts, and that any potential political response by him could be seen as an influence on the Commission.

“From that point of view, I believe the Commission, in its current composition, will continue to work independently, based on facts. When you assess the positioning of our foreign policy you will see that we always say we are not in favor of concessions at any cost and that a key issue we take into account when we make decisions in terms of all these political issues related to Bulgaria is the protection of the Macedonian identity, cultural uniqueness, and history. It is true that on the other side of the border there are individuals who want to deny our history, identity and language, but that is why, as you can see, we have had a firm position on these issues for more than a year,” Mucunski said.

Mucunski said he believes Dimitrov often attempts to provoke him into make political conclusions and then use them to say “the Macedonian Government is directly interfering in academic freedom and independence”.

“I trust this wasn’t your intention, that you are well-intentioned and you are interested in the government’s position. So, I’ll respond by saying the government will always stand in defense of the Macedonian language, identity, and history,” Mucunski said.

The MP also asked the Minister “on which basis were fifth and sixth grade textbooks sent for censorship in Bulgaria,” which the Foreign Minister said is “disinformation and fake news”.

“Nothing has been forwarded to Sofia for approval. That’s disinformation, fake news. Our state institutions have not forwarded anything to Sofia for approval. Such a thing hasn’t happened,” Mucunski said.

The Foreign Minister said the country should maintain dialogue with all its neighbors and work on resolving all disputes, but at the same time he said the government mustn’t and doesn’t have the right to do that at any cost and to the detriment of the national interests.

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