Defense Minister Krasimir Karakacanov told the Bulgarian Parliament that Macedonia will not allow the European integration of Macedonia if the country doesn’t rewrite its history and ends what Karakacanov called “hate speech” against Bulgaria. Bulgaria is blocking the opening of EU accession talks with Macedonia until its demands are met even as the Zaev regime hopes it will reach some agreement with Sofia by Tuesday.

Without overcoming their hate speech, without a clear revision of the education system which is based on untruths, there is no way that our country allows the opening of EU accession talks with Macedonia, Karakacanov said.

He added that the Skopje authorities expect someone to exert pressure on Bulgaria, especially after the country allowed Macedonia to join NATO. Karakacanov said that Germany is not pressuring Bulgaria and merely offered to be an interlocutor. Zaev went to Sofia earlier this week for what was initially supposed to be a triumphant, jointly organized summit of the Berlin process, but was unable to reach agreement with Bulgarian Prime Minister Borisov. Karakacanov said that the talks lasted from early morning until the late afternoon.

The next day, on Wednesday, we had a video conference which included me and Ekaterina Zaharieva, as Deputy Prime Ministers empowered to conduct the talks, and on their side there was the appropriate representation. We did not reach a new solution because our colleagues in Skopje don’t want to accept the clearly outlined positions of Bulgaria, Karakacanov said.

He told the Parliament that the Government will fully respect a declaration adopted by the Parliament, that demands concessions from Macedonia. Bulgaria wants to get Macedonia to declare the Macedonian language and nation as derived from the Bulgarian, and also a myriad of lesser concessions on historic issues and issues of national identity that will stem from this move.