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Fri, May 25 2012
Mitrova case of Macedonian identity crisis - Bozhidar Dimitrov
Photo: Nadezhda Chipeva
In an interview with bTV television on August 10, Bulgaria's Minister without portfolio, responsible for Bulgarians abroad, Bozhidar Dimitrov responded to the Spaska Mitrova case in Macedonia.
As reported earlier by The Sofia Echo, Mitrova is a Bulgarian national who has allegedly been sentenced to three months in jail for not allowing her ex-husband to visit their daughter, failing to observe a ruling of relevant judicial and social institutions.
The Bulgarian interpretation is, however, that she has been sentenced because she self-identified as a Bulgarian.
The following is an edited transcription of the interview Dimitrov gave for bTV.
Bozhidar Dimitrov: "Unfortunately, the possibilities we have as a government are limited. We can act only according to international laws. Our Foreign Ministry has requested documentation on the matter and the views of the Macedonian government. We expect to obtain those within several days. This terrible event for me is a humanitarian matter before all else, and only after that a legal matter. Humanitarian, because this is not done anywhere in the world. A mother, who is nursing her child, and who has not secured a bed for her husband when he comes to see their the daughter, is arrested by 20 police officers. Twenty heavily armed police, this many are not even sent when a narcotics boss is arrested in Harlem or the Bronx. Or even here, when we arrest a local dealer."
"Macedonia has made this into a political case. The Macedonian president could end this at any time by pardoning the mother, as many organisations have appealed him to do. Or at least to halt the execution of the verdict until the end of breast-feeding," Dimitrov said.
According to Dimitrov, the woman "has been sick, as well as the child. Which makes this humanitarian case even worse." Dimitrov said the mother suffered from cancer in both breasts and the child had asthma.
According to Dimitrov, the child was currently with the father, something which he said was "unacceptable".
"All this is only one of many similar cases, many of which have not become known to the public. Macedonia is a country which, as Macedonian politician Arben Dzaferi said, suffers from an identity crisis. The nation and the state were built after 1944 on the basis of the Bulgarian population inhabiting this area. Macedonia had a unique law, called the Macedonian National Honor Law. To be Bulgarian, to self-identify as Bulgarian was considered a felony and punishable by three to five years in prison," Dimitrov said.
"This is not the case anymore, but obviously in order to protect the nationality created after the 1944, the law was repealed. As I said, Bulgarians and those who self-identify as Bulgarians, are pursued in all possible ways, even for petty crime," Dimitrov said.
"I know a case of twisted bumpers, two cars collided in an accident, no one was killed or wounded. The man involved was sentenced to and served six months in jail," Dimitrov said.
"I would call this repression and an attempt to stop a process that occurs spontaneously, without any interference from the Bulgarian side, known as Re-Bulgariasation. The term is not mine, but from former Macedonian president Kiro Gligorov," Dimitrov said.
"It is good that the current strong team at the ministry said it could reconsider Bulgaria's attitude towards Macedonia's acceptance into the European Union and Nato," Dimitrov said.
"Generally, among Bulgarian politicians there is the sense that our policy of full support to Macedonia for its membership should be revised, or at least used to exert pressure on Macedonia to change something. You see, this is a problem, but it is not our problem, it is theirs. Macedonia attempts to transfer its internal problems, its identity crises, to Bulgaria, Greece and Albania. Of course, we cannot accept that. They have to explain to their citizens why they have it so bad. They are in a very bad state, unemployment there is around 40 per cent, with next to no foreign investments and there is a need to explain why this is," Dimitrov said.
Macedonian television AL1 quoted media analysts as saying that the Bulgarian reaction in the Mitrova case was proof of a new policy, which became obvious with the appointment of "anti-Macedonian" Bozhidar Dimitrov.
"I do not determine the policy of the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry. The ministry has very capable specialists in this field," Dimitrov said.
Asked what would be the Bulgarian policy towards Macedonia from here on, Dimitrov said "I do not deal with policy concerning Bulgarians abroad. I deal with cultural and educational issues, issues regarding Bulgarian churches and schools and the Bulgarian media, among others."
If asked for help, however, Dimitrov said, he would "co-ordinate and inform official institutions."
Asked if he expected the issue to drag on, Dimitrov said "I am afraid that, in order to preserve prestige, the Macedonian government will do precisely that. They will drag this on for three months and reject all our proposals, just to show how well they protect the Macedonian national identity."
As reported earlier by The Sofia Echo, Mitrova is a Bulgarian national who has allegedly been sentenced to three months in jail for not allowing her ex-husband to visit their daughter, failing to observe a ruling of relevant judicial and social institutions.
The Bulgarian interpretation is, however, that she has been sentenced because she self-identified as a Bulgarian.
The following is an edited transcription of the interview Dimitrov gave for bTV.
Bozhidar Dimitrov: "Unfortunately, the possibilities we have as a government are limited. We can act only according to international laws. Our Foreign Ministry has requested documentation on the matter and the views of the Macedonian government. We expect to obtain those within several days. This terrible event for me is a humanitarian matter before all else, and only after that a legal matter. Humanitarian, because this is not done anywhere in the world. A mother, who is nursing her child, and who has not secured a bed for her husband when he comes to see their the daughter, is arrested by 20 police officers. Twenty heavily armed police, this many are not even sent when a narcotics boss is arrested in Harlem or the Bronx. Or even here, when we arrest a local dealer."
"Macedonia has made this into a political case. The Macedonian president could end this at any time by pardoning the mother, as many organisations have appealed him to do. Or at least to halt the execution of the verdict until the end of breast-feeding," Dimitrov said.
According to Dimitrov, the woman "has been sick, as well as the child. Which makes this humanitarian case even worse." Dimitrov said the mother suffered from cancer in both breasts and the child had asthma.
According to Dimitrov, the child was currently with the father, something which he said was "unacceptable".
"All this is only one of many similar cases, many of which have not become known to the public. Macedonia is a country which, as Macedonian politician Arben Dzaferi said, suffers from an identity crisis. The nation and the state were built after 1944 on the basis of the Bulgarian population inhabiting this area. Macedonia had a unique law, called the Macedonian National Honor Law. To be Bulgarian, to self-identify as Bulgarian was considered a felony and punishable by three to five years in prison," Dimitrov said.
"This is not the case anymore, but obviously in order to protect the nationality created after the 1944, the law was repealed. As I said, Bulgarians and those who self-identify as Bulgarians, are pursued in all possible ways, even for petty crime," Dimitrov said.
"I know a case of twisted bumpers, two cars collided in an accident, no one was killed or wounded. The man involved was sentenced to and served six months in jail," Dimitrov said.
"I would call this repression and an attempt to stop a process that occurs spontaneously, without any interference from the Bulgarian side, known as Re-Bulgariasation. The term is not mine, but from former Macedonian president Kiro Gligorov," Dimitrov said.
"It is good that the current strong team at the ministry said it could reconsider Bulgaria's attitude towards Macedonia's acceptance into the European Union and Nato," Dimitrov said.
"Generally, among Bulgarian politicians there is the sense that our policy of full support to Macedonia for its membership should be revised, or at least used to exert pressure on Macedonia to change something. You see, this is a problem, but it is not our problem, it is theirs. Macedonia attempts to transfer its internal problems, its identity crises, to Bulgaria, Greece and Albania. Of course, we cannot accept that. They have to explain to their citizens why they have it so bad. They are in a very bad state, unemployment there is around 40 per cent, with next to no foreign investments and there is a need to explain why this is," Dimitrov said.
Macedonian television AL1 quoted media analysts as saying that the Bulgarian reaction in the Mitrova case was proof of a new policy, which became obvious with the appointment of "anti-Macedonian" Bozhidar Dimitrov.
"I do not determine the policy of the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry. The ministry has very capable specialists in this field," Dimitrov said.
Asked what would be the Bulgarian policy towards Macedonia from here on, Dimitrov said "I do not deal with policy concerning Bulgarians abroad. I deal with cultural and educational issues, issues regarding Bulgarian churches and schools and the Bulgarian media, among others."
If asked for help, however, Dimitrov said, he would "co-ordinate and inform official institutions."
Asked if he expected the issue to drag on, Dimitrov said "I am afraid that, in order to preserve prestige, the Macedonian government will do precisely that. They will drag this on for three months and reject all our proposals, just to show how well they protect the Macedonian national identity."
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Spaska Mitrova loses custody of her child
The court case was not transparent, says the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry after the court barred a Bulgarian embassy official from attending
Spaska Mitrova was not Bulgarian when I married her, ex-husband says
Voislav Savic speaks out in his first ever interview with Bulgarian media on the Spaska Mitrova case, which caused diplomatic row between Bulgaria and Macedonia
Macedonia releases Bulgarian national
Spaska Mitrova, whose imprisonment caused a diplomatic row between Sofia and Skopje, was released from prison on October 8 2009.
‘Bulgarians Abroad’ minister Dimitrov cancels Macedonia visit
Bozhidar Dimitrov withdraws from visit to Macedonian town of Prilep, where he had been scheduled to attend the inauguration of a military cemetery, after controversy about whether those interred there are Bulgarian or Macedonian soldiers.
Owner of Bulgarian news agency comments on Mitrova case
While two Bulgarian presidents hold telephone calls with the Macedonian president over the Mitrova case, the owner of Focus news agency says Bulgarians should "defend the rights of Bulgarians in Macedonia in view of what we owe to generations of Bulgarians before us."
Bulgarian minister ready to take Mitrova's place in jail
And while he is there, he will teach Macedonian inmates about their Bulgarian roots.
Row over alleged maltreatment of Bulgarians in Macedonia
The case of a 23 year old woman, sentenced to three months in jail, is threatening to become a roadblock to Macedonian EU accession, at least if the new Bulgarian Government gets its way.
Bozhidar Dimitrov (63) – Minister without portfolio
Dimitrov is no stranger to stirring controversy and his appointment rankled rightist parties, who objected his nomination because of reports that he had worked with communist-era state security.
Bulgarian policy towards Macedonia unlikely to change - Macedonian press
The appointment of Bozhidar Dimitrov as minister responsible for Bulgarians abroad is unlikely to change Sofia's policy line, Macedonian daily says.
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Ivana:
"So what is this fascist Government going to do apart from spend 10mill. euros of taxpayers money on a few ancient homosexuals."
"ancient homosexuals" - I love it!
Ivana, may I quote you please? This is beautiful!
When Alexander came into the picture, the wannabees like Gruevski and co. wanted to fashion themselves like some ancient leaders. Just to pop their bubble, some of us Macedonians know who we are and believe me it isn't ancient. It seems that us women will put something into these screwed-up heads running our country. We work for next to nothing, my two brothers have only part-time work and my cousins are travelling to Bulgaria where they say they get work and decent money. So what is this fascist Government going to do apart from spend 10mill. euros of taxpayers money [...]
Read the full comment on a few ancient homosexuals. That would be right Gruevski and Milisovski having it on in the sheds of the new Philip II stadium. We need some proper people to run our country. They say Greece, Bulgaria, the Albanians there all out to get us but it is Gruevski and Co. who have created more problems than all the previous governments put together. Stop your stupidity and kissing each others behind and do something for our country Macedonia has so much to offer with the right people leading. Maybe we should give women a go!
Yes you are a Slav, otherwise your language wouldn't be almost identical to mine.
Language, religion, traditions, culture - this is what identity is all about.
None of it is remotely connected to Alexander of Macedon, and absoluteley connected to BG, if it wasn't for all the brain washing by the Serbs...
And don't tell me to stop bringing up Alexander because it's not us building him statues around that Slavic orthodox land ...
Valeri, I'm glad to see that you admit being a slav, but I'm a slav also who happens to be Macedonian.
Valeri, I'm glad to see that you admit being a slav, but I'm a slav also who happens to be Macedonian.
Yes "think with.."
we are Slavs, not Thracians.
If any Bulgarian would claim that he/she isn't Bulgarian but Thracian, we'll have just as much fun with them, as we do with the Makedonians and their Alexander silliness...
You know what is good about our bulgarian brothers in Macedonian is that they don't know when we are among them. As Peco and Ivo have shown time and time again some of these people are so far lost in a fog of Gruevski that reality around them has ceased. My girlfriend (who is Macedonian) from Skopje always says how much she hates this stupid situation with the Greeks and Bulgarians and is starting to realise that all the bullshit that is coming out of Gruevki's mouth is just that bullshit and that she has started an anti-Gruevski student movement [...]
Read the full comment in skopje to make people realise that yes Macedonians have to accept certain truths that they are Slavs like the rest of us and quit this Veliki madness of Gruevski he's actually turning more of the young people away as they become ever more disillusioned. In the diaspora they love this antiquity shit but what do you expect when you see diaspora Macedonians you hear them a mile away. They have become the nightmare of all the decent Macedonian Narod back home. For them its Ok to dream of Aleksander Veliki because they all have their parents buying them cars and so on but to live here they would never do they are just swollen headed addicted to fanatsies of antiquity so yes you young of skopje and the rest of Macedonia we are bringing our Slavic culture to its rightful place of pride be proud to be a Slav like the rest of us....As Delchev said we are in it together us Bulgarians and all the other ethnicities who want to share Macedonia...........
This comment has been hidden by the moderator because it contained квалификации.
To Valeri, peco and Ivo: Haven't you ever heard of the slavic race, that's what your part of. The Bulgar's were a warrior class from north of the Caspian Sea who were able to subjacate the slavs, they had there own language, but over time it was the Bulgar's who switched to the slavic language because of the greater slav population. The region they settled was called Thrace in ancient times and since the Bulgar's were a mighty force to contend with, changed the name of the region to Bulgaria. So when you condemn the Macedonians who are trying to [...]
Read the full comment realize their independance you are just making a mockery of yourselfs. So when you mention Serbs, Croats, Poles and many more slavic nations, think again and say Macedonia, yes it's a country that evolved over time as my country has.
Its true Peco. When I was at a friend's wedding in Prilep after much dancing,singing, and drinking a few of my friend's guests asked me where I was from. When I said Sofia, they said 'what in Bulgaria' and I said of couse. They asked how I knew all the songs we sang until the morning and how I knew how to dance everything, I replied that in Bulgaria we alll sing the same songs and you know what we dance the same too. Pretty odd, don't you think. It takes a very ignorant person not to see that by [...]
Read the full comment changing a name does not mean you change a whole way of life. Not even Tito was that good.
Go Levski!!!!!!!!!!!!
peco,
I used to work with a FYROM-nets and a Serb, back in the States.
The former always spoke English to me. The Serb didn't care and spoke Serbian, and I of course spoke Bulgarian which the Serb (intelligent one) grasped without a problem.
So occasionally I'd say something in Bulgarian to the FYROM-nets, and he'd look helplessly to the Serb, as if in need of translation....
God, I love diving in the canyons of human psychology....
Can someone tell me why every second Macedonian is called Robert. I went to Australia last year to Preston, Melbourne where my brother has married a Macedonian girl from Bitola. They met while she was visiting Plovdiv the year before. When we went out with all her brothers and cousins out of 9 men the 4 were called Robert. Her brother, a cousin and a couple of friends. Whats going on here. By the way we spoke in Macedonian the whole 3 months I was there. When I said to them we speak the same language in Plovdiv they remarked [...]
Read the full comment that there are a lot of Macedonians in Bulgaria. But I had to tell them that we are not Macedonian but Bulgarians who happen to speak the same language, they thought I was kidding so we left it at that. Maybe one day they will come do Plovdiv to see for themselves just like Nancy(sister in law) did. Next time I'll take a few of my friends to see if they believe me then.......
Whenever I go to visit my cousins in Ohrid everyone thinks I'm Macedonian. When they (cousins)come to Goce Delchev everyone says they are Bulgarian. What is the difference? Maybe a couple hundred Kilometers..............
Gee, you think?