From: bliznako@envmsa.eas.asu.edu (Bliznakov, Plamen)
Subject: Articles on relations between Bulgaria and (Republic of) Macedonia
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.4-b1  
Organization: Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
Date: Fri, 8 Jan 1993 22:58:00 GMT

This is the continuation of the series of articles about relations 
between Bulgaria and (Republic of) Macedonia published in the issue of 
one of the most popular independent Bulgarian weekly newspapers 168 Hours 
of November 17, 1992. 

I have included the original Bulgarian text this time, so that exact 
expressions undistorted by the translation can be checked by the readers.
Readers who don't speak English can also benefit from the original text.
I have substituted "er-goljam" with "a", e.g. Balgarija, zhalto. Sorry,
St.St. Cyril and Methodius, but that's how the network works.

Comments in brackets <...> are mine. 

The translation is without the copyright holder's permit and for the benefit of
the readers of this newsgroup only. 

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Antibalgarska antanta vse oshte njama

No i dnes, kakto prez 1912 godina, ostanahme bez strategicheski sajuznik,
tvardjat trima istorici


Prof.Nikolaj Genchev, rektor na SU "Sv.Kl.Ohridski":

Savremennite ni politici parvo trjabva da izuchat makedonskija vapros vav 
vsichkite mu aspekti. Tazi materija ne se poznava ot nashite darzhavnici, 
taj kato i v istoricheskata literatura tja e mnogo obarkana, talkuva se 
vinagi v edin nacionalisticheski stil. A tuk ima neshta, koito sa 
bezsporni.

Sega, kogato problemat za Makedonija otnovo izleze na dneven red, 
balgarskite politici trjabva da badat savarshenno jasni i posledovatelni. 
Nikoj ne biva da natrapva na tova naselenie kak da opredelja etnicheskata 
si prinadlezhnost.

Az ne mislja, che napravihme greshka, kogato parvi priznahme nezavisimostta 
na Makedonija, no loshoto e, che pak ne projavihme posledovatelnost. Vse 
oshte dori ne sme otkrili konsulstvo tam <taka beshe na 17 Noemvri, veche 
e otkrito> za da protivodejstvame na grackija inat i srabskata uporitost i 
da zapazim estestvenoto si kulturno vlijanie v tozi rajon. 

Sega se govori i za predstojashta podjalba na Makedonija. Polozhenieto tam 
se obarka i ot etnicheskija konflikt, kojto izbuhna mezhdu makedonci i 
albanci. I starata shega, che makedonskijat problem shte se okazhe ne 
srabski, a balgaro-albanski, mozhe i da stane dejstvitelnost.

Kogato imash duhovni predimstva v edin rajon - kulturni, ezikovi i pr., 
njama nuzhda ot politicheska agresija. Tova beshe greshkata, kojato 
vsashtnost napravihme prez 1912 g. Za sazhalenie, i sega se okazvame v 
podobno polozhenie - izolirani i protivopostaveni na vsichkite si sasedi.


Doc. Stajko Trifonov, prepodavatel v Istoricheskija fakultet na SU, 
specialist po nacionalno-osvoboditelnoto dvizhenie na Balkanite:

Dnes chast ot politicheskite ni dejci, zaemashti vazlovi pozicii v 
darzhavnoto upravlenie - Tatarchev, Janchulev, Stalijski, Stojan Ganev, 
Edvin Sugarev, Konstantin Mishev, mozhe bi ima i drugi, sa s rodosloven 
koren ot Makedonija. Tova predopredelja emocionalnija podhod na nashata 
diplomacija kam problema i ja lishavado goljama stepen ot racionalnost. Ne 
se otchita segashnata realnost kakto v Makedonija, taka i po otnoshenie na 
sblasaka na interesite v tozi rajon. A tova neminuemo shte uslozhni 
otnoshenijata ni s nashite sasedi i naj-veche sas Sarbija i Rumanija. 
Konfliktat ni s Garcija e veche fakt.

Sled skandala okolo orazhejnata afera sasednite strani njama kak da ne 
stanat oshte po-bditelni i podozritelni kam nashite dejstvija, shte 
narasnat opasenijata ot edna zasilvashta se balgarska agresija kam 
Makedonija.


Prof. Andrej Pantev, prepodavatel po nova obshta istorija v SU 
"Sv.Kl.Ohridski":

Balkanski nravi oznachava predi vsichko zadkulisnost i nepredskazuemost. 
Stranno beshe pribarzanoto ni priznavane na Makedonija, kogato nikoj ne ni 
pitashe kakvo e mnenieto ni po vaprosa.

Sega dori sme v po-neblagoprijatno polozhenie ot 1912 g. Togava stranata ni 
beshe po-znachim faktor kato teritorialen obhvat, perspektiva i potencial, 
dokato dnes nashijat taka narechen miren prehod a edinstvenoto ni 
pozitivno, i to uslovno pozitivno kachestvo.

Mitat za formirana antibalgarska antanta e dosta presilen za savremenniq 
moment. Istina e obache, che i sega, sashto kakto i predi, Balgarija strada 
ot lipsa na strategicheski sajuznik. No dokato njakoga pone e imala 
vazmozhnost za sobstveni reshenija, dnes tova e svedeno do minimum. 

Pone za 80 na sto ot balgarskoto obshtestvo orazhejnata afera si ostana 
tejnstvenost, edna enigma, bez tova obache da vazhi za sasednite ni 
darzhavi. Povtarja se edna stara zavisimost v nashija zhivot, che za nas 
navan se znae mnogo poveche, otkolkoto nie samite znaem za sebe si.

Zapisa: Pepa Vitanova 

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Anti-Bulgarian Antanta Still Does Not Exist

But today, as it was in 1912, we are left without a strategic ally, 
claim three historicians

Prof. Nikolay Genchev, Rector of the St. Climent Ohridski Sofia University

Our contemporary politicians should first study the Macedonian question in 
all of its aspects. This matter is not known to our state men since even in 
our historical literature it is very messed and is always interpreted in 
one nationalistic style. And there are some undisputed things here.

Now, when the problem about Macedonia is again on the agenda, the Bulgarian 
polyticians should be absolutely clear and consistent. Nobody should dictate
his own opinion <"da se natrapva" in the original> to this population how 
to determine their own ethnic belonging. 

I don't think we have made a mistake, when we were first to recognize the 
independence of Macedonia, but the bad thing is that again we didn't show 
consistency. We still have not even opened a consulate there to counter
the Greek obstinacy and Serbian tenacity and to save our natural cultural 
influence in this region. 

Now they talk about forthcoming partitition of Macedonia. The situation 
there is complicated by the ethnic conflict which arose between Macedonians 
and Albanians. And the old joke, that the Macedonian problem will turn out 
to be not Serbian, but Bulgarian-Albanian, may become to be true.

When you have spiritual advantage in a region - cultural, linguistic, etc. 
there is no need in polytical agression. This was the mistake which we in 
fact made in 1912. Unfortunately, now we are in the same situation - 
isolated and confronted to all our neighbours.


Assoc.Prof. Stayko Trifonov, lecturer at the Historical Faculty of Sofia 
University, teaching National Liberation Movements on the Balkans

Today part of the politicians holding key positions in the state management - 
Tatarchev <General Prosecutor>, Yanchulev <Mayor of Sofia>, Staliyski 
<Minister of Defense at that time>, Stoyan Ganev <Minister of Foreign 
Affairs at that time>, Edvin Sugarev <former fice-president of the UDF, ruling 
at that time>, Konstantin Mishev <advisor of Filip Dimitrov, former 
prime-minister>, may be there are more, are with heritage from Macedonia. 
This pre-determines the emotional approach of our diplomacy to the problem
and takes away rationality from it in a high degree. The current reality in
Macedonia as well as with respect to the clash of interests in the region
is not accounted. And this will immanently will complicate our relations
with our neighbours, and mostly with Serbia and Romania. Our conflict with
Greece is already a fact. 

After the arms scandal there is no way the neighbouring countries will not 
watch closer and become more and suspicous with respect to our actions, 
the fears of an amplifying Bulgarian aggression towards Macedonia will 
increase.


Prof. Andrey Pantev, lecturer of New General History at St. Climent 
Ohridski Sofia University

Balkan habits <"nravi"> means first of all hiding <"zadkulisnost"> and 
unpredictability. Our premature recognition of Macedonia was strange at 
time when nobody was asking us about our opinion on the subject. 

Now we are in even worse position than in 1912. At that time our country 
was a mich more significant factor in terms of territory, perspective and 
potential, while today so called peaceful transition is our only positive, 
and conditionaly positive, advantage.

The myth of the anti-Bulgarian antanta already formed is too exagurated at 
the contemporary moment. It is true, however, that now, as before, Bulgaria 
lacks a strategic ally. But while before it had possibility of its own 
decisions, nowadays this is reduced to a minimum. 

At least for 80 % of the Bulgarian society the arms scandal remained a 
mistery, an enigma, while this does not apply to our neighbouring 
countries. We have the old dependancy in our lives repeated, that they know
more about us abroad, than we ourselves know about us.

Recorded by Pepa Vitanova
Newsgroups: soc.culture.bulgaria