After a week of street protests in Skopje against the French framework proposal for the start of negotiations for the accession of North Macedonia to the EU, a topical question exists: Why is Bulgaria’s southwestern neighbor delaying the decision on the matter? "The rulers of North Macedonia are convinced that they should not reject the French offer. But because of the danger of new elections, they would try to delay the adoption of the decision in the parliament until the intensity of the protests decreased," Atanas Velichkov said in an interview with Radio Bulgaria. He is the editor-in-chief of the North Macedonian website tribuna.mk, which presents the positions of the Bulgarians in the country.

The journalist remains skeptical of claims that rejection of the French proposal could possibly lead to a rise in inter-ethnic tensions involving the Albanians in the country:

"I cannot make such bold statements that ethnic peace in North Macedonia is at stake. Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani mentioned it, but I think it was just his call for help - let's get this done, or things could get scary. But I think that both the Slavs and the Albanians in North Macedonia have already had enough wars. I don't think there would be ethnic clashes."

• Bulgarian National Assembly approves French offer on EU accession negotiations with North Macedonia

Velichkov says that despite the protests, there was no rise in existing negative attitudes towards the Bulgarian community in North Macedonia:

"We are used to the negative attitude coming from official authorities here, with their systematized language of hatred, as I call it. The stigmatization of Bulgarians here is wide-spread. If a prominent Bulgarian appeared at the protests, this could spark a problem, but pressure has not increased more than what people usually endure here. There are threats on social networks but this is a regular practice. We are already used to it.''

The journalist confirmed information that among the protesters against the so-called "Bulgarization of North Macedonia in the EU" there were also people having Bulgarian passports and that many of them sometimes present themselves as Bulgarians, then as ancient Macedonians and then again as Macedonians from the times of Yugoslavia, according to their professional opportunities and current political conjuncture.

Atanas Velichkov does not expect changes in the French framework proposal under the new Czech presidency of the EU.

"I do not think such a thing would happen, because if there is any change, Bulgaria must immediately bring the process of negotiations back to its beginning. The proposal of the European Council through the French Presidency is the best solution for both countries."

Bulgaria has firmly defended its positions and in case of any change it could even impose a new veto, the journalist adds.

English: Alexander Markov