Formally, Macedonian historians are willing to work on the analysis of history textbooks, but we are achieving absolutely nothing.

This is what prof. Angel Dimitrov told BGNES. He is the chairman of the Bulgarian part of the Joint Multidisciplinary Expert Commission on Historical and Educational Issues, which held a meeting these days in Skopje.

"The last consecutive meeting of the commission went the same way as the previous ones. There is no difference in the outcome or in the atmosphere of the meeting. Formally, our colleagues are willing to work on the main objective, which is the analysis of textbooks, but there we achieved absolutely nothing," the historian said.

He pointed out that the only outcome of the meeting was the completion of two meeting minutes that were held two years ago. "This is just a formal activity that in no way corresponds to the objectives and work of the commission", Prof. Dimitrov added.

The next meeting will be held in the first half of April in Sofia.

BGNES recalls that the Joint Commission was established as a result of the Treaty of Good Neighbourliness, Friendship and Cooperation between Bulgaria and North Macedonia signed on 1 August 2017 and is a key part of the agreement.

The blocking of its work by the Macedonian side has led to tensions in bilateral relations between Skopje and Sofia. The commission is made up of historians and academics from both sides.

After the government of Hristijan Mickoski came to power last year, all historians on the Macedonian team were replaced. As a motive for the change, he pointed out that the previous team "was not defending the national interests of the Macedonian people". I BGNES