Over the week, following exchange of gunfire between armed gangs and the police in the city of Kumanovo in the Republic of Macedonia, Bulgarians continue to ask what has been happening in the country’s western neighbor resulting in fighting that has left dozens dead. Politicians did not provide any answers. During talks with his counterpart Nikola Poposki, Foreign Minister Daniel Mitov once again demanded clarification of the situation. There have not been any military actions but the National Security Council at the government has concluded that the territorial integrity of the Republic of Macedonia and its political stability are most important for Bulgaria in this context.

No tensions have occurred along the border, but Defense Minister Nikolay Nenchev said that if needed the army would assist its defense. Fighting has stopped and the situation has calmed down on the surface but PM Boyko Borissov stated that checkpoints were being arranged for Macedonians with Bulgarian passports who might decide to come to Bulgaria in the event of a humanitarian crisis. Well, it seems that the Bulgarian side has serious concerns given that joint exercises of the army and the special anti-terror units have reportedly been held. Bulgarian Chief of Defense Rumen Nikolov has made clear though that the Bulgarian secret services do not have an answer so far whether the developments in Macedonia occurred spontaneously or have been master-minded by someone.

The confused situation has made the political forces in the country more active. DPS (the predominantly ethnic Turkish Movement for Rights and Freedoms) has recalled its role in the so-called Bulgarian ethnic model and demanded a new strategy for EU enlargement into the Western Balkans. The Bulgarian Socialist Party has commented that the delay in EU enlargement into the Western Balkans generates threats for the region’s stability. The nationalists from VMRO demanded a mediator role for Sofia in looking for consensus solutions between Macedonia, Serbia, Kosovo and Albania, plus an end to its silent diplomacy in the region and coupled with active care of the Bulgarian communities in the as a proper way to uphold Bulgaria’s national interest.

The lack of a clear idea about the developments in the Republic of Macedonia has resulted in a lack of clarity in the respective reactions, and the lack of clarity generates further tensions. A peak in tensions is expected on 17 May when a major protest rally has been planned by the opposition in the Republic of Macedonia, against the ruling party VMRO-DPMNE (Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization – Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity), as well as on 18 May when the ruling party has scheduled a counter-protest.

English Daniela Konstantinova