Following the information that free receivers will once again be awarded in Macedonia for watching Bulgarian television channels, the Macedonian satellite television INTV announced that it will take a counter-action and award free receivers to all Macedonians in Bulgaria, Fokus reported.
"These days, announcements from Facebook pages backed by organizations from Bulgaria are circulating on social networks, with the aim of misleading Macedonians. They claim that free receivers are being given out in Macedonia for watching Bulgarian television programs.
In response to this campaign, the Macedonian satellite television INTV announced its own campaign – free receivers for all Macedonians in Bulgaria who feel Macedonian!
Anyone interested can contact INTV directly, and the receivers will be delivered to them.
"Macedonian song, culture and tradition - always with you!" - the television said.
Due to the great interest, the receivers will be awarded through Macedonian associations in Bulgaria.
This comes after Bulgarian organizations such as the Macedonia Foundation have stepped up their activity in Macedonia, even as tensions between the two countries have begun to ease.
In addition to subsidies for learning the Bulgarian language, the organization also offers free installation of Bulgarian satellite television and free posters that say "We are one people."
They expect to install Bulgarian television in 10% of homes in Macedonia where Bulgarians of origin live, and according to their estimates, there are 35.000 Macedonians who have Bulgarian passports and have declared in writing that they have Bulgarian roots.
The Bulgarian Sunday school "Zdravei" has been operating in Macedonia for several years, where children learn Bulgarian language, literature and history. For their engagement, the children from Macedonia receive a reward of 30 euros per month.
The foundation also established a school in the Bulgarian literary language, "St. Naum of Preslav", with 95 students from Macedonia, which holds online courses three hours a week.
Bulgarians have intensified activities in the areas of Goloto Brdo, Albania and in Gora, Kosovo, where Macedonians live. The initiative in Golo Brdo is called "Know Bulgaria" and through it, Bulgarian satellite television and Bulgarian books are given to the residents.
So far, the Foundation has donated over 40.000 Bulgarian books to over 11.000 people in Macedonia in more than 10 cities and 20 villages, and the plan is to distribute 350.000 books to 350.000 Macedonian homes.
