The President of the Macedonia Foundation, Viktor Stoyanov, announced that on February 4, transportation will be organized for people from Bulgaria who want to pay their respects at the grave of the "Bulgarian national revolutionary Georgi Delchev" in Skopje.
Stojanov's announcement comes after President Stevo Pendarovski stated today that certain "structures" from Bulgaria had planned an organized visit to Delchev's grave on the anniversary of his birth.
Calling on all Bulgarians to mark the 151st anniversary of Delchev's birth, Stojanov wrote on Facebook that Pendarovski said that people from Bulgaria "must not be allowed" to cross the border, although the president did not say so.
"The President of Macedonia Pendarovski stated today before the National Security Council of the Republic of Macedonia that "people from Bulgaria should not have been allowed to cross the border to go and worship at the grave of Gotse Delchev". I can tell you all – plan on Saturday, February 4th to be all in Skopje and to worship at the grave of the Bulgarian national revolutionary Gotse Delchev!!! This statement by Pendarovski destroys our bilateral relations and is more than hostile to Bulgaria and Bulgarians – he would have forbidden us to worship at Gotse's grave on his birthday!!! We have arranged transportation for those who do not have transportation and want to come, write to me or call +359899384100. On Saturday, February 4, there must be thousands of Bulgarians in front of Gotse's grave!, says the Bulgarian in the post.
Contrary to Stojanov's claims, President Pendarovski did not say in any part of the statement after the Security Council session that the Bulgarians will not be allowed to go to Delchev's grave, but only that there is information that "logistically and financially, structures have been mobilized that on February 4 they will organize" such a visit, which he said would be a "high security risk event". Pendarovski also assessed that the current Bulgarian pressures are an "organized anti-state campaign", but assured that the Macedonian authorities, "as before, will respond with cultural and diplomatic rhetoric".
President Pendarovski also announced that all necessary measures will be taken for the safety of the group from Bulgaria, from the border, all the way to the grave of Gotse Delchev in the church of Saint Spas in Skopje.
