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A sign of the demonstrative and unprovoked criminal act of the perpetrators of the arson is the fact that just a few weeks ago, high-level officials of the Republic of Bulgaria attended the opening of the desecrated building of the Cultural Centre. The Bulgarian side is convinced that the shameful event in Bitola does not contribute to the development of friendship, good neighborliness and cooperation and is contrary to the efforts of the governments of the two countries to find the right path towards the European integration of the Republic of North Macedonia.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria handed over a note of protest to the interim Head of the Embassy of the Republic of North Macedonia to Sofia, Vladimir Krastevski, on the occasion of the setting on fire in the early morning hours of today of the front door of the office of the Ivan Mihailov Cultural Centre in Bitola, Republic of North Macedonia.
Today and tomorrow, Minister Teodora Genchovska is in the Republic of North Macedonia to discuss the European integration of our southwestern neighbor and during her visit, she will visit Bitola to become acquainted with the circumstances surrounding the incident with the Ivan Mihailov Cultural Centre.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly urges the authorities of the Republic of North Macedonia to take decisive action for the immediate detection and prosecution of the perpetrators of the arson and to inform the Bulgarian side in due time.
At an emergency meeting held today at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Foreign Minister Velislava Petrova expressed concern and condemned in the strongest terms the act committed by unknown individuals, which resulted in material damage to the building. It was stressed that such acts of vandalism are not only an expression of hatred on a national basis and intolerance towards the activities of NGOs as an important component of civil society, but are also in serious contradiction with democratic values and the principles of functioning of the modern civilized European system.
The Bulgarian side appreciates the swift reaction of the authorities in the Republic of North Macedonia, condemning the incident in the strongest terms and pledging an immediate investigation and punishment for the perpetrators.
