site.btaForeign Ministry Issues Statement in Connection with North Macedonia’s Census Results 

The Republic of Bulgaria has stated many times that the creation of conditions for the free self-determination of the citizens of the Republic of North Macedonia, who identify themselves as Bulgarians, is of paramount importance, the Foreign Ministry here said in a statement, issued in connection with the recently announced results of the 2021 population census in North Macedonia. 

The Bulgarian Foreign Ministry said it is surprised by the published information about the number of citizens in North Macedonia who have identified as Bulgarians in the census in that country. There is a stark difference between these figures and the over 100,000 citizens of North Macedonia, who have personally submitted documents proving their Bulgarian origins when applying for Bulgarian citizenship, the statement said. 

There is also lack of information about the number of citizens of North Macedonia abroad who have been included in the census. The Ministry said it is taking under special consideration the doubts, expressed by organizations of Bulgarians in North Macedonia, about the transparency and credibility of the census-taking process and the results announced. The Foreign Ministry said it expects that their voice is heard by the authorities in North Macedonia.