site.btaCentral Registry in Skopje Reviewing Registration Application of King Ferdinand Club

In an interview for TV 24, the Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia, Dimitar Kovachevski, said that for the fourth time in the last several days he condemns the opening of clubs with names that "are part of the darkest period in the history of Europe - that of fascism - and elicit negative feelings among citizens".  He was commenting the opening in Ohrid on October 7 of a Bulgarian cultural club named after King Boris III and the information confirmed by the Central Registry of the Republic of North Macedonia that it is reviewing a registration application by a new Bulgarian association named after King Ferdinand. 

Kovachevski said that due to "the obvious intentions of citizens to establish such associations that violate the feelings and relations with a neighbouring country", a seven-member commission has been created at his government to assess whether a certain name can or cannot be used by associations and foundations. The Central Registry should turn to that commission and the Justice Ministry regarding the registration documents of the King Ferdinand-Bogdantsi association, Kovachevski noted.

Earlier in the day, the head of the new commission, Prof Boban Petrovski, told Sitel TV that it is not very likely that the name of the new Bulgarian association will be tabled for discussion at the commission. It is highly likely that the association will be set up with the living descendants' agreement, as was the case with the King Boris III club. In such cases an organization can be registered without having to turn to the Justice Ministry, Prof Petrovski explained.

According to Kovachevski, a bill on associations is in the works and the idea is to base it on German legislation, because Germany is one of the leading countries in the EU when it comes to the rule of law and the internal system's organization. In his words, he wants to defend the citizens' feelings and has called for participation in the bill's elaboration of all political parties as well as the Jewish community, which should be included in the parliamentary committee that will review the bill.

The Prime Minister reiterated his position that the idea behind these associations is to provoke and cause tensions among citizens first within the country and then abroad.