FYROM News: Bulgarian Foreign Minister confirms he used ‘FYROM’ name. -"I do not think that I made a mistake, using that name"

Bulgarian Foreign Minister Kristian Vigenin confirmed on October 23 that during a visit to meet his counterpart in Athens (17/10/13) a few days earlier, he had used the name “Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia” (FYROM) instead of the  its so-called constitutional name that has been Bulgaria’s official policy for 18 years.

Vigenin, a former MEP who was appointed to the Foreign Ministry when the Bulgarian Socialist Party came to power in May 2013, insisted to public broadcaster Bulgarian National Radio that he had been correct to do so.


His usage in Athens on October 17 raised eyebrows. According to a transcript posted on the website of the Greek foreign ministry, asked at a news conference about the name dispute between Athens and Skopje, Vigenin replied, in part: “Since your question was about the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM), you know well very our position”.

Bulgaria recognised “FYROM” under its so-called constitutional name in 1991, and foreign ministers and diplomats in the 11 governments – left, right, centre and caretaker – that Bulgaria has had since then have continued to do so.

• But Vigenin (38) told BNR: “Yes, this is the official name of “FYROM”, which is used in the European Union and Greece itself. As a guest of the Greek side, I do not think that I made a mistake, using that name”.

• He added that Bulgaria had no relation to the name dispute and has recognised FYROM under  its so-called constitutional name, and it is officially used by our country in our bilateral relations”.

SOURCES: balkaneu.com, Sofia Globe (Clive Leviev – Sawyer), TV100.gr--
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