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| Bulgarians in the Republic of Macedonia |
|---|
| Total population |
|
1417 (by ethnicity 2002)1 |
| Regions with significant populations |
| Strumica and region |
| Languages |
| Bulgarian language |
| Religion |
| Predominantly Eastern Orthodox |
| Related ethnic groups |
| Macedonians |
Bulgarians are non-recognised as ethnic minority in the Republic of Macedonia. Bulgarians are mostly found in the Strumica area and surrounding municipalities2but over the years, the absolute majority of southwestern Republic of Macedonia have declared themselves Macedonian. The total number of Bulgarians counted in the 2002 Census was 1,417 or roughly 0.073%.
History
During World War II, the most regions of Macedonia were annexed by Bulgaria. All local Slavic-speekers were regarded as Bulgarians. After the end of World War II, the creation of People's Republic of Macedonia and of a new Macedonian language, it started a process of ethnogenesis and distinct national Macedonian identity was formed. The new Yugoslav authorities began a policy of removing of any Bulgarian influence, making Macedonia connecting link for the establishment of new Balkan Federation and creating a distinct Slavic consciousness that would inspire identification with Yugoslavia.3 The proclamation of the Socialist Republic of Macedonia as part of the Yugoslav federation the new authorities started measures that would overcome the pro-Bulgarian feeling among much of the population of Macedonia.4 It has been claimed that from 1944 till the end of the 1940s people espousing a Bulgarian ethnic identity had been opressed.54 According to Bulgarian sources more than 100,000 men were imprisoned under the new "Law for the protection of Macedonian national honor" for refusing to declare they were ethnic Macedonians.45 Some 1,200 prominent Bulgarians were sentenced to death on Svetozar Vukmanović-Tempo's order in the towns of Skopje, Veles, Kumanovo, Bitola and Stip.5 In 1946 two Bulgarian politicians were sentenced to death and another 74 men jailed for attempting to detach SR Macedonia from Yugoslvaia and join it with Bulgaria.5
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The fall of Communism to present-day
The Communist authorities were successful in removing all Bulgarian influence in the region.4 In Macedonia the Bulgarophobia increased almost to the level of state ideology.6 By the time the Republic of Macedonia proclaimed its independence those who continued to look to Bulgaria were very few.4 Some 3,000 - 4,000 people that stuck to their Bulgarian identity (most of them living in Strumica and the surroundings) met great hostility among the authorities and the rest of the population. The town of Strumica and its surrounding area (including Novo Selo) were part of Bulgaria between the Balkan wars and the end of World War I. With the fall of Communism this hostility has decreased, but still remains.4 Occasional trials against Bulgarophiles have continued until today.78 During the last few years, rising economic prosperity and the EU membership of Bulgaria has seen around 60,000 Macedonians applying for Bulgarian citizenship; in order to obtain it they must sign a statement declaring they are Bulgarians by origin. Another 14,000 have even received Bulgarian passports.9
References
- ^ Republic of Macedonia - State Statistical Office
- ^ Djokić, Dejan (2003). Yugoslavism: Histories of a Failed Idea.
- ^ Europe since 1945. Encyclopedia by Bernard Anthony Cook. ISBN 0815340583, pg. 808.[1]
- ^ a b c d e f Djokić, Dejan (2003). Yugoslavism: Histories of a Failed Idea, 1918-1992. C. Hurst & Co. Publishers. pp. p.122. ISBN 1850656630.
- ^ a b c d Phillips, John (2004). Macedonia: Warlords and Rebels in the Balkans. I.B.Tauris. pp. p.40. ISBN 186064841X.
- ^ Mirjana Maleska. Editor-in-chief. WITH THE EYES OF THE “OTHERS”. (about Macedonian-Bulgarian relations and the Macedonian national identity). New Balkan Politics - Journal of Politics. ISSUE 6 [2]
- ^ Violations of Human Rights of Macedonian citizens with a Bulgarian ethnic consciousness 1990-1997
- ^ Court for waved Bulgarian flag in Macedonia.
- ^ 60 000 чакат да станат българи, 10 септември 2008 / News.dir.bg
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- This page was last modified on 4 January 2009, at 09:07.
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