Disagreements over history and historical symbols are once again an important political issue in Southeast Europe. In recent months, the Bulgarian government has threatened to block the opening of negotiations between Brussels and Skopje, demanding that Northern Macedonia accept the "historical truth" that Macedonian identity and language have Bulgarian roots and that the Macedonian nation was created by Tito and the Comintern.
Upholding the positions expressed in the "Defend History" Declaration, we, the undersigned, reject and condemn this act of historical revisionism and abuse of history for political purposes. We believe that such an approach is dangerous not only for history as a humanistic discipline, but also for democracy and prosperity of the region, and of the European Union itself. Imposing "historical truths" is unacceptable and perilous. The Macedonian nation was not created any differently than any other nation, and the right to self-determination is a basic human right.
This is why we are asking historians in Northern Macedonia and Bulgaria, but also in all the countries of the region, to be professional and stand up to the abuses of their discipline. We are asking politicians to act responsibly and not support historians who incite nationalist conflicts, and to refrain from exerting pressures that lead to distortions of the past. We are asking European institutions and nations to react to the abuses of history, respecting the basic principles of the European Union that have been threatened in the Balkans and Europe in the last few days, principles such as diversity, anti-fascism and democracy. The European Union was founded to redress the negative experiences of the past, and that is why we must not allow historical manipulations to destroy the principles on which the idea of a united Europe is based.
We, the undersigned, express our support to intellectuals and historians in Northern Macedonia and Bulgaria who are openly opposing political pressures and fighting to protect their profession and professional standards. It is only in solidarity that can we overcome the serious difficulties that lie ahead!
Prof. dr. Dubravka Stojanović, The University of Belgrade
Prof. dr. Husnija Kamberović, The University of Sarajevo
Prof. dr. Tvrtko Jakovima, The University of Zagreb
Prof. dr. Božo Repe, The University of Ljubljana
Doc. dr. Adnan Prekić, The University of Montenegro
Dr. Snježana Koren, The University of Zagreb
Dr. Milivoj Bešlin, The University of Belgrade
Prof. dr. Damir Agičić, The University of Zagreb
Doc. dr. Branimir Janković, The University of Zagreb
Prof. dr Momir Samardžić, The University of Novi Sad
Dr Olga Manojlović Pintar, The Institute for Recent History of Serbia, Belgrade
Prof. dr. Hrvoje Klasić, The University of Zagreb
Prof. dr. Radina Vučetić, The University of Belgrade
Dr Srđan Milošević, The Institute for Recent History of Serbia, Belgrade
Dr Aleksandar R. Miletić, The Institute for Recent History of Serbia, Belgrade
Veljko Stanić, Belgrade
Petar Žarković, Belgrade
Dr. Dragan Markovina, Mostar-Split
Prof. dr. Živko Andrijašević, The University of Montenegro
Doc. dr. Dragutin Papović, The University of Montenegro
Mr. Ivan Tepavčević, The University of Montenegro
Mr. Milan Šćekić, The University of Montenegro
Dr. Boban Batrićević, Institute of Montenegrin Language and Literature, Cetinje
Mr. Edin Omercic, The Institute for History, Sarajevo
Vlado Vurušić, Zagreb
Dr. Amir Duranović, The University of Sarajevo
Dr. Enes S. Omerović, The Institute for History, Sarajevo
Mr. Aida Ramić, The Institute for History, Sarajevo
Prof. dr. Ivo Goldstein, The University of Zagreb
Dr. Branka Prpa, Belgrade
Dr. Olga Zirojević
Prof. dr. Stefano Bianchini, Universita di Bologna
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