The Bulgarian nationalist party VMRO-BND has issued a declaration Sunday urging the government to reclaim territories lost to Serbia with the 1919 Treaty of Neuilly.
The call of the VMRO party is related to the occasion of the 90th year since the signing of the Neuilly Treaty, which established peace between Bulgaria and the Entente after World War I, and with which Bulgaria ceded territories to then Yugoslavia, Greece and Romania.
VMRO specifically insists that the Bulgarian government unconditionally demands back from Serbia the Bulgarian-populated territories it ceded to it in 1919. These are the so called “Western Outlands” – a territory of about 1 500 square km around the towns of Tsaribrod (today called Dimitrovgrad) and Bosilegrad, located next to Bulgaria’s western border, some 70 km to the west of the capital Sofia.
“We insist that the Bulgarian government state clearly to the Serbian authorities that the future of any sort of talks for Serbia’s EU accession depends on the fate of the Western Outlands. Until the moment of their restoration to Bulgaria, we insisted that Serbia immediately gives those lands autonomy similar to that of the region of Vojvodina,” the declaration of the nationalists calls.
“90 years after the Neuilly Treaty, which is a disgrace for Europe, Bulgaria and Serbia have the chance to resolve the future of the Western Outlands in a European way. This way, a historical injustice will be rectified. For this to happen, the Bulgarian state must be firm and demanding in support of the national interests and of our compatriots who remained on the other side of the barbed wire through no fault of their own,” VMRO states.
VMRO-BND claims to be a descendant of the VMORO (Internal Macedonian-Adrianople Organization) from the end of the 19th and beginning of 20th century, which fought for the liberation of the regions of Thrace and Macedonia and their autonomy and/or accession to Bulgaria.
Author: DeuBug, 29 Nov 2009 14:37:19
Bulgaria Nationalists VMRO Claim Territories Lost to Serbia in 1919
Excuse me, what century are we in? What planet are they on?
Author: Balgarska, 29 Nov 2009 14:46:46
Bulgaria Nationalists VMRO Claim Territories Lost to Serbia in 1919
The land is still majority Bulgarian, so it makes sense to place claim because the land were once part of Bulgaria.
Author: Franie, 29 Nov 2009 16:04:24
Bulgaria Nationalists VMRO Claim Territories Lost to Serbia in 1919
I do understand the history but isn't there enough strife in the world today without causing more? I would like to know how the people living in those territories feel; they should have a say.
Author: DrFaust, 29 Nov 2009 17:05:34
Bulgaria Nationalists VMRO Claim Territories Lost to Serbia in 1919
Nice. The former terror organization VMRO, in their prime the idol of organizations like IRA, Ustascha or ETA, and regarding their death toll probably much more 'successful' than any of these, claims territory for Bulgaria. When I look at the map, and following their line of argumentation, this means that Bulgaria will give soon the Dobrudzha back to Romania. The citizens of Dobritsch or Silistra will be delighted!
Author: CIAwhores, 30 Nov 2009 05:13:16
Bulgaria Nationalists VMRO Claim Territories Lost to Serbia in 1919
Why would anyone want ethnic Bulgarian Dimitrovgrad back in Bulgaria....its biggest employment/ revenue are border services/cigarette smuggling...apart from that its just rocks...many now have dual citizenship anyway (they never wanted that back in the 1980's) and have long since gone to germany to work on the black.....the rich agricultural farmalnd of southern dobrudha however would be valuble to romania...
VMRO is led by a total mastija Karakacputka- a blonde arsehole who used to work for the stalinist DS
Author: dzingis, 30 Nov 2009 14:38:34
Bulgaria Nationalists VMRO Claim Territories Lost to Serbia in 1919
I come from a family of Bulgarians from this area.
There has been enough conflicts in the Balkans and if this one lights up it will last. If Bulgaria really cared about Bulgarians in Serbia, the state should of offered development credit lines, quick effortless citizenship and investment into proper Bulgarian education. Not this cretin's ramblings.
Author: FIGMENT, 30 Nov 2009 14:52:41
Bulgaria Nationalists VMRO Claim Territories Lost to Serbia in 1919
dzingis
" Not this cretin's ramblings."
If it was up to him, he would have done something. Unfortunately, the Bulgarian government is not under his control. Saber rattling is just silly. On the other hand, he has a point. Cretin is as cretin does. As you point out, this one hasn't done anything, nor would he.
Author: FIGMENT, 30 Nov 2009 15:02:18
Bulgaria Nationalists VMRO Claim Territories Lost to Serbia in 1919
The best resolution to this problem would be Serbia joining the EU. Then the borders between Bulgaria and Serbia will lose their significance. People traveling, working and living freely wherever they choose within the EU zone will resolve this issue. What difference does it make to what country a little bit of land belongs to administratively? It is all one big happy EU family.
Author: edgar, 30 Nov 2009 15:07:32
Who is where
Will it really matter which country you think you are in, after Serbia joins the E U.
Once the 'Eurocrats have had their way', you can be anywhere they want.
