The United Macedonian Diaspora (UMD) is saddened by the disparaging remarks of Andrey Kovatchev, a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) from Bulgaria concerning the existence of the Macedonian language and UMD’s efforts in the Macedonian diaspora. Mr. Kovatchev’s behavior is unbecoming of a sitting member in the European Parliament and displays overt xenophobia and racism. Mr. Kovatchev’s mindset lays bare not only a lack of European values, but of basic human ones too: consideration of others, acceptance of diversity, and respect for human dignity. We call on the European Parliament to officially censure him and to put an end to efforts by the Bulgarian state to deny the existence of the Macedonian people and the Macedonian language.
Macedonians and the Macedonian language have existed, exist, and will exist. Negating these basic facts is a sign of fascism – an ideology that condones the elimination of people who are different and doles out justice with guns and violence. In democratic societies, every voice is important, not only the voice of the bully who enjoys torturing the helpless.