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Sofia and Skopje again exchanged diplomatic notes. This time the new government of Prime Minister Boyko Borisov did not hesitate much on the case with Spaska Mitrova and sent “a threatening diplomatic note” while Skopje responded with much moderate tone,  Dnevnik daily writes.

Sofia warns it will consider FYROM’s attitude towards this and similar cases as one of the criteria according to which the country’s preparedness to implement reforms will be assessed, the daily notes. The newspaper presents the FYROM’s side in the case, saying Spaska, who was once head over heels in love with Vojislav and then they split, is a “newly fledged” Bulgarian. While studying in Blagoevgrad University she had a FYROM’s passport, Interior Ministry says. In April 2009 she was granted expressly a Bulgarian passport after having been sentenced to pay a given sum, the same source says. Later she was sentenced to three months in prison, the daily says and adds that at that time RADKO association appeared and helped Mitrova get a Bulgarian passport and she became one of the founders of the association.

Utrinski Vesnik cites its sources as saying that the case is clean from a legal point of view and it is not about “persecution” of Bulgarian citizens. The daily writes that instead of serving the sentence, Mitrova asked for a postponement (and she received a permit) and she had to go to Idrizovo prison on 14 June. Meanwhile, in April, Utrinski Vesnik sources claim, she was granted a Bulgarian passport. The newspaper comments that Bulgaria has to answer the question how Mitrova, whose sentence was already brought into force, received citizenship in Bulgaria.

“Bulgaria will not, but can,” writes Spic daily. Bulgaria will not block FYROM’s EU and NATO membership, neither will it change the decision to lift visas for citizens of FYROM as of 1 January. It is much more likely that Bulgaria will be the first country to lift visas for FYROM’s citizens and support the country in its Euro-Atlantic aspiration after the EU decision on lifting visa regime, the newspaper comments on the words of VMRO-Bulgarian National Movement leader Krasimir Karakachanov, who a few days ago called on Boyko Borisov’s government not to lift visas for FYROM’s citizens and to block FYROM’s accession to the EU and NATO.

The Bulgarian government and foreign ministry refused on Wednesday to comment whether Borisov considers vetoing EU’s visa regime decision.
Alsat-M television channel notes Bulgarian Foreign Ministry insists on FYROM’s urgent intervention so that the situation is clarified and calls on authorities to take necessary measures to release the Bulgarian citizen.
The FYROM’s televisions Sitel, A1 and Kanal 5 report the case as well.

Source: Focus Information Agency