If there is a desire and political will, the negotiation framework of the Republic of North Macedonia with the European Union can be changed, believes the newly elected Prime Minister of the country Hristijan Mickoski.
In his first interview as prime minister, for TV 24, he stated, quoted by BTA, that he is ready to sit down and find a solution with the new Bulgarian government.
"Our position and arguments are known to the public and we are waiting to see what the arguments are from the other side. Obviously, it cannot be done on this path, which has been followed until now. An error was made. When something goes wrong, a solution must be found. And we are looking for a solution. To find it, we need a partner, and I am waiting for the new Bulgarian government. And I expect this to be (the government of) our sister party (in the EPP) of Boyko Borisov. And I expect that there will be good will, we will sit down to argue our positions, as good neighbors. Or as he (Borisov) would say “states of two brotherly peoples”. I am prepared to sit down and find out what was the reason for this request (for the inclusion of Bulgarians in the constitution), what are the potential risks in the future,”, said Mickoski, according to whom North Macedonia has done a lot for European values, but has not received nothing.
According to Mickoski, unanimity when making decisions in the EU can be bypassed and “only in recent months two or three decisions have been taken without unanimity”.
„So if you want a solution to be found, it can be found. I am prepared. Want changes to the constitution? Why? Who violates the rights of the Bulgarian community in (North) Macedonia? And that may be so. Who is the responsible institution in Europe to say that this is so - the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. How many convictions does (North) Macedonia have there? The sentences are 14 for Bulgaria against zero (for North Macedonia). The Macedonian community there (in Bulgaria) does not want to be part of the constitution, it wants to register a non-governmental organization. So, they cannot register a non-governmental organization there, and those here (Bulgarians in North Macedonia) have whatever they want, Mitkoski said.
According to him “all nations of the world” can be included in the constitution of North Macedonia, but he expects foresight of the European integration process before the country enters it.
„After six months, we will be asked “Whose is Gotse Delchev”, “Is the Ilinden Uprising Preobrazhensky or Ilinden?”. In Bulgaria there is a city called Gotse Delchev. If you ask the Bulgarians, Gotse Delchev is not even among the 50 greatest heroes, but here he is first. How they will consider their historical truths in Bulgaria is their problem. I will say even now that I will support the treaty (for friendship and good neighborliness with Bulgaria) for everything that is useful. Let the historical commission do its work, but this cannot be a process with an end. Germany and France are still negotiating, and Buyar Osmani has signed that they must come to an understanding by the end of the negotiations,”, Mickoski explained his thesis.
According to him, when there is a political government in Bulgaria, he is ready to offer "at least three creative solutions for a way out of this process", the guarantees he insists on must be given by Bulgaria with the mediation of the EU, and if the EU has desire to see North Macedonia as a member of the EU “they must be honest” with the conditions before North Macedonia for this.
„The presence of political will is the essence. If we have the political will and the right reading of things, anything can happen. If there is a desire”, declared Mickoski.