The request to include “Macedonian identity and language” in the EP progress report on the Republic of North Macedonia is the request of the country's Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, he announced this in an interview with TV Kanal 5.
The proposal is the result of the desire of the government of North Macedonia to present “ the essence of the problem” and that Bulgaria's request for Bulgarians to be included in the constitution of North Macedonia is not the only request.
“During my numerous visits to Brussels and my meetings with high-ranking EU representatives, we have been trying to present to them the essence of the problem all the time. Because this is not a problem that suddenly appeared, this is a decades-old problem... And I have always told them: let's take one simple step to prove it to you. Let's try, in the EP, where decisions are made by majority, not by unanimity, let's try for the European Parliament to adopt a decision, or a resolution, or part of a report, in which it clearly recognizes the Macedonian identity and language as specific... It was necessary. It is clear to us, but it was important for them to understand it. They had to see it and they saw it”, said Mickoski.
According to him, many Bulgarian politicians say that changes to the constitution are not the only condition on the part of Bulgaria towards the Republic of North Macedonia.
„The other day I heard a statement from President Radev, in which he said that the only condition that (North) Macedonia must fulfill is to change the constitution.... There are no such conditions in the Good Neighborhood Agreement. The signed agreement says that Bulgaria must support us in the process of negotiations and membership. But we received a veto because we are not fulfilling the agreement and we have not ensured the minority rights of the Bulgarian community in (North) Macedonia“, said Mickoski.
He stated that he is ready for North Macedonia and Bulgaria to jointly prepare a draft resolution, “in which the centuries-old Macedonian identity and language would be clearly recorded”, which would be submitted to the EP through the Bulgarian MEPs.
“I am ready to do it immediately”, said Mickoski.
The Prime Minister of North Macedonia reiterated his thesis that the country will not become an EU member at any cost.
“We are all for the EU and we all want to be in the EU, but not at any cost. Because if that were the first thing, there would be no problem, we would sit down and talk. This people, these citizens and this country have given too much, like no other, and the citizens have had enough of politics "It's like 'now or never, the window is open, now is the time for integration', we've been hearing it since (Javier) Solana... What we do now will have an impact in the future, and then generations will judge who did what and how they did it," he said.