The Chairman of VMRO - DPMNE Hristiyan Mitskoski, who is preparing to become the future prime minister of the Republic of North Macedonia, called on Greece, if it believes that there is a violation of the Prespa Treaty, to “apply to the international court” and there to clash the arguments of one and the other side, writes BTA.
„I appreciate that VMRO-DPMNE, as well as the government (in Greece) led by New Democracy, have their position regarding the Prespa Treaty, none of us like it. But unlike there (in Greece), here (in the Republic of North Macedonia) the Treaty of Prespa is part of the Macedonian constitution and laws. We have said many times that this is a reality,” Mickoski said in response to a question related to the statements in Greece after the newly elected President Gordana Siljanovska refused to pronounce the constitutional name of the state Republic of North Macedonia during her swearing-in.
As for how he himself and the future government of the Republic of North Macedonia will proceed, Mickoski replied that “communication between institutions remains in accordance with the law”, but it is his basic human right what to call the state.
„And while I make statements and address you, the journalists, and I expect that this will be the behavior of President Siljanovska as well, I will use the terms Macedonia and Macedonian, because, according to our interpretation of the Prespa Treaty, so we we don't break it. I use this opportunity to send a message to our friends in Greece: let's stop with threats and obstructions and going back to the past, let's look forward to the future. If they think we have violated the Treaty of Prespa, there is an international court, they can start a case and we will face our arguments. I wouldn't want it to come to that. I call for a friendly and good-neighborly attitude," Mickoski pointed out.
He added that VMRO-DPMNE “will not repeat the mistakes of the past” and does not intend to rename highways, airports or build monuments.
„We only want the protocol on economic cooperation between the two countries to be ratified. I invite Greek companies to invest in (Republic of North) Macedonia and Macedonian companies to invest in Greece. That's how partners should cooperate, I want to see that kind of cooperation. Unfortunately, there is no second chance for a first impression, and unfortunately the first impression from our neighbor was that instead of congratulations on the convincing triumph of both VMRO-DPMNE and Siljanovska, we saw a display of political muscles. "Unfortunately, more than what was written in the Prespa treaty has been implemented here in (Republic of North) Macedonia, and from what we see in our southern neighbor, the three main things that they had to fulfill, unfortunately, have not been completed," Mickoski added. .
He expressed his expectation to meet with the Greek Prime Minister in the near future and discuss cooperation in the fields of economy, tourism, education.