Development of a new national strategy in foreign policy, whose goals are “building a respectable state, protecting Macedonian national interests in international organizations, full staffing and professional development of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and building a coherent foreign policy” is foreseen in the program of the government, proposed by the chairman of VMRO-DPMNE and mandate holder Hristiyan Mickoski, which he submitted on Tuesday to the parliament of the Republic of North Macedonia, BTA reported.
The program of the government, uploaded on the website of the Parliament of North Macedonia, is four years long and developed on 61 pages, with six main emphasis - quality standard of living, fight against corruption, rule of law in institutions, functional institutional system, national priorities , rights and freedoms, and the key strategic goal in terms of foreign policy, which is set in it, is the full membership of the Republic of North Macedonia in the EU.
„The government will categorically advocate for finding an appropriate solution, as a supplement to the real movement of the European integration process, without accepting dictates from third countries. To find possible solutions to the issue of changes to the constitution, which has already been set as a condition for starting negotiations with the EU, the government will offer legal and legitimate options, in accordance with international law and principles. These proposals will create greater predictability of the European integration process, protection against unprincipled demands, so that (the process) leads to full membership of (the Republic of Northern) Macedonia in the EU.
Ensuring predictability and certainty that no additional bilateral conditionality will be imposed in the negotiation process will make our integration path to the EU more secure. In the future diplomatic engagement, the government will make every effort to provide sufficient guarantees for the Macedonian centuries-old identity, Macedonian language and distinctiveness, requesting immediate support from the European institutions, our neighbors, allies and strategic partners,” said the foreign policy section of the program of the future government of Hristian Mickoski.
It also states that “the commitment of the state is the constant concern for the Macedonian national minority in the neighboring countries”, in compliance with the obligations contained in the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities of the Council of Europe and the European Convention on protection of human rights.
„The government will open a new chapter in relations and policy towards the Macedonian diaspora. Accelerated globalization, improved communications and transport links open a new chance for the integration of the Macedonian diaspora into the daily challenges, needs and opportunities of the state. Of utmost importance is improving the presence of the Republic of (North) Macedonia wherever there is a Macedonian diaspora, increasing communication and cooperation between the various Macedonian organizations around the world. In this direction, a National Strategy for Cooperation with the Diaspora will be developed.
By improving the work of the entire network of diplomatic and consular missions, we will improve the quality and number of consular services for Macedonian citizens in order to effectively exercise their social and civil rights,”, it is also written in the government program proposed by Hristijan Mitskoski. which also states that the government is committed to opening new cultural and information centers in neighboring countries, in larger countries in Europe and the world, with the aim of "presenting Macedonian culture and art”.
The Parliament of the Republic of North Macedonia will meet over the weekend to discuss and vote on the country's new government and its program proposed by Hristijan Mickoski. The meeting, which is legally two days long, will begin at noon on Saturday, and the vote must take place by midnight on Sunday, June 23.