The Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia, Hristijan Mickoski, called the decision of the permanent representatives in the European Union that Albania continues negotiations with the opening of the negotiating chapters and its path with the Republic of North Macedonia regarding of European integration is divided, writes BTA.
After his visit to the Health Insurance Fund, Mickoski told the media that already during his visit to Brussels “this was said”, but on its way to the EU the country has done “many things that no one else has done did not do and which have nothing to do with the Copenhagen criteria”.
„We are the only case where bilateral treaties are terms of the negotiating framework. I regret that the previous government accepted everything and, while robbing its own people, waved the European flag. I share the impression of the vast majority of Macedonian citizens that we should no longer accept terms based on national concessions, without guarantees. For me it is a dictation. If this is the condition for (North) Macedonia to continue negotiating, no thanks. These are not the European values that my generation fell in love with, Mickoski said.
According to him, double standards are being applied in relation to North Macedonia, while he proposed to talk “as much as necessary” in order to find a solution, which is currently missing.
„And if we say that the contracts must be fulfilled, the Treaty of Friendship and Good Neighborhood (with Bulgaria) does not state that we must include the Bulgarians in the constitution. Is it so difficult to accept our proposal and for these constitutional changes to come into effect when the Bulgarian parliament ratifies the protocol for our accession to the EU. It is obvious that someone does not have honest intentions,” said Mickoski, who wished Albania success in the negotiations and said that "maybe one day" their paths will meet "somewhere along the path of European integration".
In response to a question as to whether he expects destabilization in the country, Mickoski stated that “there may be attempts, but even if we are not divided (with Albania), there may be such attempts. If someone tries to destabilize a NATO member country, we will respond as befits a country. And when asked how North Macedonia will continue, he answered that “with a lot of work”.