North Macedonia PM urges unity amid Bulgarian demands

The thesis that the demand to add the Bulgarians to the Constitution is not the only one, but rather this is an issue about a complete redefinition of the Macedonian identity, is being confirmed.

This was stated by Prime Minister of North Macedonia Hristijan Mickoski in answer to a journalist’s question, CE Report quotes MIA.

“This does not surprise me; I don’t know if it surprises anyone in this country. They are just confirming the thesis we had from the very beginning that adding the Bulgarians to the Constitution is not the sole demand, but that rather it is an issue of a complete redefinition of the Macedonian identity. But these are days when we have to forgive each other, to come together, to unite as a people and a nation and I think we finally need to realize that regardless if we are in power or in opposition we simply need to stick together on certain issues,” Mickoski told journalists when quizzed about the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry’s use of the term “language accessible to them” to refer to the Macedonian language.

The Prime Minister said he regrets the previous government “embarked on this adventure and led the country’s Euro-integration process to a standstill”. He urged the opposition to stand “in defense of the Macedonian national interests”.

“I regret that they accepted capitulation or the ultimatum by our eastern neighbor back then, instead of listening to us. But, once again I will urge the opposition, our hand is extended for them to abandon their theses and finally stand in defense of the Macedonian national interests,” Mickoski said.