Fierce debates for and against the French proposal

The President of North Macedonia, Stevo Pendarovski, after the end of the session of the Security Council, where the French proposal for the settlement of the dispute with Bulgaria was discussed, assessed that this proposal is acceptable as it is a “transitional compromise”, in order to start the talks of membership with the European Union.

According to the President, the government should also approve a conclusion or annex in the modified proposal that it will reject the talks in the event that during this process the Bulgarian side insists on negotiating the Macedonian language and identity. “We should not wait for someone to block us, but we should immediately withdraw from the talks. I say this because we know who we are dealing with”, President Pendarovski stated.

President Pendarovski believes that the modified French proposal does not endanger the issues related to the Macedonian identity and that there can be no question of the Bulgarianization of the Macedonians as the opposition claims.

Pendarovski and Charles Michel, head of the EU Council

“The fear of some Macedonians that we will enter the EU only as Bulgarians, does not hold. How can a Macedonian become a Bulgarian? In the history of world diplomacy, there is no such thing, that with a bilateral or multilateral agreement, someone overnight changes your identity”, stated Pendarovski. According to him, the decision to accept the modified French proposal, “is neither a historical triumph nor a failure and failure”.

Kovacevski: The French proposal is the only possibility for unblocking the process

The French proposal was also discussed in the meeting between Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski and Macedonian opposition leader Hristijan Mickoski. According to Prime Minister Kovacevski, the modified French proposal “does not endanger either the Macedonian language or identity and is the only possibility for unblocking the European integration process. According to Kovacevski, it is a rare document, which cannot be repeated for the country’s European future. “A statesmanlike approach is needed, when making state decisions, we don’t talk about percentages, but about responsibility for the future of this state and the citizens of this country.

I will repeat once again, now is the time to make our strategic determination. It is the USA and the EU, the countries where democracy and freedom of critical thought, economic prosperity, and social justice rule. We must make a decision together, which will enable the citizens to have these three priorities”, said Prime Minister Kovacevski.

The head of the opposition, Hristijan Mickoski at the protest

Mickoski: We do not accept assimilation – the harmful French proposal

But the chairman of VMRO-DPMNE, Hristijan Mickoski, remains in the position that the French proposal is harmful to the national and state interests of North Macedonia. “For VMRO-DPMNE, this proposal is unacceptable. I offered Kovacevski to come out and reject this that has been presented as a proposal and that I withdraw from the request for early parliamentary elections. This is not a negotiating framework with which we secure a European future. This is a negotiating framework with which we either assimilate or Bulgarianize to be part of the EU or we will not be part of the EU”, said the leader of the Macedonian opposition, Hristijan Mickoski.

Byrnes: We support the European future, we are looking for ways to move forward

The US ambassador in Skopje, Kate Byrnes, through a message on Twitter, has expressed support for the internal talks taking place in North Macedonia on the modified French proposal. Byrnes says that with this a path towards the country’s European future is being seen.

“The US welcomes talks in North Macedonia on the EU’s revised proposal to start accession talks, recognizing the importance of North Macedonia’s language and identity. For a long time we have supported the European future of Macedonia and now we see a way to move forward”, writes Ambassador Byrnes.

Protests against the French proposal continue

In Skopje, for the second time, protests were held in front of the government building against the French proposal to unblock the Bulgarian veto. With the motto “Ultimatum-No thanks”, the protestors raised their voice against the capitulation of North Macedonia to Bulgaria’s demands, according to them. The participants in the protests appeal not to accept the French proposal./ Deutsche Welle

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