Skopje turned its back on the French proposal. It is unacceptable for the country, Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski said after announcing to the French presidency about Skopje's red lines.
"Clear wording for the Macedonian language in the negotiating framework and clear protection of the Macedonian identity. Historical issues can not be criteria in the negotiating framework. Negotiations between Northern Macedonia and the EU should begin before the procedure for constitutional changes for inclusion begins. "There should be strong guarantees from the EU and Bulgaria in the Preamble to the Constitution that the latter will not make new demands conditional on," said Dimitar Kovacevski, Prime Minister of Northern Macedonia.
Prime Minister Kovacevski assessed that the French proposal in its current form is unacceptable for him as Prime Minister, for the President of the country and for Northern Macedonia as a whole.
"Bulgaria decided to go back in time and block the process, which leads nowhere. We as Northern Macedonia have done a lot, now it is the turn of the European Union," Kovacevski said.
If during the French presidency there is understanding for the demands of Northern Macedonia, the country is ready to continue the process, said Prime Minister Kovacevski.
Grubi: The EU must pass deep reform without any delay
First Deputy Prime Minister Artan Grubi supports the position of Prime Minister Kovacevski regarding the bilateral dialogue with Bulgaria and the European integration process. According to him, the integration process should not be held hostage to bilateral issues and be snatched from the nineteenth-century mentality. Decision-making in the European Union must be profoundly reformed without delay.
"We do not give up, because we have no other way, but we do not become an experiment in the 21st century," says Grubi.
Osmani: The adoption of the resolution in the Bulgarian Parliament blocks the European process
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bujar Osmani, reacted regarding the approval of the French proposal in the Bulgarian Parliament. According to Osmani, changes were made in the French resolution, precisely the most delicate points which were not defined by the French proposal, taking into account the sensitivity.
There are two words between the success and failure of the European Union in the region. "Final decisions, but are set as issues on which no agreement can be reached due to the position of the Republic of Bulgaria. The adoption of the resolution in the Bulgarian Parliament will block the European process in the long run," Osmani said.
The ruling parties are threatening to break up the coalition
Democratic League MP Pavle Trajanov threatens that if the government accepts the French proposal, he will leave the majority.
"We must protest to show Europe that there are objections here and citizens do not agree with this proposal," said Pavle Trajanov.
Goran Milevski's Liberal Democratic Party is also threatened with such an action, which has decided to leave the government if the French proposal is accepted.
"The PLD rejected the French proposal. We demand that it be submitted to the ministers and deputies for consideration. We expect everyone to reject it. If the French proposal is accepted in this version as it is now, the PLD will leave the Government." said Milevski, reports DW.