Skopje – Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski conveyed a message emphasizing the need to prioritize practical bilateral cooperation over emotional topics following the recent Summit in Brussels. He advocated for discussions that yield concrete outcomes instead of getting bogged down by emotionally charged bilateral issues.
When asked about his optimism after the Brussels visit, Mickoski expressed that he conveyed his public arguments during meetings with European officials, receiving no counterarguments from them. He highlighted that decision-making involves all 27 member states and pointed out his readiness to discuss a comprehensive plan, not merely a preliminary step. He noted that North Macedonia stands apart from other candidate countries, having participated in the process for over two decades without forming bilateral agreements in its negotiating framework.
Mickoski reminded that no other nation has undergone the significant changes—like altering its flag, currency, and name—that North Macedonia has, which has led to public frustration. He stressed the importance of focusing on sectors like education, economy, tourism, and knowledge transfer during discussions in Brussels, where he believes “expected results” can be achieved.
However, he cautioned that delving into identity issues can stir emotions, hindering rational solutions and productive dialogue.
Regarding a supposed meeting with Bulgaria’s technical Prime Minister, Dimitar Glavchev, Mickoski clarified that their interaction was limited to a cordial exchange after a working session. He recounted Glavchev complimenting his performance and asserting the necessity of building bilateral relations in a constructive manner. In response to this, Mickoski suggested eliminating barriers to negotiations, to which Glavchev remarked that opposition exists in the Bulgarian Parliament to such discussions. Mickoski summarized this brief interaction, stating, “these were, literally, I quote, the few sentences we exchanged.” (December 20)
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