"Macedonian identity and language will not be negotiated", stated the Prime Minister of Northern Macedonia, Dimitar Kovaceski, during the second day of the Prespa Forum for Dialogue, answering the question of the journalists about the content of the French proposal for lifting the veto Bulgaria, which enables the start of talks on Northern Macedonia's membership in the European Union.

Northern Macedonia has been a candidate for membership in the European Union since 2005.

Due to some disputes between the two countries over language and identity, Bulgaria has blocked the process.

Kovacevski underlined that the French proposal has not yet reached the Macedonian authorities, which is harmonized by all European Union member states.

"If the EU member states, including Bulgaria, harmonize the proposal in relation to enlargement, the proposal will be submitted to us during the next summit, and then we will give our remarks.

Regarding the positions, they are clearly defined by the Assembly, that the Macedonian language and the Macedonian identity will not be negotiated and that the solution should be comprehensive with a guarantee that after that there will be no other requirements in relation to our integration into the European Union. ", He said.

Kovacevski has hailed the efforts of French President Emmanuel Macron - who holds the rotating EU presidency until July 1 - who has personally initiated a solution.

Regarding the internal problems in Bulgaria with the loss of the parliamentary majority, Prime Minister Kovaceski stressed that in this situation it is important not to politicize the dispute that Skopje has with official Sofia.

On Friday, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, senior official from the ranks of VMRO DPMNE, Antonio Milososki, published on social media the document, which, according to him, presents the draft negotiating framework of the EU Council for Macedonia of the North.

According to the published document, the Prespa Agreement and the Good Neighbor Agreement with Bulgaria become part of the negotiating framework with the EU, while another issue is opened for Northern Macedonia - that of the Constitution and the inclusion of the Bulgarian minority as a condition for setting of the first intergovernmental conference.

Milososki has accused Prime Minister Kovaceski, Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani, and Justice Minister Bojan Maricic, who, he said, although aware of the document, had failed to separate bilateral agreements. negotiating, for which many friendly members of the European Union are committed.

EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighborhood Policy Oliver Varhelyi, in a video presentation to the Prespa Dialogue Forum, stressed that Bulgaria needs to step up efforts to overcome the dispute with its neighbor, Northern Macedonia.

"Today, as we celebrate the 4th anniversary of the signing of the Prespa Agreement, it is important to emphasize that just as Greece and Northern Macedonia have been able to overcome their problem and resolve it through a joint agreement, we expect Bulgaria to make efforts. and do the same.

"I am sure that today's discussion will offer many ideas on how to move forward together," Varhelyi said.

Meanwhile, when asked by journalists if Kosovo will be treated equally with other countries if it decides to join the "Open Balkans" initiative, Prime Minister Kovacevski said that "the invitation to Kosovo is open", but did not give more details.

Kovacevski stressed that Serbia and Kosovo should reach a solution with each other, but which as such will not affect the countries of the region.

"The solution between Kosovo and Serbia must be found through a joint dialogue between the two countries.

We, as a state, will respect this.

"The solution and the position that Kosovo and Serbia will reach, must satisfy both parties, but the solution must not have an impact on the surrounding countries, such as our country", said Kovacevski.

This reaction followed the position of the Prime Minister of Serbia, Ana Bernabic, that her country is facing a difficult challenge as the path of integration for Serbia remains conditional on the recognition of Kosovo, although, as he said, such a thing is not openly stated anywhere. regarding the process of Serbia's integration into the European Union.

The United States Special Envoy for the Western Balkans, Gabriel Escobar, the Special Envoy for the Kosovo-Serbia Dialogue, Miroslav Lajcak, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs are also present in Ohrid during the second day of the Prespa Dialogue Forum. of Kosovo, Donika Gërvalla./ rel/