VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski spoke over the phone with President Stevo Pendarovski on Wednesday and agreed on a meeting this Friday focusing on the people sentenced in the April 27 case, and current economic and political developments in the country.

Mickoski told today’s briefing that relations with the Pendarovski would thaw, because “the country urgently needs dialogue among political stakeholders”.

VMRO-DPMNE says it doesn’t want mercy in the April 27 case, but that people are tried for what they did not for what they didn’t do.

“If new evidence emerges, why shouldn’t these people be given the chance to be tried in a fair process? Justice should be equal for all and why shouldn’t this case be retried, as others were too,” said Mickoski.

Mickoski and Pendarovski will also discuss the current economic-political developments in the country and the Bulgaria issue.

VMRO-DPMNE remains on its stance that unity is needed on the issue, along with a joint document stating that certain matters are non-negotiable.

According to Mickoski, it is clear that the country will not start the accession negotiations and fail to hold the first intergovernmental conference during Portugal’s EU Presidency following the latest statements by EU officials.

“Talks with Bulgaria are not possible because the country is in a confusing situation, without a government or only a caretaker one leading up to new elections,” said Mickoski.

He added that considering the coming presidential elections in Bulgaria, the start of the accession negotiations could not even happen during the coming Slovenian EU Presidency.

“The failure to start the negotiations is a sign that the EU does not give anything in return for what the country has done until now and this should change,” noted Mickoski.

VMRO-DPMNE froze its communication with the President after Pendarovski decided to give the government mandate to SDSM leader Zoran Zaev after last year’s early parliamentary elections