Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said Friday talks with Bulgaria are continuing while adding that the Macedonian identity and language are non-negotiable.
PM Zaev told reporters in Resen that the bitterness and disappointment from the blockade is there but no other alternative is available.
He said Special Representative Vlado Buchkovski presented new ideas to the authorities in Sofia during his recent visit, and Skopje is waiting for a response.
“I am pleased that the Bulgarian side is starting to acknowledge the reality on the existence of the Macedonian people and the Macedonian language. It is our task to move forward and believe that conditions for this will be created shortly. We are not giving up, we will continue with our efforts. Activities will probably slow down during the coming holidays, but will pick up afterwards,” noted Zaev.
Regarding yesterday’s joint statement of the Czech Republic and Slovakia, the PM said he was pleased to see “there is still something European in the EU.”
“I am saying this with bitterness, because if there is a country that has deserved support in the next step on the EU path, then the Republic of North Macedonia is this country, including the Macedonian people and all citizens living here. EU should not lose its European values and principles. In this spirit, I hope that Europe will continue to send its European signal to the candidate countries, because there is no alternative for us. As I have said before – if they turn off the lights of the European stars here, we will get lost in the dark. EU is our motivation for reforms and to become better citizens, Europeanize the country, fix the judiciary, have the strength and energy to build capacities for our children, modernize the health sector and improve infrastructure,” said Zaev.
He added that activities on eliminating hate speech are ongoing on a daily basis, while sending a message, “Bulgarians are our neighbors, our friends.”
“I have often called the Bulgarians our brothers, because our country is dominantly populated by Orthodox Christians, the same as Bulgaria. We have the beauty of our diversity – ethnic and religious – and this is a feature that makes us great friends and opens the potential for cooperation. We should leave history to historians,” said Zaev.
Zaev said he and Bulgarian counterpart Borissov should consider what to do with the history that is written now.
“What will we leave our children and future generations, who are now waiting on us. Will we leave the legacy of friendship, brotherhood, unity, European values, mutual support, or will we set them apart again, as in the period of the Iron Curtain?” underlined PM Zaev.
