site.btaNorth Macedonia's PM Kovachevski: Retrograde Forces Want to Hinder Solution-finding Process with Bulgaria
ESD 15:14:31 09-02-2022
MY1511ES.109
109 BALKAN INSIDER - NORTH MACEDONIA - PRIME MINISTER
North Macedonia's PM Kovachevski: Retrograde
Forces Want to Hinder Solution-finding
Process with Bulgaria
Skopje, February 9 (BTA) - Over a certain period, communication with the Republic of Bulgaria was reduced to communication between propagandists who formed public opinion, one that was dominant in the media and fostered mistrust between the two countries and their citizens, the Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia, Dimitar Kovachevski, said in an interview on Alsat TV late on Tuesday, as reported by the MIA agency.
After the two governments in North Macedonia and Bulgaria were formed, and after the visit of Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov to Skopje, an agreement was reached to turn a new page in talks, Kovachevski said.
Both he and the Bulgarian Prime Minister, as well as the government members, were guided by the idea of opening a dialogue that would reinstate a positive atmosphere, but they were also aware retrograde forces would promptly emerge and try to hinder that process. These forces, found in both countries, base their political existence on this problem. For if the problem does not exist, they would not exist as a political paradigm - this has been the case in the past, Kovachevski said, adding that at the very onset, themes had been opened and provocations made with the aim of thwarting a possible solution.
According to Kovachevski, the majority of people in both countries want a solution to be found for, as he said, the Republic of North Macedonia deserves a date for EU accession talks.
Whoever wants to see an open problem resolved should talk. Censure alone, as it was in the past, is not a solution. The solution is communication in which the benefits for both sides can be seen and the trust between them can be reinstated, North Macedonia's Prime Minister said further.
There are various issues between the two countries that have to be resolved so that the controversy would be addressed. It remains to be seen what is acceptable for the two sides, the solution that will be shared with the institutions of both and with the decision-makers, one that should be based on European values, the respect for the citizens of the two states and respect for their honour, he added.
In Kovachevski's opinion, there is the option for parallel progress of the two processes involving North Macedonia's [EU] integration and the talks [with Bulgaria]. He said he sincerely hopes they could develop along in parallel, but that depends on the agreement that would be reached. He declared himself in favour of a quick solution and said talks should begin soon, but added that he was not in favour of hasty solutions.
Whatever was agreed at the joint meeting in Skopje is already being implemented, Kovachevski said.
Besides these problems, there was the (Joint Multidisciplinary Expert) Commission for Historical and Education Issues. It operates by its own methods, it is formed by historians, not politicians and is chaired by two history professors from the two countries. They declared publicly they would speed up the Commission's work and there would be visible results, as it was expected that historical issues would serve as a bridge to the future, and not something that would generate conflict, Kovachevski went on further.
North Macedonia's Prime Minister stressed that there are no talks at all with Bulgaria on the basic issues pertaining to the Macedonian people. This means that the language of the state and the identity on all grounds of the Macedonian people are not a subject of talks with the Republic of Bulgaria, Kovachevski said, adding that when it is a matter of including other communities in the Constitution, such a process could be requested by the communities that live in the country.
In his opinion, this happens through constitutional revisions and is a longer process, one which includes numerous institutions, such as the government, parliament and the head of state. This would be followed by a broader debate, for experts are also included when constitutional revision are made. After that, through a debate and a majority of two-thirds in Parliament, such a decision could be reached. At the same time, this is a request that should come from the citizens living in North Macedonia, Kovachevski concluded.
In his opinion, any process that continues for too long could have a negative impact on public support, but happily, he said, public opinion polls had confirmed the majority of the citizens had faith in the country's European future.
Also, the parties that are part of the [ruling] coalition share the opinion that the only way for North Macedonia is EU integration, Kovachevski said and expressed hope that the opposition, too, would take a constructive stance. /ZH/BR
/МЙ/
MY1511ES.109
109 BALKAN INSIDER - NORTH MACEDONIA - PRIME MINISTER
North Macedonia's PM Kovachevski: Retrograde
Forces Want to Hinder Solution-finding
Process with Bulgaria
Skopje, February 9 (BTA) - Over a certain period, communication with the Republic of Bulgaria was reduced to communication between propagandists who formed public opinion, one that was dominant in the media and fostered mistrust between the two countries and their citizens, the Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia, Dimitar Kovachevski, said in an interview on Alsat TV late on Tuesday, as reported by the MIA agency.
After the two governments in North Macedonia and Bulgaria were formed, and after the visit of Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov to Skopje, an agreement was reached to turn a new page in talks, Kovachevski said.
Both he and the Bulgarian Prime Minister, as well as the government members, were guided by the idea of opening a dialogue that would reinstate a positive atmosphere, but they were also aware retrograde forces would promptly emerge and try to hinder that process. These forces, found in both countries, base their political existence on this problem. For if the problem does not exist, they would not exist as a political paradigm - this has been the case in the past, Kovachevski said, adding that at the very onset, themes had been opened and provocations made with the aim of thwarting a possible solution.
According to Kovachevski, the majority of people in both countries want a solution to be found for, as he said, the Republic of North Macedonia deserves a date for EU accession talks.
Whoever wants to see an open problem resolved should talk. Censure alone, as it was in the past, is not a solution. The solution is communication in which the benefits for both sides can be seen and the trust between them can be reinstated, North Macedonia's Prime Minister said further.
There are various issues between the two countries that have to be resolved so that the controversy would be addressed. It remains to be seen what is acceptable for the two sides, the solution that will be shared with the institutions of both and with the decision-makers, one that should be based on European values, the respect for the citizens of the two states and respect for their honour, he added.
In Kovachevski's opinion, there is the option for parallel progress of the two processes involving North Macedonia's [EU] integration and the talks [with Bulgaria]. He said he sincerely hopes they could develop along in parallel, but that depends on the agreement that would be reached. He declared himself in favour of a quick solution and said talks should begin soon, but added that he was not in favour of hasty solutions.
Whatever was agreed at the joint meeting in Skopje is already being implemented, Kovachevski said.
Besides these problems, there was the (Joint Multidisciplinary Expert) Commission for Historical and Education Issues. It operates by its own methods, it is formed by historians, not politicians and is chaired by two history professors from the two countries. They declared publicly they would speed up the Commission's work and there would be visible results, as it was expected that historical issues would serve as a bridge to the future, and not something that would generate conflict, Kovachevski went on further.
North Macedonia's Prime Minister stressed that there are no talks at all with Bulgaria on the basic issues pertaining to the Macedonian people. This means that the language of the state and the identity on all grounds of the Macedonian people are not a subject of talks with the Republic of Bulgaria, Kovachevski said, adding that when it is a matter of including other communities in the Constitution, such a process could be requested by the communities that live in the country.
In his opinion, this happens through constitutional revisions and is a longer process, one which includes numerous institutions, such as the government, parliament and the head of state. This would be followed by a broader debate, for experts are also included when constitutional revision are made. After that, through a debate and a majority of two-thirds in Parliament, such a decision could be reached. At the same time, this is a request that should come from the citizens living in North Macedonia, Kovachevski concluded.
In his opinion, any process that continues for too long could have a negative impact on public support, but happily, he said, public opinion polls had confirmed the majority of the citizens had faith in the country's European future.
Also, the parties that are part of the [ruling] coalition share the opinion that the only way for North Macedonia is EU integration, Kovachevski said and expressed hope that the opposition, too, would take a constructive stance. /ZH/BR
/МЙ/
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