site.btaTISP MP Balabanov: North Macedonia Will Not Enter EU with Such Behaviour

Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, There Is Such a People (TISP) MP Stanislav Balabanov said that North Macedonia will not enter the European Union if its politicians continue behaving the way they do. His statement was prompted by an interview North Macedonia's Deputy Prime Minister and Transport Minister Aleksandar Nikoloski gave to TV Alfa on Wednesday, criticizing the absence of his country's national flag in a photo of Presidents Rumen Radev and Gordana Siljanovska during Siljanovska's visit to Sofia on September 13. Nikoloski stating that "both the [Bulgarian] political parties and the President are trying to gain advantages at the expense of [North] Macedonia."

Balabanov argued that TISP, the President and Vazrazhdane were "the only representatives of the Bulgarian political class who have done their best to defend the Bulgarian position during a Consultative Council on National Security some time ago". He blamed GERB leader Boyko Borissov, one of MRF's two chairpersons Delyan Peevski, Continue the Change Co-chairs Assen Vassilev and Kiril Petkov, and former Democratic Bulgaria co-chair Hristo Ivanov for lifting the veto on North Macedonia's European Union bid. 

The TISP MP said he was puzzled why these same politicians were now outraged "after they sold out Bulgaria  by lifting the veto." He added that if it comes to TISP, North Macedonia will not enter the EU until its politicians fix their way of behaving and talking, and start respecting all elements of the signed agreements.

Demanding Nikoloski's resignation and expelling North Macedonia's Ambassador in Sofia is not excessive, Balabanov said.