site.btaNorth Macedonia's PM: If Red Lines Get Crossed, Bulgarian Ambassador Will Be Handed Demarche

Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia Hristijan Mickoski who spoke to reporters here on Monday said that while his country is prepared to build goodneighbourly relations, if certain red lines get crossed, the Bulgarian ambassador will be handed a demarche. Mickoski's comment came after a meeting between the Presidents of Bulgaria and North Macedonia, Rumen Radev and Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, in Sofia on September 13, at which the two were photographed in front of the flags of Bulgaria and the EU, while that of the Republic of North Macedonia was missing.

Mickoski stated: "More importantly, Europe and the world were able to see what the true intentions of the leadership in Sofia are. They are not the inclusion of the Bulgarians in the Constitution [of North Macedonia]. That is the smallest problem, their need to show dominance is bigger. In the past, when Macedonian dignity was humiliated, that would not make an impression. We will no longer do politics while bending over backwards, and whenever red lines are crossed we will react. We want to build goodneighbourly relations, however, goodneighbourliness is a two-way street and as such, we plan to walk down that street."

The Prime Minister said that the delegation of North Macedonia did not react on Friday because of the tragic accident that saw two Bulgarian pilots killed.

The Social Democratic Union of Macedonia released a statement on Monday, commenting on the meeting between the two heads of State, that reads: "This scandal would have gone unnoticed if the public did not react vehemently and that is why the attempts to show some strength after this diplomatic failure is only a useless attempt to justify the dilettantism and naivety of VMRO-DPMNE and Siljanovska-Davkova. This scandal confirms that the Government and institutions led by Mickoski and Siljanovska-Davkova lack the capacity for international politics never mind for securing better conditions for the country within an international framework. VMRO-DPMNE lacks the knowledge, capacity and responsibility to lead the country internationally and, with them, there would be no progress in any area."