site.btaNorth Macedonia's PM Says Issue of Inclusion of Bulgarians in Constitution Should Be Approached Strategically

The issue of the inclusion of Bulgarians in the Republic of North Macedonia's Constitution should be approached strategically and with vision, as this issue is crucial for guaranteeing the country's EU membership based on the Copenhagen criteria, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said.

At a press conference following a meeting with the Independent Trade Union of Education, Science, and Culture on Saturday, Mickoski was asked if he agreed with Democratic Union for Integration leader Ali Ahmeti, who said that “the Bulgarian community in North Macedonia is a reality” and should be included in the country's Constitution. Mickoski was asked whether including Bulgarians in North Macedonia’s basic law would be detrimental to the country.

He said that “the figures show that several hundred people in North Macedonia speak Bulgarian as their mother tongue. We can't deny their existence". "Similarly, in Albania, there are seven or eight times more Bulgarians than in North Macedonia, and that is a fact. The Macedonian community in Bulgaria is also a fact. If we're going to discuss including Bulgarians in our Constitution, we should also consider the rights of the Macedonian community in Bulgaria and make a fair comparison," he added.

North Macedonia’s Prime Minister said that politicians should not capitalize on this issue, arguing that Ahmeti uses it for political gains.

While conferring with the Bulgarian Ambassador in Skopje, Zhelyazko Radukov, Ahmeti said that the presence of the Bulgarian community in North Macedonia is a fact and it must be included in the Constitution. The negotiating framework approved by the European Union is clear, and the changes to North Macedonia’s basic law must be adopted quickly so that the country can continue its path towards European integration, he added.

At Saturday’s press conference, Mickoski rejected the idea that there was a lack of understanding within the EU regarding North Macedonia's position on his proposal for constitutional changes, which would take effect once the country becomes an EU Member State. Asked about a letter he intends to send to European institutions seeking a "dignified solution that aligns with national interests," Mickoski said it is still being prepared. He added that before sending it, he plans to confer with a large number of European politicians at the upcoming Berlin Process Summit to gain a clearer picture of what the government will be able do.

Mickoski said he had no information about a potential meeting with Bulgarian President Rumen Radev during the European Political Community Summit in Budapest on November 7 but expressed his willingness to sit down for talks. Citing senior sources in Hungary, media outlets in North Macedonia reported that Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is planning such a meeting.

“Even if it does not take place in Budapest, we can meet anywhere to find a long-term solution that ensures success in the EU negotiation process based on the Copenhagen criteria. However, if Mr. Orban initiates a meeting on November 7, I am ready to sit down for talks, as long as they are based on arguments and not on dictates. I do not accept dictates," Mickoski stated.