site.btaNorth Macedonia's PM Declares Intentions to Divert Country from Euro-Atlantic Path with Hate Speech against Bulgaria, Says MRF Floor Leader

The newly elected Prime Minister of the Republic of North Macedonia [Hristijan Mickoski] chose confrontation and violation of European principles and from the highest parliamentary rostrum made a statement that he intends to divert the country from its Euro-Atlantic path with words preaching enmity and hatred against European Bulgaria, said Delyan Peevski, one of the Movement for Rights and Freedom's (MRF) two leaders, quoted by the party's press centre.

MRF's Floor Leader Peevski argued that the declared refusal to implement the treaty with Bulgaria, requiring the inclusion of Bulgarians in the Constitution with changes in the basic law, "is a blatant violation of the process of integration of North Macedonia into the European Union (EU)."

He recalled that more than a month ago he had warned Mickoski not to try to use rhetoric against Bulgaria for his domestic political ambitions. Peevski said that as a country Bulgaria will not remain indifferent to this latest provocation.

Peevski urged all members of the Bulgarian Parliament and Bulgarian MEPs, regardless of their party affiliation, not to overlook these alarming developments in this neighbouring country.

In his words, the direction in which the Republic of North Macedonia is being pushed by its political leadership is dangerous. “The consequences of this irresponsibility should not be borne by the Macedonian people, but the responsibility should lie with the self-deluded politicians who are mining the country's Euro-Atlantic path,” he added.

According to Peevski, “we cannot remain indifferent when, in critical times for Europe and the world, the crisis of European values in North Macedonia threatens to turn the country into a beachhead of militant nationalism.“

"Citizens need focus, they need higher standards, higher wages. A peaceful life, a desire to live here in North Macedonia. The attacks I have heard these two days boil down to two theses - the Prespa Agreement and the French proposal [the negotiating framework]. This Bulgarian diktat will not pass as long as I am prime minister and there will be no changes in the constitution...", Mickoski said on June 23 before he took the oath as prime minister of the Republic of North Macedonia.