Mickoski: We aim for our generation to bring the country into the EU without compromising identity, language and culture

In a speech delivered today to mark the 35th anniversary of the country’s independence, North Macedonian Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski also spoke about its European prospects. He said he was working to ensure that his generation brings the country into the European Union, while stressing that one final challenge remains before this journey can begin, and overcoming it requires building trust.

According to Mickoski, trust can be built by acknowledging the facts, ending the obstruction of rulings by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg concerning the Macedonian community in Bulgaria, putting an end to the denial of the right to use the Macedonian mother tongue, and ceasing attempts to trace the origins of the Macedonian people to a decision by the communist Comintern.

The head of government reiterated that the country’s orientation is European but warned that compromises affecting its identity, language and culture cannot be accepted during this process.

“I want and am working to be part of the generation that will bring the country into the European Union. It is true that there is no better alternative for the country. However, each of you must be aware that one final challenge lies ahead of us—not to complete this journey, but to begin it. This does not mean that we have any guarantee that we will achieve our goal, but only that we will begin moving in that direction.

When those hypocritical cries of helplessness are heard from our political opponents, or at least from some of them, who smugly demand that the problem be resolved, they fail to understand that they themselves created it. By recklessly accepting a proposal, they imposed a condition on our progress toward full EU membership,” Mickoski added.