Mucunski: Identity, History, Language and Culture Are the Country’s Red Lines; We Seek Guarantees from European Institutions

Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Timço Mucunski said that dialogue with Bulgaria has continued uninterrupted since the government was formed, although the intensity of the talks has varied at different times.

“From the moment this government was formed until today, communication has been continuous. At times, the dialogue has been more intensive, while at others it has been less so, but there has always been discussion of an appropriate and fair solution within the framework of our positions,” Mucunski said at today’s press conference, responding to a question about whether talks are underway to overcome the dispute with Bulgaria, which is hindering the country’s European integration.

Asked whether Sofia had given any indication that it might change its positions and whether the Macedonian side was prepared to make concessions, the minister stressed that issues related to history, identity, language and culture constitute the country’s red lines.

“These are the principles we present in every negotiation process. It is not fair for our negotiations to remain continually blocked over an issue that affects our identity, language, history and culture. We have consistently made our positions clear to citizens and all international partners. We expect European institutions to provide a system of guarantees, respect the principle of reciprocity regarding human rights, and deliver a solution that will safeguard our positions on identity, language, culture and history,” Mucunski said.

Speaking about dialogue with the European Union, he said that no more substantive discussions had taken place in recent weeks because of collective annual holidays in EU member states and European institutions.

Mucunski added that more visits and meetings are expected in the coming period. “The Czech Republic is a principled supporter of ours, and I am confident that this issue will be among the topics we will discuss with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic, who will visit the country. It is natural for this dialogue to continue, to move forward, and for us to conduct it on the basis of the positions we have presented,” he concluded.