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Mucunski: Negotiations to unblock Macedonia’s EU integration are proceeding quietly

Foreign Minister Timço Mucunski said that “under the radar” talks are taking place to unblock Macedonia’s European path. He stressed that details cannot be made public, as such an action would jeopardize the negotiations and lead to failure.

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Mucunski told AIM that the current government differs from previous cabinets because it does not accept making concessions on identity, history, language and culture. According to him, citizens should be convinced that the government clearly knows where it gets its legitimacy, respects their position, and has defined red lines, as well as issues on which it is not willing to negotiate.

“We are working on a solution, but not a solution at any cost. We do not want an agreement that will not be sustainable and that will create the risk of returning again to the situation we are in now,” the minister said.

He assessed that political consensus is needed on this issue, and accused the opposition of past mistakes and of “lack of capacity to understand the consequences of decisions taken in 2021 and 2022.”

“Almost exactly five years ago, on July 29, 2021, in Parliament we reached a political consensus through a resolution on state positions related to the national interest. It included identity, historical and other issues. The resolution was adopted almost with consensus, but the then government of DUI and SDSM broke that agreement within a few months,” Mucunski said.

He added that, if asked about the need for a political consensus, his answer is without doubt positive.

According to the minister, however, the opposition must first face reality. He said that self-satisfaction and the inability to foresee the broad consequences of developments in 2021 and 2022 have brought the country to the current situation.

“The opposition has the legitimate right to criticize and take a stance on almost every issue. That is also its role in a parliamentary democracy: to criticize and contribute,” Mucunski concluded.