Nikolloski: The government will not accept constitutional amendments imposed by Bulgaria, Sofia’s blockade is political

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport of North Macedonia, Aleksandar Nikolloski, said the government’s position is clear: constitutional amendments dictated by Bulgaria will not be approved.

In an interview with “Sitel,” Nikolloski said the obstacle imposed by Sofia was not related to the progress of reforms in the country, but was entirely political. According to him, North Macedonia is currently achieving its best results in terms of the reform agenda.

Commenting on the opposition’s criticism of the Prime Minister’s position in Brussels, he described it as “scandalous.” Nikolloski explained that it was a private visit and that the Prime Minister had the right to spend a short period of vacation with his family.

Regarding the talks with Bulgaria, Nikolloski said the situation remained unchanged. According to him, there is an agreement inherited from the previous government that was signed in a form that could not be implemented.

On the other hand, he added, VMRO-DPMNE and the current government have a firm position that there will be no constitutional amendments made under Bulgaria’s diktat.

“It is completely normal for the two countries to maintain communication, and this is nothing extraordinary. However, if a solution is reached, it must be in line with the principles of VMRO-DPMNE and the government, and we will insist on this,” Nikolloski said.

He stressed that failure to respect these principles would mean that no agreement could be reached. “I cannot put it any more simply than that,” Nikolloski declared.

Asked about the differences between last year’s negotiations and the current situation, he said he did not see any difference.

“It is true that there is now a more positive climate for enlargement, something we may not have had last year or two years ago. Likewise, the results of the government’s dedicated work, under the personal coordination of Prime Minister Mickoski on the reform agenda, are significant and can be seen in the reforms, the financial inflow into the country and its image,” Nikolloski concluded./Telegrafi/