Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski assessed that the European integration process will be long and difficult. He also emphasized that the place of the citizens of Macedonia is at the table in Brussels, as an equal member of the EU.
Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, from the party celebration in Strumica, said that the country’s strategic goal remains membership in the European Union, but emphasized that there will be no concessions when it comes to the Macedonian identity and language.
He assessed that the European integration process will be long and difficult, calling on the citizens to prepare for a fight to “correct the betrayal” that, according to him, was committed by the previous government. Mickoski also emphasized that the place of the citizens of Macedonia is at the table in Brussels, as an equal member of the EU.
— Get ready for a marathon, because we will have to fight to correct that betrayal and that capitulation, which the previous most corrupt Macedonian government in history did for this nation and for its homeland. Get ready to fight and fight, so that our people on the other side of the border can exercise their human right, finally register their own institution, under which they can culturally organize themselves. We have an agreement in hand that was signed by the previous government, but our eastern neighbor also has 14 judgments from the European Court of Human Rights on the table which say: “Immediately register the organization of the Macedonians with our eastern neighbor, OMO Ilinden Pirin,” he said.
In the address, the prime minister also sent a message to the European leaders, asking for guarantees that there will be no more bilateral conditions for the country.
— Come to the conclusion that there are no more bilateral issues, that the centuries-old Macedonian identity, culture, tradition, customs, and language are constant and fact. And that no one will open that topic anymore. There is no price. There is no glory, no power that can convince me that without these things, we will accept anything. This is our red line — Mickoski said.
Referring to relations with the eastern neighbor, he assessed that European rules must apply equally to all.
Mickoski accused the former government of causing damage to the European integration process with the signed agreements, assessing that they took on obligations that, according to him, the majority of citizens would not accept.
In the speech, he also referred to the fight against crime and corruption, rejecting accusations that there is an agreement with the former government on non-prosecution of officials.
The Prime Minister previously announced that he would begin the reconstruction of the Government and announced changes in the party as well. He emphasized that deviation from the principles will not be tolerated and that “for some of the officials, the seat has become more important than the people”, pointing out complaints about their unavailability and inactivity on the ground.
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