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Dimitrov: Any possible solution to dispute with Bulgaria to be debated in parliament

Dimitrov: Any possible solution to dispute with Bulgaria to be debated in parliament
Skopje, 21 December 2021 (MIA) - Deputy PM for European Affairs Nikola Dimitrov said Tuesday that any solution reached by North Macedonia and Bulgaria, which would lift Bulgaria’s veto on the start of North Macedonia’s EU accession negotiations, should be debated by the lawmakers. Both the opposition and the ruling lawmakers agreed with that, who discussed the conclusions of the EU General Affairs Council on enlargement at a session of the Parliamentary National EU Integration Council. “I personally believe that this issue is a matter of nation and state and goes beyond the interests of one or another government or one or another opposition. Considering that, the Parliament in Sofia has a prominent place in the coalition agreement of the new Bulgarian Government, where any possible solution will be debated, and also taking into consideration the resolution approved in our Parliament where the red lines are determined on this issue of the highest national interest, I think there is logic and it will increase the legitimacy if we also step by step build a political atmosphere in the direction that any solution, which must be European and dignified, will be debated and approved in our Parliament,” Dimitrov said. Sonja Mirakovska, NSDP lawmaker agreed with Deputy PM Dimitrov, adding that in resolving the dispute with Bulgaria, it is requested from the EU, the human rights and the right to self-determination to be explicitly respected. Chairperson of the National EU Council Aleksandar Nikolovski, who is VMRO-DPMNE MP, said there is a lack of sound debate and consensus between political parties, and noted that the process of accession to the EU is misused by the government. He agreed with Dimitrov’s proposal that any possible agreed solution should be debated in the parliament. DUI MP Arber Ademi believes that a solution to the dispute with Bulgaria can be found, if there is will on both sides. EU member states failed to agree on holding the first intergovernmental conferences with North Macedonia and Albania by the end of this year at the General Affairs Council (GAC) meeting on Dec. 14, despite the Slovenian EU presidency, which publicly expressed hopes for start of accession negotiations with both countries this year.