Skopje, 9 May 2023 (MIA) – Every Member of the European Parliament that respects the dignity of the state and its citizens is welcome in North Macedonia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Tuesday in a press statement, after the Bulgarian MEP Andrey Kovatchev requested a precise explanation from the official Skopje, in an interview with BTV today, why he was not allowed at the border crossing to enter the country on May 6, before, as he said, “considering the possibility of a new veto towards Macedonia.”

Full text of the press statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs:

"The EU membership is a priority issue for the Government of North Macedonia. Therefore, all governmental and administrative resources have been made available for the successful completion of the screening process and the opening of the Cluster 1 on Fundamentals. At the same time, they are working on the constitutional amendments, which are entering a key phase, where the working group should recommend a proposal for the amendments very soon.

The sensitivity of this process does not leave room for taking the slightest risk that would negatively affect the successful implementation of the changes.

In this regard, "due to non-fulfillment of the conditions for entry in the Republic of North Macedonia, in line with the law on foreigners, the entry of a group of five nationals of the Republic of Bulgaria was not allowed” at the Novo Selo border crossing on May 6.”

In addition, we would like to underline that in a group with which MEP Andrey Kovatchev was traveling, there were people whom the Ministry of Interior has info of posing a threat to public peace and security. MEP Andrey Kovatchev is not among them, but the competent authorities made such a decision because of the group he was travelling with.

Every Member of the European Parliament that respects the dignity of the state and its citizens is welcome in North Macedonia."