Skopje, 1 July 2022 (MIA) - The position we're in today is more favorable for us, we've received a proposal that incorporates our remarks and clearly declared positions. We consider the proposal as a solid foundation for building a serious, responsible and statesman-like position regarding the opportunity being opened for our country, Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski told a news conference Friday after holding a meeting with junior government coalition partners. All false claims have failed, he noted. "The government stuck to the national positions involving the negotiations with Bulgaria in any way. We protected the national interest and the Macedonian national identity," Kovachevski said. The European proposal, he continued, includes defined positions on clear and unwavering approval of the Macedonian language and that the protocol will not be included in the negotiating framework. "It is also very important that our position on further unconditional opening of the negotiating process and the holding of the intergovernmental conference with the EU is also included in the proposal we'd received. I'd like to reiterate that we have a plan and a strategy that produces results," the PM said. Today's meeting, Kovachevski added, opens a wide-ranging process of consultations in order to build an official state position. Meetings will be held with the head of state, Parliament, the opposition, the civil society, media, experts and the public in general. "We will make a decision about our future based on the principle of joint positions according to the strategic interests of the country and of all its citizens," PM Kovachevski said adding that the proposal is to be posted on the government's website after the meeting. https://youtu.be/etqTeFU0tWQ