Skopje, 9 February 2023 (MIA) — The country's latest political developments and its European integration process were the topics of conversation at the meeting of VMRO-DPMNE head Hristijan Mickoski, the party secretary for international cooperation Stefan Andonovski, and the Ambassador of the Netherlands Dirk Jan Kop, according to the party in a press release.

Mickoski said recent statements of the Bulgarian authorities and their denial of the Macedonian identity only further escalated tensions between the two countries. 

“The country’s accession to the European Union should not resemble a farmers’ market where Macedonian identity is being bought and sold,” he is quoted as saying in the release.

Mickoski pointed out to Ambassador Jan Kop "the high level of corruption and crime by high government officials.” He also said the public had been told “lies by SDSM and the Dimitar Kovachevski government too long."

The VMRO-DPMNE leader called for a snap parliamentary election and thanked the ambassador for the support of the Netherlands, expressing his belief that bilateral cooperation would continue. mr/