Skopje, 6 August 2023 (MIA) - Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski considers that there is no room for concern over possible new blockades from Bulgaria. In an interview with MIA regarding the possibility of new Bulgarian blockades on the path to the EU and if the constitutional amendments are adopted, he said that he personally understands the fears, especially following certain steps and provocations that were harmful to the relations between the two countries.

“But with European policies and responsibility on both sides, it is possible to reach European relations. The thesis that the opposition imposes is manipulative and has a double purpose. On the one hand, to mislead the citizens, to play with their emotions. On the other hand, to create an alibi for their irresponsibility because they have no arguments to defend their blockade attempts. Especially now, when the entire content of the proposed constitutional amendments is published and available, no one has a single remark or objection. Things are quite clear, there can be no new conditions for us,” PM Kovachevski stressed.

He said that the messages of the international community were clear that there would be no new demands. As an example, he pointed to Germany and his talks with Chancellor Olaf Scholz, that he has no doubts that there will be no new demands outside the established negotiating framework.

“I remind you that it was firmly stated in the Declaration of the German Bundestag. That there are no obstacles for the accession of North Macedonia to the EU and that bilateral issues will not determine the accession process of the country to EU membership is also the opinion of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell,” Kovachevski said.

PM Kovachevski said that Bulgaria has also reaffirmed the same on several occasions.

“The President of Bulgaria, Radev, the Vice-President Yotova, the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, all of them were very clear in their statements that there are no new conditions, the expectations are that the agreed conditions in the negotiating framework will be fulfilled,” Kovachevski said.

In the interview with MIA, he added that the new requirements will further refer to the reforms.

“There is no room to think in the direction that we are entering a vortex of new requirements. The requirements will be further refer to the reforms. A process in which we are transformed, and we will once again make serious and difficult decisions that will ensure a better life for the citizens,” Kovachevski added.