Skopje, 20 December 2021 (MIA) – We won’t adopt the negotiating framework before first getting a date for holding the intergovernmental conference. The negotiating framework is a Council of the EU document, but it also has to be approved by us. We’ll make our position clear – we can’t accept anything that will lead to further uncertainty in the process, Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani told a press conference on Monday. “We’ve served as precedent on many occasions, including having a candidate country status for 16 years and getting a green light to start talks, but not holding the first intergovernmental conference,” Osmani stressed, reiterating that the negotiating framework can’t be adopted without a date for holding the intergovernmental conference. The EC report on North Macedonia regarding meeting criteria, he added, was excellent and the country managed to ensure political stability. “We responded to Bulgaria’s 5+1 package, the precondition for supporting the negotiating framework and holding the first intergovernmental conference. North Macedonia has completed its file and can’t be blamed for being the reason that talks are yet to start,” Minister Osmani said, adding that talks continue. We offered solutions, he noted, for all issues, including the country’s long and short name. “We also responded to the issues of non-interference in the domestic affairs of neighboring countries, as well as mechanisms for preventing hate speech in both countries, rehabilitation of communism victims, including Bulgarians in the Constitution and the activities of the commission on historical and education issues. We think this is enough to resolve the dispute, but we’re waiting for Bulgaria to respond to this position,” the Minister said. He clarified a statement he made for Bulgarian TV regarding the possibility for finding a solution in January, noting that according to him, if there’s political will, there’s no need to prolong uncertainly over the country’s European perspective and regional dynamics for six months. “I said that the six-month period for overcoming issues and for North Macedonia to start EU talks is too long. The Union’s credibility can’t handle six more months. Moreover, regional dynamic will be hard to sustain. As long as there’s political will, differences can be overcome in January,” Osmani underlined. The top diplomat added that stakeholders are now waiting for Bulgaria’s new political government to present its position. “We’ll have to wait until the first meeting, which PM Petkov announced for January in order to know exactly what to do. Our position is clear, that of new Bulgarian leadership remains to be seen,” the FM noted. In regard to Petkov’s position formation of new working groups that will focus on the present and future, Osmani said that such groups are an instrument of the 2017 Friendship Treaty. “The Treaty envisions an intergovernmental commission made up of relevant ministers. So, the best way is to hold a meeting of this commission. We’ll discuss working groups at the meeting with Petkov, but I would prefer if we stick to Treaty instruments, which means reactivating the intergovernmental commission,” Osmani stressed.