Skopje, 25 September 2023 (MIA) – Asked to comment regarding Bulgarian pressure on the Macedonian minority in Albania in terms of declaring their nationality in the census conducted in the country, Minister of Defence Slavjanka Petrovska said they have the absolute right to express themselves as they feel, i.e. to express themselves as Macedonians. The right to self-determination of every single citizen, regardless of where and on which territory they are, is one of the fundamental European values, she added.  

In response to a reporter's question at Monday's press conference, Petrovska noted that the European values ​​should be respected both by the countries in the EU, and the countries that want to join the Union.

She pointed out that one of the goals of European integration is that with the country's EU accession, the Macedonian passport will be European, which will allow citizens to avoid feeling pressured or being deceived by some benefits in order to register at the census differently from how they feel.

"One of the goals we want to achieve with the EU integration and regarding which we are undeniably all in favor - is that when the Republic of North Macedonia joins the EU, the Macedonian passport will be a European passport, so citizens will no longer feel any pressure or be deceived for some benefits, registering as a different nationality than the one they feel," Petrovska said at Monday's joint press conference with Norway's Defence Minister Bjørn Arild Gram. 

She added that the concern for the interests of the citizens of North Macedonia, regardless of where they live, "is proven by real actions, not just by speeches."

Photo: MIA / printscreen