Skopje, 18 November 2024 (MIA) - President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova believes that the Solomonic solution for the Bulgaria dispute is the one with the delayed effect, which she has discussed with Bulgarian counterpart Rumen Radev and all other EU officials, and friendly countries that have been understanding.

"Despite the Sofia flag incident, we had a fruitful conversation with Bulgarian President Radev and we spoke more than an hour in Baku. The conclusion is that self-respect breeds respect. We always measure our words. Press releases are diplomatic, but let me tell the citizens that the first thing I told him, because this is the solution I think is very reasonable, well-intentioned, the solution with the delayed effect," President Siljanovska Davkova told MRTV.

The President says Radev failed to comment while adding that she understands the situation in Bulgaria and the impossibility to form a government there, but "I believe he will try to understand our well-intentioned positions that aim to turn the win-lose situation into a win-win one".

"We cannot lose our legitimacy, we did not cheat our citizens. On the contrary, our legitimacy comes from them. I am obligated to defend the national interest, not through scandals or insults but through respect," says Siljanovska Davkova.

Asked about a timeframe for the row's settlement, considering that Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said after her meeting with Radev that the country could continue its Euro-integration path by the year-end, the President says she expects the same.

"I expect the same. My expectations are not fictional, they are based on our talks in New York. I am not a diplomat, I am a professor and am careful when I say things. I presented our Solomonic solution before renowned politicians in New York. I think they understood and I believe it is now EU's turn. Mr. Radev is continually calling on the EU and qualifying the problem as multilateral rather than bilateral, and that it should be settled by the end of the year. I believe in the seriousness of these promises. I also presented our position at the meeting with the Belgian PM, but also to all others, including the ones from the Visegrad Group. I heard from all of them saying 'yes, you have done a lot, you have done the impossible, you now even offer a compromise'," says Silajanovska Davkova.

She expects serious politicians to keep to their words but also not forget that the EU is the only solution only if it does not forget its own values and principles. In addition, the President thinks that the offered solution must be accepted by consensus in the country.

"We are to blame. We are guilty of not seeking for consensus when accepting the negotiating framework. To be honest, the opposition was fully neglected at the time. The then-President and PM accepted the Negotiating Framework but had no legitimacy to do that because there was no consensus. We are now suffering the consequences because everyone says 'you accepted the Negotiating Framework'. The incumbent authorities cannot do the same. One cannot go abroad if one cannot reach consensus, because then you are a weak negotiator. I think that what we propose now is not only real but also reasonable and logical. Citizens are tired of empty promises," says Siljanovska Davkova.

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