Skopje, 4 July 2024 (MIA) - Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said Thursday he has less experience than Bulgarian President Rumen Radev and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis while noting they should get used to new policies that protect the interests of Macedonian citizens and added that he sees cooperation as a two-day street.

PM Mickoski was quizzed by reporters on the statement of President Radev that the authorities in North Macedonia lack knowledge in international law.

"Times are gone when politicians in the Macedonian government humiliate themselves and are prepared to sign anything without protecting the interest of the Macedonian citizens, while waving the Macedonian flag and robbing the country and its citizens in parallel. They must get used to politicians who protect citizens' interests, work for the well-being of the country and its future. We are ready to build goodneighborly relations with everyone. My message to both, who are more experienced and have been in the posts longer than me, is that we are a peaceful, small nation, one of the smallest in the Balkans, and we are prepared to cooperate with everyone but see this cooperation as a two-way street. It cannot be one-way and times when they saw the cooperation with Macedonian politicians as a one-way street are a thing of the past," said Mickoski.

He urged Radev and Mitsotakis to work on countries' economic development and bringing people closer, noting that goodneighborly policies are not built on belittling and insults.

"I am used to belittling and insults all my life, but in the end I have always managed to emerge as a winner. We'll see what will be the outcome in this case. I would like to see Balkan states follow the example of other countries such as the Baltic or Scandinavian ones, to build bridges and work together at foreign markets, before EU officials and across the globe. Belittling and insults is not the way to do it. I thought we left behind such behavior in the Middle Ages and I believe that discussions in the 21st century should focus on development of a common economy, education, tourism, networking, bringing people closer. I am ready to talk about these things, and my interlocutors should reassess their statements and conduct. But who am I to tell them," said Mickoski.

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