Mickoski: Ready to meet Radev any time, but no initiative for direct government talks
The prime minister says he will accept a meeting that produces results; constitutional amendments and negotiations remain unresolved.
There is willingness but no initiative so far. Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said he is ready at any time to sit down with Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev to discuss overcoming the dispute with Bulgaria and unblocking North Macedonia’s EU accession path, but emphasized that no such initiative has yet been made.
"I am ready at any moment to sit down and talk, but a meeting just for the sake of meeting, if it has no effect, I am not a fan of wasting either my or his time. I expect that diplomatic efforts to find a solution will first bring the positions of the two sides closer, and if there is an opportunity for such rapprochement, then I am absolutely ready to sit down for a meeting," Mickoski said.
When asked whether a direct meeting at any level had been initiated so far, Mickoski answered briefly: "No." He did not give a direct answer on whether constitutional amendments with delayed effect have been put back on the negotiating table to resolve the dispute, saying that politics is based on talks and that he is one of those politicians who wants to talk until a solution is reached. He added that any solution will be sought within Macedonian red lines.
Diplomatic exchanges and outside support
Foreign Minister Timcho Mucunski was asked about the recent remarks by his Czech counterpart, Petr Macinka, who said the dispute with Bulgaria is not bilateral but a matter for all EU member states — a comment that runs counter to the government’s stated position that the issue is bilateral. Mucunski did not respond directly to that contrast, instead stressing Macinka’s message that the Czech Republic wants to help find a solution.
"He, I will repeat once again, sent a clear message that the Czech Republic wants to be our supporter in finding an appropriate and sustainable solution. He was quite clear, at least from what I heard, in his messages in that sense," Mucunski said.
Today, Mucunski and Mickoski, together with the President of North Macedonia and the Czech foreign minister, addressed the Ambassadors' Council at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They relayed three key priorities for Macedonian ambassadors and consuls:
- the protection of Macedonian national priorities;
- strengthening economic diplomacy by diplomatic-consular representations; and
- the protection of the interests of Macedonian citizens abroad.
Photo: press material from the event
