Zhernovski: Government presents as a victory what it yesterday called treason

Andrej Zhernovski, a member of the Executive Board of SDSM and the party's secretary for international cooperation, said tonight that the Government of Hristijan Mickoski is preparing the ground to accept the French proposal for accession to the EU — a proposal that the same government previously declared harmful. He said SDSM's claims are supported by information from Brussels and other major centers, not by speculation. ([sdsm.org.mk](https://sdsm.org.mk/organizacija/sekretar-za-megjunarodna-sorabotka?utm_source=openai))

Denials, contradictory statements and signals from abroad

Zhernovski described the denial published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade as “a denial that in fact was not a denial,” explaining that the text claims SDSM is inventing that secret talks are taking place, while, he said, the foreign minister himself admitted there are talks “under the radar.” In his quote: "Yesterday we had the opportunity to hear a denial from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade which in fact was not a denial. An inept text that denies nothing. It says that SDSM is inventing that secret negotiations are being held. And it was the foreign minister himself who said that talks are being held 'under the radar'. Not I, not SDSM, but he himself." ([mfa.gov.mk](https://mfa.gov.mk/mk-MK/ministerstvo/minister?utm_source=openai))

According to him, the party has had this information for some time, and the fact that the denial was issued by the ministry's office rather than personally by Minister Timcho Mucunski was characterized by Zhernovski as a cowardly act that conceals internal inconsistency in government statements.

Zhernovski said the government's strategy appears to be to present as a victory what until recently it labeled a great defeat and “treason.” He warned that recent public appearances and shifts in rhetoric indicate a complete turnaround in the government's position on European integration.

As examples he cited the minister's recent statements: that "we are not North Macedonians, but Macedonians" and that we do not speak the "North Macedonian language, but Macedonian," as well as the claim that the protocol is not part of the Negotiating Framework — claims which, according to Zhernovski, contradict what the government said while it was in opposition.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and External Trade responded that institutions regularly and transparently communicate with EU member states and other international partners, that the government's position regarding the conditions for the European path remains unchanged, and that "There are no concessions on national interests, identity, language and history. Full membership in the European Union remains a strategic commitment and the ultimate goal of this government." The ministry added that it has not signed any secret agreements. ([mfa.gov.mk](https://mfa.gov.mk/mk-MK/ministerstvo/minister?utm_source=openai))

Photo: SDSM