Mickoski: We stand by our positions on Bulgaria, but I am ready to talk with the Bulgarian authorities

Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, regarding North Macedonia's EU membership and the final formation of the political government in Bulgaria, stressed that the Government of our country remains in its position that membership should be achieved based on achievements, not on bilateral disputes, and is ready to discuss overcoming the problem with the Bulgarian authorities.

"I have no problem initiating a meeting with Bulgaria, we are neighbors and it is logical to initiate such a meeting, to get to know each other, we are colleagues, we cooperate, we are together in NATO. I will absolutely request a meeting," stressed Prime Minister Mickoski.

Mickoski added that in the meantime we need to see if we can overcome the differences in how we see Macedonia's path towards full membership in the European Union and how they see it.

"Here lies the difference in general, because we certainly have different views on the same topic. We have our own strategy, the essence of which is whether after two decades we will be allowed to start the negotiation process and be evaluated on the basis of achievements and not on bilateral disputes," Mickoski said./Telegraph/