New York, 28 September 2024 (MIA) - Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Timcho Mucunski, commented on reports that North Macedonia and Albania are decoupling on the path to the EU, stating that we must remain committed to reforms, and from a foreign policy standpoint, we will continue to communicate with our strategic partners and EU member states to convince them that we wish to open accession negotiations as soon as possible.

“This is our key priority, but we are requesting the establishment of a system that will provide predictability on our path to full membership,” Minister Mucunski said in an interview with MIA.

When asked to comment on reports from Brussels indicating that that if there are no constitutional changes by the New Year, the talks for our EU membership will be suspended, the Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed doubt that such a thing would happen.

“I don’t want to rely on briefings. I prefer to trust what we discuss with the political representatives of the member states and with the representatives of the EU, which is that the EU remains committed to the Western Balkans and seeks full integration of the region. Given this, and understanding the essence of the enlargement policy as a composite policy of the EU, I doubt that there will be any interruption in talks with the country,” Mucunski stated.

He stated that he would not comment on the recent statements by Bulgarian politicians, and regarding the declaration, he noted that whenever there are elections in Bulgaria, some sort of declaration is issued.

“I do not intend to give them the privilege to interfere in the daily discussions of that campaign, and I wish for a more successful conclusion to it. If we have a political government, and I will stress again, that has full political legitimacy, it will address all unresolved issues with us, because as much as this stalling of the European processes affects us, I believe that those who genuinely believe in Bulgaria’s European future want to unlock that process so we can move forward together on the same paths,” Mucunski said.

Following is the full interview with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Timcho Mucunski:

Minister, what will be the next steps for Macedonian diplomacy following the separation of North Macedonia and Albania on the path to the European Union?

First, we must remain committed to our obligations, which include implementing the necessary reforms for the country to authentically progress as quickly as possible toward full membership in the European Union. These are primarily the criteria that are clearly known to us and confirmed through the Copenhagen and Madrid criteria, the approximation of the acquis into our legislation, and the government is taking concrete steps by adopting the reform agenda. This same reform agenda has enabled us to access the growth plan. From that perspective, we will focus on domestic reforms and everything we need to align with the highest standards of the European Union. From a foreign policy standpoint, we will continue our communication with our strategic partners and EU member states to convince them that we want to open accession negotiations as soon as possible. This is our key priority, but we seek to establish a system that provides predictability on our path to full membership. Given how significant it is to advance the enlargement process in the current geopolitical context, I believe there will be understanding from the member states and our strategic partners, and together we will find a compromise solution that ensures the guarantees we have been discussing for a long time.

What is your comment to the diplomatic briefings from Brussels indicating that if North Macedonia does not implement constitutional changes by the end of the year, the talks for EU negotiations will be suspended?

I doubt that such a thing will happen. I don’t want to rely on briefings. I prefer to trust what we discuss with the political representatives of the member states and with the representatives of the EU, which is that the EU remains committed to the Western Balkans and seeks full integration of the region. Given this, and understanding the essence of the enlargement policy as a composite policy of the EU, I doubt that there will be any interruption in talks with the country. We have a process that needs to be advanced. Yes, we need to seek a compromise, but a compromise in which we can be certain that there will be no additional violations to the identity characteristics of the Macedonian people.

The Hungarian Prime Minister visited Ohrid. We held a joint intergovernmental conference. He suggested mediating in the discussions between North Macedonia and Bulgaria. The Bulgarian Foreign Minister promptly rejected that proposal. Is this form of mediation acceptable to us, and how would it be carried out?

The first important point is that Hungary is not just an EU member state but also the country currently holding the EU presidency, which is a fact that should not be overlooked, as the presidency comes with a certain political authority aimed at fulfilling the presidency's objectives. One of Hungary's goals during its presidency is to achieve tangible outcomes in relation to the enlargement towards the Western Balkans. We are prepared to receive assistance from any of the member states. Any member state that believes it can provide constructive input for finding a solution is viewed as a positive gesture, as ultimately, the decision must be made by consensus among the member states. It is normal, especially for those member states that are geographically closer to the region, to have the greatest interest, as it is standard political practice for neighboring countries to support your path toward full membership rather than hinder it. I would prefer not to comment on the statements made by Bulgarian politicians. There have been comments today that you mentioned, directed toward the Prime Minister, towards me, etc., and I believe it is immature to engage in the everyday political discourse that is part of an active campaign in Bulgaria. We wish them good luck in their campaign and hope that after the campaign, there will be a political government in Sofia with which we can engage in discussions with full legitimacy.

You stated that you would refrain from commenting on the statements made by Bulgarian politicians, considering the current electoral campaign and new elections. Nevertheless, the Bulgarian Parliament has once again adopted a declaration. How will you respond to the intensified conditions placed upon our country and the Macedonian people?

Every time elections are held in Bulgaria, there is a declaration related to the Macedonian question. This is becoming a regular practice. Provocations are aimed primarily at the Prime Minister and, to a lesser extent, at me. The greatest desire of the politicians in Bulgaria is to bring us down to that level, to further exploit this issue in the campaign and turn the campaign into a campaign focused on the Macedonian question. I will not give them that satisfaction. We need to protect our interests and do so in a positive and civilized way. We have used cultural diplomacy as a tool, we will employ educational diplomacy, and we will use economic diplomacy, but we will also defend our interests. This means we will not be yielding, while at the same time, we will build bridges. I do not intend to give them the privilege to interfere in the daily discussions of that campaign, and I wish for a more successful conclusion to it. If we have a political government, and I will stress again, that has full political legitimacy, it will address all unresolved issues with us, because as much as this stalling of the European processes affects us, I believe that those who genuinely believe in Bulgaria’s European future want to unlock that process so we can move forward together on the same paths. 

We are currently in New York. We took part in the Summit of the Future and the UN General Assembly. You had numerous meetings. What conclusions can you draw from all these discussions and your participation in the UN General Assembly, especially considering the various global trends at present that are not solely linked to the wars in Ukraine-Russia, Gaza-Israel-Lebanon, and Sudan, but also include climate change and poverty?

It was truly interesting to follow not only the General Assembly but also the side events, where I actively participated with my speeches and contributions. I had a huge number of bilateral meetings not only with EU member states but also with NATO countries, as well as other countries around the world like Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, India, and others. And of course, there are certain conclusions. The first and fundamental conclusion is that multilateralism is in serious crisis. The second conclusion I can draw is that there is serious concern about the direction in which the world is moving. This means we need a more responsible approach, not only from multilateral organizations but also from countries; we need a responsible approach aimed at creating global harmony, ensuring peace, and adopting an approach that fundamentally places the principles stemming from international public law back on a pedestal. I am truly concerned about the developments we are observing. What you mentioned, yes, the military aggression of Ukraine against Russia is a significant problem, but we also have serious military crises in hotspots like Israel and Gaza, Lebanon, Sudan... This means we have an obligation to talk more and more about peace, secured through the use of diplomatic means. In that regard, there is concern, and you as the media have been following the events; I am sure you come to very similar conclusions as mine. However, that does not mean we should give up on the path forward, but rather that we should seek the best solutions to emerge from the dangerous situation the world finds itself in.

Considering all these circumstances we've discussed, should we as a small country change our positions and certain viewpoints, as well as encourage different behaviors within our environment to better protect ourselves?

We first need to be a positive actor, not one that brings destruction and chaos to international relations, but a positive force based on clear principles. The problems we face now stem from decisions made in the past in foreign policy that relied on a constant adaptation to others' principles and priorities. We need to establish our own priorities and follow them accordingly. Here, I assert that foreign policy is not merely a tool used to achieve political goals. We have economic, trade, and investment goals that we must pursue, and it's no coincidence that I held meetings with Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, and India, as we see potential in these three countries. We need to utilize cultural diplomacy, educational initiatives, and all those alternative tools that will affirm us as promoters of positive values while also bringing concrete benefits to our citizens back home. We are not here just to talk about politics, but also to discuss potential projects that improve the lives and well-being of all citizens in our country. 

Mr. Mucunski, we are having this interview in New York, USA. Several of our diplomatic and consular missions worldwide are currently vacant. Some are being filled with temporary staff. When do you plan to appoint new ambassadors, and where will that happen most quickly?

Upon assuming responsibility for the institutions, we discovered an inadequate distribution of personnel within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in our diplomatic and consular offices. The most classic example is the fact that we have only two diplomats in our embassy in Washington: the ambassador and one junior diplomat, in a country that is our strategic partner and with which we maintain excellent relations not only in politics but also in defense and security policy, in the economy, and all other matters, including the fact that this is also a country where we have a large diaspora. In this context, we are now formulating a plan for reallocating diplomats within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to be dispatched to diplomatic and consular missions in the near future. I have received initial consent from both the President and the Prime Minister that after my return from this trip to the United States, we will commence the consultation process for appointing ambassadors and filling some of the embassies and consulates that are currently vacant or will soon become vacant in the highest positions.

Which diplomatic missions are a priority?

We don’t have an embassy or consulate that isn’t a priority for us. It’s true that our network isn’t extensive; I have a moderately sized and probably adequate diplomatic network of consular offices. However, we must ensure that no consular office remains vacant because having an ambassador or a general consul gives that office more authority than having just an acting head. I should emphasize that we still lack an ambassador in Paris, as France is a significant country. As you know, our permanent mission was vacated with the return of Ambassador Frchkoski, and the position at the UN is also unfilled. Nonetheless, I reiterate that there is no country that we don’t consider important.

Elizabeta Veljanovska Najdeska

Translated by Silvana Kochovska

Photo: MIA