Ohrid, 23 July 2022 (MIA) — The Government’s stance is consistent: our language, identity and culture are non-negotiable, and the Macedonian language is protected, Minister of Culture Bisera Kostadinovska Stojchevska said in a response to a reporter's question about Bulgaria’s official position of refusing to recognize the Macedonian language. “I’m not going to comment on other countries’ views. But I’d like to comment on the Republic of North Macedonia’s. We are not negotiating on our language, identity and culture. Which means that our language is protected,” Kostadinovska Stojchevska said. As part of the government delegation that attended the First Intergovernmental Conference on July 19, she said she was especially glad she spoke Macedonian at the start of EU talks in Brussels. “Our position is consistent,” she reiterated. “We are not negotiating on the language.” She also said she had attended a session of the Macedonian Language Council on Friday. On behalf of the government, she said, she had assured the language scholars that “at no time during the entire process, even when we reached the moment of opening negotiations, no one has negotiated the Macedonian language, identity and culture.” “How can anyone want to convince our nation that we don't recognize the Macedonian language? We spoke Macedonian, we spoke Macedonian after the session where the majority of citizens and MPs supported the negotiation framework. Here we are speaking Macedonian today, as well. And no one can deny that,” the culture minister said. mr/