Skopje, 2 July 2025 (MIA) -- Official Sofia seems to support the propaganda in the European Parliament aiming to redefine the Macedonian national identity and it is shameful for a EU member state to hold such anti-European views, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Timcho Mucunski told reporters Wednesday.

Speaking to the press after attending a business forum organized by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in collaboration the Italian Embassy in Skopje and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, the foreign minister said the government would continue talks while implementing internal reforms but it would not accept any compromises regarding the Macedonian national identity.

He said Bulgaria's problem was not "only the constitutional changes."

"We have seen the active propaganda in the European Parliament, unfortunately in a negative connotation, which is also supported by official Sofia -- to modify or 'modernize' the Macedonian national identity. All the while no one can explain what a 'modern' identity and a 'modern' language actually means," Mucunski said. 

He said the government would openly discuss any issues while continuing to "walk the European path, adopt key reforms, work on the defense and security partnership with the EU that we were the first to sign, and work on regional initiatives that boost business and improve lives."

"At the same time, we are saying that what is happening is shameful. It is shameful, this attempt coming from an EU member country to redefine the Macedonian national identity," he said.

"I am not saying everything is perfect in our country. On the contrary, there is a lot we need to do to reform our society. But I argue that on some issues, respect of minority rights for example, we are far ahead of some EU member countries," Mucunski said, pointing out that he was making a reference to "the country that is currently placing a veto on our European integration progress."

"What I often say to European leaders is, 'Imagine if our country had not complied with 14 rulings of the European Court of Human Rights regarding minority rights. What would you do if it were us not complying?'" mr/