Skopje, 29 June 2022 (MIA) – Ideas that don’t clearly safeguard the Macedonian language and the Macedonian identity are not acceptable, and it’s not acceptable that bilateral issues be included in multilateral negotiations with the EU, Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski said in response to a question from SDSM MP Martin Kostovski about steps that the government would take in terms of European integration after the rejection of the French proposal. “Historical issues should not and can not be criteria for the negotiating framework of the Republic of North Macedonia with the EU, nor any other organization. And second, negotiations with the European Union must begin with holding an intergovernmental conference, before constitutional amendments are initiated to include Bulgarians, Montenegrin, and Croatians as part of the Preamble. Third, both the EU and Bulgaria will give guarantees that there will be no further conditions regarding our EU accession process,” Kovachevski stressed. He pointed out that the country sets a positive example of coexistence, and national legislation is already 45 percent aligned with the EU acquis. Kovachevski added that the country is a successful example in regional cooperation and highlighted the Open Balkan initiative, noting that it is not a substitute for the EU but enables the free movement of people, capital, goods and services. In response to a question from VMRO-DPMNE MP Antonio Milosheski on whether the Prime Minister would agree to participate in a session of the parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee in order to review the French proposal and build a coherent policy, Kovachevski said it was a good idea, but it would be a public debate not a session. “It wouldn’t be fair to isolate the invitation to a few people only, but I believe you should invite all prime ministers so far, presidents of the country, all foreign ministers, because I don’t think that the ministers who were in the first two terms have an advantage over the previous ones. Let us not forget that it is not since today that the Republic of North Macedonia exists. I support you in holding a public debate with all those who have run the country so far and have been in charge of foreign policy,” said Kovachevski. Miloshoski expressed satisfaction with the Prime Minister accepting such a debate. He pointed out that, according to the Rules of Procedure, the working bodies can invite guests and experts to the session, and it doesn’t have to be a public debate. “My intention is a session at which the most relevant actors who participated in the agreement with Bulgaria will be present. The goal would be to build a stronger common position,” said Miloshoski.