• Tuesday, 17 September 2024

Marichikj: Fair solution possible with Bulgaria, but now it depends on Sofia

Marichikj: Fair solution possible with Bulgaria, but now it depends on Sofia
Skopje, 13 May 2022 (MIA) - Intensive talks are being held with the Bulgaria based on a resolution adopted by Parliament and our red lines and interests, and whether an agreement will be reached now depends on Bulgaria, Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Bojan Marichikj said. “A fair solution is possible. We believe that best thing is to wrap up the process with a comprehensive document, which will clearly define the obligations of both sides. We have talked about it so far, everything else is on an unspecified basis. The form is less significant, and content is important, what steps should be taken and they should lead to lifting the veto, so that we have a more friendly agenda. We conduct talks on that basis. After the event in Bitola, there has been certain delay in the talks, but not interrupted,” Marichikj told TV Sitel on Friday evening. He reiterated that the country is ready to start EU accession talks and whether that will happen depends on Bulgaria's position, but also on the environment that will be created in the Union. In the context of the war in Ukraine and all the crises that have happened to us and to Europe, the right moment is to happen during the French EU presidency, Marichikj said. He said that it is not defined whether the document agreed with Bulgaria will be part of the negotiating framework, but in any case that framework will contain elements of what would be agreed with Bulgaria. "We are bound to be optimistic about the start of negotiations, but that does not mean that we will reach an agreement at any cost," Marichikj said. He noted that language and identity are not being negotiated. Marichikj reiterated that when the solution with Bulgaria is more specifically defined, it will be shared with the public and the opposition, because some of the points will have to be harmonized with the views of all political stakeholders. “The political idea for ‘Open Balkan’ initiative is to implement practical work that will open this region for greater investment by EU member states and the United States. To facilitate the life of citizens through the implementation of the four freedoms in the EU,” Marichikj said. Regarding French President Emmanuel Macron's idea of a "European political community", Marichikj said it did not refer to the Western Balkans, for which the European perspective has been reaffirmed twice, at the 2003 Thessaloniki summit and at the last summit at Brdo pri Kranju.