Skopje, 23 May 2025 (MIA) - Prime Minister Hrisitjan Mickoski said Friday the upcoming NATO Summit in The Hague could be a good opportunity for a bilateral meeting with Bulgarian officials which would be attended by President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, as well as top officials from the European Union and NATO.

“This is a topic that was initiated during the meeting and visit by the President of the European Council, Mr. Costa, to have a bilateral meeting between representatives from Macedonia and Bulgaria, since the President [Siljanovska-Davkova] will be there. This would be an excellent opportunity for a meeting that would also be attended by, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, EU Council President António Costa, and of course High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas. We expanded this to include the NATO Secretary General [Mark Rutte] as well, and some of the NATO member states, with the U.S. as the biggest one, so we can present our arguments,” Mickoski said at a joint press conference with Kallas, when quizzed about a potential meeting between President Siljanovska-Davkova and Bulgarian President Rumen Radev. 

The PM said the meeting would be fairly beneficial and highlighted the need for talks. He added it would be good for the meeting to be held on the sidelines of the NATO Summit since the issue, he said, is also related to security in the region. “As a NATO member state, we are reflecting security,” Mickoski said.

“We are a factor of stability and this is how we should behave in the region. Unfortunately there are forces in the region who are reflecting, who want to reflect instability. So it would be good for us to present all of our arguments at a bilateral meeting like this,” Mickoski said.

Mickoski said he is ready to accept mediation efforts from third parties in order to overcome the differences with Bulgaria.

“We are absolutely ready to negotiate as part of bilateral talks, on the level of partner relations within the NATO alliance. Whoever wants to help, we are ready to talk... We want a solution that will be dignified and lasting. We are tired of continuous blockades that are related to bilateral issues. Give us a solution that will be unique and continuous and let us finish our homework, and then we will see who will be the frontrunner and who won’t be,” Mickoski said.

MIA File Photo/Screenshot