Skopje, 17 July 205 (MIA) - Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski says he is ready to submit a resolution together with Bulgaria and their Members in the European Parliament, which will clearly read "Macedonian ages-long identity and language", noting that proposals such as "present" or "modern" mean assimilation.

"If the price is assimilation, then no thank you. How can I be a politically illiterate, as some before me, and accept something without knowing if there is a clear outcome. I don't want to pay that price, which I think is too high, if both parties don't deliver. I am a politician who got his legitimacy from the citizens. We all want to join the EU but not at all costs. This people and this country have given too much and are fed up with the 'now or never' politics. Our identity is being changed, starting from the flag up to the name, these are some of the fundamental values of an identity, attributes that define an identity. They are changing, one by one," PM Mickoski told Kanal 5.

According to him, the issue is not the inclusion of several hundreds of citizens in the Constitution.

"I have always told EU officials - let's make the elementary step of adopting a decision or a resolution in the European Parliament, or as part of a report, where we clearly recognize the Macedonian language and identity. Europe saw that the constitutional change is not the only thing we should do in order to move on. In fact, many influential people in Bulgaria are saying this," says Mickoski.

The PM says the statement of Bulgarian President Rumen Radev that the constitutional amendments are the only requirement is not accurate, because "the Friendship Treaty does not include any conditions either, but we now have them".

"This is a signed agreement through which Bulgaria should support us within the process of negotiations and accession. And yet we received a veto because we were the ones not fulfilling the agreement and failed to deliver the minority rights of the Bulgarian community in Macedonia," says Mickoski.

He adds there is "no dumber theory" than the one by the opposition that inclusion of the Bulgarians in the Constitution would strengthen the identity.

"This is a matrix that never sees problems it leaves behind from a strategic or long-term standpoint, this is superficial treatment of issues, void of essence or strategy. That is why we are now in a situation of talking about identity and language," notes Mickoski.

He says a meeting with SDSM leader Venko Filipche will take place if he sees a change in the stance of the opposition party, which is contrary to the one of the Government.

"I am not saying ours is right or wrong. This policy received half a million votes, three times more than the opposition. As long as this policy is supported, this is the path we take. When I am defeated at elections, the other policy will take stage," underlines Mickoski.

Photo: Government