Skopje, 15 July 2022 (MIA) – Discussion on the Report over the content of the draft-negotiating framework for the start of North Macedonia’s accession negotiations with the European Union is set to resume on Friday after yesterday’s address by Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski, who said the European proposal aimed to unblock the Euro-integration process and launch EU talks truly reflected the country’s defined positions. “First of all, it clearly defines the Macedonian language as a unique, acknowledged and accepted language of the European Union. Which was our demand. For our national DNA, the Macedonian language, to be an official language. With the European proposal, the entire negotiation process, all millions of pages in the years that follow, including the Act of Accession, will be written in Macedonian. The Macedonian language will officially be spoken in Brussels and in all other European capitals. This is a great achievement, and a very important success,” said the PM. Kovachevski said that the bilateral issues are not a part of the Negotiating Framework and with the European proposal, the First Intergovernmental Conference will immediately take place. “Finally, after 17 years of waiting, after many announcements and disappointments, we have received an official beginning of negotiations. This is, respected MPs, the only truth in this maelstrom of manipulations, speculations, fake news, intentional and unintentional harm, the creation of a crisis and the destabilization of the country. I, the Government, and the President of the country say yes to this proposal, which entirely takes into account our national interests and red lines,” said Kovachevski. Ahead of the session, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen addressed the Parliament and said Eureope is waiting and hoping for North Macedonia would make another step towards the EU. “Your country is a candidate to become a member of the European Union. Since 2005, many of you here – and many, many more who are absent – have worked hard for North Macedonia to become a member of the EU. And only four years later, in 2009, the European Commission recommended that we open accession negotiations with you. Since then, we have consistently stood by your side. And now, finally we could be on the threshold of a decisive step forward. I am here today because I believe that this is the moment for you to move ahead towards our common future. Towards our common future in a European Union with North Macedonia as a full member,” said EC President von der Leyen. She said the country has shown boldness and determination before through the Prespa Agreement which led to North Macedonia becoming a member of NATO, where it has shown that it is a reliable security provider, a real added value to the Alliance. “I know that the same will happen when you become a member of the European Union. I know this because you have already demonstrated a vital capacity to change your society for the better. Your efforts to strengthen the rule of law to fight against corruption are commendable. You have established a strong record on human rights. You have a free media. You have a vibrant civil society. You are a successful model of a diverse, multi-ethnic society, forged in the historic Ohrid Framework Agreement. You chose a path of peace rather than conflict. And this was the path of peace shown by the late President Boris Trajkovski. He said that he intended ‘to be the President of all citizens […] regardless of their ethnic or religious background, regardless of their political standing.’ He added that he would ‘not allow ethnic hatred and intolerance’ to undermine the stability of your country,” said von der Leyen. During the discussion among lawmakers, the opposition accused that the proposal infringed the Macedonian language, identity and history, while MPs of the ruling coalition said all lies and manipulations of VMRO-DPMNE have drowned. Protests against the French proposal are set to continue in front of the Parliament during today’s session.