Skopje, 7 November 2022 (MIA) – Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski is set to hold a meeting with the leaders of parliamentary parties on Monday to discuss the European path of the Republic of North Macedonia, but also about the decisions that should be taken by wide political and social consensus in the coming period in the Parliament. “The meeting convened by Prime Minister is organized aimed at opening a discussion on the European future of the Republic of North Macedonia, but also on the decisions that should be taken by wide political and social consensus in the coming period in the Parliament. The invitation to the leaders of parliamentary political parties will be extended on Wednesday,” the government said in a press release on Nov. 2. On Saturday, Prime Minister Kovachevski, after inspecting the construction works on the section of the Farish - Prilep road, said that he convened the leaders’ meeting in order for all the political parties represented in the Parliament to discuss together the European future of the country and all the decisions that should be taken by wide social and political consensus. “I am confident that they will give their support in making prompt and sound decisions in the Parliament. The talks will also focus on the screening process that takes place after the first intergovernmental conference between our country and the EU, the explanatory screening and the preparations for the bilateral screening as well as all key aspects that refer to the country’s EU integration as the rule of law, the fight against crime and corruption, and the economic aspects of our cooperation with the EU,” Kovachevski said. I will attend the leaders’ meeting on Monday because we have views and are ready to defend them anywhere in the world, VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski told a political fair held on Saturday to promote the work of the party’s local mayors over the past year. According to Mickoski, the political party leaders’ talks should focus on “the real problems of the people, who are hungry.” The solution, he added, was “early parliamentary elections.” “As for constitutional amendments, that topic has been closed,” he said. “Because there will be no constitutional amendments under these circumstances, with no guarantees for our European future protected from future conditions set by Bulgaria.” The main opposition party leader claimed that the government was expecting him to refuse the invitation to discuss European integration so it could call VMRO-DPMNE “an anti-European party.” However, he added, if he attended the meeting, the media would interpret this as “Mickoski being ready for the constitutional amendments.” “To all those installations and megaphones of the government that believe in conspiracy theories, let it be clear to them that, I repeat, without clear guarantees for the European future of Macedonia — in which Bulgaria will not be allowed to obstruct this process — without such clear guarantees for the Macedonian identity, the Macedonian language, there will be no constitutional amendments,” Mickoski said. According to him, the leaders’ meeting will not solve the nation’s problems. All political parties, regardless of their ethnic or ideological background, should sit down for talks at the same table and discuss the European future of the country, Arber Ademi, MP and vice-president of the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI) told MIA. Asked about Besa’s invitation to the leaders of Albanian parties for a meeting to discuss a joint approach regarding a demand to remove the “20 percent” from the Constitution, Ademi said they should be given space, without prejudices, without negative energy, like mature political parties to sit at the same table and discuss all possible open issues.   According to Ademi, currently the goal is to strengthen social cohesion in the country.  As regards VMRO-DPMNE’s announcement that the issue of early parliamentary elections will also be opened at the meeting with Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski, Ademi said now is not the time for elections.   “We are fully focused on the implementation of our program objectives, and we have much more important issues than elections. It is not the time, it is not responsible, it is not serious, to talk about early parliamentary elections at a time of energy, economic and financial crisis. We should think about making political decisions that will bring a better future for all citizens,” Ademi said in Parliament on Wednesday.   And the Alliance for Albanians confirmed for MIA that they will participate in the leaders’ meeting initiated by the Prime Minister, adding that they are in constant communication with all political parties of Albanians. The head of Levica party, Dimitar Apasiev said that he will not attend the leaders’ meeting, saying “They cannot negotiate with us. We are a hard nut to crack,” Apasiev said. It is not yet known whether the leader of Besa Movement, Bilal Kasami, will take part in the leaders’ meeting. Kasami called a press conference at 11:00 am on Monday, where he is expected to announce the final decision regarding participation in the meeting.