Skopje, 26 November 2024 (MIA) – At their meeting earlier on Tuesday, President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova and SDSM leader and parliamentary National European Integration council chair Venko Filipche discussed the current political and security situation, according to an official press release from the President's Office.

Filipche briefed the President on the recent changes in SDSM related to the party bodies and officials. In his capacity as National European Integration Council chair, he stressed the need for active cooperation between the council and the government in implementing the Growth Plan and the Reform Agenda, the release said.

According to the release, Siljanovska Davkova informed Filipche about her view on the country's European integration process and possible solutions for starting negotiations with the European Union.

Speaking to the press after the meeting, the SDSM leader said they had had a pleasant and friendly conversation, during which he had recommended she address "matters within her competence, primarily the partisanship in the security structures."

"I expressed concern and pointed out that she should react," he said.

"I pointed out the risk to her. The risk could be very high if the two security agencies were to merge, if such partisanship were to continue, given that we have had such a bad experience in the past. This kind of bulky security partisan institution could be abused," Filipche said.

The opposition leader said this political dialogue with the President should develop into regular meetings. Asked if he would be open to meeting with Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, Filipche said he would be open to any meetings.

Filipche had requested the meeting with President Siljanovska Davkova after the last session of the Committee on European Affairs, during which the President shared her experience as a member of the National European Integration Council.

Asked if the meeting had discussed ways to unblock the European integration through Siljanovska's talks with Bulgarian President Rumen Radev, Filipche reiterated that SDSM would back any improved position the government might secure in line with its promises and efforts.

"I let the President know that during the negotiations when SDSM was in power, we tried to have the constitutional amendments with a delayed implementation, but this  was not accepted by the Bulgarian side, by the then Prime Minister [Kiril] Petkov. I reiterate: We will support any improved position," Filipche said. mr/