Skopje, 30 July 2025 (MIA) - The Government has been proactive in its approach since day one and at no point have we left the negotiating table, however the other side is demonstrating that it is not ready to negotiate on an equal footing, Minister of Digital Transformation Stefan Andonovski said Wednesday night in an interview with TV Kanal 5 when asked about his expectations over Bulgaria's response to the Government's initiative for a joint resolution in the European Parliament recognizing the Macedonian language and identity.

“But we didn’t do what they were saying we would – that we would accept the constitutional amendments within the first week and implement them immediately. On the contrary, everything we talked about before the elections we are now trying to implement, and that means the protection of the Macedonian national interests in a way that Sofia would also recognize the undeniable fact about the Macedonian people, and about the centuries-long existence of the Macedonian identity and the Macedonian language. This is another attempt to clear the fog around the issue. It’s not just about the constitutional amendments recognizing 700 of our compatriots, but it’s something deeper. This is a way to break out of that bubble and say the constitutional amendments are fine as long as no one demands more from us. But so far, the other side is demonstrating it isn’t ready to talk, not just to reach an agreement, but even to negotiate on an equal footing. But we will continue trying,” Andonovski said.

Asked if there is a chance for the constitutional amendments to be adopted in the near future and what conditions would be needed for that happen, Andonovski noted that the Foreign Ministry is in charge of foreign policy, but added that at the moment the Government is not ready to take “radical steps that are contrary to its election platform and program”.

“If the circumstances change, we are here and we will discuss the issue. But the citizens should rest assured that this Government and VMRO-DPMNE will never take a step that would harm the Macedonian national interests, and we have been showing this actively on the international scene for twelve months already,” Andonovski stressed.

Quizzed about the Prespa Agreement and Greece’s expectation that the country’s constitutional name be used by officials, Andonovski said the countries should not look for reasons not to cooperate.

“Greece can be a strategic partner to Macedonia when it comes to regional stability, security and cooperation. We are partners in NATO and Greece’s support should be in the direction of strengthening the Macedonian identity and improving economic, social, and cultural cooperation between the two countries. There are excellent projects emerging in various areas, and they should be the driving force of our future cooperation, we should not be looking for reasons to avoid cooperating,” Andonovski, who is also ruling party VMRO-DPMNE's international cooperation secretary, said in the interview.

Regarding the Government’s expectation that Chief Prosecutor Ljupcho Kocevski should resign after Parliament backed a motion of no confidence against him, Andonovski said this is Kocevski’s personal decision, but added that the Government is sticking to its position about his dismissal.

“The motion of no confidence is a political decision in the sense that Parliament, which elects you, votes for a motion of no confidence in your work and then leaves it up to you, as a person with or without integrity, to decide whether you will resign or not,” Andonovski stressed, adding that the Government has the right to resume its procedure for Kocevski’s dismissal.

MIA file photo