Skopje, 20 September 2021 (MIA) – We continue to build friendship with Bulgaria because we need a solution [to the dispute], because we need to meet the second strategic goal, EU membership, after joining NATO, Prime Minister and SDSM leader Zoran Zaev said Monday at a TV debate with his political rival, VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski. The country, he added, shouldn’t get it hopes high in September, October and November, but there’s hope for December. Zaev said he expected Bulgaria after the third early parliamentary elections to be able to form a political government, but stressed it is not decisive for a political decision to be made. According to him, the Portuguese proposal, which was taken over by the current EU presidency holder Slovenia, offers solution to the dispute. “It’s important that Bulgaria will also have presidential elections. There shouldn’t be political government in Bulgaria for a decision to be made,” Zaev said insisting that negotiations with Bulgaria don’t involve the language and identity and that talks are focused on ways to improve bilateral cooperation. Debating with Zaev, Mickoski said negotiations with Bulgaria have been made more complex because of the incumbent government “experimenting.” “We shouldn’t be negotiating at all, haven’t we solved all open issues with the neighbors?,” he remarked noting the people are disappointed and humiliated and they don’t trust the institution and politicians.