Skopje, 3 July 2025 (MIA) - I don’t want to believe that identity can truly be seen through ajvar, wine, pindzhur, etc., I believe that European Commissioner Marta Kos’s statement was accidental or unfortunate, President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova said Thursday.

The President told a Kanal 5 TV interview the EU’s founding documents contain clear parameters for what identity is.

“The Charter of Fundamental Rights clearly states that the EU will respect the national and cultural identity of all nations, their dignity and integrity. There can be no discussion over these things. You accept them as they are, as unity in diversity,” Siljanovska-Davkova said.

The President was referring to a statement made by Kos at a press conference in Skopje earlier in the week, which has been interpreted by many in the country as the Commissioner minimizing the issue and relegating Macedonian identity to traditional dishes.  

“Identity can never be, in my opinion, a question of political decisions. Identity is something we carry in our soul and in our hearts. Identity is how we feel about our own country. Identity is how we take care about our traditions... like the monasteries here in North Macedonia, like [Macedonian dishes] 'pogacha', 'tavche gravche', 'pindzhur', or 'polneti piperki'...,” Kos said at a press conference on Tuesday.

The President told Kanal 5 it is no coincidence that MEP Thomas Waitz chose to reference the Macedonian language and identity in the country progress report he authored.

“We are hearing that this is something that was resolved a long time ago, and there is no reason why it should be repeated. But why did he include it then? Due to pressure from us, his fear or love for us? No. It is because of the constitutional documents and respect for equality,” Siljanovska-Davkova said.

Regarding the amendments submitted to the report by MEPs – including proposals to scrap references to Macedonian language and identity or add the adjective “contemporary” before them – the President said it demonstrates the mood of a significant number of MEPs, stressing that there is nothing “European or democratic” about it.

Asked what she thinks the outcome will be when the European Parliament discusses the report, Siljanovska-Davkova said “anything can happen”, and stressed that these developments are demonstrating that the issue isn’t resolved “as some like to claim”.

Quizzed about the inclusion of the Bulgarian minority in the country’s Constitution, Siljanovska-Davkova reminded of calls for Bulgaria to introduce minority rights guarantees as well.

“In 2008, the Venice Commission recommended that Bulgaria amend its Constitution to include guarantees for minority rights. In 2010, the Commissioner for Minorities made the same recommendation to Bulgaria. We are talking about double standards, principles and values on which the EU was founded. If it denies them itself, then this is a serious democratic deficit,” Siljanovska-Davkova stressed.

Photo: Screenshot