Skopje, 5 May 2026 (MIA) - SDSM leader Venko Filipche told a press conference on the Macedonian Language Day that the tongue was fully recognized by the signing of the Frontex agreement, noting that Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski has continued with the false defense of the identity.

"The first official agreement that the country signed in clear Macedonian language, with no footnotes or asterisks, was the one with Frontex back in 2022. The 2018 Prespa Agreement explicitly reads that the Macedonian language is part of the south Slavic group of languages and recognized by the United Nations in 1977. The Macedonian language is officially recognized in the Negotiating Framework with the European Union, as well as in the United Nations and all other international agreements and bilateral treaties. The Macedonian language is not for sale and it is in no danger whatsoever," said Filipche.

According to him, PM Mickoski stirs panic on purpose by falsely defending the identity.

"He does this because he needs an excuse. There are no reforms, no measures benefiting citizens, literally no results. The campaign against SDSM by Orban-controlled media outlets is ongoing just because we support European integration. The narrative is the same, we are the traitors. Citizens should remember the promise that he would cancel the Prespa Agreement and they would reinstate the old name. The authorities have to create artificial problems, in turn blocking the European path and turning Macedonia into an appendix in the Balkans," said Filipche.

He referred to the latest border bottlenecks resulting from the introduction of the Entry/Exit System (EES) by the EU, noting that instead of trying to solve the problem, the PM has told Macedonian citizens they should spend their summer holidays in their own country.

"The PM is not solving problems, he is creating them. The Macedonian language and identity are not threatened by anyone. The Bulgarian government is not even formed but Mickoski has already said that relations would worsen and progress would be lacking. This is the start of a new campaign of creating an artificial conflict with Bulgaria, so he can say later there is no progress in the European integration process because of the Bulgarians, not due to his incompetence and refusal to deliver on reforms," said Filipche.

The SDSM leader said the key issue of including minorities in the Constitution is not on the agenda.

"Minorities in the Constitution is not a Bulgarian issue but a European one. It involves not only the inclusion of the Bulgarians but other minorities as well. All of this is done in order to intentionally create a conflict so there is a standstill in reforms and the integration process," said Filipche.

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