Skopje, 12 May 2026 (MIA) - SDSM leader Venko Filipche remarked at a press conference Tuesday that Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Timcho Mucunski initially remained silent over the meeting he had with his Bulgarian counterpart Velislava Petrova-Chamova, only to then say it was a brief exchange of words after European media reports about the meeting.

“But the most important part is the message of the Bulgarian Minister, which Timcho Mucunski and Hristijan Mickoski hid from the public. I will quote: ‘Bulgaria has a clearly expressed position, which since 2022 is no longer a bilateral issue, but a matter of discussion between the European Union and a candidate country. This window for enlargement may open in the coming years, and if they do not use this opportunity, they may truly lose out.’ What does this mean? Bulgaria is confirming that the issue of minorities in the Constitution is not Bulgarian, but European. It is a condition from the European Union, and not Bulgaria,” Filipche said.

The opposition leader added that the European Union’s High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, also stated that Brussels is ready to support the countries of the region, while also expecting reforms at the same time. He also noted that Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos stressed that there is a place in the European Union for all Western Balkan countries, but that success depends on the reforms implemented by the candidate countries.

“And all these messages are coming in one day. And this is exactly what we have been saying for more than a year. While Mickoski and Mucunski continue to lie to the Macedonian citizens. Just as the history commission has been working away from the eyes of the public for a whole year. First, they hide the meeting, then they minimize it. Then they create an artificial conflict to conceal the truth. How many more lies are necessary? How many more blockades to the European path so they can protect their crime group and continue stealing from the state,” Filipche said.

The SDSM leader said there is no greater patriotism than reaffirming the Macedonian identity and language within the EU, while adding that the issue of adding minorities to the Constitution would strengthen Macedonian identity.

Filipche reiterated that negotiations with the EU cannot continue without the constitutional amendments, and stressed that reforms, justice and Europe are the right path foward for the country and the citizens. 

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