Skopje, 26 February 2025 (MIA) – SDSM leader Venko Filipche said Wednesday the latest UN vote on the Ukraine resolutions has clearly showed that the Macedonian foreign policy is without compass with decisions being made impulsively and with no defined foreign policy priorities.

“With these chaotic and baffling decisions, Macedonia is sending a message that its foreign policy is an improvisation. Additionally, the government added to the confusion by accepting to co-sponsor the US resolution before voting in abstention. For the first time ever, a Macedonian government that has co-sponsored a resolution didn’t vote in favor for the document,” Filipche told a news conference.

The government, Filipche said, is abandoning the course of the European Union and its members acting like a lost player on the international stage with its inconsistent foreign policy.

“While the bigger European countries are using a tactic of balancing between the global powers, North Macedonia is risking of being sidelined by the European political circles,” the SDSM leader stated.

Filipche called the government’s decision to co-sponsor the US-backed resolution only later to vote in abstention “confusing.” “These moves, taken based on PM Hristijan Mickoski’s personal assessment, show the country has no strategy and its foreign policy is improvised,” he told the news conference

According to him, the country should have voted in favor of both resolutions, because they complement each other rather than contradict each other. “It would have been wiser for the country to vote in favor of the two resolutions, thus sending a message of having principled and stable position of support of both the EU and the United States,” said Filipche.

He said he hasn’t been in contact with the premier to be briefed on the government’s plans and called for a closed parliament session to be held if there is sensitive information regarding international relations.

Answering questions, Filipche said he has been contacted by some embassies representing EU countries, which have voiced concern following the government’s UN vote.

European Parliament’ rapporteur for North Macedonia, Thomas Waitz, who is paying a visit to Skopje, has also expressed concern, who said it wasn’t clear what the real reasons for the government move is, according to the opposition leader.

While welcoming the efforts to enhance the strategic partnership with the US, the opposition leader asked the government what the purpose is of the current support of the new US administration, what the government has asked for and what its expectations are.

“Despite phrases such as ‘this is the new normal’, it remains unclear what the government has asked and what it is expecting from the new administration in the United States. We have the support, it is claimed, but we are yet to learn what the support is and what it means in meeting the goals and interests of the people,” Filipche said.

In terms of the national foreign policy, the SDSM leader added, our strategy has always been created in the context of mutual partnership with both the EU and the United States.

Photo: MIA