Skopje, 22 December 2025 (MIA) — UK media speculations about the country accepting rejected asylum seekers from the UK were completely fabricated as there had never been any such discussion between the two governments, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Timcho Mucunski said in a TV appearance Monday evening.

In an interview for the national broadcaster's 360 Stepeni show, Mucunski said no return hubs or social apartments would be offered to rejected asylum seekers from the UK, adding that this was "fake news spread in a shameless, harmful way by the main opposition party." 

Reminded that the rumors had originated in the British media, Mucunski agreed, adding that the opposition was nonetheless "still stirring up panic" despite the president, the prime minister, the minister of foreign affairs and the minister of interior having dismissed the claims.

The top diplomat rejected the possibility that anyone inside the government had even hinted to the British authorities they were ready for talks on the topic.

"There should be no dilemma about it," Mucunski said. 

"All of us who took part in making this agreement with the UK know very well what we discussed. We know very well what topics we covered," he said, adding that the documents were public and anyone could read them.

"There is no mention of this topic of accepting any migrants or illegal asylum seekers anywhere," he said.

Speaking about meeting obligations under the Strategic Partnership Agreement with the UK, Mucunski said the state institutions were focused on implementing energy, connection and infrastructure projects, of which he said the high-speed rail project was in the top three. mr/