Vucic to Skoplje: Don’t reject French proposal

NEWS 07.07.202211:47
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Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday that North Macedonia should not reject the French proposal to resolve its dispute with Bulgaria before considering its national interests.

Vucic told Skoplje-based Sitel TV that North Macedonia should move forward on the European path. “What is the alternative for you? They’ll ask the Bulgarians about something and someone else about other things. They will always find something. Always push your country forward. Opening one cluster more or one cluster less is not a fundamental issue, nor the most important but it’s good to be on the European path, good to open the possibility of attracting investments. That is important,” Vucic is reported to have said, adding that North Macedonia should not reject European proposals before considering its national interests.

The North Macedonia capital has been rocked by five days of protests against the French proposal to resolve the dispute with Bulgaria by tackling the Macedonian national identity, language and national heroes which includes Goce Delcev a historic figure claimed by both countries as their own before starting European Union accession talks with Skoplje. Official Sofia wants to do away with demands to recognize Macedonians in Bulgaria as a national minority while North Macedonia has recognized a Bulgarian minority of some 3,500 people.