Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Zoran Dimitrovski participated today in the fifth edition of the “EU Meets the Balkans 5.0” Forum, held in Sofia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade announced.
At the beginning of the event, Dimitrovski greeted those present at the Technology Park in Bulgarian. He said there were no instructions from the North Macedonian government for its political representatives or representatives of other institutions in Bulgaria to speak in English.
“I can speak Macedonian, and I can also speak Bulgarian, which I speak, but what is important is that we understand each other and that what I say is what matters,” Dimitrovski said.
He stressed the country’s determination to achieve full membership in the European Union and emphasized that European integration remains its strategic goal.
“We see the country’s future in the European Union. Our goal is full membership, for which we are implementing reforms and will continue working at a realistically achievable pace,” Dimitrovski said.
He stressed that the European integration of the Western Balkans is not merely an enlargement process, but also an investment in Europe’s security, stability and competitiveness.
Dimitrovski emphasized that North Macedonia remains committed to implementing reforms and aligning with European standards, while expecting the progress achieved to be appropriately assessed in the accession process. In this context, he also highlighted the importance of good-neighborly relations and regional cooperation for the region’s European perspective. He said the country is committed to promoting these through open and constructive dialogue and the implementation of specific regional projects.
Regarding gradual integration, Dimitrovski stressed that it should provide citizens with concrete European benefits and develop in parallel with the full integration process, with a clear perspective of full membership in the European Union.
Referring to human rights, Dimitrovski noted that EU member states have different approaches to the issue, but said that for North Macedonia, respect for the rights of all communities is a clear commitment. In this context, he stressed that including Bulgarians in the Constitution does not constitute a problem, as is also confirmed by the Action Plan for Minorities, which applies to all ethnic communities in the country, including the Bulgarian community.
